My Colorful Expressions

July 28, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #158 Along Back Country Roads

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost This week we are challenged to feature images seen on back country roads. Roads we walk or ride on off the beaten path, through farmland, forests, quaint small towns or in the middle of nowhere. Here are a few sights which caught my attention when exploring unknown country roads. The building below is on Peake’s Island, a small Island in Casco Bay off the coast of Portland, Maine. Peake’s Island is only accessible by ferry; the few people who live there have cars, otherwise others have…

written by Sylvia - Posted in Fine Art Photography, LENS-ARTISTS, Maine, Old Buildings, Photography

July 10, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #155 On the Water

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” — Loren Eaiseley Having spent most of my life near the water, it’s the wildlife living in and on the water I enjoy seeing the most. Three favorite pictures show Bottlenose Dolphins, a Mute Swan and Great White Pelicans enjoying the water. Some of you have already seen this dolphin picture as they are following behind our boat. This particular pod lives in the Kiawah River in South Carolina. There are several previous posts where you might enjoy learning more about these very unusual pods of dolphins: #88 Chaos, #89 A River Run Through It and …

written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Wildlife

July 2, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #154 One Picture Two Ways

A single picture can be presented in several ways as well as a single subject can be photographed from different angles and in various lighting situations. This week Tina challenges us to show a edited photo along with a different way it could be viewed using additional editing. This first picture is of a lovely flower bed which lines the path to Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine. These lush, colorful flowers are a stark contrast to the rugged cliffs straight ahead beside the Atlantic Ocean. Here, Photoshop software was used in an artsy manner – swirls were added and colors blended and softened. An favorite arrangement of graceful tulips. By…

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

June 18, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #152 Shadows and Shade

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree and long time ago.” – Warren Buffett This week our Photo Challenge is to show examples of Shadows and Shade. I decided to feature various pictures starting with this opening picture showing both shadows and shade on the golf course green behind our house in Maine. In the picture below it is interesting to note tourists taking advantage of the narrow shaded area in the street along as well as the person who is also in the shade walking in the opposite direction. This street scene is in Corfu, Greece. Interesting shadows of the man and his son…

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

June 11, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #151 From Large to Small

“The world is glittering with gold and yellow streamers of sunlight wind through the tree boughs like God was throwing a party!” – Christine Anderson Patti is challenging us to pick one color and then select several photos featuring just that color. Starting with a large subject and then progress down in size by showing smaller and smaller examples. Yellow is such a happy color that I decided to feature it. As the sun came out from behind the rain clouds it ended up casting such a lovely yellow glow on everything it touched. (This first picture was featured not too long ago in my post on Natural Light.) “How…

written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Photography

May 26, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #149 Blue and Green

Blue and Green colors can be calming and relaxing as well as exciting and vibrant. The good news it they can be found most everywhere in unexpected places. “Green calm below, Blue quietness above” – John Greenleaf Whittier Tina is hosting this week and she wants us to “return to the color wheel and its cooler members, which include blue (primary) green (secondary) and blue-green or blue-violet aka purple (tertiary)….Simply explore the many ways the cooler colors appear in our world.” My banner shot shows a set of coasters I purchased a couple of months ago. Image my delight when noticing the lovely shades of blue and green – maybe…

written by Sylvia - Posted in Abstract, Blue and Green Colors, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography

May 17, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #148 Spots and Dots

Dots are defined as a small round mark and Spots are a small roundish mark, differing in color or texture from the surface around it. One place where I often see round shapes is on the beach when waves leave behind lovely soft areas of air bubbles which slowly disappear. The morning sunlight is accenting these bubbles and the sand which gives the area a lovely glow. (Double clicking on the image shows off the colors.) Another example is some of the tiles in an American Mah Jongg set. It consist of 144 tiles which includes three suits (totalling 36 tiles each). The suits are called Dots, Bams, and Craks. Below is…

written by Sylvia - Posted in Fine Art Photography, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Photography, Spots and Dots

May 14, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #147 Gardens

“Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it.” – Rumi I have always enjoyed walking through botanical gardens in various cities, enjoying the interesting collection of plants, trees and artwork on display. When in southwest Florida, Naples Botanical was one of my favorite places to visit, with my camera of course! Naples Botanical Gardens is one the youngest gardens in history to receive the American Public Gardens Association’s prestigious Award for Garden Excellence. They have 170-acres featuring a Preserve and a Water Garden in addition to showcasing a few gardens from around the world – Asian, Brazilian, Caribbean plus a Florida Garden,…

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

May 8, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #146 Focusing on Details

“Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things we see and everything to do with the way you see them.” – Elliott Erwitt This week Patti suggests we feature photos Focusing on Details. I found a few images showing details that really seem to make the picture more interesting. This first one was taken a few years ago in Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West, Florida. This room is his writing studio where, it is said, he used the typewriter on the right to produce seventy percent of his works during the nine years he was in residence, 1931 – 1939. Notice that there…

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

April 24, 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #144 Taking Flight

“No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.” William Blake The phrase, Taking Flight, made me think of birds although it can easily describe other things flying like butterflies, bees and balloons. Looking through my photo archives, I found pictures showing several species of birds Taking Flight that I’d like to share. (Double clicking each image shows a larger version). These two pictures are of the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) as he gracefully glides through the air, so quietly he can hardly be heard in spite of his size. These owls are the largest common owl in the eastern United States with a wing…

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

Several years ago, a talented group of four ladies started a blog log called Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. Each week one of them selects a topic and the challenge for all LA blog followers is to post their pictures and text relative to the topic. By the way, anyone is welcome to join this international group of photographers.

Participating in this continues to be quite rewarding. It has trained my eye to be more aware of people and things to photograph in addition to making new blogging friends all over the world.

Photography has always been a big part of my life and traveling offers many wonderful photo opportunities. I live on Kiawah Island in South Carolina and spend summers in southern Maine. Hope you like seeing my posts as much as I enjoy creating it!

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” ∼ Ansel Adams