November 8, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge 372 Ephemeral

“It is the ephemeral nature of things that makes them wonderful.” — Yoshida Kenkō Ephemeral can be defined as a fleeting glimpse or short-lived event or object that comes and goes quickly, for example bubbles, fireworks or cold brew coffee as cream is poured in the glass on the right, creating an interesting looking design.  About a minute later its appearance softened and a different pattern was created. Truly an ephemeral experience! There are many examples of ephemerality in nature and this next series illustrates a few.  First is a dandelion plant as seeds from its flower head are being blown off by the wind. Snow and ice formed on this railing…

October 4, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #367 Everyone Should See This

The challenge this week is to share a few photographs that have inspired me or are meaningful in some way. Each picture either has a story to tell or captures a particular meaningful moment. All were taken near our home on Kiawah Island, SC, except the last one. This first picture is telling a story about an Anhinga and the juvenile alligator. When I walked nearby, the Anhinga was quietly resting on the fence post. Then, when the alligator decided to cross the golf path and head for the water on the other side, the excitement began! The Anhinga went crazy, he started making loud “cruk-cruk-cruk” sounds while moving around…

September 12, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #364 Quiet Moment

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” —Hermann Hesse A Quiet Moment is precious time spent alone with one’s thoughts. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday sounds. Alone time can provide the experience of inner peace and personal growth by listening to your inner voice, enhancing your creativity, improving mental clarity and gathering your strength. Quiet moments can be further enhanced by being with nature or going to a favorite place in your house for reflection.   This first series of pictures shows my favorite Quiet Moment locations close to our house in Maine. This first…

September 6, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #363 Virtual Scavenger Hunt

“Of all man’s works of art, a cathedral is greatest. A vast and majestic tree is greater than that.” – Henry Ward Beecher The photo challenge this week is a virtual scavenger hunt. Anne is challenging us to look through our photo archives to find the right one that meets her criteria. Who knows, I  may find a few pictures I had forgotten about. She suggested a list of items to look for. Here are a few: something with green eyes, or cool jewelry, something circular, rectangular, has a design or a pattern, something with bumpy texture, a soft texture, or something of glass, and her list goes on….   All…

June 21, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #353 Stormy

Take time to look towards the sky, notice the various cloud formations and lovely colors created by the sun’s light. The photo challenge topic this week is Stormy. Many things can be referred to as being stormy but generally I think about stormy weather such as snowstorms which often occur in Maine, rainstorms, severe storms which can be most anywhere and then there are also hurricanes and nor’easter which are formed over water and occasionally move over land leaving a lot of destruction in its wake. Having lived most of my life along the eastern coast of the United States, I have experienced a fair number of storms, especially Nor’easters…

April 5, 2025

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #342 It’s a Wild Life!

This week Egidio of Through Brazilian Eyes is suggesting we show a few pictures of what we consider to be wild! There are lots of possibilities to consider so I decided to show a few wild animals I have encountered plus a couple showing mother-nature in a wild mood! This scene in the Atlantic Ocean was taken at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine in 2011 as Hurricane Irene was passing through. Notice how the ocean was wild and raging due to high tides and strong winds. My husband and lived on Kiawah Island and one of the many unique things about this Island is the pods of Bottle Nose Dolphins…

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…

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…

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 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…