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Said the Spider to the Mosquito
1st PlaceSaid the Spider to the Mosquito
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Macro X (Standard Editing)
Collection: Challenge Stuff
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1
Lens: Olympus 300mm f/4.0 IS PRO M.Zuiko Digital ED
Location: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Date: Nov 21, 2017
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Macro, Insects, etc
Date Uploaded: Nov 23, 2017

A male Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona Crucifera) tends to his web at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA.

The last macro challenge I entered a very close-up shot of an adult gator. This year (like last year) I went searching for baby gators to enter in the challenge...............

This challenge came up on my trip to Dallas and knew when I got back I would have a chance to go out and find baby gators 2-3 times, so I was confident I would get to enter a baby gator shot this time.

Well.................

I got sick while in Dallas and only had one chance to get out and look for baby gators. Unfortunately I didn't find any until the sky filled with clouds and the light was gone.

But I was lucky enough to come across a few spiders to photograph and was able to capture this shot. Another reason I was excited about this challenge is I just recently got the Olympus 300mm f4.0 IS Pro and the main reason I got it was for macro (or really close-up). So I was hoping for a good result for this challenge.

I am not completely happy with this shot. Had to shoot at a higher ISO than I wanted, which means I couldn't stop down for more DoF. The spider was moving along the web, so I needed some shutter speed to freeze the action. When he was still, the wind was blowing to much for me to try focus bracketing for more DoF (which is what I really wanted to do).

So...................

This is the entry...........hoping for at least a 6, but afraid it won't get that high.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 49
Avg (all users): 6.9592
Avg (commenters): 8.1250
Avg (participants): 6.8400
Avg (non-participants): 7.0833
Views since voting: 1519
Views during voting: 112
Votes: 49
Comments: 17
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
12/04/2017 01:02:36 PM
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the challenge

A great shot Ronnie, made even better with the quality of the light and the composition. You have done well to include the poor mosquito with the spider it completes the image. As for your self-criticism about DOF I can see your point but it is not a major issue because the rest of it so good. I like the way the light catches the web and the detail of the spider. I am not convinced that this is true macro but the voters here seem to have favoured close up images so well done with your blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2017 07:53:26 PM
Beautifully done. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2017 04:46:32 AM
We don't have orbies like this here. You hurdled your challenges well (especially wind, yuck) and pulled out nice details like the furry legs. I like the warm tones. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2017 04:51:29 PM
Congrats on the blue. It's lucky you didn't find the baby gators in time ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2017 02:39:21 PM
Obviously, you were sick.

This is amazing!!

Congrats on your ribbon!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2017 01:34:37 PM
Thanks for all the votes and comments. Guess I was wrong in how this would do in the challenge, probably because I really wanted to enter a photo of a baby gator........................For anyone curious this was all natural light with no use of reflectors. I also used my TC on this shot, so the effective focal length was 840mm.....................
12/01/2017 01:32:29 PM
Congrats on the blue. His dinner on the left really enhances the reality of nature.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2017 08:55:13 AM
Congrats on the well deserved blue. The mosquito in the web did it for me. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2017 04:45:58 AM
Love the background, it's all just perfect. Many congrats on your win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/30/2017 11:07:23 PM
Oh this is marvelous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2017 10:44:50 PM
well shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2017 10:10:43 PM
Great photo! Top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2017 09:17:01 AM
Perfect DOF and detail, and nicely lit. My fave in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/30/2017 08:41:25 AM
Love the lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/29/2017 10:02:56 PM
Tops so far. Front page, I believe. Well done! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2017 11:21:45 PM
close up shot, not macro.
I keep staring at how that spider is hanging on that web. So ingeniously build. Great sharp details. 6 from me
11/24/2017 05:37:38 PM
Beautiful. The words also
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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