Spider Consuming a Bee Set with 105mm Sigma

[psi4evaa]

Hi All,
Well its been a good week. My 105mm Sigma lens arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to try another Spider shot. I found this guy suspended in a Willow tree out in the paddock. As luck would have it, he had just caught a tasty treat and I simply couldn't resist getting up close and personal.
As this was the first time using this lens, I must say that I didn't realise I could focus so close. I was getting at least slightly nervous as I approached 1:1 (almost kissing the thing) ;) I opted to use RAW and for post-processing an Unsharp (0.3px 150%) mask. I took 6 different shots at various stages of him consuming the bee which can be found in my flickr set here:

Spider Consuming a Bee Set (link) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/psitography/sets/72157603949503539/)

I was hoping to get some opinions on my use of an open aperture (f2.8) with shots like this.

Thanks!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/psitography/2279544314/" title="Macro Spider 04 by PSi4EVA, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2279544314_69f6e36384.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Macro Spider 04" /></a>

Camera: Pentax K100D Super
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 105 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

[RexK_Cozumel]

Looks pretty good. I like some of the other shots in your flickr set better than this one because of the angle. Did you take any stopped down to get more of the spider into focus? The blurry legs are not bad in this shot but some of the others in the set are distracting.

[01001111]

Fantastic shot. I agree that it could benefit from a smaller aperture to bring some of the other limbs into focus but at the same time I find that super shallow depths of field can often work well when photographing insects and arachnids (coincidentally, two of my favorite subjects).

A minor increase in the contrast during post processing could really enhance the marvelous texture on her abdomen. I think it's print-worthy.

[psi4evaa]

Hi RexK_Cozumel,
I mainly stuck with f2.8, though there was one done at f9.5. I did some test previews at f11 & f19, though I prefered the greater DOF. I think my main reason for giving more bias to DOF was on a more "creative" note. I know that the spider was there today and hopefully should be tomorrow, so I might do some more stopped down shots for comparison if you like.

@01001111, Taking shots of spiders and other insects is a pretty new area for me and I must say that it is becoming quite enjoyable. I'll apply some more contrast to this shot and and we'll see how it comes up. I must agree, it does have an amazing texture.

Cheers

[mhusiak]

Personally, I like the blurred legs. It not only give it more creativity, like you said, but it also gives the spider the feel that is is bigger than it actually is.
Good job!

Mike.

[richb14]

It's a great shot, however the bee shot in your flickr is the one! It's fantastic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/psitography/2281980014/in/photostream/