April 8, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #243 It’s Tricky

It’s Tricky and this is April the 4th week! Donna suggests we share a few pictures that are not what they seem to be. Below are a few tricky looking subjects and the challenge is to guess what you are actually seeing.  I am starting off with a header shot which is probably easy to identify (the answer is at the end).  But what about the tree branch below with green leaves? Would you guess this is actually a picture of Atta leaf cutter ants carrying bits of green leaves to their nest. Below is an open field filled with tall mud “towers”. How were these towers constructed and who…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Abstract, LENS-ARTISTS, Montreal Aquarium, Photography

March 31, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #242 New Experiences

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings This week Anne, of Slow Shutter Speed, suggests we share a new personal experience. The experience my husband and I are in the midst of now is not really new to us, it’s just that we have not experienced this in well over ten years – so, it seems like it’s new.  We recently got a puppy!!  Meet Tucker, an American Cocker Spaniel.  “Training a puppy is like raising a child. Every single interaction is a training opportunity.” – Ian Dunbar Two months ago our life changed when eight week-old Tucker…

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

March 25, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #241 Spring

Spring time at the Rookery!  Each spring there is a flurry of activity at Magnolia Plantation’s Rookery. The area is alive as Great Blue Herons, white Great Egrets and other large coastal birds begin the breeding season. After selecting an site for their nest, the nest building begins. The adults work as a team throughout the season, building their nest together and providing food. The male gathers sticks and other nesting materials and gives it to the female to arrange it their nest. These photos were taken at The Rookery at the Audubon Swamp at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, SC.  Sofia wants us to show pictures of what…

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

March 18, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #240 The Photographic Road (Most Often) Taken

“Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.” – Jim Carrey I would like to show my favorite “road” in photography. John is leading the challenge this week and he suggests we consider a favorite photographic style like low key/high key, monochrome, etc. Maybe a genre of photography like a preference for architecture, still life, portraiture, etc. I enjoy photographing many different genres but my favorite must be flowers based on the number of pictures in my archives! Here are a few favorites. “Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values…

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

March 11, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #239 Finding Peace

“Lose yourself in nature and find peace.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson This week Tina, of Travels and Trifles, suggests we “take Ann-Christine’s challenge (from last week) one step further, and address the ways we’ve learned to Find Peace in today’s ever-more busy world.”  Experts are in universal agreement on the importance of Finding Inner Peace, a few suggestions are:     Spend Time in Nature. When you spend time in nature, like taking short walks or appreciating nature, you may find serenity. Don’t Let Your Past Mistakes Define You. Take Responsibility for Your Actions. Be Grateful. Meditate or practice mental silence. Practice Acceptance and Contentment. The picture below is of the…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Finding Peace, Landscape, Photography

March 4, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #238 Alone Time

“Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln never saw a movie, heard a radio or looked at television. They had ‘Loneliness’ and knew what to do with it. They were not afraid of being lonely because they knew that was when the creative mood in them would work.” – Carl Sandburg Ann-Christine, who leads this week, is encouraging us to think about “Alone Time” spent in a favorite place away from outside distractions. By relaxing, mediating or working on an interesting project it is possible to temporarily clear our minds of daily ‘to do’ thoughts and allow random thoughts to emerge. Each picture shows someone enjoying their time…

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

February 25, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #237 Bringing Softness

“I like the muted sounds, the shroud of grey, and the silence that comes with fog.” – Om Malik This banner shot shows how fog and natural light can bring softness and beauty to everything it touches. “Our soul is like a soft and gentle flower, it needs to be nurtured, cared for, tended to, with sufficient sunlight, fresh air and freedom to bloom into its most precious and beautiful form. – Miya Yamanouchi The photo challenge this week is led by Bren, she suggests we bring or show softness in a few of our photos. One way this can be accomplished in camera is by photographing in the fog or…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography

February 4, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #234 Messages

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber Animals have their own unique way of communicating such as this Bottle Nose Dolphin sending the message of affection to her calf. This was taken in the Kiawah River, Kiawah Island, SC. This is our American Cocker spaniels a few years ago when Bentley sent a warning messsage to Chester telling to leave his sock alone!  A Mute swan sending me a message that I was getting too close.  A Canada goose sounding the alarm to others of approaching danger. Below is the Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Like all lighthouses along the coast,…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Animals, Bottle Nose Dolphins, Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, People, Photography

December 24, 2022

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #230 Last Chance

Tina leads our photo challenge this week with a unique topic. She suggests we feature favorite pictures taken in 2022 that have not been shown before and do not fit into any particular category. In keeping with the Christmas season, these carolers from Charleston sang holiday favorites during a friend’s Christmas party.   In August we spent a week in Newport, Rhode Island, touring the town and then several days on Goat Island for a friend’s wedding celebration. Part of the week was rainy but once the storms cleared out, the sunsets on the Island were specular. In July we traveled to Quebec, Canada, and played golf at Owl’s Head Golf…

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

December 17, 2022

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #229 Perfect Patterns

“Some of nature’s most exquisite handiwork is on a miniature scale, as anyone knows who has applied a magnifying glass to a snowflake.” – Rachel Carson Nature has a way of creating Perfect Patterns, at least to My eyes the patterns are perfect! Fortunately, Ann-C mentioned this when suggesting our guidelines. She wrote, “Of course there is no such thing as a ”perfect” pattern…but it could be perfect in Your eyes, perfect for camouflage or perfect for its purpose…or simply radiating ”perfect”.  To me flowers, butterfly’s wings and trees are just about perfect! “His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly’s…

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