Caught in a Trap: Magnified Spiders Catch Flies

With thick hairy legs wrapped around its victim and eyes bulging, the images shed a new light on the eight-legged creatures who inhabit our homes. 

Photographer Sam Donato captured different species of spiders at his house in Nashville, USA.

Sam spent hours waiting for the arachnids to reveal their natural behaviour, using extension tubes and reverse mounted prime lenses with his camera to track the tiny beasts' lives.

He said: “The main problem with macro photography is that the subject must stay very still.

“An unoccupied spider, even if they are happy with their surroundings will move to clean themselves or sense their surroundings.

“As it began, I was scared and they were scared. I was impatient and they were impatient and as in any relationship, we had to learn to compromise and get along.

“What I found was that spiders are wonderful and curious creatures. If you make them comfortable and not threatened, they are delighted to sit and watch the lens.

“Spiders like to practice their amazing jumping ability, walk around on your hands and even let you pet them.

“These pictures are amazingly beautiful and they make me realise how wonderful these spiders are. The more I click them, the more I feel close to them.”