Today I tried out the 10x close-up lens again along with my newly purchased, ancient and rare Konair Mini tripod [a gem -it's probably older than me]. Of course I head straight for the spider.

The very [very!] narrow depth-of-field of the macro lens was a bit of a problem. I found I could only focus on a small section of the spider's body. Thankfully there was no breeze otherwise the whole enterprise would have been an exercise in futility.
Altogether I spent an hour & half getting personal with the spider, much to Bella frustration [she hates competition].

New tripod, new lens, new way of photographing, new experience, no wonder I felt exhausted after the final spider shoot.
A gang of young men came over to check me out, they'd been sat in the field longer than I had. One of them asked to see what I'd been photographing. I've had enough and disconnect the camera. I showed him a spider shot [thankfully one in focus], 'Wow!', he calls over his friends. They think I'm a professional photographer, I guess I look it with the gear, I tell them I do it for fun and I'm still a learner. I show them my hand, it's shaking.

The non-arachnid shots were handheld.
I tried using the tripod but I ran out of patience.
The last shot is the result of a surprise attack by Bella on the way home, she will happily just watch squirrels and birds but cats are another matter. I probably got the brake on the lead [leash] just in time.

You have outdone yourself, Peter! It's amazing to catch a spider in the act of spinning a web!! Carley · 2007-05-06: 00:57

After an hour the spider & I were very good friends. peterk · 2007-05-06: 02:42

The squirrel, squirrel, squirrel!!! ;) hazaj · 2007-05-06: 15:57

Beautifully captured flowers... I love squirrels! That spider is simply breathtaking! pixkid · 2007-05-07: 20:31

Tagged: 365 park nature flower spider squirrel yorkshire