we had a connection...
Canon 5D2 + MPE @ 4-5x
F/11, ISO-800, 1/200sec + Ringflash
Waterfall Cottage
Cabbage Tree Rd, Bayview, NSW
(Open Garden Scheme (NSW))
This is another very tiny jumping spider, though a most peculiar one that tries hard to look (a bit (see below)) like an ant, and perhaps even feeds on ants, and therefore needs extra long fangs to get beyond the reach of its favorite prey’s formidable front pincers.
Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
High-pass Sharpening / Linear Light Blend and selective blurring out of sharpening artifacts.
Finished in Lightroom with Tone Curve high contrast adjustment and reduce green saturation.
Unlike my regular star at the crematorium (see “here Spike!”), I didn’t want to get too close and personal with this little guy because I was wary of leeches. I’d already been preyed on by one earlier the same day (same garden, at the top pond) when I took the photo ‘crazy eyes’. This garden was a humid rainforest style landscape perched on the side of a steep hill and overshadowed by tall established trees. Every inch of it was alive with insects, spiders, birds and lizards. If per chance you ever visit this garden and have a ritual of sitting down to take photos, tuck your jeans into your socks – trust me – just do it – you’ll be glad you did.
See below additional snapshots of this little critter and blowups of its highlights.
we had a connection... belongs to the following groups:
** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), Arachnids, Bug Hunt! (with Location please), Insects, Bugs and Creepy Crawlies (2 A Day), Nature's Wonders, Top Shelf Wildlife & Nature Art and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Jason Asher
Another great shot Peter, loving your arachnid obsession mate.
Peter Martin replied
thanks Jason.
(ps: I’m on the lookout for those green ones thanks to you I know what they look like now). I must say I’m not actually a real spider fan EXCEPT FOR jumping spiders, which, if any spider could be considered cute, then these could most certainly be considered cute.
Jason Asher
Couldn’t agree more mate, I’ve only recently started looking for the little critters (and not just spiders) when I got my tubes a couple of weeks ago, hopefully get a mp-e and twinlite sometime next year. Nice work again! Good luck with the green jumpers, can’t wait to see some mp-e magic of those guys.
Peter Martin replied
(oh – to clarify, when I said “on the lookout” I meant fearful of being bitten and run for the hills)
Jason Asher
Ah ok fair enough mate, I’ll certainly be more wary of them next time I see them, I must try and figure out exactly how far those ones can jump… haha.
Peter Martin replied
well, if it is anything like this ant-sized one, anywhere up to 2 metres if it wants to get away from me, across the path and into the bush opposite.
Jason Asher
Wow, that’s a jump and a half! I was even being a cheeky bugger and prodding the leaf to try and get him to move around at times. Silly me.. Cheers for the pointers Pete.
Peter Martin replied
so was I – that’s what I do. and they seem to put up with quite a bit of poking and prodding to turn this way and that, then they just “BEAM OUT” like on Star Trek – straight up and over.
Peter Martin replied
on that Brisbane Insects page, the very trite comment “they can jump many times their on body length” implies a couple of centermeters, yes? believe me I got a shock when it just launched itself and was GONE!
Peter Martin replied
I probably should have added this one to ‘Birds and Creatures Of Flight’ group – hey – who needs wings when you’re that small and can clear 2 metres?
Shelley Warbrooke
This guy certainly is cute Peter! And I’m terrified of spiders but little ones I can handle. I always hope and pray they don’t make a jump for the lens though. Great capture mate, wonderfully sharp and such amazing colours!
Peter Martin replied
funnily enough, Voltaire Carlos warned me about that, but that hasn’t happen yet, but I was photographing a non-jumping spider yesterday that despite not looking like a jumping spider jumped onto the lens anyway. It’s good practice that whenever you lose your target, to turn the camera over and see if it has hopped on for a ride.
Peter Martin replied
in truth, I am also terrified of spiders, but this is therapy… and they are cute!! =)
Jason Asher
Haha I reckon, put it into our perspective – how fun would it be to be able to jump 100 times our height?
Peter Martin replied
ah yes, then gravity takes hold and you’ll wish you’d been built like Mike Tyson when the ground comes rushing close =)
Peter Martin replied
very probably one of many genetic possibilities that has been tried only to end in (spplattt!!!) failure. :-(
Heather Hartkamp
Peter Martin replied
Thank you very much Heather and thanks to the Top Shelf for featuring it! =)
Ruth Vilmi
Thank you for this superb shot, Peter:-) It’s so crisp and yet almost human looking!!
Peter Martin replied
“cuteness is indeed in the eye of the beholder.”
Thanks Ruth. It’s those eyes… and the little moustache?! Isn’t it? Sometimes i think the only reason they stay still is because with tripod stool and two feet and spectacles, I (kind’of) look like another jumping spider with a BIG EYE (with a flash on the end of it). They can see I’m slow moving, so no real competition for food, and they relax, and I get a session. But ultimately, they just disappear into thin air, as it were.
Ruth Vilmi
Yes, they probably find YOU just as interesting as you find them, but your size must be a wee bit scary.
Peter Martin replied
thanks Ruth =)
Tom Piorkowski
What a terrific looking creature – excellent picture.
Peter Martin replied
thanks Tom =)