Stephen Dalton is a celebrated pioneer of high-speed wildlife photography, with a devoted following among nature lovers and photographers. He is the author of 15 books.
Dalton dispels one of the biggest myths about spiders, namely that
most species are creatures of sunlight.... Dalton captures these
fascinating creatures through more than 250 spectacular photographs
documenting various species, ... His ability to capture the elusive
world of spiders is what makes this book exceptional. It is "must"
reading for nature buffs, photographers and even those of us who
are occasionally captivated by the beauty of a spider's intricate
silky web.-- (10/09/2008)
I have never warmed much to spiders...[they] are too creepy, and
have too many legs and eyes, for me and others like me to
appreciate their undoubted beauty and elegance as hunters. Well,
I'm wrong and this book has changed my mind. Spiders are tops....
There are many of them in this beautifully illustrated book. Dalton
has very sensibly focused on spiders as hunters. His gallery is
broadly divided into spiders that trap their prey in webs of
various shapes, race after it, ambush unsuspecting bugs or lasso
them with silken ropes, or spit glue at them, or put out tripwires
or fishing lines.... Although there are excellent field guides on
the market, spiders lose something when they are portrayed as mere
specimens. They need to be doing something in order to show their
characteristic postures and behaviour. This book is a revelation of
the enormous diversity [that] lies within that basic eight-legged
format; one is tempted to think there is no such thing as a dull
spider.-- (01/01/2009)
I heartily recommend Spiders, the Ultimate Predators. The book is
not meant to be a field guide or identification manual, rather it
is an introduction to the world of spiders. Stephen Dalton looks
into the lives of arachnids and gives many examples of fascinating
behaviors that will appeal to amateur naturalists. His tales of the
difficulty of photographing their lives will appeal to nature
photographers, while the exquisitely composed and crafted images
will thrill even professional arachnologists. The book shows how
dedication to a single subject and a non-compromising commitment to
quality can lead to a fine volume that deserves a place on the
shelves of all those, professional or amateur, who are fascinated
by spiders. For photomacrographers it is a monument to the art and
craft of photographing the tiny eight-legged denizens of the
natural world.-- (07/03/2010)
In this beautifully illustrated volume aimed at a general audience,
Dalton provides a highly selective rather than comprehensive
treatment of his subject. Nevertheless, the quality of the
photographs is simply outstanding, making the book a useful adjunct
to the more detailed monographs. The first chapter provides a short
introduction to the group and includes a description of spider
morphology and the major taxonomic groups. Subsequent chapters
describe the various hunting modes, including species active in the
day versus the night, jumping spiders, web builders, and tunnel web
spiders. Dalton's forte is his photographic expertise, and the
concluding chapter on techniques and equipment for photographing
spiders will thus be of great benefit to scientists and
nonscientists alike.... Recommended.-- (05/01/2009)
Spiders are neglected by those interested in nature, both for their
"creepiness" factor and the fact that most are not brightly
colored. Dalton does much to dispel both negatives in this new
celebration of arachnids. Beginning with a basic chapter on what a
spider is (and is not), the author then examines representative
spiders from groups divided by hunting style.... Illustrating the
text are Dalton's exquisite close-up photos of spiders (mostly
found in Europe or the U.S.): the final chapter reveals Dalton's
secrets for photographing elusive subjects. YA: The hair-raising
factor will attract even arachnophobia teens.-- (11/15/2008)
This [8.75 x 11.25] coffee table book features detailed,
high-quality color photos on every page, illustrating information
on the array of techniques spiders use for catching their prey.
Chapters are divided according to the type of predator rather than
by family or habitat, and provide information on habitat, hunting
techniques, anatomy, general characteristics, and location. The
spiders covered are the most important families common to both
northern Europe and North America, plus a few that thrive on one
continent but not the other. The book also includes a guide to
photographing spiders. Dalton is a pioneer of high-speed wildlife
photography and the author of 15 books.-- (09/01/2009)
This beautifully executed book captures the elusive world of
spiders through more than 250 spectacular photographs.--Larry
Cox"Tucson Citizen" (01/01/2009)
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