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Lens-Artistists Challenge # 275 – Filling the Frame

/ Leya / 64 kommentarer

Anne is in the lead this week, and she has got a fabulous challenge in store for us – Filling the frame. Please visit her beautiful site for more inspiration.

Filling the frame offers a sense of completeness, clarity, inclusion, and comfort. We essentially “dive in” and experience the true essence of what the subject has to offer.

– Lucas Martin

So what does it mean – to fill the frame? Let’s see…

Prayer flags in Bhutan fill the frame in many respects – with cloth, letters and words.

Porto offers a staircase of sorts – it really fills up both us and the library/bookstore…

Filling the frame with a filled frame is hopefully allowed too? Beautiful stones of Georgia.

This random gallery of manmade and naturals ends with the rusty remains of a ship on a shore somewhere in Iceland. Filled with holes, but it still fills my frame. (Click to see the whole pictures)

Macro’s make us come really close, and leaves almost no empty space anywhere – maybe there is some truth in this quote from Robert Capa:

If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.

Fernsfernsferns – they are irresistible! Even the back side of them…

And, this is key to why I love it when an abundance of small pieces fill the frame –

– like these Icelandic icicles. To me, maybe it is also a matter of colours. Few colours, all hues in harmony, make the frames complete – or what do you think? I left a monochrome in the header… for us to keep pondering – is this a filled frame – or not?

Finally, a fiery frame from our walks this weekend – Autumn filled it from ground to sky. Lucas Martin was right.

Thank you, Donna, for a marvelous asymmetry challenge last week. We’ve learned a lot and had a lot of fun, haven’t we! Next week James of Jazzibee will be our guest host, be sure to look for his site for inspiration! Remember to link to the original post and tag with Lens-Artists.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. 

Thursday Thoughts – Icy Strait Point

/ Leya / 49 kommentarer

We had booked the world’s largest ziprider, but only my husband went for it – I read that my neck injury would not benefit from it. So, I enjoyed the landscape and environment instead – and took some photos of him coming down.

Amazing views from the top had me photograph a lot, and for once the weather was clear and sunny. The air fresh and cool.

For the ”bear walk” we were adviced to stay together in groups of ten, and to talk loudly. There was a ranger or two watching as well. The introduction though, was held by a Native Tlingit, and all profit went to their Hoonah community.

Some unspoiled wilderness was what we hoped for, and that was what we got. It wasn’t a long hike, because recent storms and rains had made fallen trees block the path in places. As there are more brown bears than people here (so they said), it would have been too dangerous to try.

The landscape was mostly open with sunny grasses and trees – but I must admit to not being totally relaxed during the walk. A week ago there had been a bear attack here. We have many brown bears at home too, but I never hike in their areas.

The beauty was overwhelming, and rather similar to our own mountain areas in Sweden. I loved every minute of this walk, and there was no wind, no rain.

Did I mention the zipride? Here we go!

And down at the beach, we strolled back to the ship, enjoying the abundance of wildlife – sea otters, seals, orcas and humpbacks. Even a squirrel. We saw a bald eagle nest too, but no eagle there now.

The sea creatures swam so close to the beach, there was no need for a boat trip to see them.

This was our most beautiful day in Alaska – and not only because of the weather. Thank you for coming along – sorry I couldn’t tell you how much fun it was doing the zipride…my husband was not impressed though. Too windy he said, and not being able to control anything. But he did it!

Lens-Artists Challenge #274 – Asymmetry

/ Leya / 68 kommentarer

Donna follows up last week’s Symmetry nicely, with Asymmetry – an informal sense of balance. Asymmetry is the absence of, or a violation of, symmetry.

She asks us: ”Where do you find the imperfectly perfect?” Because, asymmetry does not mean that an image is not balanced. It just means there are different ways of balancing it.

Asymmetry is something most of our photos have, and also what makes many of our shots work. John Ruskin says : ”…to banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality.”

In many of my own images, I use the Rule of Thirds.

Two starlings – one common in my own area, and another, maybe a common Myna, standing in the rain in a Bhutanese village.

And rules don’t have to be precisely followed either. The balanced feeling is there anyway.

Depth of Field is also a great way to showcase asymmetrical balance.

And why not an S-shaped path that draws your eyes?

Imperfections, run down areas, odd-shaped items, negative space, and light all contribute nicely. Here are some examples of those:

So glad every time I have the chance to feature one of my favourite old images – the backseat of an old wreck in Kyrkö mosse.

Harmony in the picture is the most important thing – symmetry or asymmetry. Maybe ”harmony” should sit in between those two concepts?

Asymmetry in faces are sometimes not easy to cope with. Even if we know that faces are never symmetrical, a lost eye, for example, makes a big difference to how we see the person or animal. These two friends had been playing together, when the game became too tough for the little guy. Still, he managed well for several years with only one eye. And I got used to looking at his new face when I visited my friends.

Architectural asymmetry is common in modern constructions. Harpa in Iceland, and Frank Gehry’s The Guggenheim in Bilbao and Pop Culture museum in Seattle.

Let’s finish with something from the natural world – a must of course. These two from the Butchart Gardens.

And what makes these two work? The frame and the bow shaped lines in the first one. In the second one, the nerves and then the flowers balancing colours and shapes.

A special thanks to Sofia for hosting last week’s challenge, Symmetry. She, and you, made us discover the power and harmony of symmetry. All of your posts were a feast for the eye! Next week, visit Anne of Slow Shutter Speed for more inspirational images as she leads us through the next challenge!

Thursday Thoughts – Skagway and The White Pass Railway

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

A lovely adventure – but tough taking pictures from the train. I had my camera ready for landscapes, but around one of the first bends – I saw a blackbear roaming the colourful grasses! We who were sitting on the right (right!) side of the train had a brief glimpse, but my camera was not ready for this. So, the black blob over there…is a bear. Believe it or not.

I enjoyed the wilderness and the colours, the fog and the random glimpses of blue sky.

The rivers and small pools of water brightened the views and so did the mountains with newly fallen snow.

Now and then beautiful gorges opened up – you had to have your camera well prepared…

And the old train picked up hikers along the trail too. A great service!

Luckily we were not supposed to cross this one…

…but it made for a couple of nice photos.

So, we arrived back in Skagway in one piece. The guide told us she had never seen a bear on this railroad trip before – so she was just as happy as her passengers were.

An amazingly beautiful and colourful trip, and an insight into the hardships of those times – the old path from the goldrush was still visible in some places.

Thank you for coming along on the train! So grateful for that black bear … it was the only Alaskan bear saw.

Lens-Artists Challenge #273 – Symmetry

/ Leya / 46 kommentarer

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

– William Blake

The Tiger is a beauty beyond belief. And together with the lines of this well known poem, they are the first things I associate with the word ”symmetry”. The photo was taken at Nordens Ark, Sweden. Nordens Ark has participated or is currently taking part in re-population projects, to release animals born at the facility into the wild.

Sofia is our host this week, and her theme is Symmetry. She reminds us that symmetry is everywhere – if you look for it. Symmetry is an important composition tool in all kinds of art. Photography, painting, sculpture – and in fact, I believe it is essential for all our senses to reach harmony. Please visit her beautiful blog for more inspiration. Tag your own post Lens-Artists and link to Sofia’s original post!

I will continue to randomly associate and ponder the concept… I realise that naturally there is no such thing as perfect symmetry, but I also thought about how for example religious buildings like churches, mosques and cathedrals meticulously use symmetry for harmony (in the congregation?). Or at least I guess that is one of the reasons for their architectural style.

Naturally doors and windows are often symmetrical – double doors in particular. They are also very popular with tourist photographers. (Thursday Doors?)

