Formica/ant photography

[Morton88]

Hello there,

I am just getting into wildlife photography and have just bought my first SLR camera (pentax k-5 which came with two lenses 18-55mm and 50-200mm) and would like to photograph ants as I have always found them fascinating. Although I have saved up quite a bit of money to spend, I would like to learn more about wildlife photography to avoid buying things that, sometime down the future I realize I don't actually need.

Here is the equipment I have and I was wondering if there any additional equipment I have (as to say can not do without) to buy:

1. SLR camera
2. Memory card (")
3. Camera Bag
4. Cheap UV filters (mainly to serve as lens protectors).
5. Macro lens - I have not bought this yet but anyone got any tips on these?

Is there anything else I need to consider when I am going out in the natural world? As a newbie I don't want to buy anything I don't need but I want to get out there asap!

Also, does anyone know of any books/web pages I can sink my brain into to get clued up on photography regarding social insects?

Thank you for your time and help,

Samuel

[John D]

Originally Posted by Morton88

Hello there,

I am just getting into wildlife photography and have just bought my first SLR camera (pentax k-5 which came with two lenses 18-55mm and 50-200mm) and would like to photograph ants as I have always found them fascinating. Although I have saved up quite a bit of money to spend, I would like to learn more about wildlife photography to avoid buying things that, sometime down the future I realize I don't actually need.

Here is the equipment I have and I was wondering if there any additional equipment I have (as to say can not do without) to buy.


1. SLR camera
2. Memory card (")
3. Camera Bag
4. Cheap UV filters (mainly to serve as lens protectors).
5. Macro lens - I have not bought this yet but anyone got any tips on these?

Is there anything else I need to consider when I am going out in the natural world? As a newbie I don't want to buy anything I don't need but I want to get out there asap!

Also, does anyone know of any books/web pages I can sink my brain into to get clued up on photography regarding social insects?

Thank you for your time and help,

Samuel

Hi Morton, Welcome to WAB.
As you admit to being a 'newbie' I would suggest you get to know how to use your new camera and the lenses you have thoroughly, before even thinking to buy any more equipment.
You will need lot of practice and be quite competent before you will be able to capture ants. You certainly haven't chosen the easiest of creatures to photography. One you have mastered the equipment you have, you will require to give careful thought, before purchasing 'macro' lenses and possibly other 'magnifying devices'.

Ants are not only very small but they run around at 'great speed' so are very difficult subjects to capture and therefore it will require real skill to get acceptable images.
All the best!


John D
Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[triops]

Hi Morton,
You will have enormous fun (and enormous frustration!) with macrophotography. You already have the equipment you need to make a good start, except for one thing. If you buy a reversing ring for your 18-55mm lens you will have a very good macro range and be able to photograph ants.You have to use the camera on its manual setting-good practice for getting used to your equipment. A reversing ring will cost about £12-15 from srb griturn, who manufacture all types of fittings. Let us know how you get on!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Morton88

4. Cheap UV filters (mainly to serve as lens protectors).

Not a good move to put cheap (probably = poor) filters in front of a lens. It may degrade the image.

The prime lenses are said to be Pentax's strength. The zooms are not considered anything special. If you buy more lenses, you should probably choose the primes.

It may be a good time of the year to photograph ants, as the cold weather will slow them down a lot. It's just a matter of finding them though.

Jim

[Ukwildlifeo]

Welcome to the forum

I too own a Pentax K-5 (though I bought it before it was the current ridiculous bargain price!) and I'm very happy with it. The high ISO comes in useful when the sun isn't quite powerful enough or hand holding with small apertures, as I sometimes do when taking macros.

As for macros lenses the best choices for insect photography K mount are the the Pentax DFA 100mm, Sigma 105mm or the Tamron 90mm. They all vary around the same price (£300ish) though the Pentax DFA 100mm is harder to find having largely been replaced by more the expensive weather resistant version. Other options are the Sigma 180mm which is only available second hand now or the now discontinued manual lens the Pentax 200mm macro which is meant to be one of the best lenses ever made and so rarely comes up for sale and is expensive when it does!

While John is right about the reversing ring, I'm pretty sure your lens does not have a manual aperture ring so will be stuck on the smallest aperture. A better bet would be to buy a cheap 50mm or wider lens to go with the reversing ring. I picked up a sigma 28mm a few months ago for about £20.

Another thing to consider for future is a flash. There are the 2 ring flashes available but I've never tried one. I use a Metz AF42 which was good value for money.

As for macro technique, Matt xyz is your man. He got a photo in WPOTY which was a black ant. His blog is linked to from his posts/profile on here and has some nice info on flash diffusion and setups.

[Kayleigh]

You will need a tripod that goes low to give stability hand held does work sometimes but to get good shots stability is the key, some use stacking software too for macro shots.
I tried to get the ants milking aphids in my garden last year but couldn't get stable clear shots.