Small Spider Lunching On Fly

_MG_5215 - Spider Eating Fly On Leaf, originally uploaded by -AroFarMeR-.

Took these macro spidey pics some time back just around my place but haven't had the time to process them. This big one gave me a shock when i saw it... i nearly walked into it:

It took me a while to notice that there was another small orange spider sharing the web with Mr. Biggie. Mr Tiny wasn't obvious at first sight... it even looked like Biggie's wrapped up food when it was all curled up.

The interesting one is a small spider which i found on a leaf. He was eyeing a fly that had jus landed on the leaf. In a split second, he jumped forward, caught the fly in his powerful jaws and hurried away under the leaf to enjoy his lunch... under the leaf to be safe from predators.

I guess i was lucky to be trailing him when he was having lunch becos he moved much slower and stopped more frequently which allowed me to snap him... with his lunch still in his jaws:

Shooting Notes & Details:
Camera Body: Canon 40D
Lens: EF 100mm Macro f/2.8 USM
Mode: Manual - Av @ 11~16, Tv @ 125~200, ISO @ 200
Flash: Canon 580EXII
Diffuser: Gary Fong Universal Cloud
Mode: ETTL
Ring Light: MCGILL MCLS-1 Macro Ring Light

This is the first time that I used the MCGILL MCLS-1 Macro Ring Light in the field. It is NOT a flash - it is actually just a small fluorescent tube powered by 6 AA batteries.

The light is not as powerful as a dedicated macro flash but is sufficient in already well lit areas where you want that extra brilliance on the subject. Just check out the circular catchlight in the spider's eyes:

Grain Beetle... amidst my china barley : P

_MG_1076 - Grain Beetle, originally uploaded by -AroFarMeR-.

Surprise surprise... to find our little pesty friend alive and kicking in a sealed packet of china barley which my friend bought.

The china barley is for me - to shoot his herbal drink stall "Barley Drink" pictures and out tumbled the tiny grain beetle as i poured out the content.

i thot it was dead at first sight, all wrinkled and motionless... but as i was preparing the china barleys for shoot, this tiny black spec suddenly moves!

Quickly, i got my macro lens and trailed it. It went around and occassionally spreading its wings. i guess it's warming up... after spending who knows how long in the sealed pack!

Finally, with all its bodily juices pumped up, it spread its wings and took off...

Farewell... and good luck ; )

Help!! I'm Cornered!!

"Help!! I'm Cornered!!" exclaimed the House Lizard. He stayed still... very still as any movement would bring more attention to himself and reduce his survival chances drastically. He is now in bare territory, without the cover that had hidden him comfortably.


Just minutes ago, he was safe there... lying in the dark, until a bright light came on with a gigantic strange creature running in who made some splashing noises, filled the space with pungent odour and kicked his cover abruptly... revealing his concealment.


He ran... with all his legs, trying to find a possible escape route but alas, the pungent odour must have got to him, for he was disoriented and couldn't get out. All these while, the gigantic creature just sat there watching his every move before making a final loud splashing noise and went away.


"It's gone. I'm safe" he thought to himself but security was short lived as the gigantic creature returned with a strange big black thing that looked like a very big eye. Big Eye was trailing him, nailing his every move with a "cliiiiccck" and blinding light that added to his confusion.


He can only stay low in the open and bid his time. Trapped and Cornered.


Suddenly Big Eye wasn't trailing him anymore - "Now's the CHANCE!!" He scrambled towards the crack that he had noticed while bidding his time... and he's gone.