The art of spiders

László Novák's Image

Vast blankets of shimmering spider silk were lit in the soft dawn light that bathed this roadside meadow.

László returned to the site over several mornings, using a wide-angle lens to highlight the expanse of silk created by millions of spiders, and on this day was gifted with a pink sunrise. To move from one area to another, many spiders balloon, climbing to the top of a plant and releasing gossamer threads into the air hoping to be picked up by the wind. Usually this takes them just a few metres, but they can also be blown over long distances, even over sea. Some of the first colonisers of islands are ballooning spiders.


Behind the lens

László Novák

László Novák

Hungary

Laszlo started photographing wildlife at the age of 22. His favourite subject was initially birds, but he later became interested in the many different branches of nature. Laszlo takes photos in many different countries, but Hungary remains his focus. He has won the Hungarian Photographer of the Year title three times.

Image details

  • Canon EOS 5D 17-40mm f4 lens at 25mm
  • 10 sec at f22
  • ISO 200
  • Balatonfokajar, Hungary
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