How To Photograph Spider Webs

Spider webs are a popular subject in photography thanks to their fascinating shapes and delicate structure. They are usually very easy to find too, but they aren't always easy to photograph. These tips will help you capture some perfect spider web photos.

When To Shoot

Shoot early in the morning to capture dew and avoid the wind. Image by ap.

The best time to photograph spider webs is on a still day. Due to their lightness, spider webs can easily get blown around in the wind, leading to problems with focussing and blurry photos.

If you can't shoot on a still day, try to find a spider web in a sheltered spot where it won't feel too much wind, and shoot in between gusts. An umbrella is also a great way to shield the web from the elements.

Early morning tends to be the best time of day to shoot because there generally isn't much wind. You also get the added bonus of morning dew adorning your spider web.

Choose Your Viewpoint

Spider web photographed on a plain background

Photograph your spider web on a plain background. Image by David H-W.

Look at the spider web from both sides to see if the light catches one side better than the other. Often the web can look entirely different on each side, so be sure to choose the best one!

Close one eye and move your head about to find a plain background behind your spider web. This helps the web to stand out. Also make sure there are no distracting elements in the background which might draw attention away from the web.

Spider webs are a part of nature, so try to avoid including un-natural, man-made objects in the background, such as cars and buildings. Of course if your aim is to photograph a spider web in an urban environment, make sure you do include these elements.

Set Up Your Equipment

Use a tripod and manual focus when photographing spider webs. Image by Telemachus.

Use a wide aperture to blur the background of your photo and focus the viewer's attention on the spider web. Be aware that using a wide aperture will give you a narrow depth of field, so you need to be extra careful when focussing.

Use manual focus - auto focus will have a hard time focussing on the fine threads of your web, and will most likely end up focussing right through it to the background. Because of the wide aperture, it's essential that your focussing is spot on, so take your time.

Use a tripod if at all possible. With such a narrow depth of field you want to minimise camera movement as much as possible, and a tripod is the best way to do that.

Flash can sometimes enhance the spider web, bringing out details and making it stand out more from the background. Other times, natural light works best, so experiment with both.

Composition

Place the centre of the spider web off centre, and include a focal point such as the spider itself. Image by Lucas Cavalheiro.

Zoom in - the most interesting part of a spider web is the centre, so get in close. Don't try to photograph the entire web because the threads will be too thin to see clearly.

Place the middle of the web off-centre. This usually creates a more interesting and balanced composition. Sometimes the symmetry of placing the web in the centre of your frame can work well too.

Include the spider or a trapped insect to add a focal point to the scene and add additional interest.

Dew-covered spider webs look great and are also easier to photograph - the water droplets thicken the web so that it shows up better, and they also weigh the web down so that it sways less in the wind. Early morning is the best time for this, before the sun has had time to evaporate the night's condensation.