Watching and waiting

[blacknstormy]

Hi all - been out in the bush looking for koala 'poos' (and yes, I do have some photos of them), and came across this beautiful Huntsman on the side of a gum tree. Got as close as I dared (biggest damn spider I've ever seen), and got a shot. Close crop, but I wanted to draw attention to the eyes, and palps. Would have been better with the front legs, but the best I could do in the circumstances - he was getting a bit 'antsy'.
Hope you like
Rel

[stubbsy]

Great shot. Shows how beautifully camouflaged they are in their natural environment and is certainly much closer than I'd like to get (although I have to say this is the one spider I tolerate and never kill unless they play kamikaze)

[the foto fanatic]

Just what I was going to say, stubbsy.

The pic has an interesting eye-level perspective and even though we don't have the full wingspan of the huntsman, he sure looks like he means business.

[edneeves]

[pommie]

I assume that these things bite, hell what doesn't in this country. How quickly before your on your back

[/pommie]

[mudder]

This is great Love the colours and angles... Hmmm what was the focal length again

[blacknstormy]

Thanks everyone for your comments - he was definitely a beauty.
I took the shot with my Tamron (same as always), F8 at 210mm (315 35mm equivalent) with flash.

And, yes they do bite - hurt like hell but that's about it.
Wouldn't like to be a small insect though

[Willy wombat]

I like it DnS. It is certainly not one for the arachnophobes. The eyes are freaky. Lovely detail on the legs with the hairs too.

[big pix]

.....great pix...... looks like he has an eye or 4 on you.....