ANT CONDO

Charlene Aycock IPA

ANT CONDO

© copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved
You may not use, replicate, manipulate, redistribute, or modify this image without my express consent.

This shot was taken in Washington State. We stopped to catch some shots of a waterfall on the roadside, as I walked towards the waterfall my attention was drawn to this wildflower. It stood so straight and tall and was blemish free. It is called a FOXGLOVE. It blooms in the SPRING of the year April – June. I got up close with my Canon EOS Rebel XT, and watched this ant come out of one petal and took this shot. It was taken with a 18-55 lens, 100 ISO, It was in the shade. This shot was taken as is.

Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that are commonly called foxgloves. The genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but upon review of phylogenetic research, it has now been placed in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae.[1] The genus is native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa. The scientific name means “finger-like” and refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis purpurea can be fitted over a human fingertip. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The best-known species is the Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. It is a biennial, often grown as an ornamental plant due to its showy flowers, that range in colour from purples through to whites, with variable marks and spotting. The first year of growth produces only the long, basal leaves. In the second year, the erect leafy stem 0.5-2.5 m tall develops. The larvae of the Foxglove Pug feed on the flowers of Digitalis purpurea. Other Lepidoptera species feed on the leaves including Lesser Yellow Underwing.
The term digitalis is also used for preparations containing cardiac glycosides, particularly digoxin, extracted from plants of this genus.

UPDATE: this shot won the award of first runner up in ISP’s amateur photographer of the year competition, held in Las Vegas, Nevada in March 2008. This is an independent judging competition, judged on subject, focus, composition, perspective, clarity, and presentation.

August 2007, it was published on the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WEBSITE.

ANT CONDO belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, Canon DSLR (One Image Per Day & A Canon Camera Must Be In The Description Before It's Accepted), Fabulous Flowers, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Nature's Wonders, Shameless Self-Promotion, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The true beauty, Untouchables, Vibrant and Vivid Color, Western United States Artists and Photographers and Wildflowers of North America - 3/day Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
ANT CONDO by Charlene Aycock IPA
ANT CONDO by Charlene Aycock IPA
  • Chloe Flathers

    Chloe Flathers

    great picture! the ant just makes it come together so well. I love the detail on the flower pedals. Love it!

  • Anselmo Pelembe

    Anselmo Pelembe

    wow, nice work

  • snoopytas

    snoopytas

    Great shot, love the title!

  • Tami Montgomery

    Tami Montgomery

    Congratulations on being featured in the National Geographic Website on this picture. You deserve it and it is awesome! I am proud of you!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    you just had to mention that didn’t you… I love you and Thanks for all your support.

  • Heather Hartkamp

    Heather Hartkamp

    Love the idea of the foxglove being a ‘condo’. Very clever idea and lovely photo.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much Heather for your comment and telling me what the flower is called.

  • cathy savels

    cathy savels

    Love this!

  • randi1972

    randi1972

    It’s beautiful, I love the title!

  • VisionaryImagist

    VisionaryImagist

    Charlene: I am enjoying the trip through your portfolio. this is one great image. well done again.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks Visionary, I haven’t heard from you in a while nor have I seen any new work but then it is hard being on the truck and getting online if I am lucky every other day. Hope you are ok. I am going to your profile now to see whats new.

  • salsbells69

    salsbells69

    Wonderful image and well titled. Congratulations on the NG daily dozen~!

  • Jonicool

    Jonicool

    Very Beautiful! Love the title :)

  • Robert Elliott

    Robert Elliott

    superb capture !

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Robert to have a photographer of your stature call my work superb, i am honored, Thanks.

  • Julie Langford

    Julie Langfordcommunity host

    Beautiful shot – so much colour and the ant is perfectly placed within the frame – Well done

    Congratulations on making the Natural Developments group

  • kookaburra

    kookaburra

    Great Photo

  • Michael Oubridge

    Michael Oubridge

    Congratulations on the award, love the capture of the ant on this foxglove, great colours and clarity

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much Michael, we will see how it does in the next event. Thanks for all your support.

  • Kenny Gulley Jr.

    Kenny Gulley Jr.

    oh yes!
    i def see why!
    outstanding

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much KGJ

  • KBSImages

    KBSImages

    Fantastic!!!!!!!

