October 23, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #68 LAYERED

Amy is inviting us to explore Layers through a few of our pictures.  I decided to feature a few images showing examples of layers created by Mother Nature!   “If you can’t be in awe of Mother Nature, there’s something wrong with you.” – Alex Trebek   This image shows multiple layered stone which was formed by hot, molten magma from beneath the earth’s crust as it slowly cooled and hardened many years ago.  Taken at the company site in Beebe, Quebec looking down into an active granite quarry.   A little over a year ago, we decided to update our kitchen and add new counter tops.  Making our selection…

October 12, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #66 FILLING THE FRAME

Patti asks us to show some images which demonstrate “Filling the Frame”.  The implied ‘frame’ is simply the border of a photograph.  When choosing to “Fill the Frame” only the subject is shown with very little open spaces around the edges.  Why is this concept of interest to many photographers?  If the subject is the only focal point in the picture, then it is easy for the viewer’s eye to connect with the details and also get an idea of the kind of feeling the photographer wants to convey.   Earlier this week for a couple of days, the Kiawah Island Photography Club hosted Richard Bernabe, an internationally prominent professional…

September 18, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #63 MAGICAL

Our topic this week is Magical; Ann-Christine suggests we think about something that appears magical to us.  When I mentioned this topic to a good friend she suggested I go for a walk along the edge of the woods near our summer house. She had seen wild mushrooms growing and was struck by their astonishing colors and textures which looked so magical growing on the forest floor.  Seeing these wild mushrooms among the sun rays and shadows made them look like they had truly been created by magic!   “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” – W.B. Yeats     This…

August 28, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #60 FRAMING THE SHOT

This week Amy suggests we show several different examples of framing our shot or subject.  There are many ways the subject can be naturally framed, tall objects such as trees, shrubbery, poles, window or door frames, anything that directs the eye to the center of the “frame”.    Often times this can be done in the camera when the picture is taken or during the editing process when cropping.   “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling.  If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”  –  Don McCullin     A self-portrait using…

August 9, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #57 TAKING A BREAK

This week Tina invites us to explore a few things people can do to Take a Break from the daily grind of life – to re-energize, regroup then move forward again, feeling refreshed.  I stumbled on a very interesting chart entitled, “50 Ways to Take A Break“ from the Independence Center  when exploring the internet.  Since this chart is so relevant to our topic this week I decided to include the links, it shows 50 fun ways to take a break and enjoy doing it!     “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”  –  Dr. Suess   Often times taking a break…

August 3, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #56 SEASCAPES

  “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau   This week Amy encouraged us to show favorite pictures of various Seascapes, such as the water front, shoreline and waves.   Early one morning when walking on the beach at Kiawah Island, SC with our dogs, I was excited to see this female Loggerhead turtle returning to the Ocean after laying her eggs in the sand dunes. Fortunately, I was able to take a series of pictures documenting her long, laboring journey back to the ocean. This first one, originally posted on Mar 15, 2019 in my blog “Around The Neighbor”,…

July 24, 2019

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #55 DREAMY

DREAMY, this is the subject Anne-Christine chose for this week.  I found this topic a little difficult to define since dreamy can imply many different things – a dreamy song or meditative music, a dreamy atmosphere, a person who daydreams often or someone who is so visually beautiful they look dreamy.   After some thought I decided to “artistically” edit a few pictures in hopes of creating dreamy colors along with soft dreamy shapes and designs! “Everything that’s lovely is but a brief, dreamy kind of delight.” – William Butler Yeats     “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves…

June 7, 2019

WILD: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

Tina asked us to think about the word Wild this week and show examples of something Wild.  Wild animals, birds, flowers, weather, Wild behavior….this list could go on and on.  Since I enjoy being outside it seems that where ever I go untamed, Wild birds seem to be everywhere, happily chirping, calling to each other or sounding an alarm if another bird has invaded their space.  Sometimes if I’m lucky, many different species can be found congregating in a favorite area as they socialize between meals or share a feeding area.  It’s interesting to watch the behavior among the different species although if you get too close they immediately take…

May 24, 2019

DELICATE: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

DELICATE is the photo challenge word for this week.  Ann-Christine wants us to think about different ways this word can be portrayed with pictures.  Such as a Delicate touch or colors, perhaps butterfly wings and new growth on plants and trees.   “This is what it means to be loved… when someone wants to touch you, to be tender…”  – Banana Yoshimoto   A Delicate, gentle touch from this boy as he strokes the back of our dog in a loving way.        “The colors of the (water and) underwater rock are as pale and delicate as those in the wardrobe if an 18th-century marchioness.” – William Manchester…

March 15, 2019

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

This week Tina challenges us to feature our neighborhood or someone else’s that makes us feel welcome or comfortable.  I have always felt comfortable around water so I decided to feature a few pictures of wildlife and activities on Kiawah’s beach, which is in our neighborhood and walking distance from our home.  Except for the first image, these other sights are fairly common.  I believe the quote below also implies being a good neighbor to wildlife, helping them to preserve their future. “To be a good neighbor is one of life’s richest joys!” – unknown   This Loggerhead turtle laid her eggs in the sand dunes and is very slowly…