The future is the period of time that will come after the present, or the things that will happen then. Maybe a second away, a week, a year, a decade…When I was young, I read somewhere in a book – its title since long forgotten – that you should try to do something today that your future self will thank you for. I keep trying.
The future remains uncertain and so it should, for it is the canvas upon which we paint our desires. Thus always the human condition faces a beautifully empty canvas.
― Frank Herbert
This week the challenge is Future – Show us what you will paint on Your canvas!
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.
―
If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.
―
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
―
A path, which, unfortunately, is not always strewn with roses…
The future depends on what you do today.
―
Everything that currently exists and will exist can be categorized as either permanent, meaning that it will exist for the whole of the future, or temporary, meaning that it won’t and thus will come to an end.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
― Eleanor Roosevelt
For my students, I used to draw a time capsule on the board, and ask them to fill it with what they wanted future generations – or ”aliens” landing 200 years on – to know about our life/time on Earth. Then imagine burying the capsule in the ground. When someone in the future found this capsule, they would learn what defined us, mankind, in the 21st century. An intriguing thought…What would You fill it with?
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
― Confucius
As I am not a teacher anymore, I only plant seeds, trees and flowers. Next week, it is that time of the year again – to give my pot plants new energy and new life. This is my future dream for the coming week, for the arrival of Spring, for the returning of the light.
As you can see, I have played with double exposure in these images. All from my home.
Now we’re looking forward to seeing Your images of the Future – near or far!
Last week we were happy to have Viveka of My Guilty Pleasures as our guest host – and she chose Capital for us – to interpret our own special way. And the response was fantastic – very innovative and clever! In short – Capital!
Have you seen these?
- Varied and colourful at John’s Space!
- So much love in this post by Clara!
- Splendid views from Véro!
- Alisa shares a lovely gallery with us!
- Feb. 15 – Amy of The World is A Book
- Feb. 22 – Tina of Travels and Trifles
- Feb. 29–Patti of P.A. Moed
Remember to link to my original post, and tag it with “Lens-Artists.” If you’re new to tagging, click here for an explanation of how and why.
As always, we are all looking forward to seeing your creative responses to the challenge – and thank you for your support!
Leya 
Pingback: Someday in the future: LAPC - bend branches
Pingback: Personal Life & Award Update | Culture Shocks
Fabulous images…love the delicate layering 🙂
I am so happy you like them – loved the experimenting and some of the outcome too!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future - My Plaid Heart
Pingback: Future | Bumble Bees, Please – Just Another Nature Enthusiast
♥
Pingback: My Photo Week in Review: 02-16-2020 – Musin' With Susan
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83: Narrow | The World Is A Book...
Love the soft beauty of your photos Leya. My post is sort of sad, but a reflection of how things are right now!
https://lindylecoq.com/2020/02/14/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Thank you, Lindy!
Pingback: ~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83: Future ~ | Lindy Low LeCoq
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Future | Journeys with Johnbo
Pingback: The Future Is Ours – Reflections of An Untidy Mind
Pingback: This Is the Future – Zebra's Child
Pingback: Heron | What's (in) the Picture?
Pingback: Predator Free New Zealand 2050 – Lens-Artists Challenge #83 – Future – Dream on Farm
Pingback: Oyster Shell Recycling Site
I’ve been admiring your creations ever since you posted them. Truly beautiful.
For me something has started to move in the shape of a friend who takes me around. I can only hope more of this awaits us in the future:
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2020/02/13/l-a-future-ojala/
Already been peeking…glorious! I hope you two will go on with your exploring adventures – and that you will post on them of course! Glad you liked my doubles, Manja – I had fun.
Pingback: L-A: Future? Ojalá! – Manja Mexi Mexcessive
Such beautiful images of flowers and so creative, Ann-Christine! The topic this week was very interesting…. Thank you. Here is my post: https://mycolorfulexpressions.com/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Happy you liked my flowers, Sylvia!
Pingback: Lens-Artist-PC-83-Future – WoollyMuses
Pingback: Future Brings Beauty | Heaven's Sunshine
Here’s my take on ‘future’, Ann-Christine. Thanks for this challenge.
https://tishfarrell.com/2020/02/12/backwards-and-forwards-planning-that-would-be-gardening-then/
Thanks for joining in, Tish! Always a treat. I hoped it would be from your lovely garden – and it was!
Pingback: Backwards And Forwards Planning ~ That Would Be Gardening Then – Tish Farrell
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Future | The Nature of Things
Such beautiful and creative pictures, Ann-Christine.
