For Debbie and six word Saturday – I have an itch for…
Weekly Challenge
You can always lean on me…
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #96 – Cropping the Shot
Patti challenges us to show how we crop our shots and why. See her own great examples of how to do here.
There is a vast difference between taking a picture and making a photograph.
– Robert Heinecken
There are different ways to enhance a photo, and I am quite sure many of us use some kind of software to help deliver the feeling we want to shine through to the viewer. One of the easiest ways to change a photo considerably is by cropping it.
”This week’s challenge is a chance to explore a photo editing technique and the benefits of cropping the shot. Show us how cropping helped to improve an image and create a desired effect. Include the shot “before” and “after” so we can see the difference.”
I cannot say I am an avid ”cropper”, but often I do some minor cropping. I am fully aware of the photo losing quality if I crop it too much.
Today I tried to find photos where I could easily show how I think. In the header/opener is a photo from my garden and the magnolia in late evening light. Even if I like that photo, I was not happy about my house showing as a blue ”shadow” in the background. There was also a flare on the upper left hand side. I made a rather tough cropping and the result is only the brightest flower in focus. I still like that first image, but a close-up was my final choice.
A boat trip in Holland last spring went to an outdoor museum, and this is where we landed. I loved the orange and blue together, but the old factory was the main building,
so I cropped out everything on the right side of the photo. This also made the content more substantial. In the first photo, I found the ”division in two parts” disturbing, even if the skies were much more alive and the photo had a lovely ”painterly” feeling.
A final example is from a misty morning walk, where the path is a much loved one, but the image is in more harmony when its focus is far away to the upper right.
This was my final choice. The light green moving towards a darker nuance, instead of being a dividing part in the middle of the photo with darker green in beginning and end.
All in all, it is a good idea to put yourself the question Why should I crop? Because, there should always be a reason. And you always lose something in order to win something else. The goal is to make the first image the final image, but at least for me, it seldom is. I have noticed one thing though – I should trust my first thought/shot. Often I go back to it again – to find it wasn’t that bad…
Next week, we’re delighted to announce that Sue of Mac’s Girl will be our guest host for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #97 on Saturday, May 16th. Please be sure to stop by her site and join the fun.
Wordless Wednesday
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #95 – All Wet
Tina’s challenge this week is a wet one. See her fantastic bear shots at Travels and Trifles!
My first thought for All Wet, was of Galapagos and its many water living animals. So, two of them are playing in the opener.
These are some of my favorite ”wets” – all from the archives.
A wet forest in Sweden
A hot hot day (42 degrees C) in Bilbao, Spain
A disappearing building in Barcelona
Autumn rain in my garden
I like girls who like the countryside, put on walking boots and can bend with the wind a bit. If you’re going to live with me, you need to be able to embrace the countryside and wet dogs.
And I will end this short, wet story with my favorite dog, my first lagotto romagnolo – the legendary Mille. Why ”legendary”? Well, for eleven summers in a row, he was standing, running or walking in the sea, at our summer house, from early morning until late evening. Chasing bubbles. This was his kingdom. (From the beginning these dogs were water dogs in Romagna, Italy, but the area was drained and the dogs were taught to dig for truffles instead.) Every man and woman in our little village knew him, every tourist, every child patted him and played with him.
We lost Mille in 2014, but people out there still (2019) remember him, and tell their own memories of him. My children planned to make a statue to sit on ”his” beach, so he would forever be watching the sea. But that dream was not realized. I have had many dogs and cats in my life – but nothing and no one compares to him. Also, he was always All Wet.
Thank you for last week’s peeks at Amy’s At home – a challenged I think more than I enjoyed very much. Hope to see you next week again, for Patti’s Challenge #96.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge#94 – At Home
This week, Amy invites us to share photos taken at home. But, I will start by thanking all of you who so generously shared your mornings with us last week – they truly brightened my days. So many sunrises and mugs of coffee or tea – no problems getting up early then!
