Sometimes, life hands you lemons. And sometimes, it hands you ants—tiny, determined, hyper-focused creatures that make you question what you’re doing with your life. Last weekend, I decided to embrace the hustle of the insect kingdom and bust out my Canon 5Dmk2 paired with the beast of a lens that is the MP-E 65mm macro. Spoiler alert: this lens doesn't just magnify bugs; it magnifies life itself.
Let me just say this upfront—this is not your typical lens. The MP-E 65mm macro is a dedicated manual macro lens that gives you up to 5x magnification. That means these ants were basically stomping around my viewfinder like the cast of Pacific Rim. It’s the lens equivalent of turning your DSLR into a microscope, but instead of science experiments, you’re creating art. (Well, assuming you don’t cry when your focus misses by 0.0001mm, which happens a lot. No autofocus here, kids. It’s just you, your camera, and the patience of a saint.)
Why Ants?
Because ants are the ultimate entrepreneurs. I mean, have you ever seen an ant give up? They literally carry objects 50 times their body weight, navigate hostile terrain, and still make it back to the colony by dinner. Compare that to you struggling to carry 3 grocery bags from the car. Embarrassing.
Ants are a reminder that life is about focus, collaboration, and showing up—even if the only people who notice are your fellow worker ants. These little dudes don’t clock out or complain about Mondays. They just hustle. Watching them through the MP-E 65mm made me think, What’s my excuse?
The MP-E 65mm: The Lens That Makes You Earn It
This lens isn’t just a piece of equipment; it’s a rite of passage. Want to shoot something at 5x magnification? Great! Now deal with the fact that even your pulse can throw off the focus. It’s manual-only, which means no leaning on autofocus as your safety net. You’ll feel like a mix of a zen monk and an over-caffeinated lunatic as you try to line up the perfect shot.
But when you nail it? Oh, man. The details this lens captures are unreal. You start seeing the world differently. Every hair, every groove, every speck of dirt becomes a universe in itself. Those ants went from being “just ants” to looking like armored warriors from another planet.
Lessons Learned (Besides That I Need This Lens Back)
Patience is a superpower. Shooting ants at 5x magnification taught me that great results take time. You can’t rush the process. Whether it’s photography, building a business, or mastering your craft, patience is what separates the amateurs from the pros.
It’s all in the details. The closer you look, the more you realize how much you’ve been missing. The MP-E 65mm reminds you to stop and really see the world. (And also that ants are surprisingly hairy. Who knew?)
Sometimes, the struggle is the point. Using this lens isn’t easy. But that’s why it’s so rewarding. You’ve got to earn every shot. And honestly, isn’t that how life works? No one hands you success; you’ve got to sweat for it.
Gear matters—but not as much as showing up. Sure, the MP-E 65mm is an incredible piece of tech, but it didn’t shoot the ants for me. You’ve got to show up, experiment, fail, and keep going. The gear just amplifies your effort.
The Takeaway
Look, not everyone has the time or desire to crawl around in the dirt photographing ants. But the next time you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or feeling uninspired, remember this: Ants don’t stop moving forward, and neither should you. Grab your metaphorical macro lens, zoom in on the details, and get to work.
As for me, I’m already scheming to buy back that MP-E 65mm lens. It’s not just a tool—it’s a mindset. It forces you to slow down, to focus, to embrace the grind. And if that’s not a metaphor for life, I don’t know what is.
So, to the ants, the hustle, and the gear that makes it all possible. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some macro shots to edit.
Maybe it’s time we all embraced our inner ant.
📸 Captured & Edited
Shot with: Apple iPhone 14 Max Pro
Edited using: Lightroom Mobile & Skylum Luminar AI
All photos are my own work. Dive deeper and explore more on my website or check out my links.
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Ants are amazing for sure, i use to watch a youtube channel for sometime called Ants Canada and will probably go check it out after this now 🤣
There are a lot we can learn from this community driven creature.
Have the best one @borniet
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Amen! Absolutely, especially with those conditions! But as you say, when those photos (being macros or long zooms) get the focus just right... pure bliss!