Ann-Christine invites us to explore Trees this week and show a few which have caught our attention. I often look for unusual formations and details in the shape of their trunk and branches plus whether or not they are growing in an unusual place such as asphalt and concrete. As a side note, other trees have been previously featured in my blogs although the two best known are Angel Oak on Johns Island, SC and the Lone Cypress in Pebble Beach, CA. When in Aruba a few years ago, we located this well-known Diva-Diva tree on the beach close to the road. There are a couple of the popular Mysore Fig trees on the Winter…
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…
STREET ART: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
For this week’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge, Patti suggests we share some images of Street Art. Looking through photos, there seem to be different styles such as “artsy” pictures, fun images designed to make people smile, those showing a landscape scene or ones where the artist has a statement to make. Interestingly, in many cities’ artists are encouraged to create murals or Street Art on buildings, sidewalks or wherever they can find a “canvas”. For example, Montreal holds annual graffiti or Street Art festivals, one of which is internationally renowned. “I laugh at the way some people think graffiti is all selfish tagging and vandalism. Thoughtful street art is like…
DELICIOUS: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Patti’s photo challenge invites us to explore what “Delicious” means to them. To me, Delicious means good food and drink, the preparation of it and enjoyment while eating. Last summer we spent a few days in Boston, MA, with good friends exploring the city and reliving many good memories from previous years. Our adventures took us to the Food Court at Copley Place Mall and the variety and presentation of delicious food waiting to be prepared was staggering. Apologizes in advance for not having pictures of beef, pork or other meats in their showcase. For whatever reason I could not locate my photos from the meat showcases. Now I…
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
Tina asked us to show Something Different this week. Hmm… a very interesting challenge which made me think about what subjects in photography I least enjoy photographing and are not in my comfort zone. Photographing people up close and especially strangers in a public place is something I rarely do and not what you would expect from me! “I like to challenge myself. I like to learn – so I like to try new things and try to keep growing.” – David Schwimmer All of these images are from a morning photo shoot which focused on street photography in Charleston, SC, on part of King Street. Some of you may…
HISTORY: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
“History” is the topic Patti chose for us to interpret with some of our photos. Immediately the Monastero di Sana Chiara in Naples, Italy came to mind. As my husband and I were walking through Naples with our tour group last year, we came upon this stunning complex in the middle of the city. It was like discovering an oasis surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life. Sana Chiara is a religious complex built in 1340, it is steeped in history and a rare example of Medieval architecture. Originally commissioned by the French Kingdom of Anjou for the Franciscan order in the early 1300s, it is the site…
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…
CITY SCAPES: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
For this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Patti invites us to “share a cityscape of one city or several cities with populations in the thousands or millions. Near our home or thousands of miles away, most importantly, show the big picture view.” When thinking about big cities – what is it about a city that attracts some people or can cause others to try to avoid them as much as possible! Do you enjoy visiting a city, would you like to live in one if you don’t already? Personally, I like cities and would probably be happy living in one since I’m married to a “city guy” who loves them. To me,…
MY TRAVELS: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Amy challenges us show memorable pictures taken during My Travels. Last week’s photo challenge was Favorite Pictures in 2018 and since traveling was the highlight of our year many of My Travel images were featured then. (See Travel Pictures of 2018 under Recent Posts on the right hand side.) To accept Amy’s challenge this week I decided to show some favorite pictures from previous trips to Florida. Disney World in Orlando is one of the more popular attractions in Florida. Who doesn’t have a warm spot in their heart after seeing the Lady and The Tramp animated cartoon, or can resist smiling at some of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog’s…
FAVORITE PICTURES OF 2018: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
This week Ann-Christine encourages us to think back on 2018 and show pictures recapping some memorable moments. What a challenging assignment! With so many images to choose from, it is difficult to narrowed them down and pick only eight. Probably one of my personal highlights in 2018 is the inception of this photography blog. This became a reality when an old friend (and great photographer, I must also add) encouraged me to participate in the newly organized weekly Lens-Artists Photo Challenge Group. And of course, I said “yes”! Taking pictures and writing is easy enough although creating the website was a different story. Fortunately with her ongoing encouragement and support, My Colorful Expressions.com was…