Happy you liked them, Sue! They turned out better than I expected.
Such evanescent images, Ann-Christine, shifting through time and space, yet captured in a moment, or at least captured in two moments. And a very thoughtfrul and thought-provoking challenge – to do something today that will enhance one’s future in some way.
Thank you so much, Tish, and evanescent is one beautiful word!
Maybe difficult, future, but it should be a real challenge ;-D
WOW love the double exposure shots.. beautiful… here is my entry for the challenge, https://brashley.photography/2020/02/12/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future – Brashley Photography
Pingback: Monschau | What's (in) the Picture?
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future – Wanderlust and Wonderment
Those flowers are amazing. I love the detail and effects you created! I realized that Future is a very timely topic in my world. So that’s the direction I took this week.
http://oneletterup.com/2020/02/11/lens-artists-photo-challenge-future
And it couldn’t have been more perfect – just read it – very well written and photographed!
Thanks again – also for the opportunity to explore this through your challenge.
♥
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future – one letter UP ~ diary 2.0
These are all so beautiful, Ann-Christine! You have inspired me to learn to use the double exposure on my camera. The first photo is especially ethereal. It is a lovely reminder that what we do today will affect not only our future but other’s future as well. Thank you so much for this post – for both the photos and the quotes.
I am so grateful for your beautiful comment , Hannah, thank you from my heart, thank you. ♥
You are most welcome 🙏
♥
Very artistic images, Ann-Christine. Never realized how beautiful and intriguing double-exposure could be. I went with a bit of a pessimistic look at the possible future. https://odaciuk.wordpress.com/2020/02/11/one-possible-future/
I am afraid I am pessimistic too, but decided not to let it shine through. Your entry is very accurate!
Thank-you, Ann-Christine. I have hope, but with the drastic weather events happening more often, I am fearful for us.
So am I. The melt down of all ice and terrible draughts and fires – I fear for our children and grandchildren.
Pingback: One Possible Future | Stuff and what if…
Pingback: Lens-Artists #83: Future – Wandering Dawgs
A beautiful post Ann-Christine and a lovely idea for the challenge. We enjoy the moments that are here, whilst carrying hope for the future, in our contribution for this week: https://whippetwisdom.com/2020/02/11/haibun-into-the-future/
I so agree, Xenia – live in the moment and hope for the future. Happy you liked my images.
Pingback: Haibun: Into the Future – Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey
Pingback: Our Future Photo Club Shows | The Day After
Lovely floral shots! Not entirely sure if I’m sold on the image overlaying, but I think it works from a narrative standpoint.
Here’s mine for this week. Certainly a challenging challenge:
https://stupidityhole.wordpress.com/2020/02/11/trio-ibes/
Thank you, SH – glad you think it works!
Pingback: Trio of Ibes | Stupidity Hole
Finally got my contribution posted:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2020/02/11/lens-artists-photo-challenge-future/
You are so welcome!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future – David M's photoblog
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Twenty Four
Pingback: Aachen Mirror | What's (in) the Picture?
Hi Ann-Christine, your double exposure photos are beautiful. I enjoyed looking at all the details. I should prepare my garden for the spring also. Here’s my post.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2020/02/10/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Glad you loved the details, Miriam – they come out differently, don’t they? These are all indoor images though – outside it is winter still.
Yes, I did, Ann-Christine. I’m glad you had fun doing it. It’s cold here also. We have five more weeks of winter.
Our winter has no snow this year, unfortunately. And now it feels too late.
We have a short winter also, Ann-Christine. It only rained for times instead of seven weeks like last year.
Ah
😊🙁
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future | The Showers of Blessings
I love your images Ann-Christine 🙂 At Primary School, we did a time-capsule and it was buried in the garden. The time-capsule was going to be dug up for the schools Centenary celebrations.Trouble was that no one could remember where it was buried. The Principal and teachers from those days have since gone. Maybe one day it will be found.
Here is my future contribution
http://bushboy.blog/2020/02/11/a-sweet-future/
Well, Brian, maybe that was meant for the future then – one day…
Pingback: A sweet future – bushboys world
Pingback: The Future Is Happening Now! ~ Rambling ranger
Super nice digital play with the flowers – love the delicate colors!
I have some pink in my contribution to these so interesting theme too 🙂 Here it is: http://vegasgreatattractions.com/las-vegas-pink-elephant-historic-mascot/
Thank you, Tatiana! We need colours in all the greyness of winter!
