Very cute female Jumper

[dpastern]

Yes, I know I've inundated the forums with images of these fantastic spiders over the past few weeks, but she's such a cutie that I couldn't help but not post her images. One from in front, pin sharp, the other is of her beautiful abdomen - what wonderful markings.

Dave

[einsteinsauntie]

I agree, they're gorgeous.

[dpastern]

Don't forget cute!

Dave

[LordV]

Wonderful shots Dave- Like the abdomen pattern :)
Brian V.

[Pete]

Very nice... I think she needs to wax her top lip though... ;)

[dpastern]

Wonderful shots Dave- Like the abdomen pattern :)
Brian V.

Thanks for the kind words, beautiful abdomen pattern isn't it?

Dave

[dpastern]

Very nice... I think she needs to wax her top lip though... ;)

hahaha, that made me have a good chuckle, thanks for the laugh :)

Dave

[Lester Wareham]

Wow, that's a lovely one. Almost looks like she is begging like a dog in the first shot.

[dpastern]

Wow, that's a lovely one. Almost looks like she is begging like a dog in the first shot.

hahaha, you're right, it does look like that. Maybe she was begging for a fly or something as a reward for posing so nicely for me. Dang I feel bad now...

Dave

[jkdlee]

not only does she need her top lip waxed, She need's that unibrow to be plucked as well lol.

Great pics! i tried to take some pics of one the other day but they kept on moving

[dpastern]

not only does she need her top lip waxed, She need's that unibrow to be plucked as well lol.

Great pics! i tried to take some pics of one the other day but they kept on moving

Thanks for the very kind words!!! As to getting shots of Jumpers, just keep watching them. They can, and do move about a lot, but they're also liable to keep still for periods of time as they survey their surrounds. This is the time to grab some shots of them. An excellent tip that Brian (LordV) taught me is to either tap on the surrounds near them (if they're on wood/metal etc), or if they're on a leaf/branch, click your fingers about 3-4cm away from them. They have excellent hearing and will almost certainly turn around to check out what made the noise. Use that curiousity to your advantage.

Dave

[Omri Alon]

She has a really beautiful abdomen. Great capture :D I love #1 but the PP doesn't look right.

[dpastern]

She has a really beautiful abdomen. Great capture :D I love #1 but the PP doesn't look right.

Thanks Omri! I do admit to softening both contrast and saturation on the first shot (by a reasonable amount) - preferred that to the original shot, but might be my eyes. I'm finding that the Sigma 150 is too contrasty so I'm trying to cut some of that contrast back in Photoshop now. Is this perhaps what you think doesn't look right in the image?

Dave

[racketman]

Australia has the most amazing jumping spiders http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/australian/salticidae/Salticidae.html your shots are very good, I look fwd to seeing what other species you can find. If it wasnt such a long plane journey i'd be tempted to take a winter macro break there

p.s I note the photos on the link suffer from the use of ringflash which spoils the eyes - yours is much more effective.

[dpastern]

Thanks RM :) I know that link - I've used it several times :) :) It's an excellent resource to add to my two general books on spiders. We have some amazing jumping spiders here, I've seen at least 10 different species in our gardens here. Next time I'm up at my parents place (Ipswich, QLD) I'm going to go Jumping spider hunting up there *grins*. Should have a blast.

I did note the use of ringflash on that website as well, and one of my books has it, looks horrid to my eyes. I'm in the process of testing my diffuser with some tissue to soften the light a bit more and help avoid hotspots. Thanks to Brian for the suggestion.

Dave

[Bald Eagle]

Excellent find and well done on the captures, very sharp, I like the Abdomen shot very much as well.:D :D :D

[dpastern]

Excellent find and well done on the captures, very sharp, I like the Abdomen shot very much as well.:D :D :D

Thank you :) :) I quite liked the abdomen shot as well, even though it breaks the "best to show the eyes nice 'n' sharp" general rule that we usually use.

Dave

[hidden forms]

Nice and sharp, wonderful detail,how big was she?:) :)

[dpastern]

I'd say nearing 9mm at a guess. Decent size and quite friendly.

Dave