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Gil Wizen's Image
After noticing tiny spiders all over his bedroom, Gil looked under his bed. There, guarding its brood, was one of the world’s most venomous spiders. Before safely relocating it outdoors, he photographed the human-hand-sized Brazilian wandering spider using forced perspective to make it appear even larger.
Brazilian wandering spiders roam forest floors at night in search of prey such as frogs and cockroaches. Their toxic venom can be deadly to mammals including humans, but it also has medicinal uses.
Watch photographer Gil Wizen explore the importance of this image and the lengths he went to take it.
Behind the lens
Gil Wizen
Israel / Canada
Gil is a naturalist and photographer with a love for small creatures. He has an MSc in zoology and entomology, specialising in animal behaviour, and aims to dispel concerns and misconceptions around arthropods. He is also a science communicator involved in educational programmes and displays using live arthropods. His work has been featured in many magazines, books, newspapers and broadcast media.
Image details
- Canon EOS 7D
- 14mm f2.8 lens
- 1/250 sec at f11 • ISO 400 Macro Twin Lite flash
- Puerto Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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