October 22, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #119 A HIDEAWAY

Being outside with nature has always provided special hideaways; a wonderful place to relax and surround myself with beauty and tranquility.  “Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy while cares will drop off the autumn leaves.”  John Muir, Our National Parks This week Ann-Christine wants us to think about our hideaways, where we like to retreat for relaxation and solitude.  So many wonderful places such as early morning walk on the beach while watching Sandpipers feed, sitting by the river’s edge observing canoes idly drifting in the breeze, observing gorgeous sunsets or…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Birds, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Maine, Silhouette Photography, Sunsets, Wildlife

October 10, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #117 PHOTO WALK

This week Amy invites us to take a walk with our camera.  Taking the time to look around at sights which are normally taken for granted.  It was shortly after sunrise on a cool, foggy Maine morning when I grabbed the camera for a photo walk.   “In nature, everything has a job.  The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties!” – Mehmet Murat Jldan  There are several ponds close to our neighborhood so instinctively I headed there.  What a lovely sight.  The sun was trying to break through the fog, bright light reflected off marsh grasses and a few ducks out for a morning swim.  Ordinally,…

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

September 30, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #116 SYMMETRY

Symmetry in nature and architecture is all around us in one of its many forms – horizontal, vertical or radial. “Symmetry is what we see at a glance.” – Blaise Pascal This week Patti wants us to explore a few types of symmetry.  Simply put, symmetry can be described this way; if the subject is divided in half, both sides will look similar or the same.  See Patti’s post to learn more and enjoy her beautiful examples, click here.   The first image (the header) is an example of radial symmetry.  The raindrops are making beautiful concentric circles as they hit the deck floor. Think of how many times have we…

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

September 10, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #113 A LABOR OF LOVE

“A Labor of Love is exalted because it provides joy and self-expression to those who perform it.” – Dennis Kimbro This week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge topic is A Labor of Love.  Rusha wants us to recognize those who go the distance and accomplish things which impact life for others in a meaningful way.  Labors of Love can be found around us, all the time.  It is often easy to identify and appreciate what others do for the better good of so many. The volunteers below are members of the Kiawah Island Loggerhead Turtle Patrol Program in SC.  Their dedication and Labor of Love helps protect endangered Loggerhead Turtles by monitoring…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Kiawah Island SC, LENS-ARTISTS, Loggerhead Turtles, Photography, Wildlife

August 4, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #108 SANCTUARY

“Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” – Hermann Hesse This week Xenia from Tranature.com is challenging us to share our thoughts about our Sanctuary, where we find it and how we create our place of calm and healing.  Be sure to check out her blog. My Sanctuary is a place I can visit either literally or figuratively.  It is a brief retreat from a daily routine plus ever changing events I cannot control.  The importance of a personal sanctuary is to create a balance between a hectic lifestyle and a time to relax and clear my mind. …

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

July 29, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #107 WINTER

This week Ann-Christine suggests we post the last topic in this series featuring the four seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape—the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” – Andrew Wyeth When winter is mentioned, many people think about snow and cold temperatures although in the southern states close to the Atlantic Ocean it is normally fairly warm and sunny.  Usually we spend our winters on Kiawah Island and the temperatures here generally range from the 40’s  to 60’s.  Snow is such a rarity that when it…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in LENS-ARTISTS, Maine, Photography, Snow, Winter

July 15, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #105 SPRING

This week Tina selected Spring as our photo word challenge.  After thinking about this topic, I decided to approach the topic of Spring a little differently by focusing on an event that occurs each spring on Kiawah Island when Red Knots or Calidris canutus rufa begin to arrive. These birds leave their winter home on the coast of southern Chile and Argentina and journey to the mainland and islands above the Arctic Circle; a one-way trip of more than 9,300 miles or 14,966.9 kilometers!  For years now Kiawah’s beach is a stop-over in their semi annual migration. Red Knots are amazing birds and one of my favorites.  They are documented as being…

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

June 16, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #101 A Single Flower

“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.”– Luther Burbank Lens-Artists Photo Challenge has a well- known guest host this week, Cee Neuner at Cee’s Photo Challenges.  For our topic this week she chose an interesting topic, “A Single Flower”.  Flowers mean so much to so many people.  They can help you feel better and happier; a gift of flowers can express love, friendship and caring.  Their beauty is unparalleled.   “A single flower is miraculous.  It may not live long, but before it withers, it blooms to its fullest and bestores nature with so much love and beauty.” – Amita I…

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

June 13, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #100 The Long and Winding Road

Tina chose “The Long and Winding Road” as our photo topic this week.  I found a few of my favorites looking back through the archives.   I enjoy photographing roads or paths that meander out of sight, around the bend .  They seem to bring up questions such as where the road leads, what sights are around the bend, how old is the path, who are the people or animals using it?  Each of these roadways look so inviting that it is hard not to want to explore them.   “When the road ahead seems too long, look back to see how far you’ve come.  For even if the hill before you…

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

May 25, 2020

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: #98 DELICATE COLORS

This week’s challenge from Ann-Christine gives us a chance to explore Delicate Colors; beautiful, soft shades of color blending into each other. Being surrounded by these lovely colors can be  soothing and relaxing in spite of the hectic world we live in now. 🙃  Delicate Colors are all around us, waiting to be discovered when outside and one with nature.               Ann-Christine shows beautiful examples of delicate colors she found in her garden and neighboring forest. “There are no lines in nature, only areas of colour, one against another.” – Edouard Manet Each of these pictures show a different color palette that only mother-nature can create…

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written by Sylvia - Posted in Abstract, Digital Art, Kiawah Island SC, Landscape, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography