Macro ants – day #2 with improvements

[Dennis]

Hello,

I’ve tried to incorporate some of the lessons learned from my previous day’s session (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=88399). These mainly incorporated holding the branch still with a clamp, thus leaving one hand to free to hold a semi-transparent greenish book insert behind the ants, to get rid of the harsh black background and kick some reflected light into the deeper shadows.

I still ran out of hands thought, I could have usefully used at least 4, or even a photographic assistant!:)

Cheers

Dennis

[SkyViking]

Simply incredible Dennis, even better than the first batch! I'm speechless.

[mplanet62]

They are amazing images, level of detail rarely seen elsewhere. Having said that, I liked the first batch more for their spontaneity and fresh look (or maybe because they were first). I reckon, I'm simply envious ;)

[gary]

Hi Dennis,

Incredibly awesome. Unbelievably good.

[lacad01]

Incredible detail, great shots :thumbsup:

[Osirisra]

Wow! stunning stuff

[Poita]

I am gobsmacked!
These are great, I suddenly started noticing ants after seeing these and have become addicted to watching them.
Yesterday I noticed a green-ant proudly carting off a giant (relatively) cat-biscuit.
I didn't have a macro lens, and the 2" nosepiece was sitting on the front of my nikon, so I grabbed a 50mm lens and hand-held it on the end of the nose piece, and held the camera with the other hand and tried to get a shot.
Needless to say it didn't go quite as well as yours :O , but it was fun getting down there and watching them, they sure do motor along.
How are you getting that much DOF?
I tried to video him as well.
http://youtu.be/XRDpocpzcY4

[iceman]

^^ What he said!

Brilliant!

[gregbradley]

Fantastic.

Greg.

[jjjnettie]

Stunning results Dennis. :)

[Dennis]

Thank you to all you ant lovers, for your nice comments!:)

I should add that these images were taken at slightly more than 1:1, as I had the Canon 25mm EF II extension tube fitted to the 100mm F2.8 macro lens. I think that the combo gives around 1.3:1, slightly larger than life-size on the sensor.

Cheers

Dennis

[RB]

Amazing detail Dennis.
Thank you for sharing.
I want to get back into it now after seeing your wonderful macros.

:)