Eep! by myautofocuslife

Eep!

I like jumping spiders, but web-spinning spiders scare me. All that web, all those long legs, that unapologetically swollen abdomen... eep! When I saw this one, I considered not shooting it. But a little voice in my head insisted that I shouldn't pass up the chance, especially when it's this colorful.

But. It's scary. Eep. I took shots of it very carefully, I kept looking from my viewfinder to the front of my camera to check my lens, to make sure I wasn't getting too close to it. Scary. Eep.

It's an orb weaver, specifically a Kidney Garden Spider. About 7mm (0.27in), and it was busy with its breakfast, a fly that was bigger than itself. (Poor fly is the black blob in my shot. Why do insects look so much scarier when they are dead and wrapped up in spider silk? That's another reason I don't like web-spinning spiders. At least jumping spiders don't wrap their prey up in web.) This spider is native to South, East, and Southeast Asia.

There is a larger version to view if you like. (I'll pass. Too scary. Eep. )

He's beautiful
August 27th, 2012  
you are so cute with your spiders and those great descriptions Livia! I love your passion! And this is another wonderful capture of your "favorite" little friend!
August 27th, 2012  
Excellent Livia!
August 27th, 2012  
awesome! love the background as well!
August 27th, 2012  
Very cool! What awesome colours. Very brave of you Livia!
August 27th, 2012  
hangin' by a thread! wonderful details
August 27th, 2012  
I will second your Eep and raise it to a Yikes! It is very colourful and you are very brave to shoot it.
August 27th, 2012  
Fabulous nature shot and brilliant colour Livia
August 27th, 2012  
Great macro
August 27th, 2012  
Fab detail on his/her bottom :)
August 27th, 2012  
Web spinning spiders are a bit scary....I agree. They move so fast ....fabulous capture of his details and colors.
August 27th, 2012  
Wow! FAV
August 27th, 2012  
Stunting capture, close up ,colors and details, You`re very brave, well done.
August 27th, 2012  
I'm not sure how you can look at them so enlarged! Gives me the willies! I have to admit, great capture though.
August 27th, 2012  
Stunning little beastie - but I would be well away from him - well done to stay long enough to shoot him! Another great macro!!!
August 27th, 2012  
Very cool capture! Gorgeous colours.
August 27th, 2012  
I love what you have written and I laughed a lot. But I'm the opposite. The web spiders are ok but any that jump. I want glass between us
August 27th, 2012  
Livia, check this out but be warned it is a big bigger that the spiders you shoot, but I think it is a jumper????? Eep and Yikes!
http://365project.org/cjwhite/the-second-year/2012-08-26
August 27th, 2012  
Amazing capture of the spider's rear end. The fine detail visible in the large view adds scale to the image. As always, love your story, you should consider writting children's books and illustrating them with your creatures.
August 27th, 2012  
Hahahaaaa. This fellow reminds me of the mascots for the Olympics.
August 27th, 2012  
yiiik! but great shot anyway... good you´ve been brave for us
August 27th, 2012  
Wow, this is an incredible shot, Livia! Great detail, color and bokeh. I am learning so much about spiders from you!
August 27th, 2012  
I hate all spiders, but it does not deter me from looking at them on here, incredible colors and detail.
August 27th, 2012  
Wow - green legs - how cool. Great find. I love your spider pictures but if this was crawling near me I would have quite a different reaction.
August 27th, 2012  
Rob
Such amazing colour and detail! Nicely captured!
August 27th, 2012  
Such amazing color!
August 27th, 2012  
I love spiders (as long as they are not too big) and your spider pictures. Very cool colours and patterns.
August 27th, 2012  
Excellent, love the colours
August 27th, 2012  
instant fav
August 27th, 2012  
You have captured him beautifully Livia.
August 27th, 2012  
Yikes, you are so good at these!
August 27th, 2012  
Lovely green and great macro !
August 27th, 2012  
Wonderful dof
August 27th, 2012  
Love the colouring but yeah, eek indeed. :)
August 27th, 2012  
The detail in your shots are amazing.
August 28th, 2012  
Fantastic shot! I love nature :O)
August 28th, 2012  
stunning details! this is amazing!
August 28th, 2012  
Another fantastic macro. Love the markings on this spider.
August 28th, 2012  
nice one
August 28th, 2012  
Great macro! Love the details!
August 28th, 2012  
Awesome details and I love the colours too!
August 28th, 2012  
Amazing detail and love the green against the green.
August 28th, 2012  
Another amazing macro...very cool colors too.
August 28th, 2012  
Eek!! I am not a spider fan at all! The coloring and clarity of this one, though, is fantastic! I'm glad you listened to the little voice!
August 28th, 2012  
He's very talented...even though he still gives me the willies!
August 28th, 2012  
well - he's certainly a bright and intersting looking little dude! lovely close up!
August 28th, 2012  
I hate spiders but amazing detail especially on larger version! So cool with the background color! Fav for me!!!!
August 28th, 2012  
Definately looks well fed. Great capture.
August 28th, 2012  
Livia this is so fantastic, well done, great focus and dov.
August 28th, 2012  
Some fine detail, but spiders are one thing i try to keep a good distance from....
August 28th, 2012  
WoW WoW WoW FAV
August 28th, 2012  
Gorgeous colors here, Livia! Totally creepy, but in a really beautiful way! :) Can't stop looking at your photos! More please!
August 28th, 2012  
@claireuk Technically, lynx spiders are not jumping spiders. They belong to different "families". (All jumping spiders are "Salticidae". Lynx spiders are "Oxyopidae".) But lynx spiders are active hunters (they don't spin webs to catch prey) and they do leap and run very fast. I've posted a few shots of lynx spiders in my album, but none of my photos are as gorgeous as Carolyn's! Thank you for letting me know, so I could see it too. 8D
August 28th, 2012  
Livia....as usual...totally amazing...how long do you have to wait to get ashot...or do they come out to play for you on demand??
August 28th, 2012  
Excellent shot Livia, great focus, tones and composition =)
August 28th, 2012  
@ruthmouch On demand? I wish! Haha! Every time I go to the park or nature reserve, it's totally a matter of luck what I get to see! A couple of times, I come home with nothing, no shots at all. This was my first time seeing this type of spider, even though they are supposed to be common. 8)

