So delacate, really quite beautiful! How long did you have to wait to get a good shot?

This was actually the first shot I took. The others didn't come out too well, as that was when she really got angry at me.

You don't want spideys angry at you... :)

she looks like she would draw blood just walking on your arm...

Nah, they have very delicate footsteps.

Very impressive specimen, awesome work. We have these everywhere in Houston, and I've even managed to find one here in Oklahoma. They're the largest orb weavers I've seen in person. I actually saw two distinct color morphs in Houston; a black/yellow/white variety like in your photo, and another that replaced the black with brown. The females of this species in Houston got large enough to prey on locusts and large butterflies.

They do exhibit a wide variety of patterns and morphs in this species alone. And after that, there are other members of the Genus with other wide patterns.

These guys can get big, but Nephila clavipes is definitely our largest web spinner here. :) Although they're not technically in the orb weaver family, I say it still counts. :)

The plant gives a really nice contrast that helps bring out the colors on her. She's quite beautiful.
Masterful shot.

These usually appear in summer here in Croatia, and boy, do they give ya one hell of a bite. I remember being bitten once above the knee (I somehow stumbled upon the web), large part of my leg (like two hands put together) turned red and a bit swollen-not to mention it stinged as hell.

The large orb weavers can give a painful bite, although bites are quite rare. You must be unlucky. :P

Also, I don't believe this particular species is found in Europe. You're probably seeing the close relative Argiope bruennichi (which looks quite similar) which are fairly common in Europe.

O.O I believe I know the answer, but is this poisonous to humans? I'm positive it isn't, but I'm betting by the distict colouring it's a warning it tastes horrible to predators.

They are not dangerous. I'm not sure how thy taste. Most of the diurnal orb weavers have bright markings like this.

Hrrm. How strange...