Very beautiful images, thank you for sharing. I love photographing ants, i use the Olympus MC14 with 2 10mm extension tubes for 2.25x magnification with autofocus.
You should come here to Australia Stewart, you don't need a macro lens to photograph the ants, they are big enough to carry you away, especially our Bull Ants 🤣
Bracken aphids (Macrosiphum ptericolens) live on bracken and produce honeydew which is consumed by ants as you showed in this video. Some ant species farm / protect aphids. It is fascinating. This might be the behavior you noticed.
So after your suggestion that you Olympus was a better camera for shooting macro than your canon. I too am using a cheap used OM1x that I purchased for some live view and light painting. I first started using adapted canon lenses but they don't do macro focus bracket so a got a cheap used Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro. Because you mentioned TT350o had some flash inconsistency I bought the TT685ii. Which is considerably more powerfull. It has a battery power booster port. I fortunately have a pb960 left over from my AD360. It allows me to use the TT685ii at 1/4 power with no inconsistency and only a slight slow when doing 12 focus stacks but no inconsistent exposure.. This is only preliminary testing and I have not try 1/2 power but 1/4 power should be enough even during midday. Can't wait to get out and try it.
Now all I have to do is choose which flash diffuser between the AK and the Cygnus. I am leaning towards the AK, just because it is made in the US and is considerably less expensive.
You don’t need the perfect setup, it’s more important to get out and enjoy photography. It’s also an opportunity to practice more. For new you can get a cheap diffuser from Amazon until you get the better one.
Hi.... living in South Africa I am fascinated by ANTS and spend hrs watching them. I did not know they slowed down in the evening (thanks for the tip) I am using a Sigma 105mm Lens and am going to ask my daughter when she comes out in August if she can bring me a clip on lens. By the way our ants (certain species) seem to protect "their" honey dew......
Hi Stewart great video, quick question I'm using a standard lens with screw on filters +2 +4 +8 and a +10 would these give you the 2:1 you are on about ?
I don’t know my friend, I’ve never used them. Best way is to photograph a ruler and see how many mm you can see in the shot and calculate the magnification by dividing 36 by the amount of mm you see in shot.
@@StewartWoodArt rather large compared to the 4mm once I tend to find this side , will be trying the later afternoon instead, normally I try pitch black night time which tends to have it's own things pop around
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Wow! Beautiful closeup images
Thank you! Cheers!
the master has enterd the building boom
To be fair, you ain't no slouch mike dropper.
Great video (tutorial) Stewart. I often try to photograph ants, didn't realise they slowed down when it cooled down so I'll be trying again soon 😊
Most daytime insects slow down towards the evening.
Hi Stewart. Terrific job! You took an average subject that most people ignore and made it fascinating.
Glad you enjoyed it
Very beautiful images, thank you for sharing. I love photographing ants, i use the Olympus MC14 with 2 10mm extension tubes for 2.25x magnification with autofocus.
Sounds great!
Awesome video and advice! Now if I can just get those ants to stay still. 😂
You can do it!
much better bet than taking photos of ants in January (because it’s not easy to find ants in mid winter).
will be giving it a go, thanks!
Thank you.
You should come here to Australia Stewart, you don't need a macro lens to photograph the ants, they are big enough to carry you away, especially our Bull Ants 🤣
I’d love to one day.
Bracken aphids (Macrosiphum ptericolens) live on bracken and produce honeydew which is consumed by ants as you showed in this video. Some ant species farm / protect aphids. It is fascinating. This might be the behavior you noticed.
Thanks for the info.
Nice footage and useful hints.
I wonder which hardware you've used for the videography of the Ants and Spiders in this video?
Awesome.. I'll do it tomorrow.. All the best from Colorado USA.. 😎🇺🇸
Awesome.
Wonderful pictures. How clever to use the clipped on colored screen backgrounds.
Thank you.
Great work mate
Thanks 👍
So after your suggestion that you Olympus was a better camera for shooting macro than your canon. I too am using a cheap used OM1x that I purchased for some live view and light painting. I first started using adapted canon lenses but they don't do macro focus bracket so a got a cheap used Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro. Because you mentioned TT350o had some flash inconsistency I bought the TT685ii. Which is considerably more powerfull. It has a battery power booster port. I fortunately have a pb960 left over from my AD360. It allows me to use the TT685ii at 1/4 power with no inconsistency and only a slight slow when doing 12 focus stacks but no inconsistent exposure.. This is only preliminary testing and I have not try 1/2 power but 1/4 power should be enough even during midday. Can't wait to get out and try it.
Now all I have to do is choose which flash diffuser between the AK and the Cygnus. I am leaning towards the AK, just because it is made in the US and is considerably less expensive.
Sounds like a plan to me.
@@StewartWoodArt I wish it were that easy. I am not sure which one to get. Time is a wasting it will be winter before we know it.
You don’t need the perfect setup, it’s more important to get out and enjoy photography. It’s also an opportunity to practice more. For new you can get a cheap diffuser from Amazon until you get the better one.
Certainly lots of ants due to the dry spell - try the Jaguar house in Chester Zoo where they follow each other up logs ala Soldier Ants.
I'll take a look, thank you.
@@StewartWoodArt You get a full day out too, otherwise a bit expensive just to view ants?
Brilliant :)
Thanks mate
Отличныые снимки! Спасибо.
Thanks.
Hi Stewart, Did you have to pay VAT and/or import duty on the Cygnustech Macro Diffuser please? thanks... John
I didn’t have to pay but mine was a review copy.
Music is counter productive.
Noted.
@@StewartWoodArt Yes, with all due respect, when you talk I want to hear you. You do good work...
Hi.... living in South Africa I am fascinated by ANTS and spend hrs watching them. I did not know they slowed down in the evening (thanks for the tip) I am using a Sigma 105mm Lens and am going to ask my daughter when she comes out in August if she can bring me a clip on lens. By the way our ants (certain species) seem to protect "their" honey dew......
Nice, I think they are protecting their dew as well.
How about Micro 4/3 diffraction at F10?
There is some at f10 but manageable with post-sharpening.
Lions, Tigers and bears oh my. And ants too😂
Hi Stewart great video, quick question I'm using a standard lens with screw on filters +2 +4 +8 and a +10 would these give you the 2:1 you are on about ?
I don’t know my friend, I’ve never used them. Best way is to photograph a ruler and see how many mm you can see in the shot and calculate the magnification by dividing 36 by the amount of mm you see in shot.
@@StewartWoodArt ok brill cheers
Hi Stewart what DOF you get when using this clip on lens ? Greetings from Malaysia.
Not much
Don't neglect to hit the like button. Greetings from Winthrop Maine.
question , size wise how large are those ants ?
Approximately 6 mm long.
@@StewartWoodArt rather large compared to the 4mm once I tend to find this side , will be trying the later afternoon instead, normally I try pitch black night time which tends to have it's own things pop around
@AndrewBassonZA I love going out at night but it’s harder to document it on video.
Got a link to macroscopic lens Stewart?
uk.neewer.com/products/neewer-ls-40-43mm-hd-macro-lens-66603476?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6auyBhDzARIsALIo6v_FMV_OcVHRc40Oy-8Z8jRp_yzh8G9MGCFHHlFjGXLziEJ7HpH-AAIaApX_EALw_wcB
@@StewartWoodArt as good as the Raynox 250?
@paulradford6902 seems just as good but I have a full review out soon.
@@StewartWoodArt look forward to it
After watching this I don't know if I want you to see my ant pictures.😟
Sure you can 😀