Gaithersburg Photographer’s Close-Up Shot Of ‘Wolf Spider Mama’ Wins Annual Contest

Cora Wilson
Nov 30, 2023
Nov 30, 2023

Gaithersburg photographer Ben Salb’s close-up shot of a mother spider has earned him first place in the Insects and Arachnids category in the Nature Conservancy annual contest.

His winning shot offers an intimate glimpse into the world of a mother wolf spider with many spiderlings on her back.

Amid the vast pool of photographers, Ben Salb emerged triumphant in a prestigious worldwide contest, triumphing over 80,000 contenders with his compelling entry titled "Wolf Spider Mama."

The enchanting photograph was taken in a local park in Gaithersburg, showcasing Salb's mastery of focus stacking. This intricate technique involved capturing 129 individual photos, meticulously combining them to highlight various details, and creating the final mesmerizing image.

Although photography is not his primary profession, Salb, who delved into the craft during the pandemic, received a noteworthy prize—a $1,000 Amazon gift card. “Not too bad, got some Christmas shopping money,” he said.

“There was kind of an international wave of people who started the bug photography and macro photography at the same time,” Salb also said. “There was kind of an international wave of people who started the bug photography and macro photography at the same time."

His journey into bug photography shared on his Instagram page @bens_small_world, has not only earned accolades but also succeeded in reshaping perspectives on insects, inviting viewers to see them in a whole new light.

Here are some photos taken by Ben Salb: