Female orchard orbweaver #3 (this morning's photo)

[Mousetoescamper]

This is the best of my attempts at photographing this tiny spider. There's nothing more I could do--given the limitations of my camera gear, techniques, and the lighting in the spider's shady home--to get a better photo. I suppose I could use one of the new photo enhancement tools that can turn a mediocre shot into an AI masterpiece with the click of a button, and might even be able to fool some viewers into believing that I did the work. But I would know that it's inauthentic and could take no pride or satisfaction in posting it here to get recs and praise.

Every photo I've posted here over the past 3+ years is mine, has been finished with the most basic of post-production tools, and is offered to you for free. If my photos seem amateurish to you, that's because I am an amateur with no pretensions of being a pro. I'm self-taught, experimental in my approach, make the most of the gear I own, and usually keep it local because I don't have the resources to travel (plus, I have an elderly cat in need of daily meds).

Rant off. Thanks for your indulgence.

[Easterncedar]

1. I love your photos, always

Thanks so much for sharing.
(I am also a big fan of spiders!)

[Mousetoescamper]

4. And I always appreciate your thoughtful comments, Easterncedar

Thank goodness for you and others who inspire me to keep posting photos.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Absolutely splendid photo, my dear Mousetoescamper!

If you're an amateur, then the rest of us are barely proficient in this craft.

You do superb work and you obviously take pride in it! This amazing photo ranks right up there with the best ones in our Photo Group.

Bravo!

[Mousetoescamper]

6. Thank you, Peggy

I'm never satisfied and always striving to improve. This photo needs to be in sharper focus, but I've reached the limit of what can be done. One of the obstacles to getting a sharp shot was a breeze that I couldn't feel but could see was moving the delicate web. Autofocus was useless in this case, and manually focusing was tedious. That's not to say it wasn't fun!

[HAB911]

3. that capture is perfect in every way

[Mousetoescamper]

7. Thanks, HAB911

[MuseRider]

5. Yours is a very nice shot!

I am amateur all the way but I do love taking pictures too. I sometimes post them if they are only even close to good.

I have spiders like yours, mostly in the horse barn but some on our home screens. They are bigger than this one you have but I find, big or small that yellow and black combo hard to turn away from. I do have a little one on my house screen so I bet they are all some kind of related Orb. So cool to watch.

Keep posting. I think all photos are interesting and knowing someone else saw something I don't see makes me look harder until I find it. Perfect!

Let us know how this Spidey turns out. I have a huge one in my barn and never thought of posting a picture because the background is cruddy barn and webs, I think I will, it is one of the biggest I have seen and it would show the difference between yours and mine as far as body build. I never thought to check it out but if I have the time (busy horse day) I might.

[Mousetoescamper]

8. Thanks, MuseRider

I think your large orbweaver is probably what I've always called a garden spider (Argiope aurantia). I haven't seen one here for several years. Please post if you get the shot, cobwebs and all!