Home is the nicest word there is.
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Staying at home is what we all do now, and for me this is not difficult – on the contrary, I love my house and I am also fortunate enough to have a garden. And all the living things here…
are precious to me. Now, a visit at my place means you will have to share with my dogs. Milo always wants to follow me Everywhere, which sometimes may be inconvenient …
My home is a ”jungle”, according to my husband, and I have lost a pot or two over the years when he is vacuum cleaning… Too many plants everywhere. I used to count how many once a year, but not anymore. They were 144 some 5-6 years ago.
If you look closely, you will encounter several critters and creatures hiding here too…
Spring has arrived, and I’d love you to take a walk in my garden – to find more living things! They are everywhere now, bees, bumble bees, spiders, lady bugs, butterflies, birds…and I love watching them buzzing around searching for food, bathing or mating. It is good to know that Life still goes on out there – This year it seems we have starlings as well – they haven’t resided here for many years, because I had to take down their home. The magpies would not let their fledglings alone – so weeks of parenting chores were all in vain. I could not stand watching the parents lose their young every year.
I love the seemingly clumsy bumble bees landing
For every child we planted a tree – this is my son’s plum tree
Bird-cherry trees are favorites with me – oh, that lovely scent!
The fourth insect hotel is now in place, waiting for guests flying in. They will soon arrive, I hope –
Nature is Life, and sometimes we can help animals and plants to regain some of their old and rightful place in life. As we humans have destroyed many of their habitats, it is our duty to try and restore what we can. We will be greatly rewarded in the end.
Be sure to link your post to Amy’s here, (use the original post link NOT the one from the WP Reader) and add the Lens-Artists TAG so that we can easily find you. We’re looking forward to your Home contributions – keep up your creativity!
Next week is Tina’s (Travels and Trifles) , #95 on May 2nd.
Tuesday Photo Challenge – Animals
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #93 – Morning
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. – Marcus Aurelius
My mornings these days – are not quite the same as before the pandemic. Maybe yours are the same as before – or a bit different too? Anyway, a look at your morning – or Any morning – is the challenge for this week. Maybe there is a special morning that you will never forget – you could share it with us!
When the virus hit my world, in order to sleep better, I had to move upstairs to my daughter’s old room. So the first thing I see when I open my eyes to a new day – are fluttering butterflies. Feels good! And I do sleep better up here. I find harmony and peace.
This room is where many of my potted plants spend their winter season, waiting to come out in the sun and the fresh air again. What better place is there for me to spend the night?
Here I also grow new plants for the next season – these little ones are tomatoes in the making. I guess I love seeing plants, animals and people, grow –
In the hallway I pass the standing mirror, and a glance into it before closing the door, reveals Emma’s sewing machine waiting in stand by with her summer hat on top.
Before I go downstairs, I sit for a while with my new colourful plant puzzle – very relaxing and Mindfulness My way.
On coming down into the living room, I am usually met by a yawning Milo and a snoring Totti…(So…hardly ”met” really…), Totti is extremely good at snoring, so I hear exactly where he is. My husband tells me the dogs miss me terribly, but they have now accepted my strange night habits. Please click to enlarge if you love them –
Finally – coffee (Emma’s mug…). And the morning paper is a must. After a rather solid breakfast, I spend the rest of the morning out in the forest, enjoying the Wood Anemones while they are still flowering. Now on their last due to the dry weather and strong winds.
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
(My favorite song from younger days, when Cat Stevens still was – Cat Stevens.)
We are looking forward to saying Good Morning to all of you! Be it your morning, any morning or some creative twist.
A big thank you to our guest-host John Steiner of Journeys with Johnbo for ”Going Back the Second Time Around”, which brought many lovely memories from you – and tips for new memories to be made!
