Orb Spider: Here is a couple of attempts that I captured handheld 1/200 F16 ISO 200. 430EX Speedlight mounted on camera. Some PP work applied to straighten up and lighten. It's a...

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Here is a couple of attempts that I captured handheld 1/200 F16 ISO 200. 430EX Speedlight mounted on camera. Some PP work applied to straighten up and lighten. It's a working progress but a lot of fun. Constructive c & c most definitely welcome, thank you

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Marbled Orbweaver spiders (Araneus marmoreus) are found throughout all of Canada to Alaska, the northern Rockies, from North Dakota to Texas, and then east to the Atlantic. It is one of North America's showiest orbweavers.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Marbled+orb+weaver&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GJVqUNHEDqaAiwKvmoHICA&ved=0CCAQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=520

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Don't hesitate to tightly crop around insects and arachnids.

I wonder about your camera's white balance, as I believe your original image looks a bit yellow-green.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Much better, thanks very much Douglass. You are right on the money with the WB. I've tried auto, shade (area is generally shaded) and custom. I took an exposure of a plain sheet of white paper and used custom but that did not work out very well. Do you think using a 18% gray card would work here?

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Nikonian72 wrote:

Marbled Orbweaver spiders (Araneus marmoreus)

Thanks for the info, nice to put an exact name to her. Cheers

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

CResQ wrote:

Much better, thanks very much Douglass. You are right on the money with the WB. I've tried auto, shade (area is generally shaded) and custom. I took an exposure of a plain sheet of white paper and used custom but that did not work out very well. Do you think using a 18% gray card would work here?

You didn't ask me, but here goes: you might want to try the WB default for flash. Both a gray card and a white sheet will work for AWB-- but when you use flash, you've changed the light source--- even though the flash should be a close approximation of daylight. Depending on the time of day, GPS location, daylight can shift

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

CResQ wrote:

Do you think using a 18% gray card would work here?

ALL of my macro-photography is with an O-Flash attached to a standard speedlight. I leave my WB on auto, and have never had a problem with color. Your images look like color was influenced by a color-warmer light source, like a tungsten light bulb, or the WB was set to the wrong color-temp.

The best way to color balance your camera is to use a white balance diffuser, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Promaster-77mm-White-Balance-Lens/dp/B003XJH1IY/ref=pd_cp_p_0 to calibrate your sensor. Every time you move to a different light source, you must re-adjust for that new color-temperature. This is why I leave my camera on Auto-WB, and use my speedlight/O-Flash for repeatable illumination.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

nice shots,excellent focus.tom

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

You didn't ask me, but here goes: you might want to try the WB default for flash. Both a gray card and a white sheet will work for AWB-- but when you use flash, you've changed the light source--- even though the flash should be a close approximation of daylight. Depending on the time of day, GPS location, daylight can shift

Thank you for your input. Will try this out for sure.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Nikonian72 wrote:

ALL of my macro-photography is with an O-Flash att... (show quote)

Thanks Douglass for the info and link. My O flash is on order, due to arrive in 2 weeks. Cheers.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

tinusbum wrote:

nice shots,excellent focus.tom

Thank you very much.

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Good depth of field....Keep having fun.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

Stevieboy wrote:

Good depth of field....Keep having fun.

Thanks very much Steve. I am having a lot of fun both learning and putting into practice, which will always be ongoing. I learn a lot from looking at other peoples work and there is a lot of amazing work on this forum; including your own. Cheers

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Thanks for the commpliment. Will look forward to seeing more of yours.