Red Jumping Spider
May, 2020Views
80
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Awards
Winter Award 2020
Peer Award
Superior Skill
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I snapped this in my garden, where I spend long hours with many tiny critters who also call it home. The different micro-climates and habitats I have helped to create provide refuge to many of my favorite little models.Time
I took this in the late afternoon on a cloudy day, with only natural light seeping through the overcast sky. While I do prefer sunny golden hour, sometimes the moody mid-day grays are just perfect.Lighting
I almost always use natural light outside, and sometimes it can be tricky with a 2x macro lens and wild, fast moving models. I often rely on short depth of field so I can get an adequate amount of light.Equipment
I shoot with a Canon EOS 1300D, and my favorite lens in my kit is the very accessible Oshiro 60mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro lens, which lets me get very close to my tiny subjects, and didn't break my budget.Inspiration
Salticidae (jumping spiders) are so very special - not only are they absolutely tiny and hard to see running around unless you pay very close attention, they have so much character and seeming fearlessness when it comes to the giant lens. This one was hanging out in one of my herb boxes and came out to say hello while I was watering, then stayed to model for me after I ran to grab my camera. Whenever I cross paths with a member of the Salticidae family, I will always stop what I'm doing to grab my camera. They are just too darned cute!Editing
Since the day was rather gray, I plumped the white balance a bit in Lightroom and pushed the vibrancy to bring the colors more true to life.In my camera bag
My well-loved Altura bag protects my Canon EOS 1300D, which has served me very well for the last few years. As I stated, my Oshiro 60mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro lens is my favorite, but I also get a lot of joy out of capturing animals at a distance with my Canon 75-300mm zoom. I also have a standard Canon 35-80mm and a 24mm prime for landscapes and wider angle shots. I am also very pleased with my unexpectedly well-made K&F Concept tripod with a 90 degree boom arm. The versatility and quality of this tripod is unmatched for the price.Feedback
What I have found with spiders and insects is that the real magic happens where they live, on their time. So setting up a tripod and lighting is just never going to be efficient for catching them in their own worlds unless it's cold and they are moving very slowly. I also don't futz too much with the focus ring on the lens once I'm close, and find it better to get it just focused enough, and then "breathe into" the shot by exhaling while either leaning slightly toward or slightly away from the subject to get the sharp focus on the eyes. Bright daylight is best so you can lengthen your depth of field as much as possible - macro tends to be very shallow otherwise. And last but not least - be patient! And move slowly; you want your subjects to relax their natural inclination to run from you, so convince them you are not a threat and they will hang out and model for you til your heart's content.
