Itsy Bitsy Spider II

[David N Smith]

I took this shot in my wife's flowerbed this weekend. I am wondering if I should have used a wider aperture in order to have blurred the background more? Also how is composition & exposure? Any other critiques will be welcome.
Thanks for looking.

David

EXIF:
Camera: Canon 60D
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/6.3
ISO: 100
Lens: Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4
HH

This is a repost of one I had earlier where the photo did not attach. If the moderators would like to delete the first one that would be fine.

David

[Arthur Morris]

Hi David, Exposure looks pretty good but the spiders head looks as if it is in the shadow of its body. You could have selectively lightened that area. I like your rule of thirds placement of the subject. The image, however, does not work for me at all; I think that you took the wrong lens out of your bag. Working so wide brought in all the vegetation as well as the sky; both detract. Before I continue let me know if you had any longer lenses to choose from.

[David N Smith]

Arthur, thanks for your response. Critique like this is what I am looking for, things I could do to make my photos stand out.
I do have a longer lens, a Tamron SP 70-300, in fact I was only at 25mm on my Sigma 17-70 so I could have zoomed out more with it. The one problem I had was this was in my wife's rose bushes so I had trouble getting in position to compose this shot, if it had not been for the articulating screen on my 60D I am not sure I could gotten this as good as I did.
Again thanks for the critique and I will gladly accept any critique you have to offer.

David

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for the additional info David. My pleasure. As a bird photographer who uses long lenses and owns the 180 macro my immediate reaction here was: use your longest focal length to narrow the field of view and work wide open to soften up the BKGR vegetation while eliminating the sky :)

[David N Smith]

Artie,
I will definetely keep your ideas in mind for future captures. I feel I have a pretty good handle on using my camera but my problem is with composition which I feel is what you were telling me with your critique.

David

[Arthur Morris]

You are correct sir!

[Dave Leroy]

It is a great looking spider and well worth the effort to try another approach. In your wife's flower bed makes it nice and handy as well.

[David N Smith]

Thanks for your comments Dave. Nice and handy yes, cooperative on the part of the spider not as easy.

David