My very first little spider posing for a photo

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Bill16

Senior Member
OK I posted this here because I'm not experienced enough to understand more detailed critiques. But I welcome any and all advice from you more experienced members to help me improve. :)
OK here it goes to the best of my recollection. I used my 105mm listed in my signature, with the camera and lens set at f:8 I think and 1/200 with built in flash all set manually and done free hand. The spider was 1/4" or a bit smaller, about 3-4" off the floor level. I used Photoshop app for android tablets and this was my first subject. :)

PS. I was told by someone I respect that this was not the best photo I had of this spider, but it was the one that draws me the most. I cropped it on my Nikon and was told it was over cropped, and due to my friend's experience I believe my friend was likely right.

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Please feel free to ask what other info you need to go by and I'll do my best to remember or try to find out somehow.
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Bill its always been my preference for a smaller sharper appearing image than one that has been over enlarged,i think you chose a difficult subject size to start your macro work with,knowing the subject size your lack of familiarity with the equipment i think you did well for a first attempt.With all these things taken into consideration ime not going to rate it as a photo,only as an achievement that you can build on.

mike
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
I agree with Mike, and your friend is right about the over-cropping. . . may be re-crop with a little more room around the spider's legs and so that he is not right smack in the center. I DO like the little reflections of light on the spider.

​BTW are you sure this is not a young Black Widow??????????
 
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WeeHector

Senior Member
I agree with mikew. It's difficult to snap insects at the best of times. As many others have said, though it's hard to remember when you're shooting, try to use manual focus as AF doesn't always seem to work and try as small an aperture as you can get, if possible with a ring flash, as macro subjects can easily get out of focus. However, that said, I can understand your excitement at getting such a close shot. I'm still learning and have hundreds of shots worse than this. Keep shooting as much as you can and the perfect shot will occur one of these days. Keep the camera with you, as you never know when something unexpected might arrive.
Good photo, nonetheless, which would have been even better taken from the other end

PS; Due to the bad weather here this year, everything seems to be appearing at least a month late but spiders seem to be remarkably absent for the moment.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
ohkphoto said:
I agree with Mike, and your friend is right about the over-cropping. . . may be re-crop with a little more room around the spider's legs and so that he is not right smack in the center. I DO like the little reflections of light on the spider.

​BTW are you sure this is not a young Black Widow??????????
Click to expand...
Lol I'm pretty sure it is not a black widow. Lol :D Thank you very much and I may try to re-crop it again later. :)
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Thank you very much! :D I do use manual focus most of the time. My 105mm has to be used manually due to it's being an older lens, and it's my favorite lens so far. Lol :) I'll look into flash lighting when I can scrape up some money, and I'll keep your suggestion in mind when I do. :D
WeeHector said:
I agree with mikew. It's difficult to snap insects at the best of times. As many others have said, though it's hard to remember when you're shooting, try to use manual focus as AF doesn't always seem to work and try as small an aperture as you can get, if possible with a ring flash, as macro subjects can easily get out of focus. However, that said, I can understand your excitement at getting such a close shot. I'm still learning and have hundreds of shots worse than this. Keep shooting as much as you can and the perfect shot will occur one of these days. Keep the camera with you, as you never know when something unexpected might arrive.
Good photo, nonetheless, which would have been even better taken from the other end
Click to expand...
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
1374431077842.jpgI did try a re-cropping, but changed it little since I couldn't un-crop the original that was cropped on the camera. :)
Maybe this version should have come with sinister sound effects.
 
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