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12 October 2002, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/2sec @ f/5.6, Kodachrome ISO 64.

Quite a typical sight, especially around autumn. Getting really close reveals these amazing creatures in detail; this particular species only measure around 1-2cm in length!





Spiders and Spider Webs

Arachnids make for a really good subject for photography. Getting in close, you can really appreciate the incredible anatomy of them. And of course the webs these arthropods create have an artistic merit that can match anything in the natural world.

In England, the spiders we have are pretty harmless; if I lived in Australia I don’t think I’d be too keen to photograph them! I don’t generally suffer from arachnophobia, however the big hairy ones they have over there I think would challenge this disposition!

Photographically, these subjects offer a unique challenge as you have to get quite close, which introduces all manner of difficulties but getting a good photo is great as you get to see them in all their detail.





18 August 2002, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/8sec @ f/8, Kodachrome ISO 64.

I can’t recall exactly, but I think that this photograph was taken through a very dirty window due to the numerous spots! So from a technical standpoint, it is quite a terrible photograph, but has a certain character; and in many ways, quite realistic as this is how a lot of us see spider webs, along with a spider, who generally sits in the middle of the web.


15 February 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/250sec @ f/6.8, ISO 8000.


23 September 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

When taking a photo like this, I would normally ensure the background is more out of focus, so the main subject, in this case, the spider and the web, stand out more. However, in this case, I have deliberately ensured the background is quite visible, showing how much spiders have adapted to modern human living.


23 September 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/14, ISO 250.

A closer view of the spider and its web from the above photo.

28 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/125sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100.

I spotted this near where I live; I loved the look of the web in the middle, held there by strands of silk across the various plants here. The web is covered by the blossom coming off  the plants and looked amazing. When I noticed this, I decided to go home, get the camera and come back - which took around half an hour. After taking photos, the wind caused the web to essentially fold in itself and basically be ruined. So I was quite lucky to get this shot!

28 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/8, ISO 1250.

A close up of the two spiders; you can see them in the photo above this one, to the right of the web. I watched them for a while; I am not sure if they were mating or fighting!

Photograph details unknown - around February 1995, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

A spider web takes on a unique look, lit up with the light above.

Photograph details unknown - film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

A bitingly cold morning, where the spider webs take on a magical appearance.

Photograph details unknown - film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

Close-up detail of a frozen spider web.

Photograph details unknown - film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

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