October 26, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #321 Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)

“Intentional Camara Movement so much more than a Blurry Photo.” – Charlotte Bellamy For the challenge, Anne has suggested we explore Intentional Camera Movement or ICM. What is ICM? An in-camera photo technique that involves moving the camera while taking a shot, giving the picture a unique and creative look. The resulting image can have textures, layers or streaking and can produce abstract, minimalist, and impressionistic images. Some say that it is a creative process that can be personal and each pictue is unique.  When fall recently arrived in southern Maine, leaves on the trees turned into gorgeous colors.  So, as soon as I saw Anne’s challenge I knew I…

October 19, 2024

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #320 Looking Back

Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. – Ibn Battuta Sofia of Photographias, our host this week, suggests we show a few pictures of memories we have made on the years. She says “look back at things we have loved in life, things that have happened, places we have visited we would like to experience again. Anything that is a treasured memory.” The many years my husband and I have traveled all over the world gave me many treasured memories. We have visited various parts of India, England, Brazil and Canada on many occasions. Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Ireland and the Caribbean Islands were also…

September 21, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #316 Destination: Fun

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” – Bob Marley This week Egidio, of (Through Brazilian Eyes) suggests we show pictures of a few things we like to do for fun. I like being with friends, traveling with my husband or quiet times walking with my dog or reading a book. In adittion, having a camera close by is a great way to enjoy my surroundings since I find myself looking for interesting subjects to photograph.   I decided to feature a few pictures of fun places and events my husband and I have enjoyed over the years.  First, the banner picture, was taken at a resort…

September 14, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #315 Comon Objects

“The extent to which we take everyday objects for granted is the precise extent to which they govern and inform our lives.” – Margaret Visser The challenge this week is to feature Common Objects around us. To look for mundane everyday things and allow others to see them in a different light. To appreciate the ‘beauty’ and significance of objects that often go unnoticed and find inspiration and joy in simple things around us. The banner picture of bicycles is a reminder of how enjoyable it can be riding a bike! A common thing that most people have. Another ordinary object and something generally taken for granted is a cup…

September 7, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #314 Shorelines

“My life is like a stroll upon the beach, as near the ocean’s edge as I can go.” – Henry David Thoreau Where do I find peace and relaxation? At the shoreline watching shorebirds search for food and listening to the rhythmic sound of gentle waves washing up on the sand. I also enjoy being around others on the beach walking along the ocean and seeing children playing in the sand.  Occasionally, a few people are lucky enough to see a Loggerhead turtle return to the ocean after laying her eggs in the sand. This first selection of shorelines was taken during our many travels to the Islands of Aruba…

August 31, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #314 Cool Colors

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” – Wasslly Kandinsky Wings of butterflies –  Cool Colors of blues, greens and pale yellow! Cool Colors is the topic this week. “Specifically: of a hue in the range violet through blue to green.”  These cool colors evoke calmness, serenity, and tranquility, feelings often associated with water, sky, and nature.  These butterflies display the cool colors of blue/green or an iridescent blue on their wings. First is the Owl Butterfly (Caligo eurilochus). The ventral surface or underside of its wing is shown in the picture below. The large eyespots, which resemble owls’ eyes, help to protect it from predators. The Blue…

August 23, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #312 Sense of Scale

Sense of scale in photography is achieved by showing the size of one subject in relation to the size of another in the same picture. When this is done, the viewer can perceive the space or the depth perception between one verses the other. An easy way to illustrate this is to include a familiar subject along with another subject seen at a distance.  These first three pictures show a few areas of coastline and beaches in Southern Maine. The sense of scale can be visually appreciated since part of the plane is shown in each image. These were taken with an iPhone and can be enlarged by clicking on…

August 17, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #311 What’s in a Garden

 “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul”. – Alfred Austin Anne-Christain writes that several essential elements are used to create gardens; water, representing life-giving force; and plants, which provide the color and changes throughout the seasons. You also often find bridges, water falls and stepping stones. This banner image shows one of the many lovely flower gardens planted by neighbors in our golf course community in Well, Maine. For me, gardens are a wonderful place to explore, relax and reflect. This vase of roses looks like a small…

August 7, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #310 Zigzag Pictures

Our photo challenge is to feature pictures showing zigzag lines. Did not think I had many pictures but was surprised. As it turned out, most of these images are zigzag lines seen in nature, first is ocean waves, then butterfly wings, water reflections, Atlantic coastline and a slab of marble.  The first picture was taken at sunset on Kiawah Island, SC. Next is a beach scene of the Gulf of Mexico in Bonita Springs, Florida. Other zigzag lines seen in nature is lovely patterns on butterfly wings. Below is a Southern Oak Hairstreak butterfly with light-colored zigzag lines on its wings. (As a side note, the appearance of having it having…

June 29, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #305 Two Rectangles

Egidio, who is leading our photo challenge this week, suggests we show pictures emphasizing two rectangles.  He says, “By two rectangles, I mean you have two dominant rectangular areas in your image. For many people, this is one of those compositional tools we use without thinking about it. These rectangles give balance, harmony, and unity to a composition.” The image of these carps shows two pairs of rectangular areas created by contrasting light and shadows. Ever noticed the numerous rectangular areas on a baseball field?  Large billboards, advertisements around the seating area, division of seating sections in the stands and even grassy rectangular patterns on the field. Overall, these pleasing…