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Wood Ant Tending Aphids

Discussion

13 replies
Posted by PhilH on June 29, 2009 at 3:35 AM
Wood Ant Tending Aphids
40D, 180/3.5, Tripod + BH1
ISO640, 1/25 @ f8
ACR5.3, resize & sharpen CS4
Slight crop.

Hi,

Whilst out and about on Sunday with Brett and Tony I left them getting bitten by the mozzies and trying to get different images of Heath Fritillaries. As these had decided to scramble up my leg I decided to work on an image and found this scene.

Difficult because they are almost constantly on the move and I was well within the woodland cover...

All the best

Phil
Posted by Matt Cole on June 29, 2009 at 3:49 AM
I spent some time photographing small black ants tending aphids the other day but these large Wood Ants certainly require less magnification. You've done amazing well Phil to get a sharp one at 1/25. This is a lovely shot and the lighting and colours are very nice. A slight shame about the leaf and stalk in the background but not much you could do about that.

Matt
Posted by Ray on June 29, 2009 at 4:38 AM
B.G. leak is unfortunate, otherwise a nice shot showint this interaction between species.
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 29, 2009 at 4:46 AM
Cracking image very well executed Phil :wavey:

Can't make my mind up if I'd like it better without the OoF leaf or not - perhaps "as is" is best..
Posted by Brett Lewis on June 29, 2009 at 4:48 AM
HI Phil, liked this from the moment I saw it on the back of the camera and for me the OOF leaf gives more of a sense of scale and so i think I like it as it is. The detail is abundant. Nicely done.

Brett. :toast: :toast:

Ps. Thanks for your help.. :wink:
Posted by David Sewell on June 29, 2009 at 5:15 AM
I think the leaf adds to the overall effect. Personally I admire anyone who is prepared to work with wood ants for more than a few minutes. I hope the other members of the colony were not busy investigating your legs when you took this!

David

:toast:
Posted by Dennis Alden on June 29, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Nice image as always, can't fault it in any way.

:toast: :toast:

dennis
Posted by Danielle Nichol on June 29, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I tried to photograph these 2 years ago, it was a hot day and they never stopped racing around, very difficult to capture, well done :toast:

:cool:
Posted by Dawn Monrose on June 29, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Great shot, really well captured. I like the leaf as it adds a sense of place and of scale.
Posted by Fran French on June 29, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Very nice Phil.

Personally I like the b/g leaf, as the combination of that, and the stem, frames the ant etc. very nicely.

Fran :toast: :wavey: :toast:
Posted by John Robinson on June 29, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Good stuff "as is " Phil
Excellent.
JohnR
Posted by Des Ong on June 29, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Like it as is also, great capture.
Posted by Tim Gregory on June 30, 2009 at 8:48 AM
cute interaction from not so cute animals!

Love the detail in the Aphids on the stem. I suppose it could be improved by making the image more sterile and removing the leaf and other branch, but its only really nit picking for the sake of it at this point!

Like it :smile:
Posted by Drew Mellowship on July 2, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Great behavioural shot !

Drew :smile: