The crab spider

Jimindenver · #1 29-03-11

This my first attempt at a photo story so take it easy on me please.

I spotted this Crab spider on a Dianthus one day

It hadn't taken on the coloring of the flower yet so I figure is was still pretty young. It was however a larger one then I'm use to seeing.

The nice thing about Crab spiders is that they are very tolerant of getting close to them. Since the wind was calm (a rarity for me) I was able to take a number of shots with different set ups and even shoot with out flash for comparison.

It was going from flower to flower, each time I went out I found it had moved.

Eventually, it grew too big for the Dianthus

the next time I saw it was under a marigold bloom across the yard. It took me a moment to realize it was molting.

After that, it took up residence in one Marigold bloom.

You can see how it was turning color as it dried after the molt

I saw this much smaller Crabby in her flower on day, It didn't stay long enough to get a shot but I did find it in another pot.

Altho I don't think it was a very good hunter.

there goes dinner

I only saw the big Crabby one more day after her visitor but she let me get in real close.

I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at this.

Jim

Ian · #2 29-03-11

Fantastic, Jim - and very educational!

Ian

Pol · #3 30-03-11

Lovely Photo story and gorgeous pictures, Jim.

I have a 2 or 3 Crab spider pics but none of them as close or as good as yours. We sometimes find them lurking about in the Lilac blossom, where they grab the smaller bees.

They're interesting creatures.

Pol

Jimindenver · #4 30-03-11

Thank you both for the kind words. It was a lot of fun being able to focus on one subject over the period of a few days.
I'd like to be able to say the smaller crabby was a male as the big one didn't eat it, but I can't be sure.

Jim

Barr1e · #5 31-03-11

Let me join the praise. You put together a great story in pictures, some of which has gone in the memory bank - I hadn't realised they molted.

Thanks for keeping me interested for some while.

Regards. Barr1e

Jimindenver · #6 01-04-11

Thank you Barr1e.

I have to admit that it's different than just plopping a few macros out there for the WCU. I'm not use to this thinking thing.

Jim

Garry · #7 03-04-11

These are really super images, Jim

I wonder if you wouldnt mind, telling me what equipment you are using for these!

Camera ? Lens ? Extension tubes? Bellows? Ring flash ?

Pol · #8 03-04-11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garry

These are really super images, Jim

I wonder if you wouldnt mind, telling me what equipment you are using for these!

Camera ? Lens ? Extension tubes? Bellows? Ring flash ?

They're brilliant, real stunners, eh! I especially like the last one because it shows all the eyes so clearly as well as the translucent face and body. They're all very good, memorable shots!

We sometimes get 'crabbies' in the garden, mainly in Lilac and occasionally on tulips but I've never yet actually managed to witness one 'crabbing along' from one location to the other.

Pol

Jimindenver · #9 03-04-11

Thank you Pol and Garry. I appreciate your kind comments.

These were shot with A Olympus E 330 and E 3 bodies. 50mm f 2 macro and 35 macro lens with the EC 1.4 and EC 20 TC's used to increase magnifications.

On the 50mm, I use the Olympus ring flash (Srf-11)

On the 35mm, I use a small foam ring to diffuse a Oly FL 20 in what I call the foam ring flash.

Even though I have a lot of other gear I use (ext tubes, bellows, various other lenses), these set ups are my bread and butter when it comes to macro. This year of course I will also use the E 5, I can't wait to see its resolving power combined with the 35 mm set up at 2-1.

I am also adding a slave flash to the side so that my shots are not as two dimensional but I haven't worked that out yet.

Thanks again for the nice comments.

Jim

Pops · #10 03-04-11

So pleased I looked in and caught these .... stunners all