Tag: beach

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #389 – Time to Relax

Posted in Photography, Travel, Georgia, Road TripTagged , , , , , , , 37 Comments

Anne’s challenge is Time to Relax. For this challenge she is looking back to the challenge from July of 2018. She asks us “But what relaxes you? What gets you away from the stresses of daily life. What’s your passion?”

This challenge couldn’t come at a better time. I haven’t been able to travel or go on photo excursions for several months due to health issues. My husband and I were badly in need of a break. We finally were able to go for a short two day getaway this week The beach is my happy place and being by the ocean is my favorite place to relax so we chose Jekyll Island for our destination.

Jekyll Island became a Georgia State Park in 1947. The island is managed by the Jekyll Island Authority. Most of the island is undeveloped to preserve the natural beauty of the maritime forests. There are 24 miles of bike trails, miles of beach with several parking lots and picnic areas, a beautiful National Historic Landmark District, wildlife, hotels and restaurants, and a golf course.

We like to stay off interstates so we took a leisurely drive south to Jekyll Island on the Coastal Highway, also known as US Highway 17. Our goal for the trip was to kick back, relax and not have an agenda. We succeeded!

We stopped for a lunch of wild caught Georgia Shrimp at Skippers in Darien. I had to take some photos of diamond back terrapins in a pond just outside the restaurant.

Diamond Back Terrapins in Darien, Georgia

Our room had a balcony overlooking the pool and maritime forest. Beyond the trees is the Atlantic Ocean, Other guests were relaxing by the pool while we were relaxing on our balcony.

The hotel pool was a great place for guests to relax

I enjoyed seeing the ocean and hearing the waves when we walked out on a walkway too the beach. There were only a few others relaxing on the beach on this warm, sunny March day.

I couldn’t resist capturing this guy chill-axing at the beach.

This cardinal was easy to spot in the tree.

The next day we visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the only turtle education and rehabilitation facility in Georgia.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island

The beaches on Jekyll Island are a great place for a relaxing family vacation.

Thank you to everyone who shared you memorable journeys for Ann-Christine’s challenge Journey in 5 to 10 images.

Many thanks to Anne for this week’s challenge. If you would like to join the challenge please be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to Anne’s post Lens-Artists #389: Time to Relax.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, March 21 at noon eastern time when Egidio will be hosting the challenge

If you don’t want to miss any of our challenges you may want to think about subscribing to the Lens-Arrists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Ritva, Beth.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #387 – Shadowed

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Our host John described his challenge like this: “Shadows evoke mystery, wonder, nostalgia, and even a touch of fright. This week, consider how shadows shape your photos. Look for the places where light steps back. You can take a literal approach and photograph an actual shadow, or lean into contrast and mood—shapes, silhouettes, or scenes where darkness adds depth and character to your subject.”

The Keep Bar, Fernie Castle, Scotland

Blarney Castle Window, Ireland

Shadows on the Beach

Shadows under the Oaks

Shadows in the Snow

Shadows in the Swamp Trail, Silver Springs State Park

Shadows in a Cemetery

Thank you to Patti for last week’s challenge of the Power of Juxtaposition. Your responses were very creative.

Many thanks to John for this week’s challenge. If you would like to join the challenge please be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to John’s post Lens-Artists #387: Shadowed.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, March 7 at noon eastern time when Ann-Christine will be hosting the challenge.

If you don’t want to miss any of our challenges you may want to think about subscribing to the Lens-Arrists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Ritva, Beth.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #381 – Minimalism in Black and White photography

Posted in Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged , , , , , 42 Comments

Ritva has challenged us to combine minimalism and black and white photography. She tells us “This week, I encourage you to embrace this artistic fusion and challenge yourself to capture images that marry minimalism and black and white.” To help us get started she says to “Aim for simplicity by eliminating unnecessary elements. Harsh light reveals structure while soft light creates mood, and contrasting blacks and whites deliver a striking visual impact.”

This is my first try at using minimalism in my photos. I had fun creating these images and hope that I succeeded in meeting the challenge.

Sometimes colorful flowers look better when converted to black and white. Removing distractions by replacing the background with pure black allows the viewer to focus on the details of the flowers.

The next two images were found on the sand at the beach. I removed the sandy background with solid colors to create the minimalist images.

Single shell
Starfish

The final image uses negative space to focus on the surfer in the water.

Waiting for the perfect wave.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Anne’s challenge last week. I enjoyed all the places you took us as you showed us your walks around the corner.

Many thanks to Ritva for her challenge Lens-Artists #381: Minimalism in Black and White. I hope you will join us for her challenge. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and link back to Ritva’s post.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, January 24 at noon eastern time when Egidio will be hosting our next challenge.

You can learn more about how to join the Lens-Artists challenges here.

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #380 – What’s around the Corner

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It’s Anne’s turn to lead us in the challenge. She explains the challenge like this: “I encourage you to take the block less traveled—with your camera. Look around, and using your imagination, what do you see? Please keep this to the same walk and the same block—that’s the challenge.”

I’m so grateful for Anne’s challenge this week. My husband and I needed to get out of the house after both being sick with the flu. Anne inspired me to grab my camera and go for a walk looking for things to photograph. I didn’t really walk around a block or turn a corner but I did have fun.

The beach is my happy place so on Sunday we drove to the Tybee Island Pier and Pavillion to see the ocean and breathe the fresh salt air. The pier is a great place to view the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. It can get crowded in the summer but on a chilly January day there were only a few others on the pier and on the beach.

One of the things I like about walking on the pier is the great view of the beach. In the following gallery, from left to right, is the view looking south, the view looking north, looking down at footprints in the sand, and looking at our shadows in the sand.

There are always pigeons hoping for a handout.

You never know what you’ll find that someone left behind. Henry spotting this fishing fly laying on the boards. He picked it up and put it up where no one could step on it.

On our way home after our walk we drove to the Sugar Shack for an ice cream cone. Technically it wasn’t part of our walk but we did turn a corner in our car to get there. Sorry, I was too busy enjoying my Blue Bell salted caramel brownie cone to take a picture.

Thank you to everyone who participated in last weeks favorite images from 2025. I enjoyed seeing all your favorites from the year.

We hope you will join us in responding to Anne’s fun challenge. If you do be sure to use the Lens-Artists tag in your post and include a link to Anne’s Lens-Artists #380 What’s around the Corner.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, January 17 at noon eastern time when Ritva will be hosting our next challenge.

You can learn more about how to join the Lens-Artists challenges here.

Every Day is a Gift