Ok - just a quick easy poll here... do you like the original vertical orientation or the horizontal cropped orientation of this spider?

Original Vertical

Cropped Horizontal

Cast your vote and leave me a comment why you chose what you chose.

- Bill

I have to admit that this first image here was a happy mistake. I wasn't planning it, but the one flash head of my twin macro flash was hidden behind a leaf and thus caused this dramatic side-lit shadow.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/11. Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

After working with this spider for a few minutes, I realized how cooperative and calm it was being, so I figured I could try a couple more experimental shots with this little guy. I have one more that I will share tomorrow, but here's a rather fun angle for a spider shot...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/11. Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

- Bill

As promised, here are a couple more of this cool little spider.

I don't know whether there is something about this spider or whether I was being inconsistent in both my photo captures and processing, but it certainly seems like the results of these photos are wildly varied. Today's set, you will see, are much brighter and the colors stand out better - particularly the red. Perhaps it was an angle of the light kind of thing, or perhaps just user error on my part. Regardless, I think these shots show off this spider a bit better than the previous one.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/11 (except first image at f/16). Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

The parade of spiders will continue as I have a couple others to share, so stay tuned!

- Bill

I haven't ever seen a spider around here with such a bright red, so when I saw this tiny little guy (I will have to get the size later when I process one of the 1:1 images) and that red almost looked like it was on fire. So I quickly grabbed it to bring home for a photo session. I found this on the internet, and it appears to be Habronattus coecatus, regardless it sure is a beauty!

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/11. Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw, additional modifications in Photoshop CS5.

I have more photos of this and some other jumpers that I still have to process, so stop back soon for them.

- Bill

Just stopping by with a couple tulip shots from the spring flower show...

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 1/50 sec at f/5. Canon Speedlight 580EX II flash in auto mode and wireless control. Image Stabilization on. ISO 400. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw,

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 1/40 sec at f/5. Canon Speedlight 580EX II flash in auto mode and wireless control. Image Stabilization on. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw,

Enjoy!

- Bill

Well, I've been playing around more with the Nik Software Silver Efex, and processed this B&W (ok, technically sepia) of a nurse shark photo that I've shared previously.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 18mm. 1/120 sec at f/11. ISO 640. Ikelite Housing and Port with dual Ikelite 161 Strobes in eTTL mode. Raw conversion and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw, B&W conversion in Nik Software Silver Efex.

I really like how this one turned out. You certainly wouldn't think of sepia when you think of underwater photography, but then again... maybe you should... sepia is produced from the ink of cuttlefish!

- Bill

We took a day off this week and went to the spring flower show at Phipps. I captured this abstract shot of some pollen stamens and processed it a couple different ways... First the straight exposure, then I pushed the exposure up a bit for a bit of a high-key look, and then I thought they might look nice with a B&W conversion.

Original	Slight High-key	B&W

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 1/250 sec at f/16. Canon Speedlight 580EX II flash in auto mode and wireless control. Image Stabilization on. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw, B&W processing done with Nik Software's Silver Efex.

- Bill

Ok, I know this shot has some blown highlights, but I just think it looks funny if you think about a spider opening a cup of yogurt... :)

Technical DataCanon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/11. Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing in Adobe Camera Raw.

Tomorrow we'll look at some birds, so those of you not liking the spiders should stop back then...

- Bill

Yay! It will soon be spring, and that means spiders!!!

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro, 1/250 sec at f/8. Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX in ETTL mode. ISO 100. RAW processing and cropped (mouseover for original) in Adobe Camera Raw.

More to come soon!

- Bill

I want to go diving.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 24mm. 1/120 sec at f/20. ISO 640. Ikelite Housing and Port with dual Ikelite 161 Strobes in eTTL mode. Raw conversion in Adobe Camera Raw.

Technical Data: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II at 18mm. 1/120 sec at f/11. ISO 640. Ikelite Housing and Port with dual Ikelite 161 Strobes in eTTL mode. Raw conversion and cropped in Adobe Camera Raw.

- Bill