December 4, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #176 One Image/One Story

“The greatest art in the world is the art of storytelling.” – Cecil B. DeMille The challenge this week is to show pictures which tell a story.  Ann-Christine asked, “What is a photo story? Some photos are staged, or taken just for their story, and some stories come up first when you see your photo on the screen. A lot of photographic storytelling involves capturing shots of interesting scenes and phenomena that cannot easily be explained through words…. There are so many stories to capture…and to tell.” It is normal to see fish constantly swimming in an aquarium and hopefully the banner image tells their story since most fish have…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Travel

November 20, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #174: Shapes and Designs

Images featuring shapes and designs, they are all around us, easy to see once you become aware of them.  They can be found in nature, your home, garden, architecture, fabrics, paintings, just about everywhere.  This week Patti invites us to share a few we have noticed.   A dead tree, dried out by the elements, has been shaped into an interesting design.   It’s base looks like a circle with small branches curving overhead and off to the side. Beautiful star shaped clematis flower growing along the fence in our yard. Once the flower petals die, this lovely circular seed pod appears and remains for quite some time. Other examples of shapes…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Ocean, Photography

November 13, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #173: Interesting Architecture

“As an architect you design for the present with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” – Norman Foster Interesting, beautiful architecture can be seen most anywhere people live, especially in cities and towns.  It is visual art that is hard to ignore.  I always enjoy photographing interesting looking buildings.  I selected a few favorites pictures from within the United States – Maine, Boston and Chicago. This Gothic-inspired architectural house has won the distinction as the most photographed house in Maine.  It is known as the Wedding Cake House since George W. Bourne (a prominent 19th-century shipbuilder) built it for his new bride in 1825. …

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Architecture, Boston Massachusetts, Chicago, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Travel

November 6, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #172: A Day in My Week

“Right in this moment, I can’t even remember what unhappy feels like.”  – Maggie Stiefvater A few days ago around sunrise, I decided to take a long walk on the beach, something I try to do at least twice a week.  When walking down the boardwalk my attention was immediately drawn to the beautiful sweetgrass brushes growing beside the sand dunes.  “Nature unfolds her treasure at the first ray of sunrise.” – Kishore Bansol The beach looked magical this particular morning.  It was low tide and the sun was casting bright rays of light off the ocean surface and wet sand.   For the first half an hour the ocean and…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Sunrises

October 23, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #170: Street Art – Boston

Street art, such as sculptures, murals, graffiti, poster art, is commonly displayed on buildings, walls, sidewalks – anywhere it can attract public attention.  This week Patti invites us to share images of street art whether it is scrawled messages all the way up to the most elaborate of commissioned work.  Even though Boston Massachusetts is full of beautiful and interesting murals and graffiti, I decided to feature four pieces of commissioned works of art and public statues.  The header shot of the Tortoise and Hare at Copley Square, was created as a tribute to all Boston marathon runners by Nancy Schon in May 1995. This first street exhibit more than…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Boston Massachusetts, LENS-ARTISTS, Sculptures, Street Art

October 6, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #168: Seen Better Days

This week our focus is on sharing images of things that have seen better days.  Even though worn out and aging, these subjects still have a lot of character and stories to tell. This once prosperous looking building was probably a family home, desirably located on the main street of town within walking distance to shops and activities.  Even though run down and dilapidated after all the years, it is still stately looking and has character.  Am guessing there are many interesting stories associated with it – along with a few secrets. Image how great this broken-down model T Ford and tow truck looked back in the ’30.  And, how…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Old and Worn Out, Photography

October 2, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #166: Colors of Autumn

“Fall has always been my favorite season.  The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” – Lauren Destefano Autumn comes early in Maine.  You can tell it has arrived when a sweater or light jacket is needed in the mornings, leaves begin to turn into lovely yellows, reds and oranges, colorful chrysanthemums are visible everywhere and small groups of Canadian Geese stop over in local ponds for a day or two as they head south.    “How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days.” – John Burrows. A look…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Autumn Colors, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Maine, Photography

September 18, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #165: Going Wide

“Appreciation is like looking through a wide-angle lens that lets you see the entire forest, not just the one tree limb you walked up on.” – Doc Childre Life through a wide angle lens. This is where the camera records what you see when looking at a particular scene with eyes fixed in one area.  By using shorter lenses you are able to get more in the picture and everything is on a smaller scale.  Wide angle lenses are versatile and work well in landscape scenes, street photography and architecture shots. I decided to feature a few landscape scenes which were converted to black and white.  The header shot was…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Black and White, Fine Art Photography, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Travel

September 11, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #164: Looking Up/Down

“When I’m in Boston, I always feel like I’m home.  I almost cry, I feel so good.” – Luis Tiant This week’s guest host, Sofia Alves, suggests we be conscience of photo opportunities around us which are either down, below our feet, or higher up, above our heads.  Recently we spent two days in Boston.  What a great photo opportunity for this week!  The header shot shows a row of colorful umbrellas hanging above the sidewalk on Hanover Street in Boston’s historic North End.  (Notice the emojis dangling from the purple umbrella!) We started our trip to the city on this Downeaster Amtrak train Wednesday morning.   Once arriving at the…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Boston Massachusetts, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Travel

September 3, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #163: Keep Walking

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead.  Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow.  Just walk beside me and be my friend.” – Albert Camus This week Amy is asking us to share pictures of people walking.  What better place to see than in Charleston, South Carolina.  Due to it’s size, it is an easy city to walk, and one of the most visited cities in the United States.  Much has been written about Charleston Historic District which showcases magnificent historic homes, churches, and other buildings.  (A post for another day.)   These pictures show part of the retail and business area in Charleston.  They were taken…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Charleston SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography