December 14, 2024

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #328 Winter

“There’s just something beautiful about walking in snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special”. – Carol Rifka Brunt John, our host this week, mentioned in his opening sentence that winter will be upon those living in the northern hemisphere in only two weeks. Must admit I had to smile when reading his words because we have already had two snowstorms and it is only December 14!  For the challenge, John suggests we share some pictures of what winter means to us. Personally, I have enjoyed the couple of winter months we have experienced in southern Maine. Out of the fifteen summers spent here we…

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

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…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Abstract, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography

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…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Nature, Photography, Travel

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…

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

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…

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

June 15, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #303 Connections

“The connections we make to people, places, things, and ideas, are what give purpose and meaning to our lives.” – Donna The connections we chose in our lives are very powerful. My connection with family, other people, my community, places I love and ideas I hold dear is the sum total of who I am. And it is my connection and relationship with nature that gives me a sense of calm and inner peacefulness. Whether watching a butterfly dart from flower to flower or listening to the constant rhythm of waves beating on the sand as birds fly about. I am continually reminded of the joy and wonder that can…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, Nature, Photography, Quotes

May 25, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #300 Delicate

Our host this week, Ann-Christine, suggests we think about the word Delicate and what it means to us. I generally tend to think about certain creatures seen in nature that appear fragile and delicate. Some actually are delicate while others look that way even though they are strong, For example, the sun shining on the wings of this egret shows off the delicate structure of its strong wings. Even though Dragonflies have translucent and fragile looking wings, they are much stronger than they appear. This caterpillar stranded on these few twigs below is quite fragile and delicate and probably not able to take care of itself. These fragile Loggerhead Turtles…

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

April 20, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #295 Rocks

“The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind, washed by the water and polished to brilliance by life’s strongest storms.” – unknown I have always enjoyed photographing interesting looking rocks. They have Rocks such a variety of unique colors, patterns and shapes based on where they were formed. Looking through my photo archives here are a few favorites taken over the years. I will begin with the Natural Bridge in Aruba, one of the largest of its kind several years ago.  It measured approximately 25 feet high (7.6 meters) and 100 feet long (30 meters.  This rocky land formation was originally part of an ancient cave and made…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography

February 23, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #287 Sound

This week Donna of Wind Kisses suggests we feature a few pictures showing examples of sound. Sources of sound can be divided into two types: geophony or natural and man-made.  A few examples of natural sounds would be blowing wind, flowing streams or oceans, storms or animals such as the barking dog playing on the beach in the header shot. Well-known man-made sources are road vehicles, airplanes, music, home appliances, for example. I will start off showing a few examples of man-made sounds. “The city is a symphony of sounds, from the sirens to the laughter to the footsteps of strangers” – unknown Big city sounds is a continuous hum…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography

February 16, 2024

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #286 Weather

“Sometimes I wish that I was the weather, you’d bring me up in conversations forever. And when it rained, I’d be the talk of the day.” – John Mayer “The weather” almost always seems to come up in general conversations! Discussions can center around what to wear outside to stay comfortable, whether to plan an outing on a given day, how today’s weather makes us feel, and this list could go on. For some photographers, weather is an important consideration before going outside with the camera! Suppose the light outside is too harsh or flat at midday or too stormy or its snowing too hard to venture out? These are…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography