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…
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…
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #53 CHOICES – Black and White
In celebration of the one-year anniversary of Lens-Artists Photo Challenge we are invited to post pictures on a subject of our choice. I decided to feature only black and white images this week. Interestingly, since not all pictures turn out to be good black and white candidates. Worthy ones tend to emphasis shapes, lines and texture, in addition to shadows, reflections and contrasts. Often times these features add mood and emotion and can attract more attention, maybe this is why many people believe this is photography in its purest form. Hope you enjoy seeing these images in a different “light”! 😊 “There’s something strange and powerful about black-and-white imagery.” –…
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #52 SERENITY
This week Tina chose to challenge us with the word SERENITY. Looking through my pictures it became obvious I tend to be drawn to serene landscapes. I guess it is visual and mental peace, stillness and tranquility of the moment that captures my attention in the otherwise hectic life style I lead. A popular definition of Serenity is the absence of mental stress or anxiety, a state of peace and quiet; perhaps this is the reason why I have enjoyed practicing yoga over the years. “Serenity opens the door to inspiration and creativity.” – unknown When coming upon this inviting scene I thought how wonderful it would be…
FAVORITE THINGS: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
Patti invited us to share a few pictures showing a favorite place or activity…” just about anything that brings you happiness.” I have many favorites (family, people, pets, places, pictures I’ve taken) so it is difficult to pick only a few. I could fill volumes of books with a list of Favorite Things! Since we are in Wells, Maine for the summer, I decided to share a favorite activity I have enjoyed for years – going on early morning walks. Often our two cocker spaniels, Bentley and Chester, and my husband accompany me (along with my camera!). A few days ago, we decided to walk around Ogunquit. Unfortunately, after…
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…
HARMONY: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Tina suggests we explore the word “Harmony” and show examples of it with our photography. It can be experienced anywhere in life, music, art and nature. One dictionary describes Harmony in nature or the arts as a sameness, the belonging of one thing to another, such as the repetition of elements like color, texture, shape, lines and form. Experiencing it tends to creates an overall sense of peace and a visually calming rhythm. Tina also encourages photographers to improve their skills by studying favorite images, our own and those of others. Examine what draws us into an image and become aware of what we feel – peace, relaxation,…
WORN and/or WEATHERED: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
The topic for our photo challenge this week is Weathered and/or Worn. Ann Christine suggests we feature a few pictures showing which things we are attracted to that are worn and weathered. Personally, I enjoy seeing and photographing old, worn out buildings or structures constructed from wood. Why wood? Because it ages so gracefully, showing the marks of time; the color slowly change along with the shape, lines start to appear and scars from usage plus battling the elements tend to give it a certain kind of beauty. Worn, weathered wooden buildings or structures arouse my curiosity as I wonder what secrets they hold. Then it is fun to imagine…
NATURE: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Patti asks us to showcase some of our Nature photography. Most of these pictures were taken on Kiawah Island where there is an abundance of Nature shots everywhere – landscape, birds, animals, flowers, trees, the Atlantic Ocean plus magnificent colors in the sky created by the sun, moon and clouds. “In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir ——————————- “Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty.” – Richard Feynman Over the past year or so photographers everywhere have had the opportunity to capture breathtaking pictures of the moon. This picture of the moon isn’t anything special but…
SHADOWS: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Tina challenges us to show images of interesting Shadows we have captured. Looking over a few photos, I randomly picked several showing Shadows on the beach, a couple of golf courses, in the mountains and by the river. It is the shape formed by Shadows which makes an interesting picture in addition to how they interacts with the subject. Converting these pictures to black and white seemed logical, after all shadows are not very colorful, they just display interesting patterns! “Color is descriptive. Black and white is interpretive.” – Eliott Erwitt A bright sunny summer day as the sun’s rays filter through the tree leaves. This photo was…