A spectrum of silk - Antti Partanen - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2011

2011: Creative Visions - Highly Commended

Antti Partanen Enlarge image A spectrum of silk

Antti Partanen (Finland)

A spectrum of silk

The setting was a bog in Siikainen, Finland. Draped over the plants were dew-drenched spiderwebs, sparkling in the early morning sun. But it was only when Antti looked at the dew drops through his viewfinder that the transformation happened. If he moved the focus a little behind or in front of the droplets, rainbow colours became visible. To bring out the colours clearly in the photograph, he had to focus on the dew, use long shutter times and move the camera during the exposure. He took nearly 200 shots in an attempt to capture the effect, but few of the photographs satisfied him. Finally, the following summer, he got pictures that he felt did justice to the phenomenon.

Pentax K10D + Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 macro lens; 1/10 sec at f25; ISO 125.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.