Pingback: Las Vegas Pink Elephant, Historic Mascot - VegasGreatAttractions
So beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration.
Glad you feel inspired!
I love the creative aspects of photography. Beautiful. https://365daysblog.com/2020/02/10/41-of-365-3/
Happy you enjoyed the challenge, Kathleen!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future – Jedi by Knight
Stunning photographs! The flowers have never looked so pretty.
Happy you enjoyed the flowers – they seem to get more depth when double exposed!
I like the light in these photos.
It’s a tough subject you’ve chosen. Maybe I’ll let a project for the future be my entry this week: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/perihelion-photoshow/
You have hit the target perfectly well – future projects will come! Thank you!
Here’s my take: http://chava61photography.photo.blog/2020/02/10/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Thank you!
Pingback: Eyes Forward | Out of My Write Mind
Thank you, Leya, for this challenge and these wondrous, ethereal images of nature. How did you do that? My post is much more feet on the ground at https://wp.me/p47y3C-2b4. Meg who can’t read this language but will have a look for that button on my camera. Best Regards Meg
Hi Meg – found you in my spam tonight! I will be back with you!
Pingback: Walk in Autumn Rain | Story Twigs the Imagination!
You created some beautiful composites – Here is mine for this week
https://norasphotos4u.wordpress.com/2020/02/09/lens-artist-83-future/
Happy you liked them, Nora – and you had some lovely shots for the future in the hands of our children!
Thanks Leya!
Pingback: Lens Artists Challenge #83…Future | AEKShots
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future – peace of life today
Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge: #83: The Future in a Crystal Ball – Musin' With Susan
Pingback: Visiting the Future | Celia Reaves
I love how the double exposures give the images so much depth and texture. These are lovely images and a terrific theme for the challenge this week.
Thank you so much, Celia! Hopefully you will enjoy the theme ♥
Beautiful images and so many thoughtful quotes. Also, thank you a lot for the mention of me 🙂
Thank You! And you are welcome!
This is a beautiful, inspiring future post, AC! I love these double exposure images, they tell that the future is hard to predict, but we can always hope for the best.
Here is my entry: https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
So glad you enjoyed them, Amy – and I clearly see that you are right – about the future we know very little, and hope is all we can do.
You know, when in Egypt I did not have a camera – so your photos are precious gifts for me to see! And, it must have been good for the pharaohs to believe there was a future after death. It would be much easier to die then.
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – The Future | HX Report
Beautiful shots, accompanied by thought-provoking words; fantastic, Leya 😁 Here’s mine: https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2020/02/09/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future/
Ah, so happy you liked both images and words, Jez!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83: Future – Photos by Jez
Pingback: Future | What's (in) the Picture?
Beautiful work.
Thank you, Rupali! Playing around with double exposures seem to enlighten the flowers. Glad you liked it!
Pingback: Early spring – mazeepuran (माझे e-पुराण)
Found you in the spam!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future | The World Is A Book...
Hi Amy – you were in the spam!
WOW – so beautiful. I love the mix of colors and how creative the double exposures look! Thank you for the fun prompt and for the opportunity to play along. I hope your spring arrives soon – our part of the world has a month or three to go before I’ll see green and flowers :-).
Thank you, Shelley – so glad you loved the colours too! They are much needed here as well – we too have a month or two left. The problem over here is the mild winter…it tricks the plants to thrive and the flowers to come out. Then the frost will kill them. Last year my magnolia lasted for one day only. Black the next. Climate change. We have to wait! At least the light is returning now!
You’re welcome! Our late winter (March/April/May and sometimes June) can do that to our early plants too. It’s sad. Most of the plants do know to wait. Like our Catalpa trees. I watch them to know when to plant or not. They won’t let their leaves burst until the last bad frost has gone by.
Yes, the light is helping and bundling up in warm clothes and walking outside helps too!
Spring is in our hearts, thank you so much for sharing some bright colors to help! xxxxx
♥
Pingback: The future of a normal empty nest – Quaint Revival
Pingback: Letters from a past future – Lens Artists Photo Challenge #83: Future | Pictures without film.
What a lovely post, great photos, and words, how many futures must you have helped shape by planting little seeds.
I think you just made my day. It makes me happy you loved the post, and thinking of the idea of many possible futures springing from those seeds makes me feel humble. ♥
Pingback: Future | Anvica's gallery
Ana – this is such an intelligent response to the theme – and using shadows enhances the problem with not being able to capture the future photographically. It is indeed illusive. Well done!
Excellent perspective, insightful commentary.
