This is "Day 3" in Ziva's "30 Days of Photographs II" non-contest. All information about the contest can be found by clicking the link above. (My photo and write-up are directly after the list of participants.)
The theme this time around is "From an Ant's Perspective"...which got me quite a few "Get back inside the house already...you're on Ambien!" admonistions from my son. But...I'm sure Ansel Adams was told many times to get his arse back inside...so I persevered.
Here is the list of the other "non-contestants" who have probably risen against adversity and braved public ridicule for that one special shot, too: MikeWJ, Nicky and Mike, Mo, Meleah, John, aka nonamedufus, Bryan, aka Unfinished Person, Malisa, Nora, LaughingMom, Tanya, Elizabeth A., 00dozo, Cheryl and Kristen.
Getting down on the ground to get an ant's eye view was the easy part...the hard part was trying to hold the camera steady with one hand and estimating how it might look without really seeing it and then hoping an ant graces the magnifying glass...all whilst knowing my crappy camera can only hold a charge long enough to take about four or five shots. Then you have to factor in I'm also heavily whacked out on Ambien and teetering on the edge of my swimming pool waiting for the clouds to break so I can get the "burn the human" take on the ant's perspective. While no ants were harmed in the taking of this photograph, I was bit on the hand twice. I now have a whole new respect for those National Geographic "lying in wait" photographers...but I also respectfully decline any invitations to the Serengeti.
Thanks for enlarging my knowledge about ants. Your pic is most illuminating.
ReplyDeleteThe ant was actually on the top side of the magnifying glass and I was underneath (we switched "perspective" so to speak). All the other photographs I managed to take at other stages around the pool, ended up getting ants where you couldn't see them. For some reason when I looked thru the whopping five photos I managed to get...lo and behold an ant sitting right smack in the middle of the lens...so that's the one I chose. I thought it also showed the "burning hole" nicely. The others not so much so. :)
ReplyDeleteSo is the little dude now scorched into oblivion by the side of your pool?
ReplyDeleteI think the "burning hole" as you call it is what makes this photo so good. I imagine Ansel Adams lived in a tent, not in a house, myself, but probably was told to get back inside. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! Very clever - although I'm not sure that many national geographic shots are taken by the pool...
ReplyDeleteHah, I love the reversed perspective. I hope you didn't burn yourself, though. Although, I imagine the ant would have been laughing... ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, Mariann.
ReplyDeleteWell done! Very well done!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I tried to get the other perspective, too, but the sun was too bright and I didn't want to fry my eyeballs. But, hey, this works. Good shot!
ReplyDelete;-)
I can't believe you went through all of that and risked searing your eyeballs for this shot. You win the bravest photographer award right here and now.
ReplyDeleteI love it! It's like the ant is inspecting your hand more closely though the magnifying glass, perspective indeed!
ReplyDeleteNope - I didn't scorch even one of them. I might have annoyed them immensely by sticking the handle of the magnifying glass into their anthills...but other than that...they were fine.
ReplyDeleteI probably could have seared my flesh straight thru and never knew about it until after I awoke from my Ambien coma, too. I remember washing my hands off over and over as the bites from Fire Ants really tend to hurt.
Glad that one ant was right where he was on the magnifying glass when I took the photo as those things generally move so fast and I couldn't see him if I tried. It was like trying to photograph my Sea Monkeys once. Not an easy task. :)
Get the ant off of your finger before you burn the ant!
ReplyDeleteI am SO DANG HAPPY to have found another Ambien buddy! Woo Hoo!
The ant wasn't ON my finger - it was on top of the magnifying glass - so no chance of it getting burned...just me.
ReplyDeleteI have no clue where I put the magnifying glass - Ambien will do that to you.
One ant bite and I would've moved on. You're a brave and foolish woman, Mariann.
ReplyDeleteOh this is great! Love the reverse roles.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am a foolish woman. I have proof of that for a long while, Mike.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam. :)
You should change the name of your blog to, Blah-g. Well, only when you post stuff that is boring.
ReplyDelete