Re: More boring spider photos

Jeff R. wrote:
> <mark.thomas.7@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
>
news:fc896673-e113-4a9d-bfa1-47137c31e518@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Nice demo, and I really like the St Andrews too, but I'd have to
>> observe that they have boring backgrounds!
> 
> ...and another one - just snapped - this time genuine.  EXIF left
intact.
> Full-frame (not cropped), but resized.
> Background is my daughters setting up the tent, ready for the Easter
hols.
> 
> http://www.mendosus.com/jpg/spiders/backyard.jpg
> 
> (no flames yet.  ?)
You want flames? ok, happy to oblige :-P
Firstly, what you have is a species of Golden Orb spider, 
not a St Andrew's Cross. The Golden Orb's are distinguished 
by the golden sheen to the web, if seen in the right light. 
The big spider is the female, the smaller one is her 
boyfriend, who will probably become lunch once he's 
fulfilled what he came to do.

Secondly, if you were using a DSLR instead of a P&S, you'd 
have had telephoto macro instead of wide-angle macro, and 
your daughters setting up the tent would be replaced with a 
lovely soft dark green of the tree (and you'd have spent a 
hell of a lot more to get a fairly similar result).

Hot enough for ya?

Nice pics though - nice and sharp.

Here's a few more various orb spiders:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdaj/2337068072/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdaj/2336220285/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdaj/2337050820/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdaj/2308239241/
There's a big variety of these closely related species. Some 
of them get quite big, and it can be quite scary when 
bushwalking getting tangled up in one the web of one. The 
good news is, (apparently) Australian orb-weavers are 
reluctant to bite, and when they do they are are not 
dangerous - apparently the bit is less painful than a 
bee-sting. Doesn't mean I like em tho.

> 
> -- 
> Jeff R.