Spiders and I have a Love/Hate relationship.  I truly think they’re beautiful and love most everything about them – but they creep me out!  I didn’t grow up with a phobia of spiders, I think it started after watching the movie Arachniphobia.   That movie pretty much sealed the deal on any exotic tropical island vacations for me!   Well lately there’s been an amazing web directly out our front door that lights up between 9-11AM when the sun is peaking over the tops of the trees.  I’ve done a few ‘sessions’ to try and get the crystal clear focus on the web strands, but have never seen the spider – until today.  This morning, I was in a hurry to get out the door to run some kid-free errands, and when I bolted out the front door and looked up to see if the web was still there, I was frozen in awe at the huge, wicked spider hanging out in the middle.    I turned around, unlocked the door and went to get my camera… 30 minutes later I was back on my way out the door. 

  I’m so glad I took the time to capture this guy as he (and the great light on the web) was gone after I got back.  These are almost straight out of the camera – all I did was boost the contrast a bit to help bring out his colors and the web.   If you have any idea what type of spider this is, I’d love to know – especially if it’s NOT the kind that will bite with venom!