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Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 23, 2014245 views11 comments

I spotted this, and had just started to shoot, when the morning sun came out. I was working in a tight space, so I decided to use backlighting to shoot this spider wrapping up the unfortunate fly. In retrospect, I should have tried some fill flash to put some light on the fly's body. Anyway, I'll post an interesting follow up image showing what happened next. If anyone can ID the spider, which, from leg tip to leg tip was a little bigger than a quarter, I'd appreciate it. D600, 150 macro, iso 800, 6.3, 1/2500. 20% crop. Comments, suggestions, and questions welcome.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 23, 2014 at 11:31 PM

Very neat photo! I like how the BG supports the photo. No idea on the ID of the spider. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on July 24, 2014 at 12:09 AM

Scott, I like the translucency and hue created by the backlighting. The prey looks huge. Can’t help on the ID. Look forward to the next episode.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on July 24, 2014 at 1:59 AM

Scott..nice to see more spiders here. That lovely back light .and that single strand of silk in rainbow color..beautiful. I sometimes write to the department of entomology for id. They always come back asking me for season, geography, plant etc.

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 24, 2014 at 9:19 AM

Yes, some fill would've helped Scott.. but it sounds like you were operating 'on the fly'

You managed the light you had very well, like the way the semi-transparent long jawed orb weaver? is lit.
Great BG and comp, well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on July 24, 2014 at 2:58 PM

Great catch, Scott ! Love the backlit wings of the fly and not too bothered about the dark body. I have no clue about the IDs of spiders !!

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 24, 2014 at 8:54 PM

Hi Scott

A fine action shot.. like Yun said, the prey looks huge!! i like this composition, with its excellent color and BG..

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on July 24, 2014 at 9:02 PM

Scott - This is terrific. Great use of the lighting..we can almost see the inside of the spider there. The spider might be some kind of a Lynx spider.

Will wait to see what happens next.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 24, 2014 at 9:31 PM

Thank you for the comments and, Howard, thanks for the ID. I think your right - a long jawed orbweaver. One of the 983 varities of long jawed orb weaver.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 25, 2014 at 8:39 PM

Only 983?

That's why these days when I find something new, I'm usually just satisfied with the family ID.
Hey, it's good enough for government work.. Besides, I never signed on to become an entomologist

Have a great weekend Scott!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Swathiraj G on July 26, 2014 at 8:49 AM

Lanz...Very Nice...Season of spiders...:-)

Registered on April 26, 2014, 71 Posts, 153 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 27, 2014 at 10:27 AM

This is a fine look at both the spider and it's prey with the back light making the fly's wings look like stained glass. I also like the striped lighting in the background.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments