TINY WORLDS IN MINIATURE

There is a certain time in the year when gardens, hedgerows, trees, leaves and flowers become covered in spiders webs. September, the beginning of Autumn used to signal the start of this event. Sometimes known as the ‘Season of the Spider’ this wonderful spectacle is best observed early in the mornings, when the dew and autumnal mists haven’t had chance to be burnt away by the sun.

It is a time of year when spiders, such busy and industrious, little insects most of the time become especially active. It’s possible that spiders are now active all year round given the changing climate/global warming of our planet and the merging of the seasons. Once upon a time each season had it’s own distinctive weather cycles, now they all seem to blend together.

Perhaps one of the reasons we notice this beautiful, natural phenomenon during the month of September, is that at this time of year the temperature still drops slightly lower during the night and the dew remains longer in the mornings, making the webs much more visible to the observer. Whatever the reasons, it is a splendid time for photographers, or indeed anyone who is interested in photographing nature.

The images you see here are from a selection taken in our back garden during 2019 and 2020. Some of the webs appear crazy and chaotic, others are elegant and minimal, some are formed across many different layers and appear very deep. Whatever the case, all have been woven by spiders.

Capturing the beauty of spiders webs with early morning dew and if you’re lucky the spider as well, has always been a favourite photographic subject for us. The reflections captured in those tiny droplets of water suspended from the webs - especially with macro photography - can produce the most beautiful images. Sometimes it appears there is a whole world captured and reflected within each droplet.

It is very tempting to give spiders personalities, indeed many fantastic stories have been written to this effect. Often spiders are seen as insects of evil, or they’re considered to be magical. In some stories spiders are portrayed as kind and wise ( see Charlotte’s Web ) but more often than not it is the idea of the eight legs and eight eyes which give the spider its more sinister appeal.

Despite this many people consider spiders to be absolutely wonderful, little creatures. They are fabulous to photograph, whether in their natural habitat or a studio setting and will often display their own original characteristics for the camera.

Each spider creates its home, making each web unique. These fantastic and beautiful structures are created with the finest spun silk and are both complex and fascinating, a joy to behold. Each time a web gets damaged the industrious, little insect sets about busily repairing its home.

For truly a spiders web is its home and within this home the spider is the sole ruler of its kingdom.

Hence the title of this project ‘Kingdom Of The Spider’.

Long live spiders!

Enjoy

Christine and Alastair