Black ants at 2:1 macro!

[foxbat]

I wasn't quite satisfied with the 1:1 level of magnification that I get from my macro lens when the subjects are really small so here's the first results of stacking 67mm of extension on to it to give roughly 2:1.

They're not as sharp as I would have liked but at 2:1 there's a whole new world of DOF (or the lack thereof) to worry about plus all movement is hugely amplified. These common black ants that we have in the UK are no more than 10mm and are seen here feasting on blackfly.

Canon 300D
Sigma 105mm macro
Sigma EM-140DG
67mm Kenko DG extension tubes

Comments welcome!

1/200s f/16. Discussing who's for dinner tonight?
http://www.aprd31.dsl.pipex.com/nature/ant2.jpg

1/200s f/11. Looks like I interrupted a meal here. You see the pincer jaws are closed and are covered in some gooey stuff.
http://www.aprd31.dsl.pipex.com/nature/ant3.jpg

I thought I'd include a 100% crop of the head area here as it shows detail in the eye that is smaller than a pinhead:
http://www.aprd31.dsl.pipex.com/nature/ant3-crop.jpg

[nitsch]

FOXBAT YOU ARE A GOD!!!

:cool: :D :cool: :D

I have been considering this option to achieve this kind of magnification but couldn't find any sample pics of anyone who had done it with the Kenkos, on a 300D with a Sigma 105mm so I didn't really have any idea what the end result would be.

This is just too cool. You can see the compound eye of the ant!!! :eek: :D

(As you can tell I'm quite excited by this! LOL! :oops: )

What flash did you use?

[Ballen Photo]

I wasn't quite satisfied with the 1:1 level of magnification that I get from my macro lens when the subjects are really small so here's the first results of stacking 67mm of extension on to it to give roughly 2:1.

They're not as sharp as I would have liked but at 2:1 there's a whole new world of DOF (or the lack thereof) to worry about plus all movement is hugely amplified. These common black ants that we have in the UK are no more than 10mm and are seen here feasting on blackfly.

Canon 300D
Sigma 105mm macro
Sigma EM-140DG
67mm Kenko DG extension tubes

Comments welcome!

1/200s f/16. Discussing who's for dinner tonight?


1/200s f/11. Looks like I interrupted a meal here. You see the pincer jaws are closed and are covered in some gooey stuff.


I thought I'd include a 100% crop of the head area here as it shows detail in the eye that is smaller than a pinhead:

Foxbat, These are GREAT! I especially like the 100% crop of the ants head. :D
Would you mind going here, http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85004 and share some of your know how? :cool:
-Bruce

[dod]

Incredible, absolutely fantastic :)

[bmer]

WOW! .. I love it .. realy impresive.

[Bald Eagle]

Excellent example of what extension tubes can do in the hands of a very talented photographer. very well done. excellent captures.

[Bluesdeluxe]

One of the most amazing things I have seen! You are Quite gifted indeed!

[Alan B]

WOW those are superb :D :cool:

[BottomBracket]

very very nice! I'm getting pulled into the macro world. Time to buy some lenses or tubes.

[superstar]

Very impressive. Handheld or tripod? Were these taken in daylight too?

Oh - BottomBracket - I have a Gaggia too. Another espresso lover?

Richard

[Leorooster]

Excellent! I too would like to know if it's handheld or tripod/monopod.

[cjm]

Nice shots!

[skade]

Excellent work!

[Mitcon]

All I can say is WOW, the size blows me away. I think I'll need to get some more toys in my bag lol. I really like the idea of the greater than 1:1 ratio, you did amazing job of it.

[foxbat]

Thanks for the comments! Until last night I had no idea that ants even had compound eyes as they're too small to see with the naked eye so I learned something new and that makes it worthwhile to me.

What flash did you use?Sigma EM-140DG macro ring flash. It fits around the end of the lens and has a low power output so it only lights up what's directly in front.

Handheld or tripod?Tripod and cable release. IMHO mandatory equipment for this level of magnification. The slightest move and your subject is no longer in your viewfinder.

Were these taken in daylight too?Yes, broad daylight. The flash provided all the light and did a good job at freezing the motion. I also positioned the camera so that there was nothing within about half a metre behind so that the background would be all black.

[nitsch]

Fantastic stuff thanks for the technical info Foxbat. What sort of working distance did you have from the end of the lens to the subject with the extension tubes? Also I notice you have the Kenko DG tubes - what do the DG tubes have that the non-DG's don't ie. are they worth the extra money?

PS. I'm still in awe of these shots!!! :)

[Andy_T]

Haha ... maybe the DG tubes have a smaller inner diameter optimized for the different sensor size :lol: I think it's more in the name...

Foxbat ... amazing images ... but I think you are wrong as far as entymology is concerned here.
Now ... I'm far from being an expert, but I think that the ants actually carry those little critters to your flowers so that they can milk them for the sugary secretions they give.
Notice ... my expertise largely stems from occupying myself with the question of how to kill of those and keep them off my flowers in the future :twisted:

Best regards,
Andy

[nitsch]

Andy, you're probably right about the DG designation - it seems to be a popular marketing tag at the moment!

You are right about the ants and the aphids - the ants actually "farm" the aphids. I've watched them doing it on a cherry tree in our garden, they have enclosed the aphids in several leaves with what I assume are guard ants surrounding them. Other ants rapidly arrive empty handed and leave with the sugary excretions from the aphids to take back to the nest.

How do they know to do this? It does my head in thinking about it! :D

[foxbat]

Haha ... maybe the DG tubes have a smaller inner diameter optimized for the different sensor size :lol: I think it's more in the name...I think it's all about the marketing too but I got them for the same price as the 'regular' tubes on ebay.

Now ... I'm far from being an expert, but I think that the ants actually carry those little critters to your flowers so that they can milk them for the sugary secretions they give.Thanks for the correction, how they work as a collective of thousands is astonishing. I guess that must be the sugary stuff on the ants pincer jaws that you can see in the pic.

[martin-images]

Only one word FANTASTIC
Martin
www.digital-monochrome.com

[Learner]

Unbelievable shots, absolutely love them. They are sooo detailed and sharp. POST MORE, LOTS MORE, pleaseeeeee.

Cheers!

Learner

[sorashell]

Holy cow! Those pictures are amazing!!!

[Ballen Photo]

I think this one deserves a bump so some of the newer to the macro forum folks could take a peek. Hope you dont mind Andy. ;)
-Bruce

[Learner]

Both amazing, but the second one fantastic!

[Ballen Photo]

I was discussing shooting Ant macros with Big Al and Bald Eagle, and imediately thought of this post of yours Andy, so here's a bump to bring it out of retirement. ;)
-Bruce

[BigAl-SA]

Bruce, thanks for bumping this one. These shots are amazing. Even the lice-like thingies are worth looking at. Makes me think that I need to add extension tubes to my list of things I want.

alan

[almo]

Wow! What a fantastic world you have revealed. Looks like a bunch of pics from and electron microscope. Sweet. I love the detail.

[dp1l]

I really like these. I'm amazed by the detail in the eye. I also didn't know they had compound eyes

[sw2001]

super close-ups and sharp