Detail of the cephalon of a Spiny ant (Polyrhachis ), found in the miombo forests of Mikembo (DR Congo, Katanga, 31 January 2025).
The hairy monster face is obtained by framing just a part of the ants' head, and is 100% inspired from a stunning image by Eugenijus Kavaliauskas: www.flickr.com/photos/dantux/51879894222/in/dateposted/
Studio stack of 141 images (steps of 10 µm with Cognisys StackShot), assembled in Zerene Stacker (Pmax). Sony A7RM5 + bellows + Raynox DCR150 (tube lens) + Mitutoyo M Plan APO 10x/0.28; ISO-100, 1/25sec, -0.7 exposure compensation, diffused LED light (Nanlite Forza 60B II).