Difficult theme this week. I love your photos, very creative. 🙂
Thank you so much, Ana! But Oh, I hope not too difficult a theme! I was thinking everyone knows what to do the next hour or day, or maybe their dreams for next month – the future starts now! I am doing my re-potting, so it was easy for me to know my nearest future.
I’d love to see some of yours!
Pingback: lens-artist photo challenge: future – A Meditative Journey with Saldage
Beautiful multi-exposure images…a photo challenge indeed! The colors are food for my eyes as my world is somewhat white, yellow, dove gray, and at times…baby blue. Thank you
Thank you, Brenda – delighted you liked them! I guess they were needed for me as well – green and colours …all we have here is grey!
Such ethereal photos, Ann Christine. Very beautiful.
Such a thought provoking topic. As usual a song popped into my mind, which of course made me think of some photos to illustrate. I will be back later in the week with my post.
So glad you like the topic! I am very much looking forward to your entry!
Beautiful art!
Thank you, Nora – ♥
Love the topic! and the photos! My question is, how long have you been doing WordPress? It seems to take a long time to get followers on my blog and traffic to my website. I understand it it good content and great imagery, like yours. Maybe there aren’t shortcuts.
The idea of setting something in the present for yourself in the future is intriguing to me. I’m learning about genealogy and I’ve written about ”the confluence of current time”. It occurs where two flowing times join together to form a single channel – in our case it is time flowing from the beginning of two separate generations (your grandparents). Using maternal and paternal trees, each radiating time, they intersect at common decades or the “confluence of current time” (when you were born) (c) copyright.
If you are so inclined, you can read more about this at https://familytreetops.com/living-family-trees/
Thanks Leya,
John Meng-Frecker
Thank you for the love, the info and the advice, John. Concerning shortcuts – as you say, there are none. I have been here for 9 years, and the first two were tough. The best way of getting readers you are hinting at yourself – but, I found that commenting on other people’s blogs is a very good way. Interesting comments will get bloggers clicking your gravatar to find out who you are. A well thought through About page is recommended. A capital thing to avoid is asking people to please come to your site – unless you deal with a subject related to the blog you comment on. So, your posting a link to me is relevant. But the ”please” bloggers I never visit.
Your subject sounds interesting, so if you keep going, I am sure you will get many guests. Hard work and Best of Luck!
Ann-Christine
The first image highlighted the delicacy of the blossoms. You found some wonderful quotes that help us look forward, instead of back.
A comment that really warms my heart. I try to bring positivity – I need it and we all need it. So happy if you find this post helpful. ♥ My hope is to get many positive entries bringing hope and joy!
Lovely images Ann-Christine and great thought provoking quotes.
Thank you, Wendy. Your project in this world must feel so rewarding. Living the way you do. I admire you, and if I get another life after this…I would try your way of doing it.
Thank you Ann-Christine. We just try to appreciate the gifts we have and tread lightly on this earth.
And that is a great thing.
I absolutely love your take on this one Ann-Christine, and your double exposures are fantastic. The flowers are even more beautiful this way. It makes them look so fragile and delicate. The colors are glorious. Terrific challenge and post.
Happy you liked the idea – and this was a fun and rewarding way to create Future.
Some great quotes, Ann-Christine. And what a great collection of soft, artistic images. A challenging theme, that I need to think about!
Thank you – glad you liked the approach. Looking forward to your post!
Pingback: Future | Murtagh's Meadow
Oh how I LOVE your photos! Something else for me to learn… in my future 🙂 What a great post. I will need to think would I would like to post for this challenge. Thank you for the inspiration and the beauty! Just BEAUTIFUL! 💙🧡💛💜💚
♥ I’m looking forward to seeing your entry! Thank you – so glad you loved the images from my home and the challenge.
I especially love your feature image, Leya. Breathtaking! And the Gandhi quote. I want to put it on a little sign to put on my computer to make me work harder, as I’m probably living a little too much in the Now! 😉
Ha, thank you! I believe we are living all simultaneously, past, now, future – but… And the Gandhi quote is one of my favorites as well. Glad you enjoyed the opener that much – I must say I was surprised at the outcome of that one. You never really know with doubles!
Beautiful images and thoughts, Ann-Christine. Take care of now and the future will follow.
Hopefully! Thank you, Steve.
Pingback: Lens-Artist Photo Challenge # 83 – Future – Lithans photos
What a thought provoking piece. I just loved your images and quotes too.
Happy you enjoyed them! It is good to stay in positive dreams for the future.
