LENS-ARTISTS

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #87 – Reflections

/ Leya / 68 kommentarer

We welcome another guest blogger this week, Miriam of The Showers of Blessings.  She suggests we find reflections to share.

Believe it or not, but I found myself in some of mine…even though I never do selfies.

Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
― Charles Dickens

Today, International Women’s Day, we might just change his quote a bit…and put in woman and women too.

Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?

― Charles Bukowski

Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you’re just a reflection of him?

― Bill Watterson 

Bewilderment increases in the presence of the mirrors.
― Tarjei Vesaas,

When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?
― Philip K. Dick,

A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.
― Henry David Thoreau,

 

These images were made in Iceland, Stettin, Copenhagen, Bilbao, Norway and Switzerland. As usual, click to enlarge.

For the rest of March, we will follow the usual schedule – and stay tuned for next Saturday when the host is me, Leya!

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #86 – Change Your Perspective

/ Leya / 55 kommentarer

This week Patti shares some different perspectives to try in our photography – ”We invite you to break the habit of shooting photos at eye-level and change your perspective. […] show us your photographs taken from a variety of perspectives -”!

I believe the differences are clearly visible in flower photography –

In the opening photo of my ”Princess of the Night”, I am lying on the floor in the middle of the night to get a view of the inside of the flower.

Close-up – from a low position is one of my favorite perspectives.

Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. – Matt Hardy

Eye level – front and side, often looks even better back lit.

The more pictures you see, the better you are as a photographer.
– Robert Mapplethorpe

Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.– David Alan Harvey

Going low from a distance can sometimes create a more interesting picture.

A good photograph is knowing where to stand.
– Ansel Adams

Looking down is necessary to get the beauty of both the butterfly and the flower.

With tiny flowers, mass-effect can do the trick – and light and darkness of course.

Where light and shadow fall on your subject – that is the essence of expression and art through photography.
– Scott Bourne

Sheer Mass-effect

Thank you, Tina, and all participating bloggers, for last week’s Treasure Hunt – a success with many fun and interesting entries!

And here is a Special announcement:

At Lens-Artists are delighted to announce that the March 7th challenge (#87) will be hosted by our special guest host, Miriam Hurdle at The Showers of Blessings   Please be sure to visit Miriam’s site on Saturday, March 7th to view her challenge.  For the rest of March, we’ll follow our usual weekly schedule:

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #85 – Treasure Hunt

/ Leya / 64 kommentarer

This week Tina wants us to go on a Treasure Hunt! Our challenge is to search for specific items – either from your archives or newly captured – from the list below. Extra credit items are a bit harder to find, as are multiple items in a single image. Focus on quality over quantity and hit us with your best shot(s)!

  • Challenge Items: Sunrise and/or sunset, Something cold and/or hot, a bird, a dog, a funny sign, a bicycle, a seascape and/or mountain landscape, a rainbow, a church, a musical instrument, a boat, a plane, a waterfall
  • Extra Credit Items:  An expressive portrait of one or more people, a very unusual place, knitting or sewing, a fish, an animal you don’t normally see, a bucket, a hammer, a street performer, a double rainbow, multiple challenge items in a single image.

Sunset is a moment where all emotions are experienced: Melancholy, amazement, intoxication, casuistry, admiration, love, sadness…
― Mehmet Murat ildan

In the opener – sunset, seascape, birds and boats in The Netherlands. The other scenes were found in Bhutan, Tibet and Poland.

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame! – William Butler Yeats

Dance is the most fundamental of all art forms. – Twyla Tharp

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.– Roger Caras

This Boxer-like sweetie gave me a real fright. When I was passing this shop, he suddenly jumped up at the desk – the shop owner looked a bit shocked as well…I had to be quick to catch the moment!

Knitting not only relaxes me, it also brings a feeling of being at home. – Magdalena Neuner

An old photo, but I still remember these lovely Tibetan ladies waiting for market customers – and making a useful time of it. They were very shy, but smiling when I asked about their knitting and told them I knitted too.

