John leads the challenge this week, and wants us to focus on the importance of Shape, Form, Texture and Light in our compositions. I guess most of us do, but without thinking about it. This tunnel in Eze, France, is smoothly showing off all these aspects. I simply take photos of what I find a beautiful view.
John suggests we choose to highlight one or more of these aspects, and present one or two of our favorites. We can decide to focus on only one aspect or include examples of all of them. I thought I would focus on my favourites, texture and light – but found I had some examples for all four of them. Some more of the latter though…
As John points out, the difference between shape and form can be difficult to decide, but artists typically consider shape to be two-dimensional while a form is three-dimensional. This picture above shows a shape of a house that has been stripped of its form. You can still see where the walls and staircases once was.
A house like this would represent a form – a square house in the middle of a square in a little town in Switzerland.
I too, find flowers to be one of my favorite organic forms as subjects for my photography. Cherry blossom in my garden is what I long for right now – but this rare orchid was a real treat on our short trip to Menton.
There are many unique textures created by the elements, and right now I want to highlight magma and lava – as there is an ongoing volcanic eruption in Iceland again. Lava formed to solid rock makes fascinating textures. My picture is from the Galapagos Islands.
Photos wouldn’t be possible without light, and capturing light is what photography is all about. Personally I prefer natural light, and will not use the flash unless I am desperately forced to. Which is…almost never.
You can find light everywhere – in the air, in lamp light, sun rays, grasses, glow worms, reflections in water, stones, rails… Backlight is a lovely favourite of mine.
Finally, a Morocco favourite from the small, colourful alleys in Marrakesh.
I am always waiting for some magical light….but, I seldom get it as I live far away from the sea. I feel the light there is often more magical than elsewhere. Except maybe for the desert. Every time I go somewhere close to a lake or the sea, I use some mornings and evenings waiting for ”that” magical moment. The fiery sky photo in the opener was captured on my recent visit to Nice.
Last week, Ritva challenged us to do some Window Shopping – a big thank you for a fun and interesting challenge! I realised I never do this unless I go abroad. It also brought new insight into other cultures and people’s interests. Next week, it is my turn to be your host for the Lens-Artists Challenge. Until then, take care and be kind.
Be sure to link to John’s page if you are participating, and remember to use the Lens-Artists tag. If you’d like to respond to our challenge each week and want to know how to get started, click here.
Leya 
So much variety in your post, Ann Christine.
Thank you, Rupali.
Amazing
Thank you
The orchid is my favorite, and just below it – is that lava or a dormant hornet nest?
These are wonderful images – I would just love to walk through that tunnel in Eze
What a lovely post with so many great images. All those arches and alleys. The rare orchid. Beautiful photographs.
Thank you for a lovely comment, Ritva. Much appreciated.
Stunning photos, Ann-Christine! ❤ The stripped off house shape is especially impactful for me.
Also, is that Milo in the garden? 🙂
That house was a lucky find indeed. And no, it is not Milo, it is our first lagotto, Mille. They have the same colours.
Stunning photos Ann-Christine!!
Thank you, Aletta!
Exquisite galleries, Ann-Christine, truly inspirational. Both light and the Galapagos galleries are on my favourite list of all your post so far. Fantastic post.
Thank you so much, Sofia! Much appreciated, and this was a great challenge from John with many interesting responses.
Ann-Christine, what a fantastic collection you shared with us. I have a hard time picking a favorite. These are such beautiful photos. The fiery sky, the alley, the orchid, the dilapidated house, and so on — everything is impressive.
Thank you so much, Egidio – glad you enjoyed my galleries.
Great photos. The first three are among my many faves.
Glad you have some favourites, John, thank you!
Such gorgeous photos, Ann-Christine. I too avoid using the flash whenever possible.
It pays off, not using it, I believe. Thank you!
Ann-Christine, what a nice visual journey you took us on this week 😀 😀
♥ So glad you enjoyed the ride!
I liked your second photo because it included elements of light, shape, and texture, Ann-Christine. I also liked your picture of the wasp nest.
Thank you for liking them!
You are certainly a master of light, AC! Fabulous images. There are so many here that I love…the iris, the house, the archway….but it’s impossible to pick just one! Kudos to you, AC. Wonderful images!
