Tips for jumping spiders

[slwx]

Right I dunno about you lot, but as I'm new to this, the jumping spider seems to be THE thing to shoot. When I got my first decent shot of one it was like a milestone, I knew I was getting the hang of it.

And again, I dunno about you but here they do NOT stop moving. Constantly on the lookout, constantly on the move, awkward as hell.

So I thought we could share any tips we have for shooting jumping spiders.

I don't really have any, other than you can temporarily distract them by gently tapping maybe three inches from them, they'll turn to face where you tapped, and stop to suss out what's going on...

[ziggy25]

I am still trying to figure out where to find one let alone how to control one

[slwx]

Originally Posted by ziggy25

I am still trying to figure out where to find one let alone how to control one

I find them on fences, in sunlight... If you have a fence that's in sunlight all day, you may see them there. You gotta be patient though...

[pdrober2]

the ones near me are quite photogenic!

[Japers]

Originally Posted by pdrober2

the ones near me are quite photogenic!

+1.

It took me a solid year of shooting macro before I saw my first Jumper, but he sat patiently, always following the camera - A very good subject indeed. Wish I could be of more help. I reckon trying to hold their attention would be best (tapping, quick movements, etc.).

[ebert]

Just encountered my first jumper today. And all I can say is... adorable.

I'm using extension tubes, so my working distance isn't much. Everytime I went to take a picture it would look at me, and after a while would jump. It did this a few times and I figured it was trying to jump onto me. Well after 2 failed attempts, it finally was able to jump right onto my lens. Hahaha.

What personality.

[pelooyen]

My experience is fire shots often for the flash, as they are curious about it (seems to to work for some other species too)
Therefore using a diffuser nice and close, means there is minimal charging delay for the 'proper shot'

[adamsheehy]

Originally Posted by pelooyen

My experience is fire shots often for the flash, as they are curious about it (seems to to work for some other species too)
Therefore using a diffuser nice and close, means there is minimal charging delay for the 'proper shot'

^^This.


I consistently find one species of them on black wooden structures - a trellis or fence or such. Not sure if you can make out the wood very well in this pic or not -


Half the time if I can't get a good angle, I'll move them to somewhere that is pretty open so they can't run away. They'll jump on the lens most of the time, but after a while they'll get used to it and the flashes.