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Ants need advice please
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Jan 27, 2015 19:06:38   #
Mile Loc: Crescent City Calif
 
I have been trying to take pictures of these ants and every time I take them look soft, is there anyway to make them more in focus?? Do I need to use a different lens??
I have a Nikon D-7100
F/9 1/500 ISO 640 70-300@155mm
Thanks
I did crop too.


(Download)

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Jan 27, 2015 19:17:26   #
Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach
 
Put them in the freezer for 10 minutes ... that will slow them down!

Actually, it looks like a depth of field (DOF) problem.
Try shooting at f22 or so. Also, it looks like your camera is at about a 45 degree angle, that's why the ants are in focus in the middle and out of focus in the front and back. Try shooting more straight down on them.

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Jan 27, 2015 19:21:05   #
lightcatcher Loc: Farmington, NM (4 corners)
 
Robert Graybeal wrote:
Put them in the freezer for 10 minutes ... that will slow them down!

Actually, it looks like a depth of field (DOF) problem.
Try shooting at f22 or so. Also, it looks like your camera is at about a 45 degree angle, that's why the ants are in focus in the middle and out of focus in the front and back. Try shooting more straight down on them.


I agree DOF.

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Jan 27, 2015 19:37:03   #
oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA
 
Mile wrote:
I have been trying to take pictures of these ants and every time I take them look soft, is there anyway to make them more in focus?? Do I need to use a different lens??
I have a Nikon D-7100 F/9 1/500 ISO 640 70-300@155mm Thanks I did crop too.


Lots of camera and subject movement.
Try F/11, 1/150, ISO 200, flash and 70-300@200mm and shoot straight down, not at an angle.
You will probably need to stand on a chair to get focus.
Or you could get a macro lens or extension tube and do it right.

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Jan 27, 2015 20:23:02   #
Mile Loc: Crescent City Calif
 
Robert Graybeal wrote:
Put them in the freezer for 10 minutes ... that will slow them down!

Actually, it looks like a depth of field (DOF) problem.
Try shooting at f22 or so. Also, it looks like your camera is at about a 45 degree angle, that's why the ants are in focus in the middle and out of focus in the front and back. Try shooting more straight down on them.


Will try next time I see them thanks. Yes!! They are very busy and I think they bite hard.

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Jan 27, 2015 20:26:19   #
Mile Loc: Crescent City Calif
 
oldtigger wrote:
Lots of camera and subject movement.
Try F/11, 1/150, ISO 200, flash and 70-300@200mm and shoot straight down, not at an angle.
You will probably need to stand on a chair to get focus.
Or you could get a macro lens or extension tube and do it right.


Thank you. will try this way too. I can get a log or something to stand on. Never done macro, maybe my next lesson??

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Jan 28, 2015 06:30:53   #
Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida
 
Don't hesitate to take a dozen or more images refocus each time. I find I can take a number of images and some will be sharper than others. I guess the camera hunts a tiny bit between exposures.

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Jan 28, 2015 08:16:22   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
Mile wrote:
I have been trying to take pictures of these ants and every time I take them look soft, is there anyway to make them more in focus?? Do I need to use a different lens??
I have a Nikon D-7100
F/9 1/500 ISO 640 70-300@155mm
Thanks
I did crop too.


Mile, your exif also says you are using Manual.
While others said DoF issue (and I don't disagree with that), I also wonder about Manual focusing. There really is not a "tack-sharp" area in your photo, not even in the area you (probably) focused on.
First: (because I have an issue with that myself) can you see well enough to focus to have a sharp image. Either using the viewfinder or the LCD screen.
Or, if it is not your eye, and you DO use the viewfinder, is the dioptre set correctly for you?

I may be missing the target altogether, but thought it would be worth checking out.

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Jan 28, 2015 08:39:47   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With all Your Faults I Love You Still" Parts are really great. ("It Had to Be You" is a popular song written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn[1], and was first published in 1924.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYfaJYn5fU

Word of Caution: Carry an epi-pen if swarmed by these pack killers you could go into allergic shock and a quick stab could save you life... not kidding.
http://www.decodedscience.com/fire-ant-allergy-red-ant-bite/21606

Agree with all the suggestions. The legs and antenna are vibrating at high-speed so sacrifice ISO (increase) and kick the speed high and tight f for DOF. Careful f-16-22, too much and diffraction is a problem. Test settings by photographing a textured surface perhaps course-sand to get the settings down. Noise from hi ISO can be corrected afterwards and if not ... so what... call it film-grain-effect and brag about it.

I note that the surface is hard and black mirrored, perhaps a CPF would help.

With post processing you can see that parts of your photo are great. Note that some of the black is blown because it is mirrored and highly reflective of the light.. hence my CPF suggestion.

This little section was post processed using ... Topaz: DeNoise, Detail, Clarity, Focus the following very cropped cluster resulted.

HUNGRY BIRDSEYE VIEW OF MILE'S AUNTS
HUNGRY BIRDSEYE VIEW OF MILE'S AUNTS...

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Jan 28, 2015 11:30:00   #
Mile Loc: Crescent City Calif
 
Morning Star wrote:
Mile, your exif also says you are using Manual.
While others said DoF issue (and I don't disagree with that), I also wonder about Manual focusing. There really is not a "tack-sharp" area in your photo, not even in the area you (probably) focused on.
First: (because I have an issue with that myself) can you see well enough to focus to have a sharp image. Either using the viewfinder or the LCD screen.
Or, if it is not your eye, and you DO use the viewfinder, is the dioptre set correctly for you?

