<< Previous Next >>

Ferocious Fragility


Ferocious Fragility
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 106 N: 2658] (7487)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-09
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 80-400 OS
Exposure: f/11, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Class Arachnida [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-16 14:19
Viewed: 1905
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
For Paul –which you could see this guy.
Arachnid orders of the class Arachnida, subphylum Chelicerata, phylum Solifugae, has some of the most fascinating creatures on earth ,and also some of the most poisonous, gruesome and weird. Gerhard has aleady posted one of these sunspiders or solfugids some time last year. These look like spiders, but they have no silk glands, so do not spins webs, neither are they poisonous, and hence quite save to handle, barring a painful bite by the largest chelicerae (mouth parts, or chompers in the case of this guy) for size in its class. But they are so fragile, they will literally break in two if you pick them up. They are soft and extremely hairy. There are gourmets and gourmands, and Mr Sunspider falls in the latter group. The are incredible voracious predators and will eat anything prey-wise they can overcome, be it spider, grasshopper, scorpion, gecko – it does not matter and they eat till they nearly pop. Their metabolism is very fast, and they are hardly ever still for more than a part of a second.

They appear to have ten legs, but the first pair is actually pedipalps. It has a sensory function, assists in feeding and have suckers on the tips. This is not the same species as Gerhard’s and I have no clue as to what it is called. We also call the hunting spiders, directly translated from Afrikaans. I hope you will enjoy this bundle of hair legs and mouth. Have a look at the WS as well, the large chelicerae are more visible there.

The light was nearly gone, we shot using a 700 000 candle spotlight and the shadows were a bit too much. Also, I could only get 1,8 m from this critter, having no macro. With a nice macro, one may get much closer, if he will oblige to sit still. We surprised this guy in his lair under a dustbin. Look at all the debris around him – it is the indigestible parts of insects. Again, the studio was messy, but what the heck, he called it home.

SHOOTING DETAILS
Venue – Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Date 9th December 2004
Time 19h19
Camera - Nikon D70
ISO 320 & -2 EV.
The Nikon has the nasty habit to set the exposure if this is not “checked” in the custom setting. The EV was supposed to have been -0,7, but ended up -2, which is way too dark. Thise of you shooting with the D70, remember to lock this function, otherwise the EV is set if you turn the command dial.
Sigma 80-400 F4.5- 5.6 APO OS
Filter – Cokin UV
Focal length - 400 mm.
Exposure mode - Aperture Priority – 1/60 @ F11 and spotlight held by my wife.
Flash – Balanced i-TTL off camera and SB800
Support – Handheld
PP – bit of cropping; hue/ saturation; some USM; reduced to Site size.
extramundi, PDP, Signal-Womb, Luc, marhowie, Nico, willie, red45, elizemeijer, naki, netfalls, gerhardt, pittdesign has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerhardt: SpiderCallie 1 02-17 14:09
To extramundi: USMCallie 2 02-16 15:15
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Callie, this is incredible.
Each time Gerhard posted this spider moster I feel impressed and here is very descriptive with the huge palps. Great post.
PD: Maybe it would admit some more USM ?
Best wishes, Felipe.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11751)
  • [2005-02-16 17:13]

Hi Callie, thanks for this! I love these monsters. It's a great photo for the conditions you describe. His pad is messy but I'm sure he knows where everything is! I can see you with that macro lens...soon?

Good stuff, thanks.

Evening Callie , what intrested me was the large number of veiws to critques of this most excelrnt post, it is clear of detail and the note gives every detail you could wish to know, TFS, and I hope more people stop long enough to pass comment.

Callie what a capture this really is unusual. At first I thought this was a spider with a woodlice in its mouth. Your note makes for an excellent read and a super post...very well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 316 N: 4403] (14711)
  • [2005-02-16 21:17]

This is a post as I like them, my friend Callie. Three photos, three points of view different from the same subject with an excellent descriptive note. We cannot ask better to satisfy the first mandate of TN which is to learn on the Nature through the photography.
I am satisfied to learn that you can now allow to have a team which works with you (spotlight held by my wife). Few photographers have the necessary budget to allow themself of such advantages. I wish only that of such spendings will not prevent you from acquiring new toys ;-)
Thank you very much to satisfy your curiosity and ours, on the rebound.

Callie, Great shot under these conditions. Plenty of sharpness left to see this great speciman very well..Excellent note. TFS

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-02-17 1:18]

Good shot. Good to have an assistent holding lamps and things. Did you Doom it?

Very interesting post Callie. I prefer to stayb away from these guys. You did well. Good post

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2805 W: 75 N: 7845] (26275)
  • [2005-02-17 3:49]

Great one :-) I like those creatures but only on photos :-) Very interesting subject and note, good quality. TFS this monster!

Next disgusting photo ;-)))) You and Felipe are really nightmare-lover :-))))

ugh, ek gril my dood vir die goed.. I am not a huge spideer fan, and used to run in the opposite direction when i saw one. Thanx for posting this, now i can look at it without the fear of it jumping on me.

Nice composition, but focus very soft.
A bit more USM would help.
Well done.
TFS.

Great Callie.
Interesting photo and note. Under this conditions it's a great photo; But maybe a 180 macro would have helped here.;-)Great and informative note as usual.
Excellent work.

Points later, out of rands.

He sure went through a couple of insect this critter. Love them! Very well done, Callie. When do we see a spider again? ;)

Sal jou more bel oor Nkorro.

I have never seen a creature like this one! Nice picture!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF