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Ant photography thread


1088 replies to this topic

#181 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 12 2018 - 10:05 PM

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Astonishing how different some Australian Polyrhachis species look compared to Asian Polyrhachis

 

 

Most of them do look like typical Polyrhachis, but the one above does blur the lines, as they barely have the spikes, and they are sized more like Camponotus, and just about look like one sometimes :)

 

Polyrchais vermiculosa colony a friend sent me, unfortunately I cannot see a queen among them, always hard with Polys

quite small at around 5-6mm

 

click to enlarge


Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#182 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 13 2018 - 11:31 PM

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Camponotus humilior, is a lot more polymorphic than I thought
with different sized majors and minors.
Largest major vs smaller major in this wild captured colony

Yeah that red dirt is that fine in particles...

click to enlarge



Edited by CoolColJ, July 14 2018 - 12:38 AM.

Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#183 Offline Major - Posted July 18 2018 - 1:14 PM

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Wow. This whole thread is beautiful. How badly I want to be able to create photos like these. Could people tell me exactly what camera, extension tube, lens, flash, etc that you use? I know that CoolColJ uses a Panasonic G85, Nurbs uses a phone+ macro. But what about everyone else.

After seeing how expensive cameras were I decided to save up to get the Panasonic G85. (I’m a fan of your photos CooloColJ) If there are any other cameras of that quality for the same price (Max $1000, preferably less) please let me know. Also if you don’t mind also tell me what extensions, lenses, and other equipment you use?

I love photography quite a bit, so any replies would help me greatly. Yes, it will take me time to save up, but this is something that I love. I also want an actual camera, not a phone and clip on macro.

(I’m currently using an iPhone X camera for my journal, how do you make a DIY macro for it? Without a magnifying glass. I need something temporary.)

Thanks

Edited by The_NY_Major, July 18 2018 - 1:16 PM.

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#184 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 18 2018 - 1:54 PM

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Some of my recent catches:

 

JLJE60i.jpg

1Yd77J5.jpg

xHqHllU.jpg



#185 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 18 2018 - 2:06 PM

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Wow. This whole thread is beautiful. How badly I want to be able to create photos like these. Could people tell me exactly what camera, extension tube, lens, flash, etc that you use? I know that CoolColJ uses a Panasonic G85, Nurbs uses a phone+ macro. But what about everyone else.

After seeing how expensive cameras were I decided to save up to get the Panasonic G85. (I’m a fan of your photos CooloColJ) If there are any other cameras of that quality for the same price (Max $1000, preferably less) please let me know. Also if you don’t mind also tell me what extensions, lenses, and other equipment you use?

I love photography quite a bit, so any replies would help me greatly. Yes, it will take me time to save up, but this is something that I love. I also want an actual camera, not a phone and clip on macro.

(I’m currently using an iPhone X camera for my journal, how do you make a DIY macro for it? Without a magnifying glass. I need something temporary.)

Thanks

 

There are older versions of the G85, such as G7 and smaller models like the GX85 that have the same image quality just about and cheaper.

And Olympus models like the EM series

Once you have the lens you can bolt them onto many other camera bodies of the same sensor system, and get more or less the same result.

Only the workflow and quirks are different, and the handling, weight size etc


Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#186 Offline AntsMaryland - Posted July 18 2018 - 2:08 PM

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How to you keep everything in focus using a macro lens?

 

Also, with lighting, how do you make sure it doesn't reflect if your taking photos of ants in test tubes?


Aphaenogaster cf. rudis 

Tetramorium immigrans 

Tapinoma sessile

Formica subsericea

Pheidole sp.

Camponotus nearcticus


#187 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 18 2018 - 2:14 PM

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How to you keep everything in focus using a macro lens?

 

Also, with lighting, how do you make sure it doesn't reflect if your taking photos of ants in test tubes?

 

You can't, unless you image stack, which is just about impossible if ants move :)

 

But generally, a smaller aperture size increase the depth of field so more things are in focus around your focus point.

But this also decreases image quality from diffusion, so it's  balancing act.

And the more you magnify, the smaller your effective aperture size is.

This only applies to a camera that allows you to change these things

 

shooting so everything is in the same plane will mitigate this, like from directly above

 

Lightning, well you just have to experiment, you will find certain angles and distances will minimise reflections, but it's always there to some extent, hence test tubes are a pain.


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Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#188 Offline AntsMaryland - Posted July 18 2018 - 2:49 PM

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How to you keep everything in focus using a macro lens?

 

Also, with lighting, how do you make sure it doesn't reflect if your taking photos of ants in test tubes?

 

You can't, unless you image stack, which is just about impossible if ants move :)

 

But generally, a smaller aperture size increase the depth of field so more things are in focus around your focus point.

But this also decreases image quality from diffusion, so it's  balancing act.

And the more you magnify, the smaller your effective aperture size is.

This only applies to a camera that allows you to change these things

 

shooting so everything is in the same plane will mitigate this, like from directly above

 

Lightning, well you just have to experiment, you will find certain angles and distances will minimise reflections, but it's always there to some extent, hence test tubes are a pain.

 

Thanks. That's a lot of help. :D

 

I have a lot to learn... :P


Aphaenogaster cf. rudis 

Tetramorium immigrans 

Tapinoma sessile

Formica subsericea

Pheidole sp.

Camponotus nearcticus


#189 Offline Major - Posted July 19 2018 - 11:28 AM

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As I am a just starting, I think I will go with a cheaper, less professional camera. Olympus Tough TG-5. Any good extensions and lenses for this?

#190 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 19 2018 - 2:02 PM

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As I am a just starting, I think I will go with a cheaper, less professional camera. Olympus Tough TG-5. Any good extensions and lenses for this?


Compact cams like that have fixed lens, so you can't swap it.

if you want cheap, get a second hand camera

Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#191 Offline Major - Posted July 19 2018 - 4:13 PM

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Thanks CoolColJ. I don't think I will buy a second hand camera though.

#192 Offline Skwiggledork - Posted July 19 2018 - 6:15 PM

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37361177_1879851338724387_63468530250547

 

My first Tetramorium immigrans queen is getting close to having workers.



#193 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 21 2018 - 5:36 PM

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She was cleaning the first nanitic before I went to bed, and she cleaning the second this morning.
As always newly eclosed nanitics are always cute :)

So once the pupa turn brown they eclose within a day, even faster than my various Pheidole.
Nanitics are also 1mm larger than the Pheidole ones, but still tiny at 3mm or so

Nanitics look like Iridomyrmex bicknelli ones.
Third one should eclose this afternoon, and maybe the fourth one tomorrow

click to enlarge





Pheidole cf antipodum queen - 15mm




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Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#194 Offline Major - Posted July 21 2018 - 7:01 PM

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She was cleaning the first nanitic before I went to bed, and she cleaning the second this morning.As always newly eclosed nanitics are always cute :)So once the pupa turn brown they eclose within a day, even faster than my various Pheidole.Nanitics are also 1mm larger than the Pheidole ones, but still tiny at 3mm or soNanitics look like Iridomyrmex bicknelli ones.Third one should eclose this afternoon, and maybe the fourth one tomorrowclick to enlargehttps://i.imgur.com/...UUp.jpgPheidolecf antipodum queen - 15mmhttps://i.imgur.com/SHM5brE.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/OH4VeZf.jpg


How do you light your pics?

#195 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 21 2018 - 9:53 PM

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How do you light your pics?


flash, external flash unit sitting on the hot shoe angled down towards the front of the lens with a ball mount
When your shooting with small apertures, and fast shutter speeds, natural light is not enough


not unlike these setups, but there are so many ways to do it depending on the shape of camera, lens length and flash size etc.
I used to use a toilet roll to focus the flash light down to the front of the lens, when I had a longer lens and used the inbuilt flash.
Otherwise the lens will create a shadow





Edited by CoolColJ, July 21 2018 - 10:08 PM.

Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#196 Offline Major - Posted July 22 2018 - 8:20 AM

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Ok thanks!

#197 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted July 22 2018 - 4:34 PM

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Got some pictures of Camponotus today.

 

 

 


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Statesideants.com - order live ants legally in the US

 


#198 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 25 2018 - 10:09 PM

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First time my Strobe ants (Opisthopsis Rufithorax) have eaten an insect since I had the queen at the end of February...

 

click to enlarge


taken outside the outworld so blurrier


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Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#199 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted July 27 2018 - 7:51 AM

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Camponotus castaneus, here’s a pic of right after I dug them up:



Camponotus subbarbatus, my very first queen:



Crematogaster cf. cerasi:



I just use and iPhone 6 with a flashlight lens taped over the camera, it gets the job done.
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Spoiler

#200 Offline CoolColJ - Posted July 27 2018 - 10:05 PM

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I put my dead Pheidole antipodum queen beside one of my dead Camponotus suffusus queen bodies, and her thorax and gaster are just about dead even in length and almost in size.

Only the suffusus has a larger head.


15mm vs 18mm of one of the largest Camponotus species we have here

Has to be the largest Pheidole in the world...


Click to enlarge


Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/





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