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My worst nightmare


My worst nightmare
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1879 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-23
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 18mm-55mm f/3.5 - f/5.6
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-06-28 7:32
Viewed: 1229
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taking this shot was quite dificult for me, firstly because this spider was hangin in his web just in front of a window, by a sunny and hot afternoon, so there was a harsh backlight. The spider turned out too dark - I could have used the flash but I don't like taking flash photos. At first I tried to do some PP work, in order to give the spider its natural colors back, but the results were not particularly good. Then I had another idea : I darkened the spider and reduced it to just a dark silhouette against a bright BG, something more unusual and more artistic. I like it that way.

There was also another reason why I had problems taking this photo : I am really really afraid of spiders ! Going close to this one was a real torture for me ! :-) And it was in an old barn, and there were tons of other spiders in each and every dusty corner, and it was really a nightmare for me, hence the title of the photo. :-)

The spider was approximately 3 cm long (with the legs), but I think that on this photo it looks much bigger because there is nothing to compare the size.

I hope you like it !

red45, jmp, Silke, ramthakur, jeanpaul, wallhalla15, dew77, cas_orla, eruyanik, eman68, zeca, ddg, thistle, pablominto, Damberio, jcoowanitwong has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To SunToucher: Hi Niek !valy67 1 07-17 17:49
To thistle: Hi Monika !valy67 1 07-03 16:49
To eruyanik: Hi Ersin !valy67 2 06-30 10:54
To marmottelolo: courageusemarmottelolo 1 06-28 16:37
To marmottelolo: Bonsoir !valy67 1 06-28 12:43
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2006-06-28 8:09]

Bonjour Valerie!

Excellent idea! Dark silhouette looks superb on brighter BG. Composition is perfect, really. Colours from brown to light blue, parts of spider's web, frame - all are fantastic. I'm glad that you took so beautifull photo of your small enemy :-) Perfect work!

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 728 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2006-06-28 8:37]

Oh Lord! Your worst nightmare is my worst nightmare! Your view of the spider makes it look so big!
Now that I have stopped shuddering: your POV is superb because it makes the spider look extra large. The fact that he/she is dark and not clear gives it an extra air of menace (at least to people like us who really do NOT like them).
Also, it is below the light sky, so that it looks as if it is descending into darkness: another good image.
TFS (I think)
Silke

It looks more sinister in silhouette, Valerie. No wonder you were scared of it!
I feel your idea of turning the creature into a dark shape is very original and creative.
I like the gossamer threads of the web making a perfect BG for the picture.
Thanks for your views on my last picture from Riyadh.

bonjour valerie
le fait de prendre cette araignée en contre jour lui donne un aspect terrifiant avec sa couleur noire,alors qu'elle ne doit pas etre bien grosse,non?
bien vu.
laurent

Hi Valerie
Elle est très joli cette photo de cette araignee tissant sa toile
belle composition les couleurs sont jolies, beaux contrastes .
Bravo et merci....JP

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2006-06-28 13:58]

The dark silhouette works well. If makes a very striking picture. Good job

Muy bonito ese contraluz. Se aprecia la tela de la araña, muy detallada. Un saludo spiderwoman hi, Juan Luis.

Hello Valerie,
this is not a nightmare - only a little nice spider. ;-) - This is a wonderful composition - a dramatic picture. Congrats! I like it very much. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-06-28 15:40]

Hello Valerie,
Wonderful capture.POV,framing and composition are excellent.
TFS...:-)

Hi Valerie,
Wee done for conquering your fears and approaching this spider to get the shot.

Good sharpness for such nervous hands ;)
Good POV and composition.

Thanks for posting, have a great week.
I'm sure your week will be better after beating Spain 3-1.......it's only Brazil next, and what have they ever acheived in World Cup history ;)

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-06-28 19:04]

Hi Valerie, nice idea with the silhouette of the spider. Well done and TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-06-29 16:31]

Hi Valerie,
La idea de oscurecer la araña hasta convertirla en una silueta ha funcionado muy bien: transmite una idea de misterio e intriga. ¡Buenta foto!
Gracias por compartir,
José M.

Hello Valérie! Such a beautiful nightmare :-) Hey, i'm really happy to see your first spider shot that i have ever seen from you! But very interesting presantation here! i think that your mood about the spiders is the real reason you did like that more than a harsh backlit:-) You know what! i had a real spider phobia (or arachnophobia) two years ago. i'm so scared of spiders more than a boa snake or angry lion indeed! This is the reason that i have no chance to meet a boa snake or an angry lion in my country for sure ;-)

i'm waiting your another spider shots in TN!
Cheers!
Ersin

Bonsoir Valérie,
Quelle magnifique araignée dans sa toile!
La silhouette est vraiment superbe grâce à ce contre jour.
J'attends moi aussi de pouvoir un jour photographier une araignée dans un beau décor, mais pour l'instant, elles semblent ce cacher à mon objectif!!
Amicalement
Emmanuel

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2006-07-01 1:09]

Salut Valerie!
It´s a nice shot! Very good framing and frame! Well done!
Regards,
Zeca

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-07-02 4:32]

Bonne idée Valerie de prendre cette photo en contre jour, l'animal semble être suspendu dans le vide !!! Mes félicitations, Didier.

Hello Valerie,
Interesting shot! The spider is just a black silhouette but it works. I like the clear BG in very delicate brown-blue colours and the web. I think flash would be good here. In such cases when you use it you can't really see that later on pictures. The BG looks natural and the main subject has good details. I like framing and POV too.
You should try to stop being afraid of spiders. They are harmless and they look very interesting on pictures :-)
VERY WELL DONE!

Hi Valerie,
Is this some sort of self therapy, hehehe! Just kidding...
Nice capture, pleasing composition! Interesting silhouette showing some hairy legs, and the web is quite visible too...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Bonjour Valérie!

Décidement les araignées sont le thème aujourd'hui ;-) Tu as été bien courageuse de la photographier malgré ta peur, félicitations! Peut-être qu'avec un réglage légèrement surexposé du sujet tu aurais eu de meilleurs détails mais tu aurais probablement perdu une partie du BG qui est somme toute bien intéressant!

Hi Valerie,
Well, I decided to use my luch break to visit a photo. I like the effect of the bright back light and the silhouette of the spider. It shows the size and the shape perfectly. I also like that you were able to get some webbing to show in the photo. Great control on the DOF.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Valerie,
Interesting picture and very good idea. This is a nice picture with good composition, pov, dof and exposure. Well done and TFS.
JC

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