THIS SPIDER SPECIES (see photo above) builds its web among low shrubs or grass in moist locations close to rivers, streams or waterfalls. It is the Decorative Leucauge (Leucauge decorata) of the family of Big-jawed Spiders (Tetragnathidae).
 It is a common forest species and quite often one can find several webs in a well-shaded spot under some trees. Photographing this species presented a few problems which were not too difficult to overcome. I got a series of shots of this specimen after having initially frightened it away from its web.
 Because its web was strung very low, I had to get down really low to find a good composition. As I crouched to get a good angle, I accidentally shook the web and spooked the spider. I waited until it had made its way back to its web and tried again. Because it was in the shade, I had to use flash. Spider webs rarely show up well in photos taken with flash. So I used a secondary flash for side-lighting to "bring out" some strands of the web.
 I submitted one shot from this series to a photo contest organised

by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) in conjunction with World Environment Day in 1999. It won the top prize... which was quite a surprise to me. I had entered it merely to make up the maximum of five entries allowed for the contest.
 My family was happy to hear this news. It was my first big win in a photo contest after many, many, many years of photographing nature. There was "some write-up" on the winners in the local papers following the prize presentation. And friends in the Malaysian Nature Society celebrated with me.
 It was in this mood that I thought about settng up a website not only to commemorate this occasion but also to let others know about my links with nature and the Malaysian Nature Society. Yes, this website has been inspired by a spider... a spin-off from this one success that its photo has given me.
 In this website, I have reproduced my articles written for the Malaysian Naturalist, a quarterly magazine published by the MNS. You will find them in Folder 1 (on the left navigation bar). I have also

"archived" my articles that were published in other publications in Folders 2 to 7. All these articles are illustrated with photos that I have taken over a period of about 20 years as a hobby. ~ Chin Fah Shin