(Photo by Eko Adiyanto (Bekasi, Indonesia). Photographed in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, April 2012.)
Ants Holding Seeds
Eko Adiyanto
The photographer, armed with his Nikon D70, was compelled to take this photo because he had never seen ants exhibiting their strength in this way. “It’s [a] unique and rare moment,” Adiyanto says.
Editor's Note, March 13, 2013: After reading the thoughts of entomologist and Scientific American blogger Alex Wild, who wrote that this scene above was "a wholly unnatural arrangement of ants," we have asked Adiyanto to explain more about how he was able to capture this photograph. This submission did not violate our photo contest rules, but we wanted to be sure to clarify the photographer's process.
Adiyato explains that he fed seeds from different plants to the ants and lifted, placed, and stacked the ants on the branch himself. Once the ants were in these positions, he took the photograph. He writes, in an email, that he has been observing and studying ants because of their outsized power.
We also asked Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History entomologist Ted Schultz about the scene. "Like Alex Wild says, they wouldn’t really be carrying these things for any reason. On top of that, they wouldn’t really be hanging upside down holding them like that. It is not like they are going to eat those things, those [seeds] are not food for them."
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Comments (120)
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This is so interensting. I love this picture!
Posted by Brooklyn on May 12,2013 | 11:52 AM
That is a great photograph, this must have been so much work. This is such an insiration.
Posted by Brooklyn on May 12,2013 | 11:50 AM
Intrigued, I read the story behind the ants. Please assure me that he has not glued these ants Into this unnatural position!
Posted by Georgia ashby on May 10,2013 | 10:51 AM
This is clearly not on. Calling this a 'unique and rare moment' is definitely guile on the photographer's part, trying to get us to believe he happened upon this scene and clicked it. It was totally posed by him. If this is ok, then freezing insects and arranging them into silly poses should also be legal. If Alex Wild had not caught him out, it is most probable that the photographer would have continued his lying-by-not-telling-the truth ways. I call that this be removed and any prize or benefit conferred be revoked.
Posted by Albert Barton on May 8,2013 | 11:22 AM
I have to disagree with the comment that the gorilla looks sad. If anything, I see a quizzical look as though thinking, what's this? Amazingly enough, this photo kind of reminds me of my maternal grandmother! :) Love the photo! Congrats!
Posted by Linda on May 6,2013 | 10:28 AM
Love the majesty depicted in this photo, however I think if an eaglet had been below in a nest reaching upwards, the photo would have had more impact regarding the captured kill which appears to detract for the photo by becoming a main focus. Good shot, congrats!
Posted by Linda on May 6,2013 | 10:24 AM
This photo reminds me of...Ok guys...whoever can hold on to their seed the longest is the WINNER! Nice staged photo.
Posted by Linda on May 6,2013 | 10:21 AM
Please indicate the results of the Photo Contest. I have been eagerly awaiting the outcome, since I have been voting for Dave Morrow's photo. Thank you.
Posted by Sandra Bassin on May 1,2013 | 08:08 AM
The gorilla photo makes me incredibly sad. Not really a shot of the "natural world"' since this sweet creature is held captive in a zoo. She looks so very, very sad, too.
Posted by anyc on April 29,2013 | 05:56 AM
It's amazing...It is hard to make it.
Posted by L.dayson on April 19,2013 | 05:51 AM
Beautiful
Posted by Kate Paronto on April 14,2013 | 08:23 AM
I pick this one as the best in the natural world.
Posted by Mindy Amos on April 8,2013 | 06:58 AM
Stunning! Great job!
Posted by Mindy Amos on April 8,2013 | 06:54 AM
Fantastic photography
Posted by William H Crocker on April 7,2013 | 12:25 PM
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