Have you seen these:
- Sue is treating us to the most charming little village in France
- Everest Base Camp and the cutest chalet ever from Pam
- Anne and her best friend
- Chasing the bloom – and succeeding at ramblingranger
Next week, April 25, #94: your host will be Amy of The World is a Book
As usual we wish you a lovely week, stay safe, stay well – and maybe make a phone call or two to someone who needs it.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #92 – Going Back – the Second Time Around
”Considering the current world situation, I decided to focus my challenge to your sharing images from your previous travels rather than asking you to go out to photograph new examples to share. If you visited a favorite place more than once, how did you approach the second trip photographically? If you’ve only been somewhere once, what would you do differently the second time around?” This week we welcome guest-host John Steiner – please visit his post at Journeys with Johnbo for more inspiration!
My choice for a walk down memory lane, is the tiny island of Madeira, a hiking paradise I have visited five or six times.
Two times with our children and my mother. These images are all from 2010, when my mother turned 75, and we celebrated with Madeira for the second time together. This is the first time I brought a camera. For the orchids and for our hiking.
You often go by bus to the staring point, early in the morning. Then, you walk the chosen hike along the levadas – long or short, and return with another bus from the end point.
My mother used to be an avid hiker, and we walked together until one or two years ago. She loved Madeira, and with the youngsters on the path as well, we had so much fun.
In the early morning, it was rather cold in the mountains, but so quiet and beautiful.
Following the lifting mist, and listening to the murmuring of water – always running by your side. Once built to bring water from the mountains to the different parts of the island – the levadas are now also used by hiking tourists.
The air vibrates with bird song, and the soft scent of mosses and soil – everything breathing harmony.
This year there had been a storm, bringing down many trees. Still impressive though.
Lush green wherever you walk – and the stream always accompanying you.
Nature is reflected in their art as well – and I happen to love the tiny lizards –
Maybe some day…I will return. Who can tell. My mother turns 85 this summer, and can no longer go hiking. When I show her the old photos, she can still remember – something of those days, sometimes.
In closing, I’d also like to add a special Thank You to all of you who joined our “Simplicity” challenge last week. Thank you for sharing so many moments of peacefulness, beauty, and fun. In these challenging times, you help make us all feel better and know that this too shall pass.
Next week, it is my time to be your host – and we are back to our ordinary schedule.
- April 18: # 93 Ann-Christine of Leya
- April 25: # 94: Amy of The World is a Book
Stay well and safe, keep connected to your loved ones, and keep creating!
Lens Artists Photo Challenge #91 – Simplicity
And I learned what is obvious to a child. That life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time. That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals. That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered. But most of all, I learned that life is about sitting on benches next to ancient creeks with my hand on her knee and sometimes, on good days, for falling in love.
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There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.
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Like all magnificent things, it’s very simple.
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The older I get, the more I desire simplicity. – Andy Mineo
If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.
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We have lost contact with reality, the simplicity of life. – Paulo Coelho
Patti’s challenge is to show what Simplicity means to you. Visit her blog and get inspired!
”As the coronavirus pandemic spreads and intensifies, many of us around the world are spending a lot of time at home, following governmental regulations to shelter in place.” … ” For me, this time also highlights the value of simplicity.” And I agree, in simplicity lies a great amount of love and harmony. Maybe we now are starting to resume contact with reality, and simplicity of life. Our planet and everything living is in great need of it. Let us stay in contact – always.
I think my images speak for themselves, but the opener…what is it? It is the soft edge of a rose petal – from a vase with ten roses standing on my table right now. I love them. Flowers, I must have flowers. Always.
Thank you, Tina, for the beautiful Distance theme! And, we’re delighted to announce that next week’s challenge will be led by our next guest host–John Steiner of Journeys with Johnbo. Welcome, John! Please stop by and visit John’s site next Saturday at noon.
Here’s our schedule for the rest of April:
- April 11: # 92 John Steiner of Journeys with Johnbo.
- April 18: # 93 Ann Christine of Leya
- April 25: # 94: Amy of The World is a Book
As always, stay well, stay safe, and keep creating!
Leya 
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