Funnel Web Spiders

[CaraRose]

Unfortunately these guys like to tuck themselves way into the bushes, so I had to use a ringflash. Their eyes and the skin around their face, as it turns out, are/is really reflective. I'm still very lousy using a flash in general. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Think I need WAY more DOF.

These guys live in our bushes and on average are about the diameter of a quarter









Thanks!

[Don Schaeffer]

yikes! Great shots.

[CLKunst]

Hey Cara!

I'm pretty sure that's a Wolf Spider, I've seen more than a few around here. Really cool looking spider and some good head shots but I agree about the DOF. Have you tried dialing your flash down a stop or even two? Also using a diffuser on your flash will help with glare or flash back. Actually a flash diffuser is just an awesome thing to have, anytime, period. I call mine "sunshine in my pocket." Since he's in your backyard just keep experimenting until you get what you want.

Happy spider hunting!

[OldClicker]

Nice shots. I think to get the DoF you are looking for at this distance, you are going to have to look into focus layering. - Terry

[CaraRose]

Hey Cara!

I'm pretty sure that's a Wolf Spider, I've seen more than a few around here. Really cool looking spider and some good head shots but I agree about the DOF. Have you tried dialing your flash down a stop or even two? Also using a diffuser on your flash will help with glare or flash back. Actually a flash diffuser is just an awesome thing to have, anytime, period. I call mine "sunshine in my pocket." Since he's in your backyard just keep experimenting until you get what you want.

Happy spider hunting!

Thanks everyone.

These are funnel web weavers and not wolfs (http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider_fu...lenopsis2.htm). Wolf spiders don't use webs for hunting, these guys do. The funnel web weaver hides in the "funnel" area of the web, basically waits for something to fall/land into/on their funnel shaped web that's built in grass or bushes, then run out and sting it. The eye pattern is also different from the wolf spiders, I believe.

The wolf spiders around here tend to be stockier and larger than these guys. Also harder to find These guys are all over.

I was using a ring flash, -1 stop exposure. Still got the reflections. Maybe try to go down a bit more. Are there diffusers for ring flashes?

OC-- the thought of trying to to do layering totally freaks me out :P

[armando_m]

scary looking spiders !!!

if possible I would get closer to the face of the spider , and avoid having to have a huge DOF , must likely impossible for a macro lens

An alternative is to get parallel to the spider, although that point of view may not be very attractive

I was once planning to do focus layering, although my macro changes the size of the image as I change focus, and the focus distance was way to much, so I gave up trying that technique, with this being about 1 inch it maybe possible

[CLKunst]

Possibly you could rig one using a trace pattern of of the ring flash with tissue paper and carefully tape it over your ring. Could be more trouble than it's worth though if you can get the same effect with a flash adjustment.

[NKP68]

Great shots, great color and focus. Poor fella/gal looks a bit cross eyed. lol
Do you log your flash readings and camera settings when making tough, challanging flash pix? I found that if I take notes and record my settings and exposure readings I can refer to them when I'm in PP. It means more work but may be worth it in the end. Just a thought.
Ed

[Skyman]

Australian Funnel web spiders look completely different and are in the top 3 most venomous spiders in the world, so despite being no arachnophobe, on the occasions I have encountered them, photographing them was the last thing on my mind!