All my images are self-portraits, even when I’m not in them.
― Nuno Roque

I met this beautiful lady on the pilgrim trail to Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) in Paro. She stopped to offer some nuts and dried fruit (I was a bit poorly looking…), and then passed me with a vigorous step – reaching the temple at least half an hour before I did. She was 75, and no sign of panting in the thin air…

Each and every animal on earth has as much right to be here as you and me. – A.D. Williams

We were fortunate to see the national animal of Bhutan – the rare Takin. Folklore has it that the animal with a goat’s head and a cow’s body was created by The Divine Madman, a famous holy man from Tibet. The Takin lives in the alpine zones, at 1000-4500 meters height, and weighs about 300kg.

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination
and life to everything.
― Plato

I enjoyed these skilled street musicians for almost an hour, in Lodz, Poland. Not until after uploading the photos, I noticed the spooky thing behind the musician to the left…

Thank you, Amy, for the fun Narrow theme last week!

A Special Announcement:  All of us at Lens-Artists are delighted to announce that the March 7th challenge (#87) will be hosted by our special guest host, Miriam Hurdle at The Shower of Blessings   Please be sure to visit Miriam’s site on Saturday, March 7th to view her challenge.  For the rest of February and March, we’ll follow our usual weekly schedule:

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #84 – Narrow

/ Leya / 70 kommentarer

Future? Now, let’s see what will happen this week! Amy has chosen Narrow as our theme. She says:

Travel has taught me that once we go through a narrow path, alley, and/or road with a little patience, at the end it always opens up to pleasant surprises.

Of course I agree – in urban areas: a narrow street where you have to look far up to see the sun; steep, dark stairs ending in a light blue door, and the very old streets of Tbilisi.

My own love for things narrow, is a winding path – and preferably one of which I don’t know the end…

But, to me they all are inviting. Though every narrow shell does not hold a pearl – at least not one like my daughter!

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.

– Henry David Thoreau

 

Finally, Thank you for all your creative answers to last week’s challenge, Future, fantastic reading and images, both hopeful and sad. Just the way Life is. ♥

Stay tuned for the last February challenges:

Remember to link to Amy’s 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!

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83 – Future

/ Leya / 215 kommentarer

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.
― Mother Theresa

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.

― Roy T. Bennett

The arrival of the future is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
― Gautama Buddha

A path, which, unfortunately, is not always strewn with roses…

The future depends on what you do today.
― Mahatma Gandhi

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?

For the rest of February, we’ll return to our usual weekly schedule:

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!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #82 – Capital

/ Leya / 56 kommentarer

This week we are happy to have Viveka of My Guilty Pleasures as our guest host – and she has chosen Capital for us – to interpret our own special way. Maybe capital!

”Capital cities are a lot more than famous landmarks, squares, parks and monuments.” And indeed, they are. Being a former language teacher, when I travel, I always try to learn some useful phrases of that country’s language, and I enjoy very much the written language in countries that still treasure the art of calligraphy. These stones above, lie on the right side of the paved path up to the Pothala temple in Lhasa, Tibet.

I also treasure their open doors, and the friendly Tibetan people.

Peeping into the next gallery, I guess you know where I am – in Wellington, New Zealand.

With its fantastic nature, loving people and everyone being aware of how much we have to work to preserve our world and its biodiversity – NZ has its own special place in my heart. (Only Bhutan can compare. They are carbon neutral since long, even carbon negative.) The map…? Well, in Wellington and its vicinity, many scenes from the LOTR (Lord Of The Rings) were filmed – which also is a great plus in my book!

In Quito – the colourful capital of Equador, I lost myself in their Naïve art, which spoke to me as simple and frank as good children’s books do. Magical fantasy.

Edinburgh is a place to return to – great accent, festivals and all…but I met up with a dear blogging friend there – Seonaid of Breathofgreenair. I had some unforgettable days with her and her lovely family. Including her adorable dogs!

A capital I keep returning to again and again is Reykjavik, Iceland.  I don’t know of any church in the world more impressive than Hallgrímskirkja. Especially when walking up to it on a snowy day like this – it’s towering like a giant spaceship.

In the end… I must agree with Viveka – Tbilisi, Georgia, stole my heart too – I believe many stolen hearts are resting there, beating there… warming Tbilisi’s friendly, hospitable people. Despite the chaos, the tearing down and building up – Tbilisi opens its warm heart to everyone, of every colour, of every culture, of every faith.

