Ant Tales: the Fantasy World of Ants - Photographs by Andrey Pavlov

Ant Tales: the Fantasy World of Ants - Photographs by Andrey Pavlov


Positive Entertainment and Culture Magazine for Creative People • Photo Vide


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Russian photographer Andrey Pavlov has produced a whimsical photo-series entitled ‘ant tales’, where he choreographed ants in various moments of the ants everyday life using props Pavlov crafted from raw materials such as...
Russian photographer Andrey Pavlov has produced a whimsical photo-series entitled 'ant tales', where he choreographed ants in various moments of the ants everyday life using props Pavlov crafted from raw materials such as berries or nut shells. Andrey Pavlov spends hours setting up fairytale scenes. He studied ants, and saw that they all follow a very specific path when they’re working. So he put his props on their trail, and photographed the insects interacting with his miniature 'stage sets'.

"Child photographers know very well that you have to reach the child’s level to make a good portrait, that is get down on your knees or even get down on all fours. In our case we’ll have to lie down on a rug about 20 cm close to the path of the red wood ants formica rufa. We are safe as long as we are on the rug and do not touch the ground. We put our chin on the edge of the rug."

Each photo is taken at especially close range by the artist, documenting his ants neighbors near his rural home in their natural environment.

The photographer explained: 'For the last seven years I have always had my camera with me, but it was only when I had children and started reading them fairytales that I realized it was something I never did as a child. That's when I decided to make up for it and start creating some fairytales of my own. I used to work in theatre which was a big help when it came to making props, and I chose ants because I respect them and their way of life. They care about their children and look after the elderly. They have lived for millions of years. I take my inspiration from humans but luckily for me ants are quite inquisitive, which seems to make them very willing participants.'



Andrey Pavlov’s photography has been called many things, but whether it was “fake” or “photoshoped” they all pretty much suggested the same thing. And you can’t really blame people for thinking that while looking at his stunning photos. Let’s face it, it’s hard to believe anyone can train ants to pose for the camera like his subjects seem to do. But the truth is, the Russian photographer has indeed found a way to do just that. Although staged, believe it or not, Pavlov’s photography uses live characters! And here’s how he does it: as I mentioned above, he spent a lot of time studying ants, and he learned that they all follow a very specific path when they’re working. So all he has to do is find them, put the props right on their trail, set up some flash backgrouns and light reflectors, and just stand on the sidelines photographing the ants.



But how does someone train ants to do stuff like what we see in Andrey’s photos? He says it’s a proven fact that ants are very fast learners. It’s enough to grab the attention of just one member of the community, convince it to perform a trick, and the others will soon follow suit. He uses all kinds of things to attract the insects, from shiny coins, to his own fingers. It took him about three years to understand and get in touch with the tiny creatures, but now he knows just how to deal with them. He builds all the props himself in the several months he dedicates to his hobby. That’s right, every year, from May to October, Andrey Pavlov moves to a cottage in the countryside, where he likes to photograph red forest ants.



The photo series created by this talented Russian photographer is called “Ant Stories”. And what beautiful stories they are… Have you ever seen something this extraordinary?


































Andrey Pavlov, Ant, Ant Tales, ants, children, fairytale, fantasy, insects, nature, pavlov, tale, tales, Муравьиные Истории, Павлов