Macro Jumping Spider

Jumping Spider · 04:42 PM

Using my binocular lens rig again, got this jumping spider at a local wildlife management area called Handy Brake.

Sitting on my tripod leg clip

Then it went to investigate my water bottle, I thought this made an interesting shot..

I got a half dozen more, these were the best two.

Click each image to view larger size.

tails · 08-26-2010, 04:45 PM

I love jumping spiders, they're os photogenic.

**Tamia** · 08-26-2010, 04:46 PM

Gosh but he's cute, Pete, and you did a great job there, particularly as he commandeered your tripod.

Paleo Pete · 08-26-2010, 04:51 PM

Geez you two must have been sitting here just waiting for someone to post, I've barely finished...

Thanks a lot for the compliments, I like trying to shoot jumping spiders, the last one I tried didn't come out well and I was really disappointed, first time I've had a chance to shoot one with red and blue face and fangs...wild looking critter, none of my shots were focused well enough. my eyes were tired after 3 hours of walking around shooting bugs, butterflies, skinks, you name it...With this one I'd only been out a half hour or so, and was able to get some very good clear shots.

**Tamia** · 08-26-2010, 04:56 PM

I'm pouncing again, Pete

. I know what you mean about tired eyes after a time in the field. Your eye was spot on this time, I'd say. Would love to see some skink pictures. Never met one in real life.

Paleo Pete · 08-26-2010, 05:22 PM

OK here you go.

THis is a Five Lined skink, very common around here. The males develop an orange chin during breeding season, they get about 8 inches long.

This is a different one, I don't know it's name, and not a great shot, I couldn't get very close. These are really skittish and the 135mm lens didn't do a great job, I was still trying to gt used to it.

**eaglem** · 08-26-2010, 11:36 PM

Great shots in all aspects. Well spotted.

**dcmsox2004** · 08-27-2010, 05:02 AM

those spiders are gregarious creatures.... very inquisitive.... are they aggressive??? dave m

metaphiston · 08-27-2010, 06:24 AM

The jumping spider photos are really captivating – they make such good subjects with those big eyes. I’ve never come across one (in the UK). The tripod works very nicely as a background.

BillM · 08-27-2010, 09:03 AM

Hi Pete, did great job with spider, skink was added bonus, really got a kick out of that guy, spent countless hours chasing them.

**Tamia** · 08-27-2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the skink pix, Pete. They have quite long tails, and that five-lined skink has a neato blue one.

Paleo Pete · 08-27-2010, 05:40 PM

Tamia - Several skinks have blue tails, I just read about one that can pop its tail off in a danger situation, scoot off and leave it wiggling to distract the predator. Can't find anything on the green bellied one though, plenty on others in wiki and other sites.

Dave - This one didn't seem to be aggressive, more curious than anything. A bit skittish, but not bad, and let me get pretty close to take pictures. If it had been aggressive, I'm not sure if it would have been risky, I have no idea how poisonous that one is, but at about 3/8 inch long, it was a challenging subject so I grabbed the binocular lens and started shooting, not too worried about aggression after a minute or two. The tripod clamp was about a foot from the board where my water bottle was sitting, it jumped across...

Eaglem, Metaphiston, BillM - Thanks, I appreciate the compliments.

BilM - I usually get very few chances to shoot skinks, they are very skittish and disappear before I get within 15 feet most of the time. Usually they are gone before I spot them, or all I see is a quick flash of blue tail as they scoot under some leaves... Occasionally I get a chance, but I had to chase the green bellied one for a long way through the brush to get a shot or two. Very shy critters. I was hoping to get a shot or two of the breeding males this spring, but it never happened. Never got even close to one...

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08-26-2010, 04:45 PM	#2
tails Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 109	I love jumping spiders, they're os photogenic.

08-26-2010, 04:46 PM	#3
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	Gosh but he's cute, Pete, and you did a great job there, particularly as he commandeered your tripod.

08-26-2010, 04:51 PM	#4
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880 Original Poster	Geez you two must have been sitting here just waiting for someone to post, I've barely finished... Thanks a lot for the compliments, I like trying to shoot jumping spiders, the last one I tried didn't come out well and I was really disappointed, first time I've had a chance to shoot one with red and blue face and fangs...wild looking critter, none of my shots were focused well enough. my eyes were tired after 3 hours of walking around shooting bugs, butterflies, skinks, you name it...With this one I'd only been out a half hour or so, and was able to get some very good clear shots.

08-26-2010, 04:56 PM	#5
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	I'm pouncing again, Pete . I know what you mean about tired eyes after a time in the field. Your eye was spot on this time, I'd say. Would love to see some skink pictures. Never met one in real life.

08-26-2010, 05:22 PM	#6
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880 Original Poster	OK here you go. THis is a Five Lined skink, very common around here. The males develop an orange chin during breeding season, they get about 8 inches long. This is a different one, I don't know it's name, and not a great shot, I couldn't get very close. These are really skittish and the 135mm lens didn't do a great job, I was still trying to gt used to it.

08-26-2010, 11:36 PM	#7
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,146	Great shots in all aspects. Well spotted.

08-27-2010, 05:02 AM	#8
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	those spiders are gregarious creatures.... very inquisitive.... are they aggressive??? dave m

08-27-2010, 06:24 AM	#9
metaphiston Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 91	The jumping spider photos are really captivating – they make such good subjects with those big eyes. I’ve never come across one (in the UK). The tripod works very nicely as a background.

08-27-2010, 09:03 AM	#10
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	Hi Pete, did great job with spider, skink was added bonus, really got a kick out of that guy, spent countless hours chasing them.

08-27-2010, 12:12 PM	#11
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	Thanks for the skink pix, Pete. They have quite long tails, and that five-lined skink has a neato blue one.

08-27-2010, 05:40 PM	#12
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880 Original Poster	Tamia - Several skinks have blue tails, I just read about one that can pop its tail off in a danger situation, scoot off and leave it wiggling to distract the predator. Can't find anything on the green bellied one though, plenty on others in wiki and other sites. Dave - This one didn't seem to be aggressive, more curious than anything. A bit skittish, but not bad, and let me get pretty close to take pictures. If it had been aggressive, I'm not sure if it would have been risky, I have no idea how poisonous that one is, but at about 3/8 inch long, it was a challenging subject so I grabbed the binocular lens and started shooting, not too worried about aggression after a minute or two. The tripod clamp was about a foot from the board where my water bottle was sitting, it jumped across... Eaglem, Metaphiston, BillM - Thanks, I appreciate the compliments. BilM - I usually get very few chances to shoot skinks, they are very skittish and disappear before I get within 15 feet most of the time. Usually they are gone before I spot them, or all I see is a quick flash of blue tail as they scoot under some leaves... Occasionally I get a chance, but I had to chase the green bellied one for a long way through the brush to get a shot or two. Very shy critters. I was hoping to get a shot or two of the breeding males this spring, but it never happened. Never got even close to one...