with your fears.
There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment.
Hunter S Thompson
One of the great things about being a photographer is the complete control that you have over subject matter and something that I like to do when presented with the opportunity is to get out of my comfort zone and photograph something that I am not comfortable with.
While on a recent trip to Florida I came across this largest of North American spiders with the exception of the tarantula, the banana spider. I did in fact shudder but taking a deep breath I began to photograph her with what looked like her offspring.
While this spider is venomous, its bite is not fatal, at least that was what I kept telling myself as I moved around her trying to capture her and the color in that beautiful golden web.
I have found that looking at something through a camera lens has a desensitizing effect because it seems that a different part of your brain kicks in and focuses on the light and other technical issues, over-riding the part that says “run, save yourself!”
In the interests of full disclosure I will admit to using a telephoto and NOT my macro lens for this shot…after all these spiders are large with a body size of 1-3″ and leg spans of up to 5″!
I can make a mental check mark beside venomous spider now, what’s next you ask? Gulp…a snake?
it's (almost always) about the water... 
One of my very favorite spiders! And the smaller spider above her is probably her consort/dinner…the line between those two is very thin!
I remember seeing some of your spider shots and am trying to get better about them!
I somehow missed seeing this post when you first sent it out. Spiders, snakes… I saw a boomslang today (tree snake) – heart skipped a beat even though I know they’re extremely reluctant to bite you. I haven’t yet been calm enough to point my 25mm at one, though (and somehow doubt I ever will).
Please don’t, not worth the risk!