Lens Artists Photo Challenge #392 – Framing Your Shots: Exploring the Foreground, Middle, and Background

For this challenge Patti asks us to focus on the photographic technique of framing the shot using the 3 grounds (or layers)—the foreground, the middle ground, and the background. She describes the 3 grounds like this:

Foreground: the part of the scene that’s closest to the camera. Think of it as the introduction to the scene and an invitation for the viewer to explore the image.

Middle Ground: the central area of your image, between the foreground and the background. It’s often where the main subject is located.

Background: the farthest point from the viewer. It provides the context and completes the visual “story.”

I wasn’t able to get out to practice this technique this week so I dug through my archives for some examples. I discovered I sometimes use this technique without even realizing it.

In this photo of Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World in Florida, the crowd creates the foreground showing a busy day at the park. The Castle in the middle ground is the main focus of the photo. The castle is framed in the background by buildings on either side and the clear blue sky behind the castle.

The following example was taken while on a train trip on the Alaska Railroad. The sky was clear when Mt. Mckinley (or Mt. Denali) came into view. The lake and green trees form the foreground. The mountain in the middle ground is the main subject. The blue sky is a perfect background for the image.

Mt. McKinley, also known as Mt. Denali, Alaska

The final example shows the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. The foreground is the green grass and bushes which are on the edge of the sand dunes. The middle ground is the sand dune which is the subject of the photo. If you look closely you can see the people who look like tiny dots on the sand indicating the enormous size of the dunes. The cloudy sky is the background.

Great Sand Dunes

Thank you to everyone who shared your great cell phone images for Tina’s challenge Phone Photography.

Many thanks to Patti 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 #392: Framing your Shots: Foreground, Middleground, Background.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, April 11 at noon eastern time when Sofia will be bringing us another 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.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Begins with S

This week’s challenge from Patti asks us to find images of objects that begins with the letter S. I chose a few objects found in or around sand or things that are made of sand.

Seashells and seals on the sandy seashore

Seashells on a Georgia seashore
Clam shell on sandy beach in Haines, Alaska
Harbor Seals on a sandy beach in Oregon
Hawaiian Monk Seal on Kauai’s North Shore in Hawaii

Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Many thanks to Patti for this week’s Lens Artists photo challenge #136: Things that begin with the letter S.

Wandering Around America One State at a Time – Colorado

State 6:

Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!

I will be featuring the states alphabetically and the next state is

Colorado

Colorado became the 38th state on August 1, 1876. Denver is the capital.

It’s easy to see why Colorado is such a popular destination. With it’s spectacular mountain scenery, ancient ruins to explore, breathtaking scenic drives, picturesque small towns, Pikes Peak, and wildlife there was beauty every where we went.

As we visited the ancient cliff dwellings in  Mesa Verde National Park I couldn’t help but wonder about the people that lived there so long ago.

Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park

The San Juan Skyway through the San Juan mountains was one of the most beautiful  scenic drives we’ve ever taken. Starting from Cortez, we took our time to enjoy the views from overlooks, stopped to stroll along the dog-friendly streets of Teluride and enjoyed lunch in Ouray before going by old mining camps around Silverton.

Waterfall beside the San Juan Skyway
Waterfall beside the San Juan Skyway

Ouray
Ouray

Old Gold Mine
Old Gold Mine along the San Juan Skyway

Another spectacular view along the San Juan Skyway
Spectacular views along the San Juan Skyway

Our campsite at San Luis Lakes State Park had spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and was a good home base to explore Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains from our camp site at San Luis Lakes State Park were amazing.
View of the Sangre de Cristo mountains from our camp site at San Luis Lakes State Park.

The people look tiny on the Great Sand Dunes
The people look tiny on the Great Sand Dunes

On the trail to Zapata Falls near the Great Sand Dunes
On the trail to Zapata Falls near the Great Sand Dunes

In the Colorado Springs area we visited Garden of the Gods and drove as far as we could go on the Pikes Peak Highway.

Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak in the background
Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak in the background

Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods

At elevation 11,424 feet, we were as far as we could go on the Pikes Peak Highway
At elevation 11,424 feet, we were as far as we could go on the Pikes Peak Highway

The closest we could get to Pike's Peak was six miles away but the view was still amazing
The closest we could get to Pike’s Peak was six miles away but the view was still amazing

One of our favorite national parks is Rocky Mountain National Park. We love it so much we have been there twice. Our first visit was in the spring and even though there was a lot of snow we saw plenty of wildlife.

That's a lot of snow!
That’s a lot of snow!

At Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, about 11,000 feet
At Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, about 11,000 feet

A hike to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
A hike to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Our second visit was in August when the weather was perfect and again there was plenty of wildlife. We were finally able to drive to the Alpine Visitor’s Center on Trail Ridge Road.

Big Horn Sheep on Trail Ridge Road
Big Horn Sheep on Trail Ridge Road

Rocky Mountain National Park
The Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park

Alpine Visitor's Center View in Rocky Mountain National Park
Alpine Visitor’s Center View in Rocky Mountain National Park

To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama      Alaska      Arizona      Arkansas      California