Amazing and gorgeous images, Ann Christine. I love the quotes you have chosen……..so wise. I really like the idea of doing something every day that our future selves will thank us for. 🙂
So glad the post resonated with you! And I do believe that idea of being thankful in the future is a good one for doing some more good in life.
Absolutely so.
♥
Beautiful! Here’s another viewpoint: Live in the future: it’s just starting now. — Firesign Theatre.
Michael, I agree…I believe we live in all of them: The past, the now and the future – at the same time, or almost ;-D
Well, you know, we’re all creating our own futures minute by minute.
Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #83 – Into The Future | Travels and Trifles
Your images are mesmerizing…as is what the future may hold!
♥
https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/lens-artists-challenge-83-future/
Thank you, John!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge # 83 – Future | John's Space …..
Nicely written, Ann-Christine.
And great double exposures!
Thank you so much for your positive thoughts!
I love everything about this Ann-Christine; the theme, the quotes you’ve chosen and your stunning double-exposures. Thank you.
Su, we have nothing outdoors now, but you have! These are my indoor plants and my dreams for the near future. So happy you love the theme too!
It’s so dry here all our plants are struggling. I’d like to water them more, but with no rain forecast, I’m worried about doing that.
Ah…and I was not aware of it being that dry…thinking of all reports on the deluge in Fiordland.
Yes it is terrible. We have family connections to Southland and it’s heartbreaking to watch the news.
Wish you speedy rain/no rain!
Thanks 🙂
What a beautiful gallery of your future garden, Ann-Christine. You have me thinking and dreaming of the spring and summer. Thank you for an inspiring theme. I hope the sun and warmth return soon to your part of the world. :). Please post pictures of your garden in a few months!
Thank you, Patti! Of the future we know little, but the dreaming is important. Next week is the starting point!
Hi, Ann-Christine. I am thinking that the future is right here, today!! Here’s my post: https://pilotfishblog.com/2020/02/09/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-envisioning-the-future/
It is!
Everything about this is beautiful AC!!
Thank you, Pam! My kind of dream future, I guess. Starting already tomorrow with the re-potting!
Gorgeous photos. O.k. I’ll try to do something today that my future self will thank me for. ( Not eating those donuts that ate sitting in the lunchroom at work?).
Haha – well, that sounds serious…and difficult…but rewarding! Looking forward to your entry!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future | scillagrace
Such beautiful and creative flower compositions and a big handful of wise quotes. 🙂 🙂 I don’t think I have an answer for future, Ann Christine, but we can all dream.
No one has any answers – dreams are a must. Dreams and hope for a brighter future. I find the nearest future is the only thing we can dream of – and hope to experience. – The next walk, the next nice dinner, the next week. I will be repotting, already started!
🙂 🙂
Pingback: Future Flowers – Suzy Blue
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83: Future | Zombie Flamingos
I so adored your photos and processing this week. Thanks Leya for the topic,
Here is my entry for this week’s challenge.
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/02/08/lens-artists-photo-challenge-83-future-flowers/
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future (flowers) – Cee's Photo Challenges
I love the photos you used to illustrate this challenge. And I think it is a wonderful challenge. Thank you.
Now you made me happy about it – the challenge too! Looking forward to your post!
These are glorious ethereal images, speaking of an uncertain future, a mysterious past.
Thank you, Margaret – your read me well – Love your analysis. So glad you enjoyed the images, as I hoped they would convey my dreams for the near future. ♥
Nicely said, Margaret!
Thank you so much for the link 😘
♥ My pleasure.
Hmm. Beautiful canvases of flowers. Tough theme, perhaps! We shall see. Thank you for the nod to my blog. TBC… (to be continued)
Thank you, John, looking forward to your response!
P.S. ”The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” –Chinese Proverb
Haha – true. ♥ And we can never have too many trees on this planet.
Wow …. this is pure art … you can make prints out those images. Absolutely stunning.
Yay, thank you, Viveka! It was fun and – about the future we know nothing – a blur. But I do know this week will be pot planting week.
What software did you use???? Potting it’s going to be full storm starting tomorrow. By the way I have 3 white orchids that is blooming for the 3rd time.
White orchids – beautiful Viveka! And I did not use any software at all – it is a button on the camera!
Wow, fantastic!!! I don’t think Oscar has a button like that I can press *laughing. Yes, big flowers and one of them is standing in constant water. 3rd time it’s blooming now.
Fantastic! And I hadn’t seen that button from the start either…one year after buying the camera…