Tag: Lens-Artists

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #400 – The Rule of Three

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , , , 43 Comments

Tina introduces us to the rule of three for this challenge. The rule says that images with three subjects make them more interesting and memorable. Our challenge is to include images with three subjects.

I’ve included a few images of groups of three I found in nature.

Three Whooping Cranes
Three Puffins
Three White Pelicans
Three Palm Trees

Three Southern Magnolia Blossoms

The Three Gossips, Arches National Park, Utah

Last week Egidio challenged us to be creative while we were stuck in one place for 30 or more minutes. Your responses were wonderful. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

Many thanks to Tina 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 her post Lens-Artists #400: The Rule of Three.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, June 6 at noon eastern time when Patti will be your host for the challenge.

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

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

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #399 – Stuck in Place

Posted in Birds, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , 33 Comments

Egidio has given us a challenge to help us “unlock new inspiration in our photography.” His challenge is to stay in one place for 30 minutes to an hour. We can use the cameras, lenses and cell phones of our choice but we can only walk 10 or 15 steps in any direction to capture new images.

I’ve been in a rut recently with my photography so this challenge really motivated me to get out and have some fun with my camera. I’ve been watching the birds at our bird feeder from our deck but have not been inspired to take any photos until this challenge.

I chose a place in my back yard where I don’t usually sit. I had a great view of the bird feeder and the back yard. All of these photos were taken with a 400mm zoom lens. While I waited for birds I zoomed in on some random things.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance to honor U.S. Military personnel who died in service to our country. In honor of this special day I will start with an American Flag from a neighbor’s back yard.

My neighbor always flies an American Flag. It’s especially meaningful this Memorial Day Weekend as we remember our fallen heroes.
This time of year the Holly Berries are green, not red.
At last I saw a Female Painted Bunting.

Later, this Male Painted Bunting showed up at the feeder.

This Eastern Grey Squirrel was watching me watching him.

I’ve been wanting to get out to take photos and this challenge was just the inspiration I needed. Thank you Egidio!

I really enjoyed all of the different vibrant colors you showed us for Ritva’s Choose a Color challenge. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge.

Many thanks to Egidio 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 his post Lens-Artists #399: Stuck in Place.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, May 30 at noon eastern time when Tina will be your host for the challenge.

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

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

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #398 – Choose a Color

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , , 47 Comments

Ritva’s challenge is to choose one color and feature up to six images where the color is the prominent hue or feature one image for each of these six colors: red, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow.

How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun. – Vincent Van Gogh

I chose yellow for my color because it is my favorite color. Yellow makes me smile and brings me joy, happiness, and optimism.

I hope these yellows will brighten your day:

Last week you showed us amazing textures in response to Anne’s challenge. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

Many thanks to Ritva 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 her post Lens-Artists #398: Choose a Color.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, May 23 at noon eastern time when Egidio will be your host for the challenge.

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

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

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #397 – Texture

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Anne’s challenge is to show images where texture plays an integral part. She tells us “Texture helps my two-dimensional examples have a three-dimensional quality.”

For me, the beach is a place of many textures. In some places the sand is soft, and others the powerful wave action of the ocean crushes the shells creating a rough texture that’s not fun to walk on in bare feet.

Broken shells on the beach

Powerful ocean waves can also create these smooth rocks

Driftwood on the beach becomes weathered by the elements creating a rough texture on the wood. Barnacles can attach themselves to the driftwood creating a crusty texture. Running your had along these sharp barnacles could easily cause you to get a cut.

Driftwood

Barnacles on driftwood

Salt air, wind, rain and the heat from the sun can cause wooden structures like piers and docks and even homes to become cracked and dried out creating a rough texture. Watch out for splinters if you rub the wood with your fingers.

Weathered wood deck on Tybee Pier

I didn’t see this rabbit at the beach but I’ll finish with the soft texture of the fur of a cottontail rabbit.

Cottontail Rabbit

Last week your responses to Ann-Christine’s Illustrated Quotes challenge were fun and inspirational. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

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 her post Lens-Artists #397: Texture.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, May 16 at noon eastern time when Ritva will be your host for the challenge.

You can receive our weekly challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Ritva, Beth.

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

Every Day is a Gift

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #396 – Pick a Favorite Quote and Illustrate it

Posted in PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 39 Comments

This week Ann-Christine’s challenge is Pick a Favorite Quote and Illustrate it. We can choose one quote accompanied with a maximum of five pictures or a maximum of five quotes illustrated with one picture each. She asks us to “Make us ”feel”your quote(s) in pictures!”

My first quote is one of my favorite sayings. I have a plaque on my kitchen wall to remind me of it’s message every day. Seeing the sunrise is a beautiful gift to start a new day.

“Yesterday is History

Tomorrow a Mystery

Today is a Gift

That’s why we call it the Present”

— Anonymous

The next quote reminds me to live life to the fullest. One of my greatest adventures was flying in a small plane over mountains and glaciers in Alaska and seeing Mt. Denali from the air. I’m not a fan of flying in small planes!

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing” — Helen Keller

Almost twenty years ago volunteers on Tybee Island planted Oak Trees to help celebrate the 120th anniversary of Tybee Island. Today the trees are thriving and getting taller every year.

“What does he plant who plants a tree?
   He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
   And far-cast thought of civic good—
   His blessings on the neighborhood,
      Who in the hollow of His hand
      Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.”

— “The Heart of the Tree” by Henry Cuyler Bunner

The final two quotes and images need no explanation.

“If there is a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached” — Jimmy Buffett

“Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat” — Laura Ingals Wilder

It was my pleasure to host last week’s challenge. Your responses took us all around the world with fantastic images On the Water. You wowed us with all types of water from puddles to mighty oceans, peaceful landscapes and thundering waterfalls. The variety of animals, people, and plants on the water were great. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

Many thanks to Ann-Christine for this fun challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #396: Pick a Favorite Quotes and Illustrate It.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, May 9 at noon eastern time when Anne will be hosting the challenge.

You can receive our weekly challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Ritva, Beth.

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

Every Day is a Gift