Female flower spider waiting to ambush prey on a seaside daisy. Palos Verdes, Southern California. Nikon D800E, Sigma 180mm f/2.8 OS Macro lens, single Nikon SB-R200 flash with diffuser @ 1:8 power, hand-held, Manual mode 1/200th s, f8, ISO 400. Image copyright 2012 Robert OToole Photography
If you are in Southern California there are still good conditions out there for macro photography I am glad to report. Last week we had a rare foggy/overcast fall morning and I was very lucky to find a flower spider on a fresh clean seaside daisy (these small lavender and yellow flowers are found naturally along the coast from Baja California up to Oregon). You need to hurry if you want to photograph flower spiders in California since they only live for one year they will be getting harder and harder to find in fall. Last month I watched one create a funnel shaped nest in the petals of a flower. This is the last stage in their short lifespan, once they create a nest they lay eggs they die. So if you are in California get out there and shoot with your macro lens.
Over the next weeks I will be spending as much time as possible field testing the new Sigma 180mm f2.8 OS macro and comparing it to my current favorites the Sigma 180mm f3.5 and the 150 f2.8 OS macros.
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