Stunning Rainbow Spider Web!

Rainbow Spider Web

Colorful Banded Radius Thread

Sticky Spiral Threads

Close-Up of Sticky Spiral Threads

Spiral Threads with Round Sticky Droplets

Magnified Close-Up of Web’s Diffraction Pattern

Have you ever seen rainbow colors in a spider web?   We NEVER had until now.  Richard photographed a spider web from below using a zoom lens already on the camera.  Sunlight was hitting the spider web from above, and the web was silhouetted against a dark background.  Magic!  (Click images to magnify for full effect.)  Rainbow colors appeared in the silk strands of the web.   When magnified later on the computer, the effect was stunning!  The colors result from the way sunlight is scattered by the spider web strands (it acts like a prism).  Diffraction patterns result from interference of the sun’s rays with the web’s sticky silk droplets.  Truly amazing and unique!

Daisies Magnified by Water Drops

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Sky Blue Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Lavender Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Pink Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Dark Blue Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Teal Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Red Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Orange Background

Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Green Background

Striped Daisy Magnified by Water Drops with Purple Background

Red Daisy Magnified by Water Drops on Flower Stem

Daisies Magnified by Water Drops Hanging from Plant Stem

I think it is fascinating what beauty surrounds us if we simply stop and take a closer look.  For example, next time you are in the garden after it rains, take a real close look at the water drops.  Images are there!  Each water drop acts like a magnifying lens for whatever is behind it.  This type of photography requires very fine focusing with a tripod and good lighting.  It works best with symmetrical flowers like daisies, because magnification turns the image upside-down.  These flower photos are exactly as seen and not computer-generated.