Insect and Spider Identification: Please Help Identify Spider, 1 by rmodonne

rmodonne wrote:
I just recently moved to North Carolina. I am aware there are both Black Widow and Brown Recluse spiders here and that both are poisonous, however I know very little about them and what they look like. I was out in my back yard last weekend and saw this enormous spider web spun between 2 trees and this spider was in the center. Can anyone here please ID him? Keep in mind the last picture was taken at night with the flash (the spider was black). Any and all info is appreciated! Thanks