Lens-Artists Challenge #391 – Phone Photography

/ Leya / 5 kommentarer

Tina engages us in phone photography – and I must admit there are fantastic possibilities nowadays. I don’t have a very good camera phone, ( a 5 year old Samsung) but I can call people and manage my life with the phone I have. I seldom use it on travels, but at home on my walks and small outings when a real camera feels cumbersome. I still find it difficult to hold this thing for a good photo. I guess I would have to practice more! True is, that “The best camera is the one you have with you.” — Chase Jarvis

Anyway, this is a fun challenge! I have chosen to make a gallery of my shots, because of the lesser quality of my phone. Larger photos don’t make it good enough. So, here we go with everything from macro to happy ladies!

We hope you’ll join us to share your own thoughts and results with your phone of choice. Be sure to link to Tinas post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. Thanks also to Egidio for showing us the power of B&W and having us conjuring up the colors with our imagination. Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Patti leads us on her Pilotfish post. Until then, please stay safe and be kind.

Thursday Thoughts – Close to the Water

/ Leya / 24 kommentarer

On our African adventure, the jeeps took us out on the savanna at least twice a day – early mornings and evenings. There are of course a multitude of beautiful antelopes here, and the Gnus are frequent. They have such funny, long faces and they eye you very closely before they turn away. I love the look of their satin skin and soft stripes at the neck.

The African Buffalo herds are matriarchal and the large herds can sometimes consist of more than 1000 individuals. The buffalo is one of the Big Five, very heavy weight and strong, and considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

They are good swimmers and can stay for a long time just enjoying the water.

Their young are brown coloured to make it easier for them to hide in the grass.

Such thick and heavy horns are almost impossible to deal with – even for a lion.

I would not want to stand in their way when the herd is running.

Another beauty is the large waterbuck with its long, spiral horns curving first backwards, then forwards. The horns are 55-99cm. This couple was watching us from afar.

I wished time stood still and we didn’t have to leave…but it was time to slow down and return to the camp before dark. Thank you for joining the tour today!

Lens-Artists Challenge #390 – Colour in B&W

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

Egidio gives us something to think about this week – examples that come to mind showing the implied presence of color in a black-and-white photo. Please visit his site for excellent examples and inspiration! Sometimes, the color may not be obvious to a general worldwide audience. So, please explain your choices.

My first choice is a fire from Walpurgis night – it will soon be here now – and I am sure we all have vivid pictures of fire in our mind.

In the northern hemisphere we are all waiting for Spring – and cherry flowers are recognizable to most of us.

In my area of Sweden, the southernmost part, Spring and early summer is mostly yellow and blue – rapeseed and blue skies surround our houses and neighbourhoods. And our flag is yellow and blue too.

For my last example – something most of us will recognize – but, what colurs are involved? I am not really sure…are you?

Thank you, Egídio for this cool challenge, I had fun with it. You had such good examples that it brought back memories from our black and white tv days. Hope to see you this week, and please remember to link back to his original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

Last week we relaxed with Anne’s beautiful challenge. It was great to see all sorts of relaxing places and people/animals relaxing. It’s amazing how we every week come up with different ideas for the same challenge.

Next week is Tina’s turn to lead us, Saturday 28th March. Until then, stay safe and take care.

If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Thursday Thoughts – Wildlife Close to our Hotel

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

I love the idea of wild animals being so close to humans all the time. And the animals down here naturally feel more wild than those at home…( I guess the Africans feel the same when they visit us.)

Around Victoria Falls Hotel, there were these electric fences set up,

but before they were there – this sign was even more relevant.

Baboons roamed the streets and the forest, and the hotel had a guard to chase them off.

He told us he had a lot to do every day…

There were also many guenon monkeys around. A bit more slender and agile than the baboons.

Banded Mongoose was a new aquaintance to me. They are 12-18 inches, weight 3-5.5 pounds. They are one of few species that use tools – they throw eggs against rocks to break them.

This one had captured a snake – a fairly long one…

..and feasted on it for a long time. It was interesting to watch them. The mongooses are known for their agility, speed and resistance to venom. They can survive a bite from a cobra.

The Mongooses live in colonies and have a complex social system. They take care of their young together, which is rather unusual – only the banded Mongoose live in colonies though, the others are loners. I liked to watch them eat, play and taking care of their young. Fascinating animals.