Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

I am sharing this not so much for the image quality but for the story. My wife and I were heading out to do some shopping, her more so than me, and as I headed out to the car I spotted this spider and its web strung between two bushes. I stood looking at it for a moment composing in my mind while waiting for my wife. After a few minutes, I decided I had enough time while she was getting ready, ran into the house, grabbed my camera, and mounted the 24-105mm, f/4L onto the camera. I had just started to take some shots when my wife appears and asks what am I shooting. She walks over to take a look as I am composing and shooting and I hear, "Ughhhh! Charles! There are better things to take photos! Look at these bushes and the flowers!" I continued and with each pause, I hear, "Are you done? Can I take it away?!" I made the mistake of saying, "Yeah..." before reviewing my shots and it was gone before I could even finish the sentence...LOL.

In the background is a toddler's wicker rocker to which I was trying to center the spider on the back of the chair. I was going to try different f-stops, different settings, etc. but didn't get the chance. Oh well... Perhaps one day another will appear...

Within Minimum Focus Distance of Lens, 105mm, f/5, ISO 100, 1/200

(Download)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

There is beauty everywhere if one has the eyes to see.

MSW

I like it! ( by the way, remind those who saw EEEEEEww that spiders eat mosquitoes and other pest insects)

tmehrkam Loc: Houston,Tx

I like spiders. I have spent many a winter day in a deer blind full of sider and hibernating wasps. Never stung. When it warms up a little they can get very active.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Like it! The orb is excellent as is the background. Good job!

woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

very cool

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I recently posted about the spider I had living in my kitchen window (an orb-weaver like this one) so I won't bore you with the details. But I will say that I learned a lot from observing and in a way caring for this hapless spider. I watched her grow and molt and discard her exoskeleton. I watched her repair and rebuild her web on a daily basis. She became used to me and would let me touch her back. Okay, I also caught flies for her. I agree that most spiders are beneficial if we don't encounter them in the wrong way. When I learned that many spiders share a first meal with their babies, I was hooked.

I felt a little less generous when I was bitten by what the doctors assumed to be a brown recluse spider and for a time feared I would lose my arm. But then I realized that whatever spider had bitten me (I never knew when it happened) was simply defending itself, and as the wound healed so did my resentment.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Very nice story and perspective. Thank you. I, too, have taken a similar approach to spiders for a long time but, unfortunately, others not so much so.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Thank you and glad you like it.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Thank you very much.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

Thank you. I try to remind them of that but their ears are filled with their squeamishness...)))

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

I love that perspective and it is something I strive to go by. I have long since been fascinated with structure, strength, symmetry, and more with such natural works. Perhaps it is is the engineering and mathematician in me or simply the curiosity and exploration...)))

DickC Loc: NE Washington state