Anyone who knows me, knows that me describing anything with eight legs as a “friend” is about as likely as me discovering I can fly! However, let me present some evidence that indicates I’m now finally able to get a mere lens-length or so away

This little fella (body length less than 1/2″, this is the full frame image as taken) had taken up residence on my rotary washing line and from somewhere I finally acquired the backbone to get close enough to point the camera at it. And a second one I found elsewhere – miracles will never cease. The focus doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny but it was a breezy afternoon and so I’m quite pleased with the results. The breeze stopped me trying extension tubes on the macro lens – not to mention I would probably have squealed and run away if I had had a closer look but maybe, just maybe, I might get there some day!

A few more shots of my new eight-legged “friend”, plus a selection of recent flower and fly images (mostly flies on flowers it has to be said …) can be found in a new album I’ve just uploaded here. Apart from 4 shots, all the images in this gallery were taken using natural light only.