Name: Laurent Hesemans
Picture title: Motherhood
Category: Animals
Nationality: Belgian
Occupation: Filmmaker

Laurent says:
‘Unique amongst arachnids, wolf spiders are dedicated mothers. The egg sac is transported on the abdomen and once the tiny spiders emerge they climb on top of their mother where she continues to carry and protect them for several weeks until they are large enough to fend for themselves. 

During this time, mom will continue to hunt and multitask, seemingly unfazed by the dozens of children clustered on her abdomen. 

I was fortunate to meet this mother in a garden in Windhoek, Namibia. It was an amazing sighting for an urban environment and certainly made my day.’

Technical information
Sony a7riii
Laowa 60mm macro
ISO 400
f/5.6
1/80sec
Accessories: Sony HVL-F43m flash, DIY diffuser, Raynox DCR250
Post processing: Focus stacking 15 images in Zerene Stacker, basic adjustments in Lightroom. 

Instagram: laurent_nam