Leaf-cutting ants

[dkspook]

At a tropical zoo (http://www.regnskoven.dk/en/frontpage/) here in Denmark, leaf-cutting ants are running around freely. It makes them great macro subjects, but you really, really need to be careful where you put your hands... Anyways, spent an hour shooting them this morning:

1) http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/kaffemonster/3008145812_d39a3e9414_bresized.jpg

2) http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/kaffemonster/3008141156_60c4d74b67_bresized.jpg

3) http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/kaffemonster/3007305261_eebf8ce7db_bresized.jpg

4) http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/kaffemonster/3007304795_75c73995bb_bresized.jpg

5) http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/kaffemonster/3007303133_72371e2247_bresized.jpg

C&C most welcome as always. Gear was my 40D, 100mm macro and my Tupperware Lighting System (http://www.tuxshooter.com/diy-macro-flash-guide/) :)

[ajosteve]

Very cool series, they look like they mean business. I wouldn't want to be latched onto with those nasty looking jaws. Can you get any closer for a face shot?

[dkspook]

Very cool series, they look like they mean business. I wouldn't want to be latched onto with those nasty looking jaws. Can you get any closer for a face shot?

Thanks - but I don't have any good face shots, unfortuneatly. They are moving really fast! I'm going to shoot them again, I'll try to get some headshots for you.

Hmm... those Kenko tubes are calling my name again now...

[sparkplug]

I have those on my property and all I can say is "hats off to you". Those things never stop moving. I have not even tried to get shots because of their movement! Great captures.

[LordV]

Excellent captures of a tricky subject
Brian V.

[spidermanrbryce2006]

lovely series, i sure dont want those ants down my pants lol :P

[dkspook]

Excellent captures of a tricky subject
Brian V.

Thanks!

Tricky indeed... Rattled off a lot of frames that ended up as ants covered behind leaves. They look like a miniature highway at rush hour, getting a clear shot of an ant without another one walking in front of it was not easy. Thank god for digital!

lovely series, i sure dont want those ants down my pants lol :P

There were two signs near them. One of them explaining the name and species of the ant, how they use the leaves to feed a fungus which they in turn feed on etc. The other was a nice letter-sized print of a beautiful macro image of one of these ants chewing into a finger. Nice and gory, blood and everything. Probably the most effective "Don't touch" sign I've ever seen in a zoo. I'll grab a picture of it next time I visit :)

[racketman]

they run free at London Zoo too, evidently they know when they are on to a good thing.