When I think about my adventures as a nature photographer, I remember unique moments that have shaped not only my career but also my perspective on life and the universe.
One of these moments happened some time ago on a deserted road during one of my photographic projects in Itaúnas, Espírito Santo.
In a time when wars once again threaten the world, bringing back the danger of ending human society as we know it, the story I’m sharing here came back to my mind.
A Reflection on the Roadside
I was heading home, tired but happy with the images I had captured for the book about Itaúnas State Park.
Suddenly, my car broke down. There, in the middle of nowhere, I had no choice but to wait for a tow truck.
Sitting by the roadside, on my water canteen, I started observing the landscape around me.
At first glance, everything seemed lifeless. It wasn't a dense forest but rather vegetation heavily impacted by so-called “progress.”
However, after a few minutes, I noticed life beginning to reveal itself. Small birds and insects, which had likely hidden upon my arrival, started emerging from their shelters.
It was as if the environment was slowly returning to its normal state. Then, I noticed something curious: a small bush near me.
The Encounter with the Jumping Spiders
For over an hour, I watched that bush, something I rarely do without a camera in hand.
It was then that I saw a small jumping spider on one of the leaves. Its large eyes stared at me curiously.
Shortly after, another spider of the same species approached. The two faced each other for a moment and suddenly began to fight over the space on that tiny leaf.
The bush seemed enormous compared to the two, but still, they fiercely fought over that small piece of territory.
Finally, one of them conceded and leaped away to a distance that was impressive given its size. Watching this scene, I found myself laughing alone.
That battle for such a small space, in roadside vegetation, made me reflect: "With such a vast forest at their disposal, why are these little spiders fighting over a tiny bush?"
A Mirror to Humanity
And then a thought hit me: "We are not so different from these spiders."
In a universe full of infinite possibilities, we humans often fight and waste our already scarce resources over a tiny piece of land, for power, for something that, in the grand scheme of things, is insignificant.
While waiting for the tow truck, my mind wandered far. I thought about how humanity often acts recklessly.
We spend so much time and energy on conflicts and disputes that matter little when we could be investing in the common good, protecting our planet, exploring the universe with infinite resources, and discovering new ways to live in harmony.
A New Perspective
This unexpected encounter with the jumping spiders put our existence as a species into perspective.
We are all part of the same universe, interconnected in ways we often do not understand.
Those small spiders, with their dispute, taught me more about life than many books I’ve read.
A Bit About Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders, or salticids, are fascinating. With over 5,000 species worldwide, they have incredible vision, capable of seeing in color, which is rare among arthropods.
In addition, they are agile and possess potent venom for their prey, but it is harmless to humans.
They help us control populations of insects and other spiders, playing a crucial role in ecosystems.
What I Learned with them?
By the end of that day, when the tow truck finally arrived, I realized how much I had learned just by observing.
The little jumping spiders showed me that, often, true wealth lies in small things, in simple moments of observation and reflection.
They reminded me that nature is a great teacher and that there is always something new to learn, even in the most unexpected situations.
We humans consider ourselves highly evolved and rational, but in reality, we are just another species following its path, exactly like all the others.
The species evolved, had ecological success, dominated the environment, is depleting the resources of its ecosystem, and is heading towards decline.
Who Are We?
Our species has not yet found a way to escape the ecological fate so common in nature.
We are just another species on one of the trillions of rocks floating through infinite space.
At that moment, a phrase came to my mind that I will never forget:
"As individuals, we are fantastic. As a society, we are inconsequentially irrational!"
And today, reading more news about innocent people being bombed and criminal fires in a world with increasing environmental disasters, I thought again of those little spiders.
I hope you enjoyed this story. See you in the next adventure!
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Nature photographer and cinematographer, founder of Instituto Últimos Refúgios, Master in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, passionate about the environment! Join me on this incredible journey of wildlife discoveries and see more beautiful stories as I constantly explore nature.
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