Dinner at Five 1/2
“Nature is neither kind nor cruel. Nature just is.” (Sir David Attenborough)
The title is apt as I photographed this little Diaea evanida (Flower Spider) as she was preparing her catch, an Apis mellifera (European Honey Bee), for dinner around 5pm on a mid-spring day.
The flower is a Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower), an iconic Aussie wildflower.
The shot was made while on a solo wildflower safari at Grant’s Head, Bonny Hills, NSW, Australia.
I was all twisted up like a pretzel as I tried to get a good angle of shot under the flower, set the metering, get the focus and frame the shot while my subject was trying to get away from me and my Fuji. There was a price to pay. I got a tick under my watchband. I didn’t notice it until after I got home and it was a minor operation to dig it out intact.
The trick with the exposure was to meter off the very bright Flannel Flower and lock it then focus on the subject and use the flash to compensate and fill shadows.
Fuji S9600: RAW, Manual settings of f/3.7 @ 1/400sec, Manual focus, Pop-up flash at lowest power, Hand held.
Lightroom 1.1 & Photoshop CS3.
Visit the Insects & Spiders collection in my BubbleSite Gallery for more multi-legged critters.
Enjoy!
HYMENOPTERA & SPIDERS
HYMENOPTERA
(Click the links!)
Apis mellifera & Diaea evanida
Apis mellifera & Diaea evanida
Apis mellifera & Lagunaria bracteata
Trigona carbonaria & Onopordum acanthium
Trigona carbonaria, Apis mellifera & Nymphaea violacea 
SPIDERS
(Click the links!)
Dinner at Five 1/2 belongs to the following groups:
Arachnids, Former DPF Members and New South Wales Photography Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Claire Farley
Wow Dennis, never seen anything like this. Excellent shot!
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Claire,
Very nice to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you are the very first Bubbler to comment on this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
Many thanks for your very encouraging “Wow…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis
Jennifer Potter
Amazing detail! What a strong little spider! – Dawn
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Dawn,
Great to have you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
Thank you so much for your very encouraging “Amazing…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis
Anthony Vella
Another excellent Dennis Gay image. I like both pictures. Too bad to hear about the tick. Their bite could be quite poisonous at times. Just be careful mate!
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Toninu,
Good to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
My warmest thanks for your very encouraging “…excellent…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
Thank you too for the honour of adding this work to your favourites.
Mate, if it isn’t ticks, leeches or brown snakes, it’s dropbears! 8-)
GB
Dennis
Donna R. Carter
Favorited out of envy: Some day I’d love to take a shot this good! :-)
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Donna,
So nice to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
Thank you kindly for your very encouraging “…this good!...” wrap for my miniature world photography.
Thank you too for the honour of adding this work to your favourites.
Hey kiddo, don’t get envious – get even! 8=)
GB
Dennis
Craig Hender
Superb capture Dennis, detail and colour are outstanding.
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Donna,
Very glad to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
Muchos gracias for your very encouraging “Superb…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis
SharonD
Wonderful detail and focus Dennis.
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Sharon,
Happy to have you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
My warmest thanks for your very encouraging “Wonderful…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis
Jason Connolly
Really good shot here Dennis, fabulous details on the Bee..
Dennis Gay replied
G’day Jason,
Great to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
Thank you kindly for your very encouraging “…fabulous details…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis
eXposure
wonderful capture Dennis,
the limp bee adds to the mood of defeat!
i can appreciate also the getting tangled for the angle!
Dennis Gay replied
G’day eXposure,
Terrific to see you out along the Grant’s Head track on my wildflower safari and that you have spotted this Nature-in-the-raw scene.
My warmest thanks for your very encouraging and supportive “wonderful…” wrap for my miniature world photography.
GB
Dennis