I may be missing the target altogether, but thought it would be worth checking out.
Mile, your exif also says you are using Manual. br... (show quote)


I was sort of standing very oddly above the pile and was difficult to focus, so I will pay more attention when I try next time. Thanks a million will use your advice.

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Jan 28, 2015 11:33:56   #
Mile Loc: Crescent City Calif
 
dpullum wrote:
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With all Your Faults I Love You Still" Parts are really great. ("It Had to Be You" is a popular song written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn[1], and was first published in 1924.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYfaJYn5fU

Word of Caution: Carry an epi-pen if swarmed by these pack killers you could go into allergic shock and a quick stab could save you life... not kidding.
http://www.decodedscience.com/fire-ant-allergy-red-ant-bite/21606

Agree with all the suggestions. The legs and antenna are vibrating at high-speed so sacrifice ISO (increase) and kick the speed high and tight f for DOF. Careful f-16-22, too much and diffraction is a problem. Test settings by photographing a textured surface perhaps course-sand to get the settings down. Noise from hi ISO can be corrected afterwards and if not ... so what... call it film-grain-effect and brag about it.

I note that the surface is hard and black mirrored, perhaps a CPF would help.

With post processing you can see that parts of your photo are great. Note that some of the black is blown because it is mirrored and highly reflective of the light.. hence my CPF suggestion.

This little section was post processed using ... Topaz: DeNoise, Detail, Clarity, Focus the following very cropped cluster resulted.
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With ... (show quote)


great song went and listened to it. Also the fire ants can bite and sting you fiercely. I was berry picking when very young and my mom said don't go over there but the berries were big and juicy so I went. needless to say my pants went flying. Moral of the story always listen to your mom. And thanks for all the advice I will definitely try using it.

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Jan 28, 2015 23:28:08   #
jr168
 
How close was the lens to your subject? I think the minimum focus distance of that lens is almost 5 feet. If you are inside of that, you may not get your subject in focus. I had seen that you shot that at 155mm. Maybe stay back a bit and zoom to 300. That way you won't have to crop and loose detail. Just a thought to go along with all of the other good suggestions.

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Jan 29, 2015 00:59:43   #
usken65
 
dpullum wrote:
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With all Your Faults I Love You Still" Parts are really great. ("It Had to Be You" is a popular song written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn[1], and was first published in 1924.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYfaJYn5fU

Word of Caution: Carry an epi-pen if swarmed by these pack killers you could go into allergic shock and a quick stab could save you life... not kidding.
http://www.decodedscience.com/fire-ant-allergy-red-ant-bite/21606

Agree with all the suggestions. The legs and antenna are vibrating at high-speed so sacrifice ISO (increase) and kick the speed high and tight f for DOF. Careful f-16-22, too much and diffraction is a problem. Test settings by photographing a textured surface perhaps course-sand to get the settings down. Noise from hi ISO can be corrected afterwards and if not ... so what... call it film-grain-effect and brag about it.

I note that the surface is hard and black mirrored, perhaps a CPF would help.

With post processing you can see that parts of your photo are great. Note that some of the black is blown because it is mirrored and highly reflective of the light.. hence my CPF suggestion.

This little section was post processed using ... Topaz: DeNoise, Detail, Clarity, Focus the following very cropped cluster resulted.
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With ... (show quote)

If you look closer at the pedicle. (the waist) you will see those are carpenter ants not fire ants.

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Feb 1, 2015 03:05:58   #
neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA
 
usken65 wrote:
If you look closer at the pedicle. (the waist) you will see those are carpenter ants not fire ants.


You must have a different carpenter ant than we do. Ours are all black (you might even say a black black).

Reply
Feb 1, 2015 06:34:31   #
OldeTurtle Loc: Greensburg, PA
 
dpullum wrote:
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With all Your Faults I Love You Still" Parts are really great. ("It Had to Be You" is a popular song written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn[1], and was first published in 1924.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYfaJYn5fU

Word of Caution: Carry an epi-pen if swarmed by these pack killers you could go into allergic shock and a quick stab could save you life... not kidding.
http://www.decodedscience.com/fire-ant-allergy-red-ant-bite/21606

Agree with all the suggestions. The legs and antenna are vibrating at high-speed so sacrifice ISO (increase) and kick the speed high and tight f for DOF. Careful f-16-22, too much and diffraction is a problem. Test settings by photographing a textured surface perhaps course-sand to get the settings down. Noise from hi ISO can be corrected afterwards and if not ... so what... call it film-grain-effect and brag about it.

I note that the surface is hard and black mirrored, perhaps a CPF would help.

With post processing you can see that parts of your photo are great. Note that some of the black is blown because it is mirrored and highly reflective of the light.. hence my CPF suggestion.

This little section was post processed using ... Topaz: DeNoise, Detail, Clarity, Focus the following very cropped cluster resulted.
MILE, I would sing to this photo graph "With ... (show quote)


dpullum I like your HUNGRY BIRDSEYE VIEW OF MILE'S AUNTS photo a lot. It has a sort of Andy Warhol look with a witty pun.

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