Wide-Angle Macro

Wide-Angle Macro is a photography discipline where Macro meets Landscape photography. The focus is no longer just on the subjects but the surrounding scene as well, providing for a more intimate look into the lives of these amazing creatures. I have been experimenting with it in recent months and I would have to say that it is highly addictive, albeit, a pain in the *** to get right! Here are some of my shots.

Pushing the limits of my budget lens. You can exaggerate the size of any subject, in this case a Camponotus gigas, with the simple application of forced perspective.

Camponotus gigas with missing antennas.

Female Trithemis cf. aurora in its natural habitat. This shot was taken at a lake just 5 mins from my home.

 Another shot of another species of dragonfly, against a different background.

This is a photo 6-7 weeks in the making. You see, prior to snapping this photo, I already had some rough ideas of what I wanted to include in the frame so I went around Singapore looking for a suitable location. After days of scouting, I finally found my dream location but there was a major problem - While there were many dragonflies around, none would perch on this branch long enough for me to take a photo! I tried everything from setting up the tripod to remote triggering, but week after week, I failed. 2 weekends ago, I decided to try my luck again. I was standing ankle-deep in water when this dragonfly (a male Spine-tufted Skimmer; Orthetrum chrysis), landed on the branch as if on cue, and not only did it perch on the exact spot that I wanted, it was highly cooperative, allowing me 16 handheld shots in total.

I cannot help but to think of the irony of it all - I worked so hard for this image and yet it still did not turn out as sharp as I would like it to be. I guess when working with nature, you can never be prepared enough. 

Marching termites.

Fingerprint ant, shot with a modified lens.

 Shot taken with my Rokinon 7.5mm lens and modified Extension Tube.

Nephila sp. with Sungai Buloh in the background.

 We spotted this Kopstein Bronzeback trying to cross a patch of forest clearing so we took the chance to snap a few photos.

What a gorgeous snake!

One of my first few attempts at wide-angle macro. It is so hard to get the subject in focus!

A Katydid shot with Natural Light.

A  shot of a 'fingerprint' ant with fill flash.

This snail is probably less than 2cm in length and as you can see, it was really tough to get all of it in focus.

 Wide-Angle Macro attempt with greater depth-of-field.

 Another experimental attempt. I personally prefer my wide-angle shots with clearer distinction between subject and background.

It has been a pretty interesting (and tough) learning-journey thus far but I remain hopeful.

If you are really interested in Wide-Angle macro, do check out Gil Wizen's wide-angle macro shots here. They are rather amazing!

Also, do check out the E-book by Paul Hardcourt Davies and Clay bolt, a must-have for those who are just starting out on Wide-Angle macro photography. Click here! 

My TOP 5 Insects and Spiders Mimic!

The World of the Insect Kingdom is full of surprises and nothing is quite as it seems especially for us  gullible humans. Is that a Red weaver ant crawling on the leaf? And why is that leaf moving? Must be from the wind, you reckon. Seconds later, that "leaf" started to 'walk' and suddenly you find yourself questioning your own sanity.

Don't worry, chances are you have just seen a Leaf Insect.

A Nymph of a Phyllium sp. that mimics a leaf.

Oh, and that 'ant' you saw? Nope. It is an ant-mimicking Jumping Spider (Mymarachne plataleoides). Image on the right.

Surprised? Don't be. There are probably thousands of invertebrates that mimic other animals and plants and some might even be living right under your nose! These animals use Crypsis  (a collective term for avoiding observation from other organisms, which includes camouflage and mimicry) as a predation strategy or to avoid being eaten. So don't take it personally; They are not here to fool us humans for a couple of laughs. They are merely using what Mother Nature has given to live another day, find a mate and die happy. Whatever the motivation, one thing is for sure - They are all amazing!

Here is Part 1 of the Top 5 Insects and Spiders that mimic, all found right here in Singapore. Check them out!

Number 5 - THE FEARLESS, HOMODES BRACTEIGUTTA 

Despite the similar-sounding last name, this moth caterpillar has nothing to do with the famous DJ, David Guetta. This caterpillar, in my opinion, has ten times the cool factor compared to the latter with its brazen and slightly suicidal ability to mimic its role-model, a species of predatory ants called the Asian Red Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina).