August 28th, 2012  
I love the green tones in this shot.
August 28th, 2012  
that spider has a huge butt!
August 28th, 2012  
beautiful color and Capture Livia! EEP!! I love your Narrative!
August 28th, 2012  
Beautiful capture! =D
August 28th, 2012  
Stunning colours and perfect focus, as always.
August 28th, 2012  
What a great shot; amazing detail. Fav. for me, too.
August 28th, 2012  
Fantastic detail - well done!
August 28th, 2012  
What is it with these spider shots! (I am guilty too) It is a super shot.
August 28th, 2012  
Wonderful!!!
August 28th, 2012  
Excellent capture! I'm glad you faced your fears for this one. Beautiful.
August 28th, 2012  
Great shot of the pretty spidey! (I'm really not a fan of webs either!)
August 28th, 2012  
Lin
Yay! The spiders are back! Thank you! What fantastic detail and such crisp focus.
August 28th, 2012  
This one is cute
August 28th, 2012  
Fantastic macro capture, Livia.
August 28th, 2012  
Great detail on this fabulous find!
August 28th, 2012  
Beautiful greens Livia. Great detail too
August 28th, 2012  
Oooooh! amazing closeup!
August 28th, 2012  
stunning close up ~great detail and colour
August 28th, 2012  
Great colors and details! How do the jumping spiders capture their prey if they don't wrap them in a web?
August 28th, 2012  
Great detail. What a cool colorful spider
August 28th, 2012  
@sparkleplenty1 Jumping spiders and other active hunting spiders go after their prey using their excellent eyesight and quick reflexes. They jump or run very fast, grab the prey with a steely grip, and then bite them with their fangs to deliver venom. No web required. That's one reason jumping spiders have big (and cute!) eyes. They can judge distances very well, and have nearly a 360-degree field of vision. Web-spinning spiders usually have small eyes and don't see very well, because they rely more on their sense of touch, and their web, to trap their meals. 8)
August 28th, 2012  
A world full of beautiful patterns and colors - and very dangerous too :-). Great shot once again.
August 28th, 2012  
Great macro shot! lovely colors and details... yikes!
August 28th, 2012  
Wow !!!
August 28th, 2012  
Wow, excellent closeup.
August 28th, 2012  
Very small and colourful spider and lovely detail ... but I'll keep my distance ... thanks all the same ;-)
August 28th, 2012  
Thanks for the explanation, Livia - now I can teach that to my students in science class!
August 28th, 2012  
Incredible,
August 28th, 2012  
I love the Eeps! This guy is beautiful and an amazing creature. Great perspective, glad you shot it.
August 28th, 2012  
Fantastic detail. I love the green and the patterns on this guy. Great shot xx
August 28th, 2012  
great macro!!
August 28th, 2012  
HA! Love your commentary. I would not have been able to get close to that spider! You are much braver than I. This shot is amazing. The spider is equally creepy and beautiful!
August 28th, 2012  
Simply gorgeous DOF and composition!!! Great shot, Livia!!
August 28th, 2012  
Oh my word. Yikes. What a FABULOUS shot. You so make me laugh ; )
And btw, a fav for me.
August 29th, 2012  
It's a beautiful spider! Awesome colors and details! Fav! :0)
August 29th, 2012  
This is fabulous, amazing dof
August 29th, 2012  
Amazing colours and focus but he does scare me a little too!
August 29th, 2012  
The colours are amazing in this one Livia, brilliant as always =) but yep definately Eep. Scary!
August 29th, 2012  
A great, big, not-so-webby and brightly colored "THANK YOU!" to everyone! Please know that I appreciate your taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. I am encouraged, and grateful!
August 29th, 2012  
great focus, liv. and yes, scary, too!
August 29th, 2012  
Beautiful capture. Love the color and details.
August 29th, 2012  
I thought i previously commented on this, but glad I came back to take a second look FAVE! fab colors and wow!
August 29th, 2012  
He is so very beautiful! Glad you found the courage to stay and shoot :)
August 30th, 2012  
Fantastic capture of a beautiful creature! You could be describing me trying to capture a scary insect on camera!! At this time of year we are always visited by large spiders, so I won't be sitting on the carpets or walking barefoot around the house for a few weeks! I've no idea where they come from or where they go!
August 30th, 2012  
VERY cool!! I was getting a shot of a spider today... thinking it WASN'T a jumping spider when all of a sudden.... HOLY BATMAN IT JUMPED... I checked the camera over pretty fast and me!!! It wasn't like the usual little ones, had long legs!
August 30th, 2012  
I love your commentry and I know how you feel - spiders creep me out too. Great colours and very brave of you to get this close and get such a great shot. Well done.
September 1st, 2012  
Nice capture and detail!
September 1st, 2012  
Great macro and beautiful color :-)
September 6th, 2012  
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