Three Small Cities by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
I have no idea how to actually categorize this. On a level, I could say that it would fit in the "Insects" genre, as this image could not exist without the help of insects--in this case, yellow jackets, but since there are no yellow jackets in this image, I decided to go with "Objects" since that seems to be the only category it fits within...at least here.
I took this picture a couple of days ago. I have a habit of visiting the yellow jackets that have made their home in the half-used trailer my father owns. As the weather has changed, the population has largely died. The queen remains, but I suspect she has abandoned the nest and has burrowed her way into hibernation somewhere out of the way. The most recently-live nest is not in this picture. In relation to "you the viewer" it's floating somewhere over your keyboard, if this picture is any indication. Isn't that a comforting thought? Well...it is for me, but I'm weird, and yellow jackets are comfortable to the point of rudeness in my presence...or they're persistently attempting to steal as much of my iced tea as they can manage...and they can manage quite a lot. I've seen them drink all of the tea out of a dipped cotton ball in less than an hour. Of course, there were LOTS of them as well, so that has something to do with it.
I'd thought to write something smart and illuminating about this photograph, but I can't really think of anything. I've gone past the wall of exhaustion and will be sleeping a lot sooner than I want to be, but as quickly as I need to. It's been a hectic and strange week, and it ain't over yet. Oh well.
I may wind up offline for a bit. I've just discovered that my email account has been compromised. Victor, of all people, has just received an email from my account that I didn't send. Other emails have disappeared from my inbox, and so I am working on safeguarding my stuff. This may mean I'll be online sporadically.
As always, however, thank you for viewing and reading, and commenting, and I hope everyone's having a good week!

Comments (19)
This is freakin' amazing stuff, my friend! What a great shot! The composition is wonderful, love the light (and the shadows that go along with it) and the dof. You draw me in, and I feel like I could walk there ... perhaps between yellow jacket skyscrapers in a universe populated by ... well ... I'll leave the population up to you.
Interesting story, Chip. These are interesting objects. Amazing work when you consider that small insects created them.
Good luck with the internet/e-mail problem...sounds like your being hacked...be carefu. Awesome shot here!
This is stunning, Chip! Wow, another world indeed!
I can never overcome a sense of creepyness when I see a wasp or bees nest. It's wrong perhaps but I've never been able to shake it. Indeed just the suggestion of a live nest above my keyboard made me instinctively look up. I suppose it comes from the thought that such mathematically precise and complex structures can be systematically created by creatures that don't even demonstrate much self awareness. At least as we perceive such a concept. I'll bet you are thinking of the word instinct again as well. Or maybe it is just the though of what emerges from those dark holes, armed with piercing, merciless stingers. Your 'Cautious Vegetarian' knows what I mean. As specimens, they are beautifully constructed and preserved. Very well detailed.
Wow! Never saw this before :) Very cool!
You really are becoming the Yellow Jacket Man! Great stuff.
The Invasion Of The Giant Yellow Jackets--could be top billing with Bambi Meets Godzilla!! This is awesome (omg, I used THAT word!!). I was going to say unexpected, but that's not true--you ALWAYS do the unexpected!! As for your email trouble, sounds scary--hope you get it cleared up fast.
Because I have always found the shapes of bee homes faschinating, I love this shot. It is so beautiful with all the holes and the shapes of the home. But this reminds me more of bees than Yellow Jackets. My father kept bees for many years as a hobby. Need I say we ate alot of honey in that period? I often helped him collecting bees. Also making "thunder" (A heck of a noice with pot lits and such stuff. Would you believe the kids found that most fun?), in order to make the bees beleave a thunderstorm were coming up, so they would settled on a stump or a bush or a tree. Then they were easy to collect in a box, just it was very important to catch the queen. All the other bees would come to her. We just had to wait untill all the bees were in the box. Then my dad took them home and just dumped all the bees included the queen into a new beehive, he had made himself. Thanks for these sweet memories. :)
The genre is definitely 'architecture'! A really remarkable shot, I just love it! What is so interesting to me is that our wasps cover the outside of the cobs with a paper 'curtain', and these structures don't appear to have that.
Du miel de la planète Mars ou bien de la Nébuleuse d'Orion !
Outstanding capture my friend.
Everybody has already said it all!!! Wonderful image Chip... These structures and their perfection always amazes me!! And the light in this image is perfect! Well done! I really do hope you get your email account sorted! :)
most interesting picture!!! Fantastic!!!!!
This is utterly fascinating, nature and on the other hand futuristic looking too
For a moment I thought, that you had taken up a new hobby, playing golf and this was a close-up of 'dem balls' :-) I cannot imagine, you having such a hobby, or anyone else for that matter ? Those paper-wasps are definitely the real architects, in a Senior Gaudy sort-o-way,(well a bit anyway) great pity that they abandon the nests after all it's said and done, that cycle seems to be over...moving on. Not over my keyboard ! Just make sure, you never ever have a can of drink nearby, without a straw ! also make for certain, that you get a big firewall, no - not for the wasps... BB
Hi Chip...Oops, I see I've missed a few in your gallery. These honey combs are really something special...the little buggers really know about symetry don't they! Good luck on the email...hasn't happened to me...yet:)))
Very cool shot, I like how they are lit,it's a fascinating composition.
WOW! Totally awesome! CC