Nothing escapes the wrath of Red Weaver Ants, ever. Not even a lifeless exuvium of a spider.

What a brave cutie.

This caterpillar is roughly the same size and it can often be found hanging out near the ant's nest. It is amazing to see these formidable ants move past the caterpillars without a hint of hesitation or suspicion. Pure luck? I do not think so. I have seen beetles and lizards being ripped apart by the Army ants for being too close to the nest. Good job, caterpillar! You made it at Number 5 on my list for being crazy and cute at the same time.

Number 4 - THE ETHICAL PRO, MYMARACHNE MAXILLOSA

Unlike the caterpillar at number 5, this spider from the Salticidae family, actually does look very much like its role-model, the Golden-Tailed Ant (Polyrhachis ammon). So much so that it actually fooled me the first time I went searching for them. It is almost perfect in its mimicry of the ants from a physiological perspective, considering that it is afterall a spider and not an intra-order relative.
Right: Here you can see a bed of pseudoscorpions feeding on a dead Polyrhachis ammon.

A female Mymarachne maxillosa. Notice how it raised its front legs to mimic the antennas of ants.

A male Mymarachne maxillosa with an enlarged Chelicerae. Note the shade of Gold on its body.

I have spent numerous hours in the forest studying these insects and from my observations, these spiders would generally avoid getting close to these ants and instead use its mimicry as a form personal protection. Like its Red Weaver cousins, these Golden-Tailed ants are fearsome predators and would not hesitate to attack anything that comes too close. The Mymarachne maxillosa earns a spot on my list for being such a conscience imposter for not preying on what it mimics - Very ethical, indeed. Here is a short video I made on these ants. *Click to Enlarge*

Number 3 - THE POO WHISPERER, PASILOBUS SP.

Well, this is refreshing. Finally, a spider that mimics something else other an ant. This Orb-weaving spider would lie in wait in the centre of its web for a prey item to pass by but when danger comes, it would immediately retreat to a leaf and does its best impression of, well, an excrement.

"Having a bad day at work today, bro? You look like sh**."

Yes, it mimics bird poop - Disgusting but it works. Nothing looks (and probably tastes) worse than freshly-produced poop. 

Number 2 - THE NINJA WARRIOR, ODONTOMANTIS SP.

These insects are from Order Mantodea, and are often described as Ninjas of the insect world for their stealthy and calculated approach towards hunting their prey. Commonly known as the 'Praying Mantis', they use their front two grasping "raptorial" legs  (which resembles someone saying a prayer) to snatch their prey at lightning speed.

Here you have the tiny nymph of the Odontomantis sp. that mimics their favourite prey, ants. It engages in Myrmercomorphy, not only get to close to its prey items but as a form of protective mimicry against much larger predators. 

Sometimes, role-reversal happens in nature where the hunter becomes the hunted, like the case of this  unidentified Mantis, presumably an adult.

Here is a short video I made of an Odontomantis sp.,  hunting an ant.

Number 1 - THE SHADOW, PARAPLECTANA SP. 

One of the thrills of exploring uncharted pockets of nature is the discovery of potentially new and undescribed species. During one of my recent exploratory hikes with friends from MFS, we chanced upon a spider so rare that to date, there is only one other photo reference available on the Internet of a specimen captured in Hong Kong.

Here is the first ever photo record of the Yellow Morph of a Ladybug Mimic Spider (Paraplectana sp.), here in Singapore. Credits to MFS for this amazing find!

It was hiding underneath a blade of grass.

A rear shot with a clear view of the spinnerets, the organ that is used to spin their web.

These spiders, like its name suggests, mimic Epilachna indica, a traditional-looking ladybug found here in Singapore. Predators like birds would generally stay away from brightly-coloured insects, and a ladybug crawling on a leaf would probably appear extremely unpalatable to them.

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Congratulations to the highly-elusive Ladybug Mimic Spider (Paraplectana sp) for making it to the top spot on my Top 5 list of Insects and Spiders that Mimic!