Two pictures in harmony with each other – and still so different. I found both in Prague, and to me, the first one represents human efforts to master and to reach Nature’s grandeur. The butterflies have been sorted and set behind glass in an attempt to make the composition symmetrical. A living butterfly is seemingly symmetrical, but the framed, manmade result could never compete with nature itself. I am happy to point out that we have abandoned killing butterflies and piercing them with needles – we photograph them instead.

The church ceiling is interesting in that the painters have used very irregular areas to decorate, but still arrive at a sense of symmetry. Difficult but clever.

Wine barrels in Porto – a special symmetry – maybe not perfect, but nicely done. Just don’t get them rolling…

Water and mirrors invite to beautiful symmetry. Yesterday morning’s outing gave these two – asymmetric symmetry? I believe most of us never get tired of reflections.

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.”

– William Shakespeare

And, I don’t know about you, but somehow I look for – and use – both symmetry and asymmetri in the same image. Why? Maybe the answer is that they need one another to enhance each other.

Last week, John’s challenge gave us a chance to share billboards and signs from around the world and I hope they made you smile just as many times as they did me. Thank you all for a great, smiling week!

Next week, Donna is our host. And to follow Symmetry – we’ll have Asymmetry. Please visit Donna’s site for inspiration! Hope to see you then!

Thursday Thoughts – Glacier Bay and the Mendenhall Glacier

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

On the ship again – towards Glacier Bay. Lovely views of the skies and mountains.

It was of course cold close to the glacier, but well dressed it was no problem. It felt just like home.

When we reached the edge of the receding glacier, there was no clear sight, but it was ok. We don’t know, but maybe this was the last time for us coming close to a glacier – they are all receding and many are already lost. I am grateful to have walked quite some glaciers in my younger days. They are beautiful. I cannot bear the thought of my grandchildren never seeing one or walking one. It is unfathomable.

The beauty of snowcapped mountains – is still there though.

The Mendenhall is obviously a famous glacier, and we took the local bus in Juneau and walked the last miles to see it. The landscape is beautiful, but was almost invisible when we reached the glacier. We waited for some 15 minutes, and there it appeared through the fog. That’s the way of glacier areas. But, it is worth the waiting!

I love the bluish ice and the edges like melted chocolate. The exhibition inside the visitor center showed just how much the glacier has receded over the years – and now almost over the months…

The shining Nugget falls were quite spectacular and the stillness in the air was remarkable. Walking back again to catch the last bus, we realised that the Mendenhall maybe looked its best from a distance.

Thank you for joining me on the glacier tour!

Lens-Artists Challenge # 272 – Billboards and Signs

/ Leya / 56 kommentarer

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.

– Albert Einstein

John asks us to look for signs or billboards, they are everywhere. And, if you don’t capture images of physical signs, consider any photographs of metaphorical signs. Thank you, I will try a mix!

Let’s start with the season – not many colours yet, but enough to know autumn is coming..

Then some signs of power: a wall in Split, showing the old city map, and who built the city.

Another sign of power – a jaguar sitting on a Jaguar.

A gallery of different signs from our travels would be a good idea, but I haven’t got that many. Here are some signs I remember well though…

Signs from Madeira, China, Italy, Sweden, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Iceland, Alaska and Canada. Wondering about the toilet? It’s in The Elephant House in Edinburgh – the birthplace of the Harry Potter novels. (Not the toilets…) J. K. Rowling first wrote about him from a table in this café. The signs are from fans all over the world…And here is one of her own:

Hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.

– J. K. Rowling

I cannot leave you without two favourites from Tblisi, Georgia, a city with a warm heart for its stray cats and dogs. The dog house has got a feeding automat where you can put in some money and there will fall down dog food for the strays to munch.

We are looking forward to seeing your challenge response this week. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists so we can find you in the reader, and link to John’s original post.

Many thanks to Amy for hosting last week’s challenge, “Contrasts”, and thanks to you for creative and interesting posts! Next week, it’s Sofia’s turn. If you want to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.