I know this is a female since the males are significantly smaller (less than a centimeter, [...]]]> This lady is an appropriately named Black and Yellow Garden Spider. I think I found one outside the front door about this time last year. This year she’s inside the screen door. I think they like the ivy.

I know this is a female since the males are significantly smaller (less than a centimeter, usually) and have more muted colours. However, it’s very likely there is a male around. These spiders make really nice spherical webs, and the males come in and make the messy zigzags all over the place.

Here is a picture of one next to a quarter for scale. As you can see, Ms. Spider wins for size, but the quarter wins for shiny.

I was hoping to get natural light pictures, but sadly there’s a reasonable breeze so I still had to use the flash. But hey.

Here’s a close-up. And people think Michelle Bachmann has [...]]]> Mr. Dragonfly was still there this morning, so I went back with the ISO not turned up to Insane.

I was hoping to get natural light pictures, but sadly there’s a reasonable breeze so I still had to use the flash. But hey.

Here’s a close-up. And people think Michelle Bachmann has crazy eyes!

I spent an hour taking pictures of it, all the while forgetting that I set the ISO to A ZILLION to help me focus. So these are all a LOT noisier than they need to be. Oh well. This one’s [...]]]> I noticed this dragonfly sleeping outside while letting the dogs out for Last Call.

I spent an hour taking pictures of it, all the while forgetting that I set the ISO to A ZILLION to help me focus. So these are all a LOT noisier than they need to be. Oh well. This one’s still decent.

They’re actually quite skittish and tend to run away from people. This is a feature I appreciate in spiders.

Anyway, I found this one [...]]]> I saw one of these spiders a few years ago – it made a web in my driveway that was several feet across and I almost walked into it.

They’re actually quite skittish and tend to run away from people. This is a feature I appreciate in spiders.

Anyway, I found this one right by the front door. I was hoping to get a ring-flash to get REALLY good photos, but it’s not going to get here till Monday and it’s going to rain until then and the spider might be gone, so here’s what I’ve got so far.

Spider Glamour Shot!