Please be sure to visit Viveka’s site to view her challenge.  For the rest of February, we’ll return to our usual weekly schedule:

Remember to link to Viveka’s 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!

 

 

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #81 – Find Something Red

/ Leya / 74 kommentarer

Give me juicy autumnal fruit, ripe and red from the orchard. – Walt Whitman

”No matter what the season, this color is emotional, fiery, and sensual. It is hopeful and passionate.” The description unmistakably belongs to the colour Red. This week Patti invites us to a photo scavenger hunt to find things red. Check out her special offerings!

This is what I found… starting with a tiny dot… growing into more and more of… Red.

And as Christian Dior said – There is certainly a red for everyone

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

   That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

   That’s sweetly played in tune.

– Robert Burns

Through the rear window of an old camper – despite the jumble and reflections, your eyes go for the red spots and the roses. You can’t go wrong with red roses, ever. Trust the poets – and your heart.

Finally, even though a bit faded – a phone shot of my garden and Flammentanz roses.

20180702_215601-Redigera

A Special Announcement:  All of us at Lens-Artists are delighted to announce that next week’s challenge (#82) will be hosted by our special guest host, Viveka of My Guilty Pleasures.   Please be sure to visit Viveka’s site on Saturday, February 1st to view her challenge.  For the rest of February, we’ll return to our usual weekly schedule:

As always, we are all looking forward to seeing your creative responses to the challenge –  and thank you for your support!

 

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #80 – Leading Lines

/ Leya / 49 kommentarer

”Be creative – there are lines everywhere. Footsteps in the sand, train tracks, the walls of a town on a narrow street, a row of arches on a building or of lights at night, a babbling brook or a winding river – it’s up to you to see and shoot them.” Tina’s challenge this week is Leading Lines.

Lines natural or man made – or both! In the header, a church in Stettin.

Lines on the ground I am walking – a hike to Svartisen glacier, Norway.

Lines from more than one direction, still leading your eye to the target.

A spectacular lamp fills the room at Kosta Boda Spa Hotel – its lines are also reflected in the windows.

The Concert Hall of Stettin – lines striving for the camera window high up on the wall.

An exhibition in Denmark – but lines are leading to the lady in red!

Vadstena, Sweden – a foggy morning – how close are the trees at the end of the bridge?

Drying fish in Norway – a classic leading lines shot.

Of course I had to finish with my cats again…The Balkans tour in December brought some different leading lines – but still, I hope they are leading your eyes the right way. Click them up full size to follow them all the way!

 

We invite you to join us this week and explore Tina’s wonderful theme.  As usual, Tina, Amy, Patti and I value your creative responses and thoughts.  Thanks for joining us!

Remember to link to Tina’s original post, and tag it with “Lens-Artists.”  If you’re new to tagging, click here for an explanation of how and why. Remember your post will get more views and comments if you tag. If you’ve not seen our Tag Section yet in the Word Press Reader, click here to see it.

It will be Patti’s turn to host Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #81 on Saturday, January 25, 2020.  Hope to see you then!

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #79 – A Window With a View

/ Leya / 62 kommentarer

Keep creating new windows from which to look at your world. Never accept your current view of the world as the only view. Let new awareness help you to alter your view and motivate you to be the force of change in your life.  – Don Shapiro

A window can stand for so many things… and windows are attractive to any photographer. This time, Amy’s inspirational choice is A Window With a View. My windows offer very different ideas of a window view – depending on the perspective, who you are, where you are and maybe how you are.

Set wide the window. Let me drink the day. 

– Edith Wharton

Library of Water – Roni Horn
You are your state of mind. Your state of mind creates your view,

Windows hold a different dream for each of us.
― Anthony T. Hincks 

If you want the people to understand you, invite them to your life and let them see the world from your window!

 – Mehmet Murat ildan

You have the nicest window, you know? None of the others can even compete. It´s not flashy like the others, or bleary,  your window gives of this nice, quiet light.

– Banana Yoshimoto

Open the window of your mind. Allow the fresh air, new lights and new truths to enter.

