Lens Artists Photo Challenge #238 – Alone Time

Ann-Christine’s challenge is Alone Time. She tells us ”Alone time means time spent by an individual or a couple apart from others. It is often used to ground oneself, or to do something creative.” She asks us to share our thoughts and share what we use our alone time for.

I treasure my alone time. Sometimes I just want a quiet place to sit and do nothing. Other times I like to read or grab my camera to find something to photograph. Working in my garden or working on my blog posts are other ways I spend alone time. When we are at home I often enjoy some alone time in the rope swing shown in the above image.

Traveling to a remote national or state park is a great way to enjoy some time alone. Being far away from civilization allows me to enjoy the nature around me.

Alone at sunrise in Flamingo, Florida, Everglades National Park
Alone in the Okefenokee Swamp, Fargo, Georgia
Alone in the Denali Wilderness, Denali National Park, Alaska

Closer to home, we can take a boat ride to one of Georgia’s deserted barrier islands and be the only people there.

Many thanks to Ann-Christine for her challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #238 – Alone Time

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #237 – Bringing Softness

Lake Bistineau Softness

Bren’s challenge is to show how we bring softness to our photos. She tells us ” You don’t have to stick to flowers, landscapes and architecture are also ideal subjects. By lowering the clarity and creating softness in those areas frames the subject in an image, be it a tree, path, bridge, even a door or house or just a dreamy looking image.”

My first image is a landscape photo from Lake Bistineau in Louisiana. I used my photo editing software to create a radial blur surrounding the tree stump.

Wildlife

Another method I experimented with was creating a vignette effect. It seemed to work well with the pair of pelicans and the bunny in the following images. I used a radial blur for the deer in the woods.

Flowers

My final two images are flowers softened with a radial blur.

Many thanks to Amy for her challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #237 – Bringing Softness

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #236 – East meets West or North meets South

Amy’s challenge is to explore differences between locations in the East and West or North and South using culture, architecture, plants, or landscape. I’m going to take a look at the differences between North Georgia and South Georgia landscapes. The opening image is springtime in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

North Georgia

North Georgia has mountains, waterfalls, Tallulah Gorge, and the highest point in Georgia.

View from top of Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia
Black Rock Mountain State Park

South Georgia

South Georgia is flat and has the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, barrier islands, beaches, salt marsh, farmland, pecan groves, and historic Savannah.

Okefenokee Landscape
Okefenokee Landscape
Nanny Goat Beach, Sapelo Island, Georgia
Sunrise at Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA
Early Morning Salt Marsh

Many thanks to Amy for her challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #236 – East Meets West or North meets South

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #235 – Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome

Patti’s challenge is to show shadows and reflections in monochrome. You may be thinking that black and white are two colors. Patti did some research and explains that black and white photos are really different shades of gray so they are considered monochrome for this challenge.

Our last challenge was from Donna who asked us to show messages in our photography. In my response I asked for guesses on where we spent our vacation last week. Those of you who guessed Florida are exactly right! We were on the Gulf Coast of Florida in Crystal River to be exact. I took these first three images while we were there and converted them to monochrome for Patti’s challenge.

Sunrise in black and white

Pelican gathering

The rest of my images are from some of places we have wandered over the years.

Airplane shadow over Alaska moutains
A walk in the Georgia woods
Storm over mountains in Colorado

Many thanks to Patti for her challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #235 – Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #234 – Messages

Our host Donna has challenged us to search for messages in our photography

Wandering Dawgs is on a winter getaway this week. Can you guess where we are based on these messages?.

Road Ends Here

No Outlet

Weeki Wachee

Manatee Zone
Good beach day

If you haven’t guessed where we are, never fear. The answer will be in a future post.

Many thanks to Donna of Wind Kisses for her challenge Lens-Artists Challenge #234 – Messages