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We have this spider in the back yard, he/she really does the hard yards in the area of web construction. I am impressed with the attention to detail and perseverance of this spider.

Nice catch today too. Pretty juicy looking fly for tonight's dinner, might even slip out there in a minute and see if the feast is underway.



Tamron 70-300 in macro mode, sunlight, fairly windy so it was moving around like a maniac.

Fantastic capture Greg. Especially so considering you're not using a dedicated macro lens!

Good catch, both you and the spider

Cheers,
Mudder

I'm gettin' hungry!

You spend seven years underground only to emerge, live it up to the max for a couple of weeks, mate with anything that looks interesting, lay eggs and die.

Just after you emerge, you eagerly look forward to, joining your mates and playing your musical instruments in the trees, but you fly straight into a spider web.

Then Greg B takes your photo and posts it on the Internet for everyone to see, while you wait for an even worse fate

Next time you think you're having a bad day, think about this little cicada and know that it could be far worse!!

Cheers

Graham PS. Thanks for sharing your photo Greg

Great shot Greg - love the out of focus lights in the web on the left hand side.

Chris

This was what the fly faced. By the time I went out for a look, there was no trace of the fly, the spider's plump abdomen and contented look tell the story.

Another day, another web. This is a fairly big spider, by the way. Great colouring too.

Same lens, addition of the SB800. A bit of PP to compensate for my inadequate SB800 skills



Apologies for the width of the image, I'll be more careful to avoid horizontal scrolling next time.

Bloody hell - that scared the sh@t out of me. . . .

Chris

Greg... what aperture did you use on the spider shot?
Keep in mind when you're doing macro you need to allow for the really tight DOF. This pic would have been wonderful if she were all in focus.

Michael.

Mj wrote:Greg... what aperture did you use on the spider shot?
Keep in mind when you're doing macro you need to allow for the really tight DOF. This pic would have been wonderful if she were all in focus.

Michael.

Hi Michael - I know that with my 105mm macro the DOF is virtually zero when working at 1:1.

In most tutorials they mention focussing on the eyes or legs or whatever and unless you are Dr Plonsky who makes multiple exposures and then combines them in PS for greater DOF you are rather limited.

http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm

Chris

Good point Michael. I was pretty much wide open I think, the spider is about eight feet off the ground, there is a breeze so it is moving about, plus she doesn't like the flash much, was getting a bit agitated. Perhaps I should have used aperture priority. I'll remember next time.

Geez I am lusting that 105 macro, the sigma or the nikon.

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated

Greg - one of our members has just got the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 - hopefully we will see some pics coming our way soon

Chris

I'll look forward to that Chris.

I have also seen the results from your Sigma 105, and they are impressive. And it is two thirds the price of the Nikon - this is not to be sneezed at. I am leaning towards the Sigma.

Nice shot Greg

I also have the Tamron lens and am finding that when I get the DOF right it produces preety nice macro shots - specially considering what I paid for it

Cheers

John

Yes John, I have been pretty happy with the "free bonus feature" macro on the Tamron, certainly it is good enough to have a real crack at some macro work.

Very nice shot. I have the exact same lens too. I am going to have to go out and try some macro stuff too!

There you go Greg - fozzie has put up a 150mm Sigma macro photo

Chris

Hi Chris,
Gre is on the progress of moving fast!

The spider continues to do its thing every night. For those who are interested, it is a

Garden Orb-weaving Spider
Eriophora biapicata
Family: Araneidae ID: Koch, 1871

and this site has great info

http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/spiders/

cheers

Greg
1871!!! That's a bloody old spider!