Orb Web Spider - Eriophora transmarina

Orb Web Spider (Eriophora transmarina)

This photo really has to be seen full-screen to be fully appreciated. Click on the picture above to view the orb web spider full-size.

I caught this big Orb Web Spider under a tree one day. He was alive, but being quickly overrun by ants. So I flicked the ants off, and snapped a few pictures of him. He wan't very eager to move (all the better for me!), maybe the ant's had bitten him too much.

The Garden Orb Web Spiders are also called Araneus Spiders, Garden Orb-weaver, Wheelweaving Spiders or Orbweaving Spiders. The Latin or Scientific name is Eriophora transmarina.

More information on the Orb Web Spider.

Mountain Waterfall

"Fountain of Beauty"
Mountain Waterfall

For those of you who commented on my last post, your guesses were all very close, but none of you managed to get it exactly right. The "Guess What" picture (right) was actually a close up of moss growing on a wet rock. What some of you thought was sky is actually the water flowing in the background of the picture. The photo shown above is a zoomed out picture of that moss, with water flowing from a waterfall between the rocks.

This photo was taken with a fairly long exposure, in order to create the smooth "flowing" of the water. Anyone who has visited Goomburra National Park will probably recognise this waterfall - it's at the bottom of the Cascades, one of Australia's most well-known waterfalls. Although it's quite small (only about 5m high), the Cascades are a great place for a photo, and the water in the stream below makes a very fresh drink after a long walk.

This photo taken with the Fujifilm S9600 digital camera.

Thunder and Lightning! Strike at Night

"Thunder and Lightning!"
Lightning striking in a thunder storm at night
Sky Watch Friday

Wow! That's what I thought when I saw this lightning bolt strike last night. We had a thunder storm here (fairly rare, I might add) and so I went out, like I did during our last lightning storm, in the cold and wet, to get some lightning photos. The noise of this particular strike nearly deafened me! It struck less than 1km away, so the thunder came almost instantaneously.

I took this picture on "B" shutter mode with about a 20-second exposure at F6.4. The lightning you see in the picture is actually the result of two strikes - one huge lightning strike (the large ball of white lightning on the left), and another smaller one almost directly after.

Because of the long exposure, and the brightness of the lightning, I had to use the GIMP to adjust the saturation curve for this image to make the lightning bolts visible. But I can assure you it isn't "touched up" in the common sense of the word - this is exactly what it looked like in real life! Even though I only saw the lightning for a second, I can still see the strike as if it was right in front of me now. And I can hear the thunder just as clearly - it was the sort of sound that's so loud and deep that you can feel it as much as hear it!

This Thunder-bolt Sky Watch Friday photo taken with the Fujifilm S9600 digital camera.

Cumulonimbus Storm Cloud - Thor's Masterpiece

"Thor's Masterpiece"
Cumulonimbus Thunder Storm Cloud at Sunset
Sky Watch Friday

I found this storm cloud photo as I was going through my archives searching for images to enter in an upcoming photographic competition. The huge Cumulonimbus cloud is lit up a light pink colour by the setting sun, while the horizon below is silhouetted against the threatening dark blue clouds around the base of the thunder-head.

This photo was taken in Goondiwindi, Queensland. When I entered it into the Goondiwindi Photo Competition, I titled it "Thor's Masterpiece".

Original post: Cumulonimbus Storm Cloud
This Sky Watch Friday photo taken with the Kodak C330 digital camera.

Best Nature Pictures of 2007 - Happy Birthday, dear "Bloggy"....

This January marks an important milestone for this blog: it is exactly One Year since the first visitor came to davids-pics.blogspot.com! Since then, the site has received 10,600 visits, and over 400 comments from all over the world. In the past few weeks, the average has been about 75 visits per day, so traffic is increasing quickly as well.

Here are some facts and figures from the history of this blog so far:

• Total visits: 10,681
• Total pageviews: 16,651
• Total posts: 171
  
• Total comments: 455
  
• Avg. Time on Site: 1:05
• Avg. Pages per Visit: 1.56
• Most Popular page overall: /2007/04/drought.html - 4.74% of total traffic
  
• Most Popular search term: images of nature - 2.76% of total traffic
• Most Popular referring site: google.com - 44.27% of total traffic

I'm certainly happy with the progress made with this blog, and I'd like to specially thank all of you who visit and contribute your comments and advice - without you, this blog wouldn't exist today! I hope you are all enjoying the photography posted here, and as always I am open to suggestions for improvement. Here's looking forward to another successful and enjoyable year of blogging in 2008!

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Some of the best nature pictures from 2007:

Australian Blue Tongue Lizard - Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Australian Blue Tongue Lizard (Tiliqua mustifaciata) basking in the Sun

This photo taken with the Fujifilm S9600 digital camera.
Shutter speed: 1/209, F4.6, ISO 100

Lighting Striking Dead Tree

Lightning Striking at Night - Dead Tree Silhouette

The other night we had a big thunderstorm with lightning over here, so naturally I was out with the camera in the cold and wet while others were inside snug and warm. Actually, I wasn't so foolish as to bring the camera outside during the rain, but after the storm passed over I went out looking for lightning shots. I took a few 30-second exposures, but the noise even at ISO 80 was disappointing. Decreasing the shutter speed by increments, eventually I got down to a 2-second exposure at ISO 80. Now for lightning, there's not much chance of getting a good shot with only a 2-second exposure. But I tried anyway. And what turned out was amazing...

