JungleDragon is a nature and wildlife community for photographers, travellers and anyone who loves nature. We're genuine, free, ad-free and beautiful.

Join

An ant eating something else... what i have no idea! :P I was motivated to go do some macro this afternoon, so went out hunting bugs and found this lone ant rummaging around a flower bed...  using my iphone as a make-shift external light source i chased it around trying to get it in focus... <br />
<br />
Now i would like to add at this point that i use a reversed late 70&#039;s M42 mount 50mm f/1.8 Pentacon as a macro set-up. It does not have auto-focus to start with, but once you reverse it, focusing is achieved via moving closer and further away from the subject. So when this little chap was running around, i looked like a right fool rocking back and forth (to get focus) in the middle of a flower bed waving my iphone around with the tourch function on...  oh well...  i like the result! :)<br />
<br />
Again...  to me it is just an ant, i have no idea of species...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.john-rowell.com/blog/2015/6/11/macro-on-the-cheap-" rel="nofollow">http://www.john-rowell.com/blog/2015/6/11/macro-on-the-cheap-</a><br />
<br />
 365,Bangalore,Geotagged,India,Paratrechina longicornis,Reversed lens,Winter,adhocphotographer,another day another photo,john Rowell,macro Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

An ant eating something else... what i have no idea! :P

I was motivated to go do some macro this afternoon, so went out hunting bugs and found this lone ant rummaging around a flower bed... using my iphone as a make-shift external light source i chased it around trying to get it in focus...

Now i would like to add at this point that i use a reversed late 70's M42 mount 50mm f/1.8 Pentacon as a macro set-up. It does not have auto-focus to start with, but once you reverse it, focusing is achieved via moving closer and further away from the subject. So when this little chap was running around, i looked like a right fool rocking back and forth (to get focus) in the middle of a flower bed waving my iphone around with the tourch function on... oh well... i like the result! :)

Again... to me it is just an ant, i have no idea of species...

http://www.john-rowell.com/blog/2015/6/11/macro-on-the-cheap-

    comments (11)

  1. I gave it rim-lighting (backlighting) to give it some more separation from the background. I can not help myself in these situation but treat it like a studio shoot... hmmm if only it listened to my pose suggestions! ;) Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
  2. I think i got an ID... the crazy bit sounds about right! :P Posted 8 years ago
    1. Sorry, John, I don't think it is the right species. The antennae are neither the right size nor the right shape. They should be almost as long as the body with a very long first segment pointing sideways, which is not the case here.
      http://antkey.org/en/taxonomy/term/4842/media
      http://itp.lucidcentral.org/id/ant/pia/Fact_Sheets/Paratrechina_longicornis.html
      http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/insectmuseum/ant_website/Ant_photos/Paratrechina_longicornis.jpg
      http://bugguide.net/node/view/808973
      http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images2/Paratrechina01c.jpg
      Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
      1. bugger.... Any suggestions? :) Posted 7 years ago
        1. I've tried to identify ants a couple of times but without much success. Maybe Stuart could help, he's the ants guy.
          StuartStuart
          Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
  3. You speak very lightly of all the techniques you use, but clearly you know what you're doing, John! Wonderful shot. Posted 8 years ago
    1. Thanks for the complement and the idea to go out and do some more macro! :) Posted 8 years ago
  4. I agree with Ferdy. Your photos and described technique clearly show you are a seasoned professional! I continue to love reading all of your photos descriptions. Keep the great work coming :) Posted 8 years ago
    1. I would not go as far as professional, but thank you very much. So far posting images is easy as i am just tralling through my back catalogue... I hope to be going out into the wilds again soon, so will hopefully be providing some newer work... :) Posted 8 years ago
  5. Beautiful picture indeed - unfortunately it's difficult to identify this one as we cannot see the gaster. I'll keep trying to find out a species for you but don't hold your breath :) Posted 7 years ago

Sign in or Join in order to comment.

No species identified

The species on this photo is not identified yet. When signed in, you can identify species on photos that you uploaded. If you have earned the social image editing capability, you can also identify species on photos uploaded by others.

View JohnR's profile

By JohnR

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jan 30, 2015. Captured Jan 30, 2015 17:10 in Vittal Mallya Road, KG Halli, Shanthala Nagar, Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001, India.
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark III
  • 1/400s
  • ISO6400