July 20, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #258 Fences

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why is was put up.” – Robert Frost When I started looking for examples of fences for this week’s photo challenge, they seemed to be everywhere, in all sizes, shapes and colors! Fences seem to have been around forever and their appearance and location is a stong indication of its purpose.  I will start with a couple of fun pictures which could be considered a ‘works of art’. The first fence is associated with a popular seafood resturant. And, the other is a wooden property fence along with a child’s beautifully painted lemonade stand. The Wedding Cake House, and it’s designer…

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

July 11, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #257 Simplicity

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. — Hans Hofman Our photo challenge this week is from guest host is Mr. Philo of the Philosophy Through Photography. In his post he wrote, “I considered selecting simplicity since the modern world is so stressful and chaotic that we are losing the fundamental clarity and simplicity that allow us to concentrate on what is really important.”  He suggested several ways of creating simplicity in photographs which I have tried to show in these images.  “Simplicity is nature’s first step and the last of art.” – Philip James Bailey Choosing a clear and compelling subject that stands…

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

June 17, 2023

Weekend Sky #104

“At every sunset, the sky is a different shade. No cloud is ever in the same place. Each day is a new masterpiece. A new wonder. A new memory.” – Sanober Khan My sincere thanks to Hammad Rais for inviting me to participate in his weekly blog entitled Weekend Sky. Be sure to see and read his great post by clicking here! The header picture was taken early one morning in October on Kiawah Island, SC. Below is a view of the summer sky near sunset from our deck in Wells, Maine several years ago. “When you’re a kid, you lay in the grass and watch the clouds going over, and…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Cloudscape, Photography

June 8, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #252 What’s Bugging You?

“Should an insect land on you… Don’t be scared. Appreciate that you were confused for a flower.” – unknown Donna at Wind Kisses is suggesting we explore the world of bugs and share a few favorite pictures. She has many interesting species in her post so be sure to check it out by clicking here. Personally, I am not too fond of some bugs and have an unspoken agreement with them – I will respect their space and they need to respect mine. That being said, there are so many others I enjoy seeing and photographing, such as butterflies, lady bugs and bees. Note, these pictures can be enlarged by…

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

May 12, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #248 Mood

“One of the most powerful, yet difficult, elements to master in photography is capturing emotion and feeling.” – Karyn Teno    The mood conveyed in a photograph helps enable the viewer to establish a connection with the picture when personal emotions or memories are triggered. A few ways moods can be portrayed is through the place, patterns, seasons of the year, colors, actions, lighting and shadows and weather. Although when photographing people, it is said that the most influential mood is facial expressions and body language. Black and white photos also give an image a sense of timeless mystery. What type of mood does this opening image convey – happiness,…

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

May 3, 2023

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #247 Backlit

”Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” – George Eastman As a photographer, how do you create a backlit picture?  It is done in camera because backlighting is a controlled technique in which the light is positioned behind or at a right angle to the subject.  As Ann-Christine says, “Backlighting is dramatic. It often creates silhouettes, yellow halos around the subject, and/or a brilliantly bright background.”  It also produces effects such as depth behind the subject or dramatic contrast. Notice the backlighting and direction of light on the lily with the…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Backlighting, Fine Art Photography, 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 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

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

December 10, 2022

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #228 Diagonals

Diagonal lines play an important part in creating a more interesting photograph. Consciously or unconsciously, they tend to move a viewer’s eyes through a picture. This week’s challenge is to consciously look around for to see how often diagonal lines are visible, either in nature or man-made. When composing the shot below, I took advantage of the digonal line created by sand dunes in the forground. Does this line plus the tall sea oaks lead your eye to the focus of the picture, the sun and clouds? This golf course picture shows two types of diagonal lines. First, is the shadow at the base of the putting green (right side, middle…

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