– Amit Ray

 

These windows were found in Italy (Rome), Georgia (Tbilisi), Iceland, Poland, Sweden, Bhutan and Scotland. (My own old favorite, is in the header here. )

Thank you for sharing so many, very special spots last week! We hope you join us this week for Amy’s inspiring “A Window With a View” challenge.  Just add your link to her post. (Links from the Reader are not working correctly.) Use the Lens-Artists tag to help us find you.

As always, Patti, Amy, Tina and I thank you for your continued support. Hope to see you again next week when Tina is our host for challenge #80!

 

 

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #78 – Special Spot Shots

/ Leya / 195 kommentarer

Having delighted in all your favorite photos from 2019, We would love to invite you to some Special Spot Shots!

In November 1979 the historic city of Split, Croatia, built around the Diocletian Palace, was included in the UNESCO register of World Cultural Heritage. Today, the palace is well preserved with all the most important historical buildings. It is so well hidden behind new facades and modern stores, that If you don’t know where the southern gate to the palace is – you will not find your way in!

Somewhere behind those palm trees, lies the entrance to the palace’s cellars – let’s enter – My Special Spot!

Diocletian’s Palace  was built for the Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD, which today forms about half the old town of Split, Croatia. It is referred to as a ”palace”, but the term is rather misleading as the structure is massive and more resembles a large fortress: about half of it was for Diocletian’s personal use, and the rest housed the military garrison.

The construction of Diocletian’s palace is assumed to have begun around 295, and the ground plan of the palace is an irregular rectangle measuring east: 214.97 m, north: 174.74 m, south: 181.65 m

There is a legend, probably from the 10th century, telling how Croatian king Držislav (named King Solomon), captured by the Venetians, played a chess match to gain his freedom. He won all three parties and was set free, and in some versions, he also got power over the Dalmatian cities. Thus, the chessboard ended up in the Croatian flag.

The northern gate is one of the four principal Roman gates into the Palace – originally the Main gate (the Golden Gate) from which the Emperor entered the complex. The gate is on the road to the north, towards Salona, the then capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and Diocletian’s birthplace.

The second most important gate was the Silver Gate – here seen from the monumental central square, the Peristyle, inside the palace.

The Palace was built of white local limestone and marble of high quality, most of which was from the Brač marble quarries on the island of Brač, of tuff taken from the nearby river beds, and of brick made in Salonitan and other factories. The stones we walked are the original ones – which gives you quite the feeling and perspective!

As the world’s most complete remains of a Roman palace, it holds an outstanding place in Mediterranean, European, and world heritage. Diocletian’s Palace was also used as a location for filming the fourth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones.

The old city is very much alive – not a museum.

The Mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Diocletian
– now a church.
Narrow streets…
…and open spaces close to…
…the eastern gate.

The Palace was decorated with numerous 3500-year-old granite sphinxes, possibly originating from the site of Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III. Only three have survived the centuries. One is still on the Peristyle – as seen above.

After some hours of breathtakingly being transported through history, we left by the same gate we entered, the southern gate, where the emperor used to arrive by boat. As we already had noticed, today’s modern sphinxes rule the city – the cats. This sphinx sitting on the left hand side – watching you arrive and watching you leave.

Kroatien Bosnien Herzegovina 325-4

Surely he has got the true sphinx look !

Now we are looking forward to seeing Your very special spot shots – maybe a room in your home, a garden, a mountain, a city, an exhibition, a lovely café…a place that is special to you!

 

Thank you for so generously sharing your own 2019 with us! We have enjoyed so many interesting galleries – and it was so hard to pick just some of them, but…

Have you seen these:

Sue’s eclectic gallery

From Beyond the Window Box and Judith we get gardening and beautiful views of Berwick upon Tweed

Paulie of The Life in My Years shares some stunning memories – and life lessons – with us

Su Leslie sends a glorious gallery from New Zealand

Davide‘s gallery will surprise you

Be sure to link to my original post, (Links posted within the Reader are not working correctly) and to use the Lens-Artists tag to help us find you. And, of course please visit Amy’s blog next week for Challenge #79!

As always, Patti, Amy, Tina and I hope you will join us.