The last time I posed a question about using flash to photograph a spider, the majority of readers said that the spider looked much better in natural light, but the case is not so clear for this Barn Spider (Araneus cavaticus) that I spotted in the garden yesterday.
The spider was in a web that stretched across the path in the garden, about chest-high, and was in subdued light. I really wanted to shoot at an angle to give the spider some dimensionality, but it was tough to do so, because of the web, and depth of field was an issue. To make matters worse, a breeze would kick up periodically, making slow shutter speeds a bit problematic.
There was no question about whether to use a tripod or not—it was obvious that I needed it. Initially, I shot at f/10 in aperture priority, with a shutter speed of 1/13 of a second, resulting in the second image. Although parts of the spider are blurry, the head and eyes are pretty sharp. I then raised the shutter speed to 1/200 and used my pop-up flash and got the first image. The background turned almost totally black, but I was happy that it did not blow out the details in lighter areas of the spider and the eyes remain pretty sharp.
I like the image with the black background better this time and like the look of the background. Which one do you prefer? (Clink on this link to see the posting from March when I initially posed a similar question.)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
I like the first infinitely better.
Sure, natural light is great….IF you’ve got it. The best thing to do is learn WHEN you need a flash- which clearly was this first shot. Using a flash unnecessarily can wash out features- but using it skillfully can enhance a photo. The first is the better shot imo… and in this case the flash worked- but often a powerful flash CAN make a spider look flat and uninteresting.
If you are looking for an excuse to buy a new toy, look into getting an inexpensive mounted flash for your camera. You can control it better than a pop up, and even use it at arms length. You don’t need the fanciest one- a basic model will suit your needs I think.
Thanks for your detailed response and your advice. I’ve never really learned how to use flash–I guess that it’s about time to start learning.
In this case I think the flash was definitely called for. I’m wary of using my flash because I’ve noticed that using it changes the color of some flowers, as if the light from the flash leans more toward yellow than white.
I prefer the first for clarity, but if you were trying to denote motion, the second would be better.