  • Tami Montgomery

    Tami Montgomery

    CONGRATULATIONS on being runner-up at the convention with this photo. Great job. You are so talented and now I know where I get my artistic talent. MUUUUuuuuuuuaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHH!!!!! You Rock!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much sweetheart

  • summer flo

    summer flo

    WOW!!!!!! A superb really!!!!! A winner indeed!!! Congratulation Charlene!!!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much summer, I took this last spring and when I saw it after shot I knew I had something pretty special. You know when you get that special shot.

  • barnsis

    barnsis

    Outstanding color, great macro.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks barnsis, but this was not a macro, used a 18-55 lens, 100 ISO.

  • kcranmer

    kcranmer

    Wow now that’s quite the macro! :)

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    i get the biggest kick out of this, it was not a macro shot! This is the shot that made me first runner up in ISP’s amatuer photographer of the year. I used a 18-55 lens, and did a close up and focus.

  • Uncle Artmonger

    Uncle Artmonger

    Superb macro.
    Great color.
    Great clarity.
    Very nice shot.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    It is not a macro

  • missmunchy

    missmunchy

    this is is fantastic!! I LOVE it! Such gret detail and color. Like I said before…SUCH great work coming out of you! =)

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks sweetie and big congratulations to you too. Jen just told me the news. Let me know when the magazine comes out I will get it.

  • Joanne Bradley

    Joanne Bradley

    Great shot! Excellent work!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much Joanne, thanks for visiting me.

  • Uncle Artmonger

    Uncle Artmonger

    I apologize for the miscatagorizing of your photo. I am still relatively new to photography and all of the classifications. Please do not think that this makes my opinion of your work any less. It is still a great photo.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    I never thought that, I love that everyone thinks its macro… taking this shot with a 18-55 lens is not easy but fun to work with to get your best close up. i hope to buy a macro lens someday. Infact i hope to buy lots of different lens someday lol

  • Tom Vaughan

    Tom Vaughan

    great capture… love the curious ant.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    LOL that is exactly how he acted. Curious as to what I was doing. Thanks so much for your comment

  • margieacosta

    margieacosta

    Simply beautiful

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much margieacosta

  • Kathleen Hill

    Kathleen Hill

    Beautiful, great composition and good title

  • Katrina Bettiens

    Katrina Bettiens

    hi i saw this in vagas

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    HELLO!!! HOW ARE YOU. I MISS YOU. HOW WAS YOUR TRIP.

  • Michelle BarlondSmith

    Michelle Barlo...

    Fabulous Shot – love it

  • Lynn Bawden

    Lynn Bawden

    Great shot, Charlene!!! Did you see my similar photo of the Foxglove? (antless, of course)...Lynn

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    No, but I will check it out, I won 1st runner up to International Photographer of the year in Vegas this year with this photo. Thanks for your comment.

  • Lynn Bawden

    Lynn Bawden

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Where in Washington state did you take that photo?...Lynn

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    On Interstate 90. Thanks for your kind words.

  • Vickie Emms

    Vickie Emms

    beautiful, congratulations on all the wins you’ve had with the image….......

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much Vickie for your kind words.

  • BigD

    BigD

    Well done, charlene. BigD

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much BigD

  • Lynn Bawden

    Lynn Bawden

    Your welcome, Charlene. Where on I-90?...Lynn

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Wow I am behind, Thanks so much Lynn

  • Blair Wainman

    Blair Wainman

    Fantastic capture Charlene! Congratulations on your awards with this photo!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks a lot Blair

  • Vickie Emms

    Vickie Emms

    this is beautiful Charlene, the Foxglove is one of my favorite flowers. I love the tiny little ant, he looks so small against the big hood of the flower :-))

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much Vickie.

  • Blair Wainman

    Blair Wainman

    I thought I’d seen this one before…then I noticed my comments! Nice to see it in the WF group!! Looks like a great entry for the challenge too!!

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Ah, how sweet Blair, thanks again for looking again.

  • Vickie Emms

    Vickie Emms

    in WILDFLOWERS OF NORTH AMERICA

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thank you Vickie for the feature.

  • enchantedImages

    enchantedImages

    Fabulous shot, Charlene!
    Congrats on the feature.

  • Charlene Aycoc... replied

    Thanks so much enchantedimages

  • maxy

    maxy

    Oh my goodness – you’re right and what a gorgeous condo it is! Congratulations on an excellent and well deserved feature!

  • Charlene Aycock IPA

    Charlene Aycoc...

    Thanks so much Maxy.

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