Went for a hike, had the spectacular 105mm macro with me, and came across this spider and web stretching across the trail. (It was actually quite an impressive web!). Luckily, I had a swarm of black flies around me. Lunch time for the spider! While these images are creepy to stare at, I encourage you to try, because some of the detail you can see is just amazing!
In this picture, you can see:
-Hair on the spider's leg (not the black spiky things, look closer at the white part of the spider's leg close to it's body)
-The spider has already wrapped up one black fly and is in the midst of wrapping up another. You can see the silk it's wrapping around the second fly! Look how it's using it's front legs to assist in spinning the web.
In this picture, you can see:
-The spider has wrapped up one fly, and is on to the next. It was incredible to see how fast the spider responded to vibrations in the web. Evolution is an incredible thing.
-Look how it's 'holding on' to the web with it's left rear leg while the others are in motion. Amazing! Looking back, I wonder if a faster shutter speed would have been better, but I think not. Anyone have opinions about this?
-The spider may be a bit embarrassed that I've shown this picture, it's web there in the center is a little deranged. Look at the clump of silk...let's try to be neater next web spider. Ok? Thanks. But maybe his web was messed up from the wrapping of that black fly...then it's cool, function over form, I get it man...good work!
In this picture, you can see:
-You can see the spider excreting silk from it's abdomen, (is that what it's called? I'm not sure). Ass, we'll say. Look at him excreting silk from his ass while wrapping the black fly. :)
And here's our guy, or girl, up close (I don't know which, I'm not a spider expert). Thanks to the swarm of black flies I had surrounding me, he/she now has food for a while. You're welcome. And thanks to my 100% deet, the black flies were just interested, but couldn't commit to biting me. Well done, deet!
Here's a shot of the web, as I continued my hike. I apologize for not using a larger aperture, I'll correct that next time. This was f/10. Should have dialed in F/2.8. Next time I see a spider's web crossing a trail, while I have my D90 with the 105mm f/2.8 macro, and a swarm of black flies following me...I'll take this shot at f/2.8. Yep, this shot will be better next time. ;)
