St. Andrews Cross Spider And Web, flash

[JBW]

ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed 1/15s. ~ F/16 ~ Flash ~ 90mm

[John 2]

Nice and sharp Brian. You really do live amongst some beautiful fearsome beasts. Presumably it has two legs on each side at the front and back but they are together when the spider is at rest as in the shot? I wonder whether diffusing the flash would take the hardness off the shadow. I've used a clean white handkerchief before now.

[JBW]

Nice and sharp Brian. You really do live amongst some beautiful fearsome beasts. Presumably it has two legs on each side at the front and back but they are together when the spider is at rest as in the shot? I wonder whether diffusing the flash would take the hardness off the shadow. I've used a clean white handkerchief before now.

I have used white baby booties but it just seemed to darken things down

[Wavelength]

Your macro collection is growing in number and quality; kudos!!!

[JBW]

Your macro collection is growing in number and quality; kudos!!!

when you have only 2000 sq. meters to shoot in it's an incentive to get the most out of what you got-

[Wavelength]

Really well said, brian....it has humor and fact!!!

[Dave Humphries]

It is a good capture Brian, well done.

I have used white baby booties, but it just seemed to darken things down

Unless whatever is used significantly increases the lit area, as 'seen' by the subject, that is indeed pretty much all it will do (although sometimes that may be all that is needed; e.g. if the flash is too powerful 'up close and personal' to the subject).

To soften shadows, the lit surface needs to be (did I say 'significantly'?) bigger than the bare flash head, I use one of these two on my flash, you can see the relative sizes (approx. 12 x and 5 x) compared to bare head (1 x).





You'll note, in these cheap diffusers from Amazon, that there's going to be some WB issues between the light emitted from each for critical/documentary shots, but I guess that's why we shoot grey or Whi-Bal cards.

They each have other usage issues too, as may be seen from the photos, but they do the job well enough.

Hope that's helpful,
Dave

[JBW]

It is a good capture Brian, well done.




Unless whatever is used significantly increases the lit area, as 'seen' by the subject, that is indeed pretty much all it will do (although sometimes that may be all that is needed; e.g. if the flash is too powerful 'up close and personal' to the subject).

To soften shadows, the lit surface needs to be (did I say 'significantly'?) bigger than the bare flash head, I use one of these two on my flash, you can see the relative sizes (approx. 12 x and 5 x) compared to bare head (1 x).





You'll note, in these cheap diffusers from Amazon, that there's going to be some WB issues between the light emitted from each for critical/documentary shots, but I guess that's why we shoot grey or Whi-Bal cards.

They each have other usage issues too, as may be seen from the photos, but they do the job well enough.

Hope that's helpful,
Dave

from your photos it looks like getting in close and personal could be difficult.

[charzes44]

ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed 1/15s. ~ F/16 ~ Flash ~ 90mm

That is a superb image Brian. However, I am mystified by the X shaped web. Is it attached to the visible legs, or the invisible ones? It is certainly very different from any other web I have come across!

[Dave Humphries]

That is a superb image Brian. However, I am mystified by the X shaped web. Is it attached to the visible legs, or the invisible ones?

I see all eight legs, they are together in pairs - view at 100% to see clearly.

I assume the spider spins the web like this, then hides its legs (from the other side) behind the thicker parts of the web, it all being part of an evolutionary hunting strategy.

They even named it after the X shaped web and 'pose' it adopts - although arguably;
a) the spider did it first and
b) it should be rotated by 90 degrees to keep Donald, amongst others here from Scotland, happy

Dave

[ST1]

X..celent image Brian


Sent from somewhere in Gods County using Tapatalk

[Dave Humphries]

from your photos it looks like getting in close and personal could be difficult.

Possibly, if you have it hot shoe mounted and need to peer through foliage, yes.

I use mine mostly off camera, mounted on light stands, although another option might be with a set of gorillapod legs wrapped around a nearby branch, using the threaded bush in the bottom of the little stands I put them on for my shots above.

What I should also have said is that ideally the same guidelines for flash diffusers used in portraiture applies, position the diffuser face no more than 'twice the diagonal' distance from the subject for best effect.

If used on camera at typical 1:1 (macro) shooting distances, this will probably be about right although if used on camera, this will result in very 'flat' subject lighting, minimising texture and fine detail, which is not usually what we want. Good subject modelling with light is just as important for macro as it is in more 'normal' shooting scenarios - hence my bangin' on about off camera flash for macro.

NB if the flash(es) are mounted on bracket(s) far enough off lens axis (typically right by front of lens angled inwards), this counts as 'off camera' due to the angle/direction light hits the subject.

Dave

[bnnrcn]

The X shaped web is very interesting and the spider looks sharp and clear, thanks for sharing

[JBW]

Hi Dave et al, I did a little research and found that the cream colored spider with the circular web I also posted yesterday is a young one of this spider.

Apologies to the Scots, Irish and English as well as many others who have a variation of St. Andrews Cross on their flag it just had better diagonals this way. And by the by did you realize that this cross is found in most houses of bondage?

As for the reasons for the X shaped web:

"Ecology/Way of Life:

These spiders build small to medium-sized orb webs, occupied day and night, on low shrubby vegetation. Their prey includes flies, moths, butterflies, bugs and bees. Larger more dangerous prey are usually secured by silk wrapping into a neat parcel before being bitten - smaller prey may be bitten before wrapping - and then eaten.

The purpose of the cross-like web decoration, called the stabilimentum or cross, has long been a puzzle. At first, many, it was thought that it it strengtheneded or "stabilised" the web, but more recently biologists believe that it helps to capture prey or avoid predators. The ribbon-like silk of the stabilimentum reflects ultra-violet light strongly. Such light is attractive to flying insects, which use it to find sources of food, such as flowers, and to navigate through openings in the vegetation. If the cross attracts insects it may increase the web's insect efficiency in catching prey.

The stabilimentum may also make the web and its owner more obvious to predators active during the day, such as birds and wasps. However, it varies a lot in shape, from a complete cross to a partial cross with from 1 to 3 arms, or may be absent altogether. This variation may confuse predators searching for the typical full cross. The cross may also warn predators like birds to stay away - the effort needed to clean off the sticky silk after diving through the web may put off predators from trying again.

The cream-coloured young spiders make a circular stabilimentum (like a white silk doily) that disguises them well and may also act as a sunshade. As the spider grows the "doily" is gradually transformed into a cross.

When threatened, the spider either drops from the web or shakes it so vigorously that both spider and stabilimentum become a blur, again probably confusing its attacker. This doesn't always succeed, as indicated by empty, damaged webs and the presence of these spiders as food in the mud cells of wasps."

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[JBW]

Nice shot.

living in a tropical rain forest has its advantages

[IzzieK]

This is one of your most nicest and best image even if I do not like Spydies....Great job.

[JBW]

This is one of your most nicest and best image even if I do not like Spydies....Great job.

the bamboo sunscreen back ground makes the shot.