It was a one in a million chance. During the second exposure, a huge bolt of lightning split the sky - directly in the middle of the frame. And this is how it turned out. I find it amazing that I was able to get such a good shot on just the second try. The lightning is streaking through the darkened sky, ending in a flash of electricity near the ground. A dead tree stands in stark silhouette against the backdrop of dark purple clouds. The pitch black of the surrounding terrain serves to intensify the scene, as well as provide a natural frame for the action.


It just goes to show: don't rely on the tried and tested methods, do something different and strange - it might just work out!

Moon Watching

(Nearly) Full Moon Close Up

First, let me tell you one thing - no, I did not use a telescope. A few nights ago I got out with the new camera, stuck it on a tripod, and got some shots of the (nearly) full Moon. When I looked at them on-screen later (and with a bit of cropping), this is what came up! I've never been able to take a photo of the Moon as accurate and detailed as this before, but with the Fujifilm S9600's 10.7x zoom these photos turned out remarkably clear. You can actually see the minute markings and dark patches on the Moon.

I found, however, that using auto-exposure settings resulted in a washed-out Moon, even when I focused the camera on the Moon's radius. I actually had to increase the shutter speed to about 1/320 before the Moon's markings started to become visible. This also helped to make the camera steadier, so I was able to use an ISO setting of just 80.

Later in the week I got up on the roof and shot the photo below. The Moon is framed by the branches of the eucalyptus, or gum tree which fills up most of the frame, and the tree in turn is highlighted by the Moon's light. This photo was taken at dusk, just after the Sun had set.

After trying many times to get good Moon photos I had nearly given up, but this new camera has yet again proved its worth, managing to get some excellent photos of the Moon. My only piece of advice to potential moon-gazers is this - keep your shutters well up!

Moon behind Eucalyptus tree

These photos taken with the Fujifilm S9600 camera.
Photo #1 (Moon Close-up): Shutter speed 1/319, F4.9, ISO 80
Photo #2 (Moon behind tree): Shutter speed 1/60, F4.9, ISO 100

The Sunflower that's really a sunflower [Close-up of a Sunflower]

Close-up of a Sunflower

Sunflower Close-up

Since I posted the photo of a pumpkin flower under the title of "The Sunflower that's not a sunflower", I've had people ask whether I have any real sunflower photos. So I had a look through my archives and found this photo. I took this shot a few years ago, when I had just got a new 4.2MP digital camera (the Kodak C330). The level of detail is amazing - try viewing this photo full-size and you can even see the fine hairs on the leafy part. This would definitely do well as a desktop background.

This photo really seems to draw you into it with a sense of depth and perspective, even though it has a relatively "flat" subject. The circular center section with the stamen in it seems to bulge out, while the petals radiating from the center appear to bend inwards. The eye is particularly drawn to the center section, but this image has to be viewed as a whole to be fully appreciated.

An interesting thing to note is the fact that this photo does not actually portray the whole of the flower. The edge of the petals are cut of by the framing of the photo. This is another important photographic technique which is used often and does not, as one might think, detract from the photo's beauty.

This photo taken with the Kodak C330 camera.

Related Photos:
The Sunflower that's not a sunflower (Pumpkin Flower)
The Modest Blossom (Violet flower)
Balloon vine flower with water droplets
Balloon vine Flower

The Autumn Spirit [Maple Leaves]

Maple Leaves on Grass

Maple Leaves on Grass - The Autumn Spirit

We're midway through Winter here in Australia, so most of our trees have lost their leaves. But one of the Maple Trees we have on our 1.5 acre property was planted out of season, so it's only dropping it's leaves now, at the start of July. This is a photo of one of the Maple tree's leaves, with an array of other leaves on the grass in the background. This particular picture looks quite impressive when viewed full-screen - you can click on the picture or the text below it to view the full-size photo.

This picture, like the popular "She sells Sea Shells" photo, makes effective use of the tilting method. In this method, a photo is deliberately taken at an angle to the ground or horizon, usually about 45 degrees. This creates an interesting effect which is used a lot in modern graphics work.

The other striking feature of this photo is the way the single leaf in the foreground stands out in vibrant simplicity from the background of grass and leaves. Again, this mix of repetition & contrast combined with the emphatic regions of shadow, creates a harmonious whole with a uniquely undefinable flavour.

This photo was taken with the Kodak C330 camera.

