Last Stand

Dennis Gay

Last Stand

THE SUBJECT:
A tiny Diaea evanida (Flower Spider) sitting at the end of an Actinotus helianthus (Flannel Flower) petal in a last stand against a pesky photographer.

THE LOCATION:
Photographed in the Grant’s Head Nature Reserve, Bonny Hills, NSW, Australia..

THE MAKING OF ‘Last Stand’:
With my beloved Milady Fuji, (the S9600), at the doctors I set out on a Nature safari with my old workhorse Mr Fuji, (S5500) on a glorious spring day.
I went straight to Grant’s Head, loaded myself up with tripods and headed down the rough gravel gully that acts as a track to where the Flannel Flowers grow.
They were in abundance again this year and so I went slowly from plant to plant on the hunt for spiders, bees, beetles etc until I found this li’l fella.
It was originally sitting more towards the centre of the flower but by the time I set everything up I was well and truly sprung and when I went to make the shot it walked to the end of the petal.
I thought it would disappear over the edge as they are want to do but my gutsy subject turned to face me – a last stand.
What I pleasantly discovered was that by applying the knowledge and experience I have gleaned in using the 9Mp S9600 to the 4Mp S5500 that has less bells and whistles was I could successfully squeeze images of even more quality from it than I had before.
Fuji S5500: RAW, f/3 @ 1/1000sec, ISO64, Auto focus, Tripod, Timer.
Lightroom 2.2 & Photoshop CS3.

Visit the Insects & Spiders collection in my BubbleSite Gallery for more arachnidian delights.

UPDATE: 9-11-09
My defiant spider has been FEATURED in the Colour and Light Group.

Enjoy!

SPIDERS
(Click the links!)

Diaea evanida – Last Stand

Diaea evanida – Flannel Flower Defender

Diaea evanida – Dinner at Five #1

Diaea evanida – Dinner at Five #2

Diaea evanida – Fresh Meat

Diaea sp – Striped Pyjamas

Nephila plumipes – Suspended Animation

Nephila plumipes – Time Tunnel

Nephila plumipes – Lunch is Served

Nephila plumipes – No-one Home

Argiope Kaiserling – Dragon Slayer

Deinopis subrufa – Net Casting Spider

Araneus bradleyi – Enamelled Spider

Tetragnatha sp

Last Stand belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, ** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), *1:1 with the News (Images Only With a Story), All Animals Great And Small., All That is Nature (Photography Only), Amateur Art Photography , Arachnids, Australia! You're Standing In it...., Australian Contemporary Photography, Australian Native Plants-2 per day, Australian Wildlife, Colour and light, Former DPF Members, Fuji Fine (3/day, Model Req'd), High Quality Animal Images - 1 Submission a Week, Insects, Bugs and Creepy Crawlies (2 A Day), Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, National Parks of the World, Nature's Wonders, New South Wales Photography, North Coast Photographic Forum, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄ and This Is Relevant (2 per day) Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Last Stand by Dennis Gay
Last Stand by Dennis Gay
  • David Silsbury

    David Silsbury 20 days ago

    Great image, well done and congratulations on being featured.
    David

  • Dennis Gay replied 19 days ago

    By Hook Or By Crook You’ll Be First for a Look DAVID!

    Welcome to the Grant’s Head reserve and my insect and spider hunt.
    Thank you big time for your uplifting and encouraging “Great…” comment on the work and cheery congratz for the Feature.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Memaa

    Memaa 20 days ago

    Magnificient, Dennis. Such fantastic lighting . Sue

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Carumba SUE!

    Lovely to have you on my Nature safari.
    Muchos gracias for your encouraging and supportive “Magnificent…” comment for my tiny Arachnid.
    Yup! I was most fortunate to be there at just the right time for the effect of the natural light.

    GB
    Dennis

  • debsphotos

    debsphotos 20 days ago

    Gorgeous Dennis!! Beautiful image!!! *-)

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    ‘Ullo! ‘Ullo! DEB!

    I hope you brought your insect repellent. You could get a Tick here.
    My ‘umble thanks for your very generous and encouraging “Gorgeous…” wrap for my Flannel Flower resident.

    GB
    Dennis

  • justrick

    justrick 20 days ago

    really a solid capture Dennis
    its come together very nicely
    well done cheers rick

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Crikey RICK!

    Great to see you join me at Grant’s Head.
    Many thanks indeed for inspiring and encouraging ”...solid…” wrap and the WD award.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Baynanno1

    Baynanno1 20 days ago

    Very nicely captured.
    I have found that the tiny Flower Spiders often stand and face one when “threatened”, waving their front pairs of legs “aggressively” at the “threat”.

