Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/10/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have taken hundreds of photographs of spider webs, though usually with a Speed Graphic and not a Leica. There are two secrets: 1. Lighting. Stark high-contrast sidelight works best for me. 2. Moisture. Wet webs look better. Natural Lighting is best at sunrise. There is no dew at sunset. If you are not doing photojournalism, then take along an atomizer that can put a very fine mist of water on the spider web. In a perfect world, there would be morning dew, but... (Some people consider it to be cheating to spray mist on a web.) Pictures come out best when there is a dark background and the light is nearly parallel to it. Polarizers give interesting effects but I don't like them. If you are trying to create otherworldly effects, you can atomize liquids other than water onto the web. I found a solution of 1/4 Windex and 3/4 water gave very interesting effects, as did corn oil. I might be able to find some old prints. I usually printed spider web shots on a G surface, which doesn't scan well.