Related Photos:
She sells Sea Shells (Sea Shell on the beach)
To Stand Out from the Crowd [Red and Green Asparagus vine berries]

Best Bits - The best of Nature Photography on Davids-Pics

Best Bits is finally here! This collection is a selection of the best photos posted to this blog in the past 2 months as selected by viewers. The ratings were gathered from a combination of the rating bar at the bottom of each post, and emailed submissions. There were a few firm favourites, especially the Odd one Out - Camphor-laurel leaves post, and others varied between submissions. I would like to thank all who submitted their favourites to this collection, especially Stephanie who made the first submission. Also thanks to those who use the rating bar below each post - this system has been a great success. Well, without any further ado, here are the best photos:

Odd one out - Camphor-laurel leaves in contrast

This one was a firm favourite. The single green camphor-laurel leaf in the middle of the photo provides a stark contrast to the dead brown leaves surrounding it.
9 votes

Hairy Processionary Caterpillar Photo

This photo of a single "Processionary Caterpillar" was taken during the popular "Caterpillar Migration" episode. The photo is sharp and clear - definitely one of the best.
5 votes

Balloon vine flower with water droplets

A great close-up of a balloon vine flower with water droplets resting on it's petals. Also see the ordinary Balloon Vine Flower
3 votes

Sunset vista

This landscape photo was taken in the Australian bush. It depicts a spectacular sunset, with a bright blaze of sunlight showing through the trees and clouds.
1 vote

Prawns anyone? (Prawn Heads)

Here's a different perspective on your favourite seafood - these tiny creatures certainly merit a closer examination...
5 votes

These are the 5 best pictures from David's Nature Photography Gallery in the past 2 months, as selected by viewers. I hope you enjoy them, and feel free to send in your own favourite photos for inclusion in the next "best bits" collection!

Balloon vine flower with water droplets

Balloon vine flower with water droplets

Water droplets on balloon vine flower

Here is another photo of a flower just after the rain. This one of a balloon vine flower, has water droplets on it, giving a totally different feel to the same photo taken a few days before. This photo was taken with the Sony DSC-H1, with 1/500 shutter speed and f3.2 with bright lighting, making the flower bright enough, but the background is darkened.

Related Posts:
Soft-focus flower (favourite)
Silverbeet leaf with water droplets
Prickle Resting on Leaf
Dandelion flower

Close-up of a Balloon Vine Flower

Balloon vine flowerClose-up of a balloon vine flower

A nice close-up (macro shot) of a balloon vine flower in full bloom. This photo was taken with a high shutter speed and aperture setting, creating sharp edges on the flower while keeping the background softened.

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Note:

I am considering the purchase of a new digital camera - the old 4.2MP Kodak C330 point-and-shoot model is great for general-purpose shooting and landscapes, but I need something a bit more advanced to get the best shot in other situations. The camera I am thinking of is the Fujifilm F6500fd, which is designed to look and feel like and SLR, while only costing AUD$499. It features 6.1MP, 10x twist-action zoom, and manual shutter and aperture.

Before buying, I have had the opportunity to try a similar camera - the Sony DSC-H1. This 5.1MP camera has 12x optical zoom, and manual features, making it comparable to the Fujifilm. This macro photo of the balloon vine flower was taken with the Sony camera.

Related Posts:
Soft focus flower
Silky Oak Tree flower
Water droplets on flower
Dandelion
more...

Small feet in pile of leaves

Small feet in a pile of leaves

Small feet in pile of leaves

Going on the recent theme of "feet", I took a photo of two small children sitting in a pile of autumn leaves and zoomed in on their feet to get this photo. Again, I have applied a soft focus filter to this photo in order to add focus to the feet in the middle of the image.

Related Posts:
Footprints in the Sand
Following in his footsteps...

Another Hairy Caterpillar [Processionary Caterpillar] Photo

Processionary Caterpillar

Here is another photo of the hairy "Processionary Caterpillar" we have been observing (see my previous post Caterpillar Migration). We have been tracking these caterpillars (caterpillers?) for the past few days, and have seen them processing many times now. They seem to be moving back and forth between the middle of our drive way (a very inconvenient position for us!), and a few camphor-laurel trees we have about. They appear to be able to move very quickly when they want to! Hopefully they settle down soon to pupate, otherwise someone will run over them sooner or later!

New life!

New shoots



Sun shining through leaves

To celebrate Easter, I have this post illustrating "new life". (Top): Quite a good close-up of some new shoots springing from the soil. (Above): A photo of the sun shining through some new leaves. Notice the ant at the top left corner!

For more on the origins of Easter, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

Soft-focus flower

Pink flower with soft-focus

Flower with soft edges

This is a beautiful picture of a many-petaled flower. A soft-focus filter has been applied to create the blur effect at the edges

She sells sea shells.... [Sea shell in the beach sand]

Sea shell in sand

Shell in Sand

An interesting perspective on a sea shell at the shore in the sand! This photo was taken at Moonee Beach in NSW, Australia.

Wave breaking over rocks

Wave Breaking

Wave breaking

This photo shows the amazing power of a wave! The splash from this wave has burst high into the air, and it's movement is captured in the image, making it seem as if the wave is about to fall to the ground as you watch! This photo is also taken at Moonee Beach, near Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia.