Black & Yellow Argiope

Although the Golden-silk is more numerous, this Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia, is pretty common around south Louisiana, but this is the first I've been able to capture in a few years, found in Jean Lafitte NP on Monday morning. I was fortunate that conditions were right for macro with practically no wind and pleasing soft lighting. This lovely lady had built her web in the open about four feet away from me. I was careful to choose a narrow enough aperture that got most all of her in sharp focus and with the BG far enough away to be nicely diffused, and the web in decent focus for context. Manually focused. Full frame, larger image included.

E-5 ZD50-200 (112mm) 1/15 f8 Manfrotto 3265 on GT2531, ISO 100 1/15 f8 -1/3EV