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The Nightmare continues...


The Nightmare continues...
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1936 W: 244 N: 4106] (11620)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron AF70-300mm LD, Digital ISO 400, Kenko Extension tube (36mm)
Exposure: f/16, 5 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): 40-49 Points (Chapter 2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-28 8:45
Viewed: 7718
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Brown Button Spider
Latrodectus geometricus

The Theridiidae or Comb-footed spiders is a large and diverse family represented by 15 genera in South Africa. They are nocturnal, web-living spiders. The family is best known due to the notoriety of the genus Latrodectus, the Button spiders, also called Widow spiders as females often consume the male after mating. There are 6 species in South Africa.

The very common species, Latrodectus geometricus, or Brown or Geometric button spider occurs around every home where I stay, outside under window ledges, behind drain pipes, under wood piles etc.

Although its bite can sometimes be troublesome, it is not life threatening as is the case with of most of this group. However, Latrodectus indistinctus, or the Black Button spider presents a serious problem. Its venom is neurotoxic (affects the central nervous system). Bites used to be very common during the manual harvesting of corn but these days with mechanised harvesting, bites are quite rare.

Button spiders are very timid, usually retreating when disturbed or dropping to the ground and playing dead. Bites result from handling or when they are trapped and squeezed.

The main symptoms of Latrodectism (Button spider envenomation):
* sharp burning pain at the site
* pain spreads to lymph nodes within 15 minutes
* severe muscle pain and cramps in an hour
* tightness in the chest
* difficulty with walking
* anxiety, sweating, fever,
* slurred speech, nausea and headaches.

If this does not give Callie nightmares I do not know what will! :)

Less than 5% of untreated cases result in death, usually as a result of respiratory failure. In fact, there have been no deaths from button spiders in the last 4 to 5 decades. Those more severely affected are children (smaller blood volume) and the elderly who might suffer respiratory or heart failure. All Latrodectus bites should be treated and monitored

I love the pose of this spider I captured. I could have been sharper, I know. But the pose (and my love for spiders :) was the driving factor in my decision to post it. Hope you like it.

Technical data
Time of day: 11:40 PM
Weather conditions: Night inside garage
Focal length: 147mm
Flash: Canon Speedlight 550, Patterned
tripod: Manfrotto
Camera mode: Aperture priority
Photoshop CS: Cropped, USM (300%, 1, 0), Saturation +10, S&H & Framed.
red45, willie, ellis49, gabrieluriel, IdoTT, PDP, milloup, Lesley, rlortie, Janice, Callie, Demetrio, sandpiper2, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Luc: Critique of critique... :)gerhardt 1 02-07 05:30
To elizemeijer: Brown button spider...gerhardt 1 01-31 02:56
To netfalls: Damn white spot...gerhardt 3 01-28 19:44
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-01-28 8:47]

Looks like jumping at you Gerhard :-) Great pose and composition, I like orange sign on its body. Very good note, too.

He looks dangerous Gerhard. You got a great shot with excellent DOF and POV. Very good work.

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 1 N: 335] (1321)
  • [2005-01-28 9:26]

Looks scary. Good photo, sharp and colourful

  • Great 
  • miqra Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 140 W: 3 N: 23] (151)
  • [2005-01-28 9:37]

Gerhard, you are the winner 'los-hanne'(smile) this is EXCELLENT!

is dit 'n knopiespinnekop ?? ons het van dit by die huis gehad.. hoe/waar het jy die foto geneem ??

Groetnis
Elize

Very good macro Gerhard.
This is more dangerous than mine small one and if this not give our friend nightmare, I don't now what will.
Great details, very good colours and composition.
Very good work with the tubes. Great work.

  • Great 
  • IdoTT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 210 W: 19 N: 86] (482)
  • [2005-01-28 14:05]

Great macro picture Gerhard!
Great DOF and BG the colors of the spider are great!
There isn't much to say about that picture, just a...

Very WellDone!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-01-28 14:12]

Just great. The pose is menacing and all the detials are great. I love these as you know and I love this one.

Great job with your lens and extension tube, Gerhard. I intend to buy such a tube too. The effect of the blurring of the web around the spider makes it look a translucent glass; a very nice effet IMO. Bravo!

Well, at least this one remembered to shave its legs before posing for a photo, ours never do ;-))
Interesting critter, sharpness seems ok, and only the tips of the two top legs fall outside DOF range. Clean bg, good light.

  • Great 
  • Lesley Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
  • [2005-01-28 19:46]

This is an awesome shot, Gerhard. Great looking spider, but after reading your terrific note, I don't think I would want to get too close to this gal!

Great shot with very good point of view. I like spiders too but do not have any pictures of it. TFS.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-01-29 4:17]

Definitely a big nightmare Gergard. Spiders and moths I try to avoid. Please don't export it here.
Good capture on its web though. Well done.

Thank you Gerhard I showed it to my wife a she ran away :-)

Great shot, what's the white spot above the spider.
Well done
TFS.

The Doom, the Doom, my kingdom for some Doom - these are one of those guys with the disgusting fat body that splats all over when you squash it.
They are fond of the bottom of window cills, and I just suffered some goosflesh thinking of cleaning them out.
That said, this is a very good picture, Gerhard, TFS, goos POV, compo and the hourglass is clear. 'n Giftige foto, mooi man!

Great one Gerhard, these are my favourite subjects and I still have to find some to post on this site. That will be my challenge this year. Many thanks for this one and it really is a scary one to see and unless you know spiders then my guess would be keep well clear. After seeing these films of jumping spiders who knows ;-)

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-01-29 16:11]

Gerhard, scary and great picture with a remarkable POV. Composition and sharpness are great.

Once more, congratulations.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-30 16:14]

I should not have looked this shot so late at night, this is truly what nightmares are made of. The sharpness is excellent and this composition is really scary.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

Great shot, looks like he's going to jump out at us. Pity its not super sharp, but a well composed image anyway.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-02-06 17:06]
  • [+]

Critic:
Personal assessment of the photo: great
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent
Degree of difficulty for the photographer during the capture (personal assessment): high
Degree of utility of the note: high: complete and very interesting
Comment: Gerhard, I test at present a new and personal way of writing my critics and you are among the first ones to whom I send it.
Any comment will largely be appreciated.
I like particulary the PoV here.
Thanks

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