Magical web

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Magical web

September 17, 2017 by Mike Powell

Although some folks find spiders to be creepy, I look at them as wonderfully creative architects and artists and I was thrilled to capture this image of one in its web that I spotted early yesterday morning at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I have found that early morning is the best time to get shots of spider webs and they tend to show up best in shots that are backlit, which is to say that light is shining from the front. In this case I tried to frame the shot carefully for maximum effect and did not have to crop the image at all.

Posted in Arachnids, Art, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, spiders, wildlife | Tagged Argiope aurantia, Black and yellow garden spider, Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, spider web, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on September 17, 2017 at 1:03 pm | Reply shoreacres

The spider’s very cool, but I think you might want to take a look at this, about baby dragonflies. It just was passed on to me, and I was amazed, to say the least.
- on September 17, 2017 at 5:41 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  What a cool video, especially the underwater footage of the dragonfly nymphs. Wow!
on September 17, 2017 at 1:09 pm | Reply kenneturner

I love spiders and the webs they create. You did an excellent job of using light and color the capture Arachnid.
- on September 17, 2017 at 5:42 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Kenne. Webs seem to have universal appeal, it’s the spiders themselves, I think, that give some people the creeps.
on September 17, 2017 at 1:35 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Very nice
on September 17, 2017 at 1:39 pm | Reply Eileen Slovak

Spider webs are both beautiful and miraculous in my opinion. And not at all creepy!
- on September 17, 2017 at 5:44 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eileen. I totally agree.
on September 17, 2017 at 5:10 pm | Reply exploringcolour

Yes that’s perfect just the way it is! The different shades of colour in the background are soft and beautiful. The spider looks very at home in the centre of its universe! Lovely shot!
- on September 17, 2017 at 5:46 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. Initially I was focusing on the web itself and the way the background turned out was a real bonus.
  - on September 17, 2017 at 5:47 pm exploringcolour
    
    Wow! I’ll say! What a lovely outcome!
on September 22, 2017 at 8:46 pm | Reply Roda

What a beauty! Based on the web, my guess is a type of orb spider??
- on September 22, 2017 at 9:15 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Roda. I think it is a Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) that has a number of other common names.
  - on September 22, 2017 at 9:18 pm Roda
    
    That is what I thought. I live in Michigan and they love living in our garden. I am always on the lookout! The females are especially beautiful. 🕷