Chiiz Volume 11 : Macro Photography

Maratus hortorum - Perth Western Australia
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II 65mm F/13 1/200s ISO100
Discovery of a New Species
Project Maratus Michael Doe
Michael Doe is a 44-year-old living in Sydney,
Australia. In his spare time, he photographs
peacock spiders and belongs to a non-profit
group called Project Maratus, where they
are researching the ecology and distribution
of these unique Australian arachnids. Their
project has taken them all around the country
and in the course of their travels, they have
discovered seven new species. Here is the
conversation between Aditi Puranik from
chiiz and Michael Doe.
When was the first time you felt an
inclination towards macro photography
and why?
I have always been interested in animals but it
was not until I bought my first digital camera,
a Canon powershot 1, several years ago
and started photographing the invertebrates
around my home that I truly fell in love
with photography and particularly macro
photography. Being able to see the details
that the eye cannot see is amazing , even a
common fly looks great when viewed up
close.
Maratus volans or The peacock spiders are
new and unknown species for the people.
What makes them different from the
others, thereby increasing the importance
of the project?
Peacock spiders are the jumping spiders found
only in Australia. Male’s bold colours and
their courtship display set them apart from
other species. Their courtship interactions are
truly unique and this interesting behaviour is
the key of unlocking many future scientific
discoveries in communication and signalling
in species. Even people who are afraid
of spiders find peacock spiders cute and
endearing.
What kind of gears do you use for capturing
spiders?
My camera gear consists of a Canon 5D mark
III and a Canon 1D mark II, the lenses are
a Canon MP-E 65mm and a Canon 100mm
f/2.8L macro lens. I have kept with Canon
because of the MP-E and its ability to go 5x,
which is invaluable in photographing these
spiders which are 4mm on average.
I use a Canon MT-24EX flash unit with a
homemade diffuser, made from 4mm foam
covered with satin fabric.
What is the motive behind Project Maratus
and how does it works?
Project Maratus is a non-profit group
undertaking and promoting research of the
iconic australian peacock spiders. These
spiders are Australia’s “mini birds of paradise“
with their intricate and often flashy courtship
rituals. We are the first coordinated approach
into investigating their distributions
throughout Australia and the habitats they
depend upon. This information plays a vital
role in understanding their evolution and
ecology in our environment.
Maratus is indeed a rare species, what is the
best and the worst part of picking them as
a subject?
Some Maratus species are common but we
have found through our studies that some
are only found in unique habitats and are
harder to find. Australia, being such a large
country, means that we have had to travel
great distances sometimes up to 700 kms a
day to find suitable habitats.
The best and most rewarding part is
discovering a new species that has never been
seen before. Till date, our small group has
discovered seven new species.
Any tips for those who share an interest for
the same?
According to me, for any macro photographer
the most important thing is to get to know
your subject, its habitat, behaviour etc. The
more you understand the subject, the easier
it becomes to photograph them and above all,
practise all the time and never stop learning.
Aditi Puranik
aditi@chiiz.com
A budding journalist, Aditi watches the
world with wonder in her eyes. Talented
but lazy, introvert but sarcastic, she is a
nature lover, continuously trying to work on
her photography and writing skills. She is a
wanderer at heart and dreams of travelling
the world.
24 Vol 11