Portrait of an Adult Male Phidippus putnami Jumping Spider
Phidippus putnami has to be without doubt one of the most handsome salticids out there. I photographed this fantastically ornamental and fluffy guy back in August of 2010 and somehow must have looked over this shot (a significantly cropped single shot with the 50mm reversed to extension tubes). The anterior median eyes of these males are often a deeply vivid and saturated green like little emeralds (a bit like P. mystaceus), but despite being in immaculate shape, somehow this specimen's eyes were considerably less lackluster and more maroon than I've seen. Absolutely beautiful nonetheless - and maybe the "greenness" had more to do with my lighting setup than the specimen itself. Like all salticids, he had quite a personality and was a pretty tough subject to work with. After a couple hours, I eventually had to resort to photographing him through the mouth of a mason jar just to keep track of him. The method didn't help to ease the struggle much as he was big, healthy, and dead set on jumping right on the lens.
To flesh the story out a bit, I'll include the original description from August 3rd, 2010 coupled with my first posting of this guy, and additional detail shots in the comment section below:
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"Here's another one of those shots I've been planning on taking for years - and now I've gotten it - full frame as well! My daily wanderings paid off a couple days ago as I was making my way along a trail (following a large robber fly). A little form on the railing of a wooden bridge caught my eye from about 20 feet away, and as I took a couple steps closer - it spun around to greet me and I immediately recognized the face as an adult male Phidippus putnami.
These adult males have to be some of the wildest and hairiest spiders out there - the markings and tufts of hair are just unparalleled (excluding some of the really wild Habronattus species out west). "
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And for what it's worth, I recently started both a Google + account and a twitter if anyone would like to follow what's going on with me and my photography:
Comments and faves
Thankful!, Eddie The Bugman, [ raymond ], Josiane Santett, and 362 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Thomas Shahan (16 months ago | reply)
A still from a short video (which I'll get around to editing and posting eventually) I took on the bridge where I found him:
Another angle displaying all the wild tufts and markings on his cephalothorax:
His numerous attempts to clean his eyes with his palps allowed for a couple quick glimpses of his chelicerae and fangs:
A couple images of the odd tufts of hair on his front legs:
Another portrait with a bit better depth of field but a less exciting stance:
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And in other spider news, here's a video I shot recently of a quite large and beautiful Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) I found a couple weeks ago (click here or the image below to watch the video!)
Thankful! (16 months ago | reply)
Cuteness to the max!
Eddie The Bugman (16 months ago | reply)
Awesomeness, I love your Salticidae captures so much, wish we had these colourful species in the UK, however, I still love our less elaborate and smaller UK versions LOL :o)
kiernter (16 months ago | reply)
NIce. I wish we had these in Singapore...
PKski (16 months ago | reply)
Beautifully done.
ogunturkay (16 months ago | reply)
Great shot Mr. Shahan!.. Congrats...
SMB(spidermanbryce) (16 months ago | reply)
awesome shot!
S.Gerwel (16 months ago | reply)
Great macro!!!!Fabulous!!!
Dave Berryman (16 months ago | reply)
Wowzers! Great shot
Gerris2 (16 months ago | reply)
They are indeed beautiful animals. Look at the hairy legs, it's crazy hairiness!
shadowshador (16 months ago | reply)
Awesome shot.
slyppe (16 months ago | reply)
Amazing and informative!
This photo was invited and added to the Order: Araneae group.
jimberneike (16 months ago | reply)
Handsome creature is lucky to have such a brilliant portrait photographer.
Zombie37 (16 months ago | reply)
Eeeeee!
bevcraigwhite (16 months ago | reply)
impressive work...on a gorgeous bit of the natural world....thanks for posting !
*This is a *Brilliant~Eye~Jewel!*
You are invited to add your picture to our pool!
*Please tag with BEJ*.
RealHappyLad (16 months ago | reply)
Thank you for these totally fantastic images!
jean670650 (16 months ago | reply)
Wow, this is one scary spider!
Kvejlend (16 months ago | reply)
veeery nice jumper Thomas ! :)
good work
dannchez (16 months ago | reply)
So full of win. I love these shots.
amillionwalks (16 months ago | reply)
Seen in ALL ABOUT INSECTS & SPIDERS
All About Insects & Spiders
If you receive 4 or more awards, please post medium size to our awards thread.
Simon ©artwright (16 months ago | reply)
Another great shot! What make of extension tubes are you using btw? Looking to get a set for my Canon 40D/50mm f1.8 combo.
micxs032(al michael) (16 months ago | reply)
amazing details here..
Darren Post (16 months ago | reply)
Brilliant Macro :-)
Seen in
Closer and Closer Macro Photography
-=[Joms]=- (16 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot my friend. Cracking details.
epedQ (16 months ago | reply)
You are just so cool. This picture is incredible. Like them all :)
Mr.Kay Photography (16 months ago | reply)
Amazing.
krom1975 (16 months ago | reply)
You are just the best in macro photography Thomas.
Can i ask whats the pro to change from reversed 28mm to reversed 50mm + tubes like you did in last years?
Ezhil Ramalingam (16 months ago | reply)
Great documentation, Thomas !!! Loved the video of the black widow too !!!
Have a great day !!!
Ray Seagrove (16 months ago | reply)
Superb.
Seen In Beautiful Bugs!
© Jeff_C (Busy) (16 months ago | reply)
Very wonderful..Details are superb..
MD_MC (16 months ago | reply)
Rating: ★★★★★
Excellent shot!
Dougeee (16 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shots!!!!
I do love that spider.
Ray Seagrove (16 months ago | reply)
Great shot.
seattlerayhutch45 (16 months ago | reply)
Awesome arachnid image and a fantastic pictorial story and description! Great work!
princecody (16 months ago | reply)
Id say you and collin hutton are tied for best jumper shot followed by me!
sigill (medium35.com) (16 months ago | reply)
Great shot.
Zeen. (16 months ago | reply)
beautiful!
van zyl (16 months ago | reply)
excellent detail
RonW's pictures (16 months ago | reply)
excellent shot. Jumping spiders are just so photogenic.
MacroJussi [deleted] (16 months ago | reply)
Omg!
Awesome!!!
alcedofoto. (16 months ago | reply)
Magnifica
akemp42 (16 months ago | reply)
You are a brave man, but we appreciate it! Great shots.
mark.photos (16 months ago | reply)
Very impressive shots!
Pfitzner Photography (16 months ago | reply)
He's pretty cute! Wonderful capture!
A.Alwosaibie (16 months ago | reply)
very beautiful work..
robertopastor (16 months ago | reply)
Impresionante , fantástico retrato.
Saludos
Pablo Bou (16 months ago | reply)
Awsome Picture
Roberto. Smith [deleted] (16 months ago | reply)
Fearsome looking creature, the markings appear to suggest the mimmicking of large teeth.
JJ_portraits (16 months ago | reply)
Great shot Thomas. As a newbie to reversed lens work could I ask what aperture you are using, as at the moment (winter time in the UK so pretty dull) I find it next to impossible to see anything through the viewfinder at f8 or over (with either a reversed 50 or 38mm lens with 65mm extension tubes)? Do I need to shoot things more in direct sunlight (with fill-in flash) to get results, as it would be next to impossible to focus and then stop down on a moving object?
Norm Townsend (16 months ago | reply)
Great series Thomas and I really liked the music on your video d:^)