Unbelievable that I have arachnophobia... But as long they not too big and don't jump on me, it seems okay... ;)
Picture 1: Heliophanus aeneus (ISO 400, 1/100s, f/10, Flash)
Picture 2: Enoplognatha ovata (ISO 800, 1/320s, f/8, no Flash)
All others: Araniella alpica (?) (ISO 500-640. 1/320s, f/8, no Flash)
The last two pictures is after the "action". I missed completely the fly that got caught in the web. It happened so fast... The fly was much bigger than the spider. It got free by sacrifice a leg. You can see it (unfortunately) out of focus in the last picture (lower right corner).
Nice! So, a macro lens may be the cure for arachnophobia. Maybe you can get you insurance to pay for it. Looking good, keep it up!
I don't have arachnophobia, but I was really paranoid taking a picture of a wolf spider the other day. I gave up and went the other way. It kept acting like it wanted to eat me.
Here in Switzerland, we also have Wolf Spiders. This is the only"dangerous" species here. But we have a huge Tick problem. They are dangerous, because almost every Tick is carrying deases. Because of the climate change, you have them now high up in the mountains... :/
Thank you. Yeah that's maybe a way to refinance my hobby. But I'm pretty sure, the insurance companies in Switzerland won't pay it... ;)
Well done. Try early mornings for flying insects as they are still resting and less likely to fly away.
I have this orb spider in my garden that I've been wanting to get a better picture of but she refuses to face any other direction but down. Closest I've gotten was a side pic after it just wrapped up a fly.
Thank you. I was yesterday evening out, before the sunset. It was a cool day, so the insects were less active. Got some good shots. ;)
That first image is a winner!
That is a great picture. However, did you see the sharpness in images 3 and 5? Wowzers.
True! I just love the straight on view of the first one. The big eyes and mandibles (?) struck me as really cool. All are super well done.
Yes the eyes! The "mandibles" are called palpus. Jumping spiders use them like hands and males have also their reproductive organ there... yes one wasn't enough! :)
Pictures 2,3,5 were shot with a tripod. They actually did not move (except for the wind), so I took the chance with the tripod. I could zoom in and use AF.
Thank you very much. It's to only usable image of this jumping spider. It's the first one I've ever seen in Switzerland. Okay I've never looked hard enough for them, because of obvious reasons... ;)
She was very quick and was running around. I think in this pose, she was offended by the camera or by her reflection. Jumping spiders looking really cute (I think it's of those big eyes) to me, but was very happy that she didn't jump on me!
With jumping spiders they hate the flash. Generally those spiders are very friendly and playful. They will follow you and such things and they are harmless. However, if you use a flash while taking pictures of them, they will turn or run.
You can use flash, but you have to reduce the flash power. That's what I'm always doing. I think the jumpers don't like strong flash that much, is because of the big eyes.