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Orb Spider?


Orb Spider?
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-25
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: f/22, 22 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Class Arachnida [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-12 14:14
Viewed: 3290
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This one, and the WS, is for all you arachonophiles, if there is such an English word. Paul Howard, Gerhard, this lady was about 85 mm long. She is not the largest one we have seen, though. We saw one whose abdomen was at least twice the size of this one, but too far to get to, even with Big Bertha.

This lady, and her little sister, were happily habituated in the railings on one of the bridges on the main road near Shingwedzi Camp in the park. She had a web of nearly 1m across, but not too high, since the web was between the railings. The green BG is the trees in the BG. I could actually poke my arms and body out of the window and shoot with the Sigma 150 macro. The WS is not cropped, the main post I made slightly larger by cropping a bit, actual size at 300 mm is gruesome, I would not like to meet this dame any time anywhere, without a tennis racket in my hand. Her little sister was maybe 3 m from her, and she had a lot of what looked like babies or males in the web, about 6 mm, which I believe is about par for the gentlemen of this species.

She has vivid orange patches on the legs, the head seems sort of yucky velvety – do NOT touch, and the abdomen seemed to bulge over a small thorax. I have no clue about spiders, they get eaten, well, most of them at least can get eaten by my feathered friends. Some South American bird eating spiders turn the tables, but only on small birdies.

So please feel free to elucidate me what this really is, since I could not find her picture.

SHOOTING DETAILS
Venue – KNP
Date 25th March 2005
Time 16h09
Camera - Nikon D70
ISO 400 & - ±0 EV.
Sigma 150 2.8 APO HSM Macro
Filter – Cokin UV
Focal length - 150 mm.
Exposure mode - Aperture Priority – 1/20 @ F22
Flash - none
Support – Handheld, hanging out of the window of the car. I would love to shoot her using a tripod.
PP – little cropping; Auto levels and contrast, Sharpened edges and faded mode; reduced to Site size
Cloudy and overcast weather conditions, sunlight coming from her side and back.
I will try and catch up on comment - just hectic with workload, but this one was promised.
Fisher, sAner, LordPotty, PDP, marhowie, jhm, AndyB, Janice, red45, ellis49, gerhardt, scottevers7, extramundi, Luc, Robbrown has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Luc: WSCallie 1 04-17 14:26
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-04-12 14:43]

Hi Callie, you have a Golden Orb Web spider, Nephilia Senegalensis. Banded-legged golden orb web spider.
This is a large spider who's web is a golden color. There are trip webs as well with this one and the web is tough. Though the bite may be painful it's not harmful to humans. Hope this helps you along the way.
Another contact is your local South Africa Spider club.
Excelent capture and a good effort on this one. And it is beautiful.

Mike

Very nice macro Callie.
Taken on my birthday. It's little soft but I know you don't like spiders so I suppose you shake alot.;-)
Good colours and composition.
Well done.

I see you've encountered the particular conditions I often shoot in.Many spiders and fungi are often found in less than desirable lighting conditions.
Its a real curse sometimes,but I'm getting the hang of it....a bit.
An interesting shot of this large orbweb.TFS.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-04-12 18:13]

HI Callie, definitely of the genus Nephilia and I think Mike could be right here. It's a great looking spider and it is a little soft and I'm hoping Gert's reason for this is correct :-)

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 0 N: 178] (628)
  • [2005-04-13 2:14]

Goedemorgen Callie,
Ik vind al mijn hele leven spinnen wonderlijke dieren, ik ben er zeker niet benauwd van, een goede uitvinding van onze natuur, maar deze spin kende ik niet, komt bij ons niet voor.
Mooi werk opnieuw.
Groeten,
John.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-04-13 2:48]

A mean looking beastie you've captured here!
One similar dropped into our car when we were in Oz.Dont park under trees with your sunroof open is a lesson I quickly learnt! :-)
Colours and composition are very good and the details fine considering the conditions.A moving web even in the slightest breeze can cause problems.
A good capture,well done.

Hallo Callie!
What a warrior your spider ;-)))
Great scene with funny colours!

PT

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-04-13 6:13]
  • [2]

Hello Callie,

Now this is a shot which I didn't expect from you; a spider! :) Very good picture, I also love the workshop a lot. Keeping it darker for the mood (atmosphere) worked really well. Well done on this one. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hello Callie, Great post of a really cool lookin' spider man! Hmm, hand-held out the window of a car? Very well done!!!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-04-13 7:18]

Pretty (awful) looking spider Callie! Nicely showm and better still - it is in SA and not NZ. TFS...

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-04-13 9:03]

For most people - ultimate monster :-) But for me she is beautifull. Great shape and bright colours. Great capture Callie!

Nice composition, it's a little blur. Maybe you were scared?
Well done.
TFS.

AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

This must be our most beautifull spider. I have never seen it in real life. Its a banded-legged golden orb-web spider (Nephila senegalensis) a cousin of the one posted way back in the start of TN. Mike is right.

These large, shy but beautiful spiders may look formidable but are not aggressive, and even those who walk into their webs are unlikely to be bitten and although their bite is painful, it is not of great medical importance.

There mating ritual takes 15 HOURS.

You have me all shades now... :)

Callie, A nice macro on this spider. Great colors and framing on this guy.

Hi Callie!
I returned today quite critical, so you must hear that this:
Light, colours and composition is good, but I think this one started shaking to spoil your shot :D
It is a pity you did not nailed it, as it looks imopresing.
Regards from your friend, Felipe.

Hi, friend Callie. You miss me ;-(
I made a ws with your ws which seems to be a better picture to my eyes.
Personal assessment of the photo: great.
Good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thanks.

So you're into arachnids now, Callie? Fine with me. This is a tad out of focus. Perhaps you could have paid her more for her to sit still! Colors and interest are so nice, it deserves its centered composition.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-04-18 20:35]

This is way too big for my liking, I prefer them when they are smaller than the thumbnails on my screen, not 800X600 in real life.

You captured the size bette than I would have liked, but that is your choice. The exposure is very good as well.

Very well done and thanks for posting

A very dramatic spider Callie the colours must be a form of warning , nothing makes its self so outstanding without cause.TFS

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