jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Feb 19, 2012 17:43:11 GMT
Thanks wood!
Its not too bad at the moment, soon I hope to include 3 lights which is going to be confusing! I can't take all the credit for the set-up as I got the idea from another photographer who used a similar set-up.
I have just thought up an interesting way of photographing my ants emerging from their tunnels, so I will soon have photos of that to follow!
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Post by batspiderfish on Feb 19, 2012 21:16:58 GMT
I like that tunnel set up a lot! I'm hoping to do some filming of Lasius umbratus queens infiltrating a host colony, and that would be perfect for "her first steps into the nest". I'm still experimenting with designs for a studio nest.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 20, 2012 7:53:22 GMT
The silhouette photo of the sanguinea worker is truly inspirational. Alex Wild is a personal friend of mine, and I know he would be thrilled to see this photo; and probably say it is award winning stuff from a very talented photographer.
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Post by Zarbi on Feb 20, 2012 12:01:43 GMT
That last photo of yours is just incredible Jon. Well done mate
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jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Feb 24, 2012 17:24:33 GMT
haha thanks guys your too kind! Alex has been a big inspiration for my project and his blog is great! I also decided I could use the same set-up to show them emerging from the nest by making the background dark and the foreground light. I have got some equipment out for the weekend and I have found some wild sites to visit where there will be wood ants when it warms up; so I should have some more to post after the weekend
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Post by Welsh Ant on Mar 7, 2012 15:29:10 GMT
That wood looks just about right for wood ants, so hope you find some later on Happy birthday and have a good one.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 7, 2012 15:49:28 GMT
Roll on April/May when the wood ants get more active, as you should get some really nice shots of nest mound rebuilding worker ants Jon. Oh and happy birthday to you and your other half. ;D
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jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Mar 12, 2012 17:22:47 GMT
Thanks guys, I went to a beach later that day and found thousands of ants in the sand dunes behind the beach! So a good birthday
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jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Mar 29, 2012 10:40:24 GMT
I have also been working on my lighting set-up to get better (softer) lighting. What do you guys think?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 29, 2012 11:09:38 GMT
I have also been working on my lighting set-up to get better (softer) lighting. What do you guys think? If you are referring to your recently uploaded photos on your journal, the effect is really nice Jon.
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Post by Jenny on Mar 29, 2012 15:10:04 GMT
Brilliant excellent quality Jon, I look forward to see what you come up with in the future, I am sure you'll have something up your sleeve One of yours is now placed on the top table too........
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jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Mar 29, 2012 23:13:32 GMT
Thanks Wood and Jen!!
Yes the last two were taken with a new flash set-up I have made, which should hopefully produce softer light reducing highlights on the ants that you get when flash is used. Ha ha I saw that, nice to have them advertised! ;D
Funnily enough I thought of an idea when I remembered watching this video when I was looking for fourmicarium ideas: The idea is to just use the CD case as a temporary nest for some ants and photograph them as they make their tunnels. I will also be trying to get as many 'wild' images as possible now that ants are around.
Do you think that they are asserting their dominance over their slaves? I still have some images that need editing, but they should be up soon!
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Post by batspiderfish on Mar 30, 2012 4:59:24 GMT
I've noticed that Lasius and Formica often perform those strange lunges, but I'm not exactly sure what they mean. I can't really think of any evolutionary purpose for worker dominance, so I'm guessing it's something else. It's still questionable whether slavery is an accurate description for this form of social parasitism.
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jon777
Honey Pot Ant
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 41
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Post by jon777 on Apr 14, 2012 21:46:17 GMT
I was thinking it might be because the ants that are lunging at the other are Formica sanguinea. However since posting this have seen my Lasius flavus doing the same! It just looks like the 'slave' ant is laying down in a submissive way.
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Post by Jenny on Apr 17, 2012 20:56:57 GMT
I'm pleased you are having great success with your ants Jon I'm looking forward to your new pics, sounds exciting
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