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Yowza TRISH!

    Your VNC award and you comment on Flower Spider behaviour is most interesting and encouraging.
    Thank you too for the honour of adding this work to your favourites collection.

    GB
    Dennis

  • GailD

    GailD 20 days ago

    So well taken Denis & the light is magic.

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Aloha GAIL!

    Glad you could make it for my spider hunt.
    Heaps big thanks for your uplifting and encouraging SWT award.
    Yup! It’s a great place for this kind of lighting throughout the whole year. During the later afternoon hours I get a combination of the lower angle of the sun and myself being on the low side of the slope of the hill.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Fotoman66

    Fotoman66 20 days ago

    G’day Dennis
    You realy nailed this one,great photo and the spider stands out well.
    Congratulations on your feature.
    GB Rod.

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    G’day ROD!

    Thanks heaps for coming and leaving your appreciative and encouraging ”...nailed…” wrap for the shot and your cheery congratz for the Feature.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Dennis Rubin IPA

    Dennis Rubin IPA 20 days ago

    great detail!

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Yabba Dabba Do DR!

    Still plenty of room and plenty of Flannel Flower plants to go around. Happy to see you made it.
    My warmest thanks for the encouragement and support of your GD award.
    Yup! There is no way I could have obtained that detail and the effect of the light by shooting jpg. RAW is the only way to go.

    GB
    Dennis

  • lozzar

    lozzar 20 days ago

    Gorgeous, a wonderful capture.

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Leaping Lizards LORRAINE!

    You picked a good ay to come to Grant’s Head. Flowers and Spiders everywhere.
    Your “Gorgeous…wonderful…” wrap for this one is most encouraging and inspiring.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Tparker

    Tparker 20 days ago

    BEAUTIFUL! I love this great job Dennis

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Ciao TERESA!

    So nice to have you join the gang at Grant’s head.
    Thank you big time for your CAPITAL supportive and encouraging “BEAUTIFUL!..” wrap for my close-up photography.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Marvin Collins

    Marvin Collins 20 days ago

    Perfect image, great detail and lighting, great work Dennis!!

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Cheers MARVIN!

    Good to see you made it in time to catch the light.
    Thank you so much for your most humbling, generous and encouraging “Great…” comment on my spidery photograp[hy.

    GB
    Dennis

  • barkeypf

    barkeypf 20 days ago

    Congratulations on your feature.

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    G’day PAUL!
    A whole lotta thanks for your warm congratz mate.
    GB
    D!

  • Bootiewootsy

    Bootiewootsy 20 days ago

    Congrats and these are excellent.. Perfection as usual…

  • Dennis Gay replied 16 days ago

    Cool CAROL!

    Happy to have your company among the Flannel Flowers.
    My warmest thanks for your international congratz, your ”...excellent…” wrap and your “Perfection…” reference.
    Perfection is not the word used by the competition judge though.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Dennis Gay

    Dennis Gay 20 days ago

    UPDATE: 9-11-09

    My defiant spider has been FEATURED in the Colour and Light Group.

    My thanks to the Hosts and to all who have appreciated and supported this work.

    GB
    Dennis

  • Bruce Wallace (Wombatwal)

    Bruce Wallace ... 19 days ago

    Excellent Dennis.
    You are a bloke I try and emulate.
    Without a lot of success.

  • Mike Edwards

    Mike Edwards 18 days ago

    Great shot Dennis

  • camerahappy

    camerahappy 17 days ago

    This is excellent…fantastic detail!

  • Pete Costick

    Pete Costick 15 days ago

    Congrats…..featured work


    Thanks for being part of Arachnids Group

  • gabbielizzie

    gabbielizzie 15 days ago

    congratulations on your feature

  • Rainy

    Rainy 14 days ago

    Congratulations! Your artwork has been featured in the Nature’s Wonders group.!!

  • SusanAdey

    SusanAdey 14 days ago

    Very nice and congrats on your feature.

  • Tugela

    Tugela 14 days ago

    Dennis, you do these so well and well done on the features!
    Jim

  • Norbert Probst

    Norbert Probst 14 days ago

    Beautiful work. Congrats on your feature.

  • Anna D'Accione

    Anna D'Accione 14 days ago

    Stunning images Dennis, The features are so very well deserved. Magnificent work.

  • Barbara Brown

    Barbara Brown 9 days ago

    Beautifully captured Dennis! I’ve never seen a flannel flower before!

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