Getting those close ups!

[Wood~Ant]

Many of us go out hunting ants and other insects not just for study, but for collection and to keep them as pets

It is always a nice idea to take photographs of ants in their wild environment, as then you have a picture study of what they behave like in wild nests and on foraging trails.

This means having a good camera to hand, preferably a digital one
My advice is, get one with as many pixels as you can afford; and also a super-macro lens if possible.
Don't necessarily fork out a fortune, as many models are coming down in price and can be purchased fairly cheaply; but do buy the best you can afford, as you won't regret it later on when you find yourself taking great close ups

If you find you cannot afford a camera with super-macro, and it only has a macro facility, then you could try taking photos through a magnifying lens as an adaptation for a better close up shot.
You don't always have to buy new either, as many second hand cameras are almost new and work just as well as a new one.
Also you can sometimes buy a better camera for less money, which has got to be good

Do not try to get marvelous photos of ants straight away, but rather try out your camera on something larger, like a bee or butterfly on a flower for instance.
Then you'll get the hang of using it, and also learn the camera's limitations and capabilities

Enjoy your ant hunting and catching; but please try to get some lovely photos of ants in the wild as well, as we like to see them and you will have a lasting memory of your myrmecological experiences

[tom]

Yes, because my camera is digital, which normally isn't very good because you can not attach different lenses, but if you reverse a 50mm on the end, it produces a much better picture

[theantkeeper]

I find if you switch the macro on and take a photo of an ant at about 2inches away and them zoom in on it with the camera(digital zoom) and that works great
Andrew

[Formicalondon]

I wouldnt advise using digital zoom as you will suffer a lot of quality loss as its just enlarging the pixels of an image. Try using something for that extra magnification even if its just holding a magnifying glass agaist the lens, I use a binocular lens sometimes.

[Caydenn]

can somebody please post a picture of a queen ants thanks.

[Jenny]

www.anthill.org.uk/blackantgallery.htm

Have a look at Wood Ant's site, you will see the queen (the biggest one with a large thorax (rear).

[Caydenn]

thank you so much your so helpful I
sent you a pm so please read it thanks again