Nature – Wandering Dawgs

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #402 – Looking Back to Lens-Artists Challenge #1: Wonder

June 17, 2026Posted in PhotographyTagged Lens-Artists, National Parks, Nature, Photo Challenge, Wonder33 Comments

For this challenge Sofia is looking back to our first Lens-Artists Challenge: Wonder. Sofia explains her challenge like this: “We’re looking for the moments, places, people that we treasure, the little stories behind a shot that stuff our lives with meaning and joy.” You can visit Patti’s original challenge at Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Wonder.

I believe the world in incomprehensible beautiful – an endless prospect of magic and wonder. – Ansel Adams

I am grateful I have been able to experience many of the wonders in America’s National Parks. Some are huge, some are tiny, some are living, some took thousands of years to create. They all brought me joy. Here are just a few wonders I fell in love with.

The ancient mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the rugged peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina

Ancient Giant Redwoods in Redwoods National Park and Palm Trees in Everglades National Park.

The amazing landscapes created by nature in Yosemite Nationanl Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

Moose in Denali National Park and a Bugling Elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The serenity of a waterfall and an old homestead surrounded by tall trees wearing their autumn colors.

Tom Branch Falls, Great Smoky Mountains NP

I can’t leave out the wonder of discovering small things like a butterfly on colorful wildflowers.

Last week Patti challenged us to Focus on the Subject. I enjoyed all of your beautiful responses. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

Many thanks to Sofia 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 #402: Looking Back to Lens-Artists Challenge #1 – Wonder.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, June 20 at noon eastern time when John 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 #401 – More Tips on How to Focus on the Subject

June 9, 2026Posted in Birds, PhotographyTagged Focus on the subject, Hot Air Balloon, House Finch, Lens-Artists, Nature, Photo Challenge42 Comments

For this challenge Patti has given us tips on how to focus on the subject in our photos.

She asks us to “Select 2 or 3 tips and then use them to compose several photos. In your post, share your photos. Try to limit them to 4. Identify what tip you used. For an extra challenge, post a “before and after” photo of the same scene/person/object. Identify how you could improve the first shot and then reshoot it, using one of the tips mentioned here.”

Vary your subject placement

I placed this curious House Finch on the right and also used negative space and selective focus to blur the background

Get Closer to the subject

I used a telephoto lens to get close to this little bird

Use Negative Space

The colorful hot air balloon stands out from the negative space of the blue sky

Use Leading Lines

The leading lines of this road draw the eyes to the beautiful green fields on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

Last week Tina challenged us to use the Rule of Threes in our photos. Your responses were wonderful. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge..

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 her post Lens-Artists #401: More Tips on How to Focus on the Subject.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, June 13 at noon eastern time when Sofia will be your host for the challenge.

You can stay up to date on all of the Lens-Artists 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 #400 – The Rule of Three

May 30, 2026Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged American White Pelicans, Lens-Artists, Magnolia Blossoms, Nature, Palm Trees, Photo Challenge, Puffins, Rule of Three, Whooping Cranes51 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.

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.

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

May 18, 2026Posted in Birds, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged Choose a color, Lady Slipper, Lens-Artists, Nature, Photo Challenge, Sunflower, sunset, Yellow, Yellow Bird, Yellow Pond Lily47 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.

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

May 4, 2026May 3, 2026Posted in PhotographyTagged beach, Helen Keller, Henry Cuyler Bunner, Jimmy Buffett, Laura Ingles Wilder, Lens-Artists, Nature, Photo Challenge, Pick a Favorite Quote and Illustrate It, Quotes, Sunrise, Trees39 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