<< Previous Next >>

Small, but High IQ


Small, but High IQ
Photo Information
Copyright: Jean Michel Peers (JeanMichel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 633 W: 87 N: 938] (2864)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-06-26
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony DSC-F717, Zeiss 2/9,7-48,5
Exposure: f/2.2, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2004-11-17 4:05
Viewed: 1612
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
FORMICA RUFA (formicidae).
By reviewing different themes, I found that ants were the poor relation of TN's gallery. This shot is not perfect, but at least, it's an ant :-). Ants are fast, always running. When they stop, it's for seconds. Never tired, and, sure an example of social efficiency. Everybody knows about that. Generally it's teached at school in natural science courses, so I won't develop. Let me just remind that ants live in large colonies, are particularly well organised in terms of work and defence. Some scientists are convinced that in any case of an ecological catastrophy or a cataclysm, ants will probably be the last living animals on earth.
This one is a female (9-12 mm). Brown color, while males are black. Starts in life with wings. They eat little insects and are expert in breeding plant louses and cochineals colonies, from which they recuperate the sap extrated from plants.
Ant's nests have a form of a hill, generally placed in woods and sunny spots.
When they stop running, it's the right time to shoot. Hope you'll like this one sunbathing on a leaf instead of milking her louses cattle.
---------------------
This kind of shot requires a soft lighting to reveal details without burning bright parts. Only handheld is possible, with a minimum speed of 1/125. Hence the reduced DOF that can be partly overcome by shooting laterally.
Cropped out at about 60% from it's original size, autocontrast, USM. NeatImage sharpening.
AndyB, sandpiper2, RAP, gerhardt, PDP, Luc, Phoki has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
no antssandpiper2 1 11-18 15:41
To gerhardt: more DOFJeanMichel 1 11-17 08:27
To extramundi: USMJeanMichel 1 11-17 07:37
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-11-17 5:10]
  • [2]

Very nice detail on such a tiny subject.
Composition is great and the limited DoF is explained well in your note.
A good capture,well done.

Great ant, I have tried shooting a number of species here, but always get burnt out bits. Your note has highlighted ways for me to improve my technique, so thanks for that.
The picture is quite good, not perfect, but ants and other insects this small are often difficult to focus on with compact cameras, and they tend to be very active. I think you've done quite a good job with this one, the POV is just right and the DOF is good enough.

Nice shot, ants are very difficult to shoot at, because they are always moving. I am surprised you got this shot with the reduced F2.2. I made a workshop to try to lower the DoF effect explained in your note. Hope you like.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-17 6:59]
  • [2]

Aunque el foco o la agudeza no sea perfecta, me alegra personalmente ver una imagen como esta.
Una de los insectos más difundidos mundialmente y uno de los menos exhibidos en TN.
Gran imagen con muy buenos detalles y colorido... tal vez un F menor hubiera sido deseable en este caso.

Although the focus or sharpness is not perfect, personally cheers to me to see an image like this.
One of the insects more disseminate world-wide and one of less exhibited in TN.
Great image with very good details and colorful... perhaps a smaller F had been desirable in this case.

They are very difficult to get right. I think it would have been perfect if you had a larger DOF. F4 or F5.6 would have been mor ethat enough. Great shot though I have tried similar but have nothinhg as good as this.

  • Great 
  • Pamela Silver Star Critiquer [C: 47 W: 0 N: 2] (207)
  • [2004-11-17 8:02]
  • [2]

Tanto detalle y nitidez me fascina. No tengo una cámara que pueda capturar tanto. Felicitaciones.
Buenos colores, se constrastan el color de ella con la hoja.
Congrat.
Pamela

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-17 10:17]

Wonderful shot. Lovely colours and excellent detail. Great Job

  • Great 
  • urban Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 71 W: 4 N: 79] (413)
  • [2004-11-17 15:40]
  • [2]

I´m impressed. I have tried catching ants but mostly the result is a bare rock or leaf or at most a hind leg.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-17 16:18]

Great shot. Very nice detail on something so small. A hard subject to get right and you've done a great job. Well done Jean Michel.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2004-11-18 2:31]

C'est vrai qu'elles se font rares sur TN, Jean-Michel.
Bon, la PDC n'est pas à son meilleur, mais la composition est excellente et le renforcement n'est pas exagéré.
Les seules fourmis que j'ai vu arrêtées étaient mortes, hormis la tienne, bien sûr! :)
Merci

  • Great 
  • Phoki Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 48 W: 0 N: 21] (284)
  • [2005-05-16 8:14]

Very nice pic and helpfull info!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF