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07 July 2005 — Why I Love My Digital SLR (6)

I bought a Nikon d70 in March. It hasn't made me a better photographer, but it has made it easier for me to capture shots like this:

[a macro shot of a nasty looking spider]

Click the photo to open the full (128k) image in a new window.

This spider was maybe the size of a quarter. I've got higher quality versions of these photos stored on a memory card; I'll replace these medium-res versions with the better versions later.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2004 — Fading Memories   Two problems I face: (incipient) insomnia and (chronic) memory loss!

2003 — Long Weekend   A wonderful, relaxing holiday weekend has left me with little to write.

2001 — The Death of VHS   We can't find the remote to the VCR. If we upgrade, we're going to be forced to get DVD, or we're not going to be able to watch movies in the future. VHS is dying.

Comments
On 07 July 2005 (12:19 PM), Tiffany said:

very cool


On 07 July 2005 (01:19 PM), Lynn said:

Yikes. There should be a "if you hate spiders don't look" warning. Now I've got the heebie jeebies.


On 07 July 2005 (02:52 PM), Marla said:

Way cool, JD. :)


On 07 July 2005 (03:36 PM), William Bragg said:

I'd have to agree that the D70 can't change me into a better photographer, but man, do I love that camera.

Great shot!


On 07 July 2005 (04:24 PM), J.D. said:

The new higher-resolution images have replaced the old images.

For the record, here are the details on this photo:

I used a Nikon d70 with a Sigma 105mm macro lens at nearly 1:1. This image is a one second exposure at f/11 with an ISO of 400. The lens was approximately three inches from the spider.

The background here is my large silver reflector. This spider had built its web among the boxwood and camellia hedges near the entrance to my workshop. (In fact, I sat on the workshop steps for nearly an hour as I worked this critter.) Unfortunately, the shrubbery made a busy background, due in part to reflected light from the early evening sun. I opted to use the reflector to provide a reasonably solid background.

I took sixty-four shots of this spider, trying different shutter speeds, different aperature sizes, different lighting options. This particular shot used only natural light, but I made several exposures using the dim beam of a fading flashlight.

I made my first image at 5:35. I made my last image at 7:07. I made this image at 7:04.

Photography is work!


On 08 July 2005 (09:12 AM), jenefer said:

Cecily says, "so much for the itsy bitsy spider." Where was this spider. At home? At work? I much prefer the flower specimens, but this is a great photo. A june bug would look like a dinosaur!


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