jumping (?) spider

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Nikon F70 + SB28 flash, AF 50mm f/1.8 with extension tubes (around x1.5). BTW, am I correct with naming this guy?

-- Jurek Majewski (majewski@vki.ac.be), May 16, 2000

Answers

I think your spider is a wolf spider. However, I am a herp person and not an arachnid person, so I'm not 100% sure. I like the picture. Some might quibble over the leaves making the background too busy, but I think it gives a nice sence of the spiders habitat. This aspect might be improved enen further with a lower angle, (closer to spiders eye level). Although then you would have depth of field problems to contend with since you would not be as parellel to the spiders body.

-- Billy Gorum (Herphoto@aol.com), May 16, 2000.

Was the flash the main light? If so, you did a good job of softening the flash.

I don't think the background is too cluttered; my biggest problem is that half of the spider doesn't stand out from the background. I like the way the half of the spider against the leaf is visible, but the other legs get lost in the background.

I think you did a good job with the focus and depth of field getting the front legs and face of the spider as well as the leaves in focus.

-- Jon Kindy (jdk@peakpeak.com), May 17, 2000.


Yes, the flash was acting as the main source of light. Its head was setted to wide angle coverage and built-in diffuser was used. And well, I have to agree with the fact that shadows between leaves are to dark - it would be nice to use a second flash or a reflector for fill.

-- Jurek Majewski (majewski@vki.ac.be), May 20, 2000.

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