They Shoot Spider Don't They?

You might be wondering how all this come about... no, it got nothing to do with Spiderman :)

I was sitting on the carpeted floor watching TV while having dinner on our second hand coffee table when I felt a sharp pain on my lower right shin.

What do you know, I was bitten by a Kiwi spider and I am bleeding! The creature was squashed to a pulp when I felt the pain so I do not know what species it was, but knowing there are not that many poisonous spiders in NZ I felt pretty reassured!

Don't be so sure if you are living in Australia though :-)

I then remember the picture of a BIG spider I took at the Brisbane airport. Why in the world do I photographed a spider you asked. Story....

How do you kill time when you arrived at Brisbane airport at 6 am (Australian) and your connecting flight home to Wellington was 4 hour away?


They shoot spider don't they?

I saw this creature outside the airport window framed against a glorious Australian sun rise.

Shot with a Kodak DCS 560 six mega pixel digital camera that Kodak Malaysia loan me. That was in 2001 and the camera cost a whopping RM 120,000 (US$40,00)!!

Thank you Kodak :-) The lens was a Canon 80-200 EF f2.8 plus a 1.4 extender.

The effective focal length was actually more than 280mm because of the "crop factor". Full aperture was used. The camera was supported with a Manfroto Carbon monopod. Image was interpolated with Fractal Print Pro.

Steve srhookem reckoned:

"I really hate spiders! This looks great against that sky. Perfect for Halloween. I would like to see a little of the web he's hanging on. Can a light line be added in PS? NEW THOUGHT adding a web line may make it look like the spider was added too. I would clone out the window reflections however."

Ricardo stormric said:

"This is a weird idea but you catch it, great job!"

Still at the Brisbane Airport I took some shots of a JAL Jumbo arriving, same lens and same setup.

Lydia from Australia comment:

"Great photo. Love the colours and the location of the photo. Well done. Oh and by the way - don't forget to come back to Aussie one day, Queensland is such a lovely place. Chloe/Australia!!"

During my four years stint in Kuala Lumpur I always fly Qantas because of the air points.

There is nothing wrong with the "Flying Roos", but when it stopped flying to KL; I am in for a LONG HAUL! Did you know that I calculated it took me more than TWENTY hours to get from Wellington to KL?

Phew.... So when I was stuck in one of those "waiting game", this time in Sydney Airport; I took this shot. Good old film camera, my Nikon F3P and the 300/4.5 IF-ED Nikkor.

This picture was shot through the huge glass panel at the waiting lounge. The "haze" on the left is the heat wave from the jet engine on the left.

Julian, a pilot from Taiwan like the shot:

"Thanks CY, I love aviation photos. It's a pity that the sky is grey, but the composition is so nice. I like the heat wave, the 2 planes, and you even included the tug driver, clearly stated your style! Next time get the pilots, please?"

George Fay, a master pilot who train pilots point out:

"You're right... we fly boys love it! but the wrong airline and color! :) And a small correction... the heat wave is from the aircraft's APU (auxiliary power unit)...

yes, technically a small jet engine, but not used in flight on the 747. Oh, and I note you have "people" on the baggage tug on the ground! :) Nice composition and color."

So next time you are stuck in an International Airports, don't fuss; whip out your camera and go spider and plane hunting!

What about my spider bite? Well, I got a Band-Aid over the wound and wondering why I did not turn into Spiderman!

Happy webbing!!