I found a cool Crab Spider last weekend at my folks' cottage. It was clinging underneath some Goldenrod flowers and pretty much hidden from view, so using a small twig I gently coaxed it onto a better spot for this photo session. Once there it only took a few minutes for it to assume its typical "ambush" pose...these guys mean business!
I do wish for more room below...man I need to get some clamps to hold the stems steady from the wind!! I also may create a version with more cropping above, to just below the yellowish spot at top center.
Canon 7D + 100mm f/2.8 macro, 1/200s., f/7.1, ISO 800, 580 EX II flash @ -1 FEC, handheld, cropped for composition (about 75% FF).
Hi Daniel. I love crab spiders - they provide a lot of great photo opportunities and I'm always on the lookout for them. You captured a classic pose with excellent sharpness around the eyes and face. Nice job with the flash - it doesn't have that "flashed" look at all. The comp works for me, as presented, though I can see where the alternatives you suggested would also work well. To my eye, the spider and flowers have a slight greenish caste - you might want to tweak the color balance. This is very well done!
Hi Daniel. Steve nailed it in his comments about the image; wonderful sharpness, great pose, good lighting, nice composition...and, to my eye as well, a slight greenish caste that I noticed particularly in the legs and body of the spider. I do think the crop from the top that you mentioned would strengthen the composition, but it stands on its own merit as well. Nicely done!
Looks just fine to me, the interest lies with the spider, a little of the top maybe but no big deal. I don't see any significant noise to worry about either. The thing that really gets my attention are those eyes.