Photographing Your Spiders

In the warmer months, I receive several emails every day with pictures of spiders attached, asking me to identify the spiders. Not only do I NOT mind answering these emails, I am always glad for them as I am always looking for new pictures that are of good quality. Unfortunately the pictures of real quality are far and few between, so I thought I would write an article that may help people get better pictures.

Now believe me, I understand that not everyone has a good camera. If all you own is a phone with a low level camera, and you cant get a clear picture of the spider, that is fine. If you want a spider identified and cannot find it for yourself on Michigan Spiders, then any picture is more helpful than no picture. The very worst that will come from a bad quality picture is that I wont be able to give you a good identification and will only give you a guess.

#1) rule in sending me a picture of a spider - Please send it as an attachment in a JPEG or BMP format. If I can open the picture as an attachment, I have the opportunity of zooming in and seeing more detail that I cannot get when it is pasted in the body of the email. Plus, if it is a good clear picture and you paste it in the body, I may not be able to copy and save it with enough quality to use on my site or book.

#2) Lighting - No I am not going to get all techical on you here. I am no photographer myself. One thing I have learned is that there are different types of light. The very best for taking pictures is real daylight light. Pictures taken in real daylight will often come out clearer than any other lighting. The next best is florescent lighting and the worst seems to be from standard light bulbs. I have found that with florescent lighting, my pictures even with a cheep low quality camera will be much more clear and detailed than with standard bulbs. Standard lighting (known in the film industry as "yellow" light) gives a picture a very grainy quality.

#3) Be Calm - I know you may be scared of spiders and this will make you a little more shaky. It will tend to make you afraid to get too close. Keep in mind that most spiders do not jump and will not launch themselves at you or your camera. The Jumping spiders we have in Michigan are not dangerous. The only spider you need to genuinely fear in Michigan is the Black Widow. If it is not a Widow, you do not need to be afraid of it. If it is a Widow, it still wont jump at you, so just dont touch it. But if you can calm your fears long enough to get a closer picture without shaking the camera, you will get a much higher quality picture.

#4) If you are using a real camera and not a simple phone camera, there is a good chance you have the Macro option. It will have a symbol of a flower. A tulip I think? This function allows you to focus on an object that is much closer to the camera. I am talking even less than an inch away. It will limit your zooming function but still allow you a much closer up shot of a spider than you would get without it. This is awesome for helping you get a picture of a spider's eye pattern and that is awesome for helping me identify the spider.

#5) Use a Quarter - If you can get a picture of the spider on or next to a quarter, it helps others who see it have a good idea how big your spider is. You can use other items as well, like a ruler, a bottle cap and so on. As long as it is something that is always one size and people are familiar with it. That is why I like to use quarters if I think of it. Everyone is very familiar with the size of a quarter. This will not help me identify it much, but it will come in handy for the viewers if I should use your picture in my site or book.

As I mentioned. I am no professional photographer. There may be some tips others can give that I am not aware of. If you have anything to add that will be of help to others (especially the novice), please add to this in the comment section.

The Effects of Introducing Drugs to Spiders

This is a short documentary (1:51) about the scary effects the different drugs have when introduced to spiders.

However, I must make a couple points. They call the spider within this video a Wood Spider. It is in fact a simple Garden Orb Weaver.

The commentator unprofessionally uses a couple of medium level swear words. Please be advised if you are to let your children see this video.

Beyond Spider Dome - Index

Even though I run Michigan Spiders, I am not some activist who believes you should never kill spiders. I see the outside of my home as their turf and will let them roam free so long as they stay outside. However, if a spider ventures into my territory (my home), they do so at the risk of death by cat, my wife and her vacuum, me with a shoe, or entering Spider Dome!

What is Spider Dome you ask? Why it's only the fiercest competition in the spider kingdom, that's all it is! Spider Dome is a clear plastic dome (well, it's more like a cylinder, really), where two spiders are entered to face each other in a fight to the death. The battles are fierce and merciless. The bloodshed is... well its non-existant really, as they do not bleed like people do. The champion will be kept as my personal pet at my work, and will be given feasts in the likes of small crickets until they are fat.

WARNING** -- If you are weak at heart and the sight of a spider dying causes your stomach to feel queezy to the point of losing yesterdays lunch, you might need to take a couple tough pills and call me in the morning. Oh, and you might not want to watch any videos in these articles.

Hahriette - The first Champion of "Beyond Spider Dome" 
An article introducing the world to Hahriette, the first champion of Spider Dome and to Spider Dome itself.

Beyond Spider Dome - Episode One
Hahriette is 2-0 (both victories against Steotodas) entering this match. For the first time, she faces real competition. A foe who is quick, aggressive and willing to fight back. Then be chased around the domee before finally attacking again.