Vihaan Talya Vikas's Image

Vihaan Talya Vikas (India) watches as an ornamental tree trunk spider prevents its prey from escaping.

Visiting an ancient tamarind grove just kilometres from Bangalore Airport in India, Vihaan was struck by how an ornamental tree trunk spider seemed to have been entranced by the sound of Krishna’s flute.

This species - a type of orb weaver spider - creates a wheel-shaped web of sticky threads to catch flying insects. As the spider grows, it elongates its web, which entangles anything that lands on it. The patterns on the spider’s back have been known to attract prey while its bright orange belly is thought to startle potential predators.

Dhritiman Mukherjee, Wildlife and Conservation Photographer and Competition Judge, commented that ‘this image conveys so many interesting things to me. What I like most is the thought process behind it and the composition of the image. It talks about coexistence very nicely. The inclusion of a historic sculpture adds a different dimension to the concept. Then here we are, seeing a spider - a smaller and less attended life form. So, for me, this one served the purpose of art, concept, conservation and science very nicely.’