Posted by Merle Cook on August 16, 2007 at 4:48 PM
I shot this at my pond and it looks like someone slipped my spiders some LSD !!!! This is one of the most bizarre webs I've seen in quite a while. Thanks for looking and all comments/critiques are welcome. 20D ISO 200 1/160 F/5.6 28-135 @ 50mm
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on August 16, 2007 at 5:23 PM
I don't know Merle, looks more like an "Architect" spider to me! Those guys are always designing something bizarre ....
Posted by Randy Wilson on August 17, 2007 at 2:06 PM
I think there's a lot to like here. The web was taken at an angle that suggests its three-dimensional structure, there are some nice left/right and upper/lower relationships in the composition, and the grass on the bottom and sides is a nice frame for the web. The hot spots at the water's edge are a little distracting, and overall the picture might have profited from being taken under lower angle light, but it helps that the web is mostly isolated in the empty upper part of the image, making the eye powerfully drawn to it. And the back-lit flower or seed pod at the top of the highest grass stem is a nice point of emphasis, sort of like the star on a Christmas tree.
Posted by Merle Cook on August 17, 2007 at 6:00 PM
Wayne, If that is an "Architect" spider - it must have studied at KU because they don't teach that kind of architecture at MIZZOU
Randy, Thanks for your observations. I appreciate an indepth disection of my shots. It helps me develop the craft. I agree with the hot spots at the water's edge. I tried to get at a lower angle but the pond edge slopes down and it was 5:48 am so the sun was coming in at a very low angle. What struck me was the "stairstep" design in the lower right of the web and the obvious "spine" going up the right side of the web. It just looked wierd.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on August 18, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Ouch! I hope I didn't hit a little too close to home there. After working with them for almost 30 years I've seen some wonderful and weird stuff come off the drafting tables.
Posted by Bill Dark on August 18, 2007 at 11:24 AM
I can only agree with Randy's critique - a lot to study here, but the bright reflections are a bit distracting around the water. Still nice - I like it.
Posted by Merle Cook on August 18, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Sorry Wayne - I didn't mean to offend anyone. Just poking a stick. My wife was raised in Kansas and our youngest son went to MIZZOU. Can't afford to be territorial in this family !!
Discussion
6 repliesRandy, Thanks for your observations. I appreciate an indepth disection of my shots. It helps me develop the craft. I agree with the hot spots at the water's edge. I tried to get at a lower angle but the pond edge slopes down and it was 5:48 am so the sun was coming in at a very low angle. What struck me was the "stairstep" design in the lower right of the web and the obvious "spine" going up the right side of the web. It just looked wierd.
Thanks Bill - I appreciate your comments.