So glad you enjoyed them, Patti! This was a great challenge from John. Thank you for your positive praise!
Your photos take me to places that warm my heart . What an incredible photographer you are Ann Christine!
Now you made me blush, Sheetal, that was a big dosis of praise – thank you ever so much!
So many to appreciate from your travels, AC, and your words bring us so much closer to them. Your play with light is phenomenal and you always bring us the magic you strive for. I have to say while I have some favorites, the wasp nest is a great capture, interesting. Thank you for the additional inspiration of: shape form, texture, and light.
You always make me happy with your positive comments, Donna! This was also a great challenge from John, and reading the posts and comments have been a real treat.
I agree, the wasp nest is beautiful, it was so hard to throw it away after the summer. So well crafted and hours, days, weeks of hard work.
Wonderful gallery, Ann-Christine! That shape of a house stripped of its form is a fantastic capture, and your opening example including texture and form is perfect for the challenge. The gallery of your magical light images really shows off your technical skills. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but that architectural photo of arches with the interplay of light is simply beautiful.
And despite all the rules, David Oakes in his comment above says it best, ”Shoot what feels right.”
Thank you, John – and thank you for a great and educating challenge! Many of the comments are so positive with excellent photography – well done.
That ‘shape of a house that has been stripped of its form’ is fascinating! But most of all I love the selection you’ve presented for ‘light’ – that really is your forte 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! And yes, I believe our best photos comes out of love for the subject.
Marvellous, A C! Love the Eze tunnel, your brilliant textures especially the botanical ones and those backlit tulips
Thank you, Sue! I had so much fun putting this together.
Good to hear!
Such a thoughtful and very lovely presentation A-C. A gallery for us to think by as you reveal your own thinking behind the camera.
Thank you for a lovely comment, Tish. Much appreciated.
A lovely – and interesting – post. I was going to pick out my favourite shots, but as ever, it’s … all of them.
Thank you, Margaret, this was a really interesting challenge – happy to hear you liked them all. I learned the difference between form and shape thoroughly.
John explained well, didn’t he?
He did!
Great sequence as usual….. All fab, but I think my favourite is the Arch and Light. I do recall when talking with young photographers, that many were hung up on composition rules, such as two thirds,etc. My best advice was to remember ‘Rules are went to be broken’ …. shoot what feels right. 🙂
Thank you, much appreciated, David. And yes, that was my advice to my students as well. Learn the rules first, then you can break them.
A visual feast, Ann-Christine. I love your opener and the lava shots from Galapagos (reminds me of Pico in the Azores) but that last gallery is for dreaming over. Hope your week is going well.
Thank you, Jo. Pico, yes, lovely memories. Hope you are doing well again – here we are ok so far!
Gorgeous photos. I love the closeups of flowers/petals. It’s so great seeing things from your point of view.
Thank you kindly! Glad you liked them.
Beautiful photos from your explorations. The whole section on light was mesmerizing, but light and colour are always highly attractive. The stand out photo for me was the ghost of the house: a three dimensional structure reduced to it imprint on the next house.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed them, I.J. And that old photo of the torn down house is a favourite of mine too. It is still fascinating to me, and I can see the rooms and staircases grow out again. I was lucky in that find.
Fantastically beautiful photos.
Ah, thanks Timothy, much appreciated!
Beautiful
Thank you!
I could sit and look and dream for an hour with your top photo in front of me . . . how lovely! Love all of this but above all the evocative light/dark section and the photos displaying texture . . . a big smile . . . this post will be l
kept . . .
♥ You are always positive and kind, Eha – thank you! I have Vivekas e-mail if you want it.
Oh yes please! I do have one but it is from way back!
v.gustavson@bredband2.com
♥
Stunning photos love the light you have captured
Thank you! I had great fun!
An incredible post Ann-Christine. Any photographer could use your image set this week to teach a class on composition. Very special – I loved them all but of course your captures of light show true mastery.
Thank you, Tina – this was a great challenge, and as far as I can see much appreciated too! I learned to better see the difference between shape and form as well. Well explained by John.
Light, yes, a favourite of mine – thank you for the praise and making me blush…
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Your night photography, the tulips and glass flowers are stunning and visually appealing.
Thank you, Suzanne, much appreciated!
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