Alpine ant

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Alpine ant

May 4, 2015 by Mike Powell

There were lots of flowers in bloom during a trip this past Friday to Green Spring Gardens, but not many insects. However, I did manage to find this intrepid ant testing his mountaineering skills as he climbed up and down the edges of a purple Columbine flower.

Posted in Art, Flowers, Gardening, Insects, Macro Photography, Photography, spring | Tagged Alexandria VA, ant, Canon 50D, columbine, green spring gardens, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 11 Comments

11 Responses

on May 4, 2015 at 5:25 am | Reply svtakeiteasy

It looks as if the ant is climbing mountains upside down! I love the wispy little hairs on the petals. Great detail Mike!
- on May 4, 2015 at 5:29 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. I actually had my camera on a tripod to photograph the dark Columbine flower when I saw a little bit of movement through the viewfinder. I moved a bid closer to capture the ant, which was in motion. This shot caught the ant as the was getting ready to swing across the gap and begin to climb down the inverted mountain peak to the left.
  - on May 4, 2015 at 5:32 am svtakeiteasy
    
    Ah! I was wondering what the flower was! Very original capture. I like it! 🙂
on May 4, 2015 at 5:34 am | Reply Ed

Excellent shot.. 🙂
on May 4, 2015 at 8:57 am | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Stunning photograph! I love the bold colours and graphic shapes in contrast to the ant. Perfect!
- on May 4, 2015 at 1:55 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I think that you described really well why I like the shot, Laura. Who knew that green and purple worked so well together?
on May 4, 2015 at 9:36 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Nice shot. Amazing how flat and featureless the background came out.
- on May 4, 2015 at 1:53 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I think the background came out that way because I was so close to the subject and the background itself was a good distance away.
on May 4, 2015 at 9:10 pm | Reply Lyle Krahn

I can certainly see the powers of distraction of the ant. Great photo.
- on May 4, 2015 at 9:43 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Lyle. It’s a little crazy that an ant had stopping power for me.
on May 5, 2015 at 3:47 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

I have always admired the grit and tenacity of ants…Such a great shot, love the detail.