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Michael Pankratz’s intriguing works focus specifically on the feet of tarantulas – an appendage that many have perhaps never focused on. The extreme close-ups of tarantulas’ “paws” show fine, colourful hairs, and sharp claws. The 54-year-old photographer said that he actually developed a fair amount of arachnophobia in his younger years, but when dealing with tarantulas, Michael said, those feelings would go away. The scientific name for the makeup of a spider’s “paw” is a tarsus, one of eight parts that make up a single one of the insect’s leg. But the legs themselves also happen to look adorable close-up – something that Michael is keen to point out. In his lifetime, the photographer has raised more than 100 tarantulas, and his photo archive is now into the tens of thousands. His fascination with their feet specifically, Michael said, came from how macro photographs would offer “surreal and vibrant displays of form and colour, often exhibited by the tufts of setae (tiny hairs) surrounding the spiders’ tibial claws”. Here: Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. His fascination with their feet specifically, Michael said, came from how macro photographs would offer “surreal and vibrant displays of form and color, often exhibited by the tufts of setae (tiny hairs) surrounding the spiders' tibial claws”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Michael Pankratz’s intriguing works focus specifically on the feet of tarantulas – an appendage that many have perhaps never focused on. The extreme close-ups of tarantulas’ “paws” show fine, colourful hairs, and sharp claws. The 54-year-old photographer said that he actually developed a fair amount of arachnophobia in his younger years, but when dealing with tarantulas, Michael said, those feelings would go away. The scientific name for the makeup of a spider’s “paw” is a tarsus, one of eight parts that make up a single one of the insect’s leg. But the legs themselves also happen to look adorable close-up – something that Michael is keen to point out. In his lifetime, the photographer has raised more than 100 tarantulas, and his photo archive is now into the tens of thousands. His fascination with their feet specifically, Michael said, came from how macro photographs would offer “surreal and vibrant displays of form and colour, often exhibited by the tufts of setae (tiny hairs) surrounding the spiders’ tibial claws”. Here: Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. His fascination with their feet specifically, Michael said, came from how macro photographs would offer “surreal and vibrant displays of form and color, often exhibited by the tufts of setae (tiny hairs) surrounding the spiders' tibial claws”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Encyocratella olivacea sling, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Encyocratella olivacea sling, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. “It's also connected me with a world of friends who, like me, have discovered a passion for tarantulas”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. “It's also connected me with a world of friends who, like me, have discovered a passion for tarantulas”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Brachypelma albopilosum, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Brachypelma albopilosum, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Psalmopoeus cambridgei, on its back while molting. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Psalmopoeus cambridgei, on its back while molting. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia variegata, adult female, legspan. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia variegata, adult female, legspan. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia variegata, foot detail. Of his images, Michael said: “Through these macro lenses and their images were able to travel into the world of our minuscule subjects, to go eye-to-eye with them in a direct encounter”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia variegata, foot detail. Of his images, Michael said: “Through these macro lenses and their images were able to travel into the world of our minuscule subjects, to go eye-to-eye with them in a direct encounter”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



“Before getting into the hobby, I had little idea of the enormous number of species living throughout the world, nor of the vast abundance of beauty, color and form which I'd eventually encounter through the camera”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

“Before getting into the hobby, I had little idea of the enormous number of species living throughout the world, nor of the vast abundance of beauty, color and form which I'd eventually encounter through the camera”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



The scientific name for the makeup of a spider's “paw” is a tarsus, one of eight parts that make up a single one of the insect's leg. Avicularia juruensis sling, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

The scientific name for the makeup of a spider's “paw” is a tarsus, one of eight parts that make up a single one of the insect's leg. Avicularia juruensis sling, foot detail. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia variegata, foot detail. In his lifetime, the photographer has raised more than 100 tarantulas, and his photo archive is now into the tens of thousands. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia variegata, foot detail. In his lifetime, the photographer has raised more than 100 tarantulas, and his photo archive is now into the tens of thousands. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. “Over the years they've offered truly generous expressions of appreciation for my photos. I never expected that and I continue to be surprised by it. Their encouragement has motivated me to keep striving to improve as a photographer”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia geroldi, foot detail. “Over the years they've offered truly generous expressions of appreciation for my photos. I never expected that and I continue to be surprised by it. Their encouragement has motivated me to keep striving to improve as a photographer”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Psalmopoeus irminia, leg detail. “While my personal appreciation of tarantulas has perhaps been primarily aesthetic, my growing involvement with the very passionate and remarkably prolific hobby of tarantula-keeping has been an enormously important counterpart to my photography, helping me to approach a more full and appropriate understanding of these most fascinating animals”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Psalmopoeus irminia, leg detail. “While my personal appreciation of tarantulas has perhaps been primarily aesthetic, my growing involvement with the very passionate and remarkably prolific hobby of tarantula-keeping has been an enormously important counterpart to my photography, helping me to approach a more full and appropriate understanding of these most fascinating animals”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Michael Pankratzs intriguing works focus specifically on the feet of tarantulas – an appendage that many have perhaps never focused on. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Michael Pankratzs intriguing works focus specifically on the feet of tarantulas – an appendage that many have perhaps never focused on. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Avicularia variegata, foot detail. Michael, who continues to add to his collection, added: “Today the number of tarantula species is astounding”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Avicularia variegata, foot detail. Michael, who continues to add to his collection, added: “Today the number of tarantula species is astounding”. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)



Camera setup. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)

Camera setup. (Photo by Michael Pankratz/Caters News Agency)
19 Oct 2017 09:17:00