Amy’s challenge topic for this week is FIVE ELEMENTS. She chose to highlight the Five Elements recognized by the Chinese, Wu Xing: water (shui), metal (jin), fire (huo), wood (mu), and earth (tu). In daily life these are regarded as the foundations of everything in the universe and natural phenomena and commonly used by designers and Feng Shui masters. In the universe, each element interacts positively or negatively with another element. Positive interaction would be how metal generates water; water nourishes wood; wood feeds fire; fire creates earth; earth bears metal. Negative interaction would occur when fire melts metal; metal chops wood; wood breaks up the earth; earth absorbs the…
HARMONY: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Tina suggests we explore the word “Harmony” and show examples of it with our photography. It can be experienced anywhere in life, music, art and nature. One dictionary describes Harmony in nature or the arts as a sameness, the belonging of one thing to another, such as the repetition of elements like color, texture, shape, lines and form. Experiencing it tends to creates an overall sense of peace and a visually calming rhythm. Tina also encourages photographers to improve their skills by studying favorite images, our own and those of others. Examine what draws us into an image and become aware of what we feel – peace, relaxation,…
WORN and/or WEATHERED: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
The topic for our photo challenge this week is Weathered and/or Worn. Ann Christine suggests we feature a few pictures showing which things we are attracted to that are worn and weathered. Personally, I enjoy seeing and photographing old, worn out buildings or structures constructed from wood. Why wood? Because it ages so gracefully, showing the marks of time; the color slowly change along with the shape, lines start to appear and scars from usage plus battling the elements tend to give it a certain kind of beauty. Worn, weathered wooden buildings or structures arouse my curiosity as I wonder what secrets they hold. Then it is fun to imagine…
SHADOWS: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Tina challenges us to show images of interesting Shadows we have captured. Looking over a few photos, I randomly picked several showing Shadows on the beach, a couple of golf courses, in the mountains and by the river. It is the shape formed by Shadows which makes an interesting picture in addition to how they interacts with the subject. Converting these pictures to black and white seemed logical, after all shadows are not very colorful, they just display interesting patterns! “Color is descriptive. Black and white is interpretive.” – Eliott Erwitt A bright sunny summer day as the sun’s rays filter through the tree leaves. This photo was…
LANDSCAPES: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Amy wants us to show pictures of a few of our favorite Landscapes. Ones we have seen in our travels and also those close to home we can enjoy at our leisure. Other Landscape favorites are featured in Previous Blogs such as PATH, SEASONAL and FAVORITE PICTURES of 2018. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust “I live in a landscape, which every single day of my life is enriching.” – Daniel Day-Lewis This is one of my favorite Landscape pictures, taken at The Ocean Golf Course, Kiawah Island, SC. This scene is never static; the…
FAVORITE PICTURES OF 2018: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Ann-Christine encourages us to think back on 2018 and show pictures recapping some memorable moments. What a challenging assignment! With so many images to choose from, it is difficult to narrowed them down and pick only eight. Probably one of my personal highlights in 2018 is the inception of this photography blog. This became a reality when an old friend (and great photographer, I must also add) encouraged me to participate in the newly organized weekly Lens-Artists Photo Challenge Group. And of course, I said “yes”! Taking pictures and writing is easy enough although creating the website was a different story. Fortunately with her ongoing encouragement and support, My Colorful Expressions.com was…
HAPPINESS IS … : Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Ann-Christine invites us to share what “Happiness Is” means to us. This topic made me think about what is important and what brings happiness in my life. “Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.” ∼ Walt Whitman ——— “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ∼ Mahatma Gandhi Happiness Is being with my husband, family and friends as we laugh and share good times together while making memories. Fun times spent cooking in the kitchen, dinner table talk, quiet time, walks, biking and traveling together. “Happiness is a warm puppy.” ∼ …
MAGICAL LIGHT: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Amy shared some of her favorite pictures of sunrises and sunsets. She is challenging us to share special moments we captured when observing Magical Light. Where better to see gorgeous light than in spectacular sunrises and sunsets when the sky is full of design and color! Except for the last picture, these photos were taken near our home on Kiawah Island, SC. “Nature speaks to us through different images, landscapes, colors, patterns and forms of exquisite beauty. As we admire nature’s extravagance our emotions and feelings become part of it. This harmonious balance makes our souls happy…” ∼ Ralph Waldo Emerson Early morning sun light turns the…
BIG Can Be Beautiful Too! : Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Tina challenges us to show our interpretation of BIG Can Be Beautiful Too especially since several weeks ago we were challenged to show pictures defining “Small Is Beautiful”! “Big” can be defined as considerable size or extent. These photo interpretations meet this criteria: Angel Oak, a majestic live oak tree, a 77 foot (23.5 m) scallop boat which drifted ashore during a stormy night and a seagull studying a large bronze statue. Each image contrasts something Big and Beautiful next to something Small and Beautiful. “When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” ∼ …
CHANGES and/or CHANGEABLE: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
Amy challenges us to show pictures demonstrating Changes and/or Changeable events artistically and in nature. The digital age of photography ushered in the capability of making photographs Changeable and to use one’s imagination to create “artistic images”. Changes are obvious in nature; changing weather patterns, flocks of birds migrating to warmer climates, flowering plants dying. A photograph is Changeable as its visual appearance takes on a new look; appearing abstract, artistic, dark and moody, colorful and upbeat, whatever the photographer desires. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever and Nature is the most obvious thing that gives us joy forever. It is our duty to preserve Nature. The sight of greenery,…