Posted on by Anne Sandler · 34 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge # :Choose a Color

When you’re drawn to color like I am, you can make serious shopping mistakes with impulse buys! This week Ritva’s post is all about color, its meaning and its importance. I love red, and when I see red, I automatically try to figure out where I can use the item. More than not, I don’t need it. The older I get, the more level headed I am and can leave the item behind.

When we were young marrieds, my husband drag raced a red Pontiac with cheater slick tires. It became my car. I cannot tell you how many police followed me on the freeway until they realized I was a woman. Then they left me alone. Here’s a somewhat red car with a beautiful reflection.

I guess I like deep colors like red because my skin is pale and pastels just make me look like a ghost. I went to our new friend AI to find out what red symbolizes:

  • Passion: Red often represents strong emotions like love and desire.
  • Danger: It is commonly used to signal warning or alertness.
  • Energy: Red is associated with vitality and enthusiasm.
  • Power: The color conveys strength and authority.
  • Courage: Red symbolizes bravery and determination.
  • Action: It encourages movement and urgency in various contexts.

Is that me? I’m not sure. I’m passionate about photography. But, I don’t go looking for danger. I used to have a lot of energy. I’ve never been power hungry. I do have courage. In an emergency, I do take action.

Let’s look at some more images. If I have a choice, I’ll sit under a red umbrella. I think I should have bought those cups, but I restrained myself. Japanese gardens always include red. While red is a stimulating color, this bridge calms me down. Just walking across it creates serenity.

You know I love flowers. I could have filled this post with flowers, but we are limited. Here are two: a tulip and rose.

Now that Ritva has me in a red mood, I just might go shopping. One more red blouse or a red doodad won’t hurt. But I really don’t need them. What to do?? Maybe I need to end this post and busy myself with some other color. I do like blue, purple, and green!

Talking about color, your textures last week showed beautiful colors of rust, wood and florals. Thank you for participating. When you post your colors, please link to Ritva’s original post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Next week Egidio will challenge us, so look for his post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 64 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #397: Texture

How do we make our two-dimensional medium feel like three-dimensions? We know using leading lines help bring viewers into the image. For instance, a country road that narrows in the middle and disappears in the top of the frame gives the viewer the feeling of depth.

Texture, however, gives us the visual quality of a surface — how rough, smooth, gritty, or soft it appears in a two-dimensional image. For instance, it lets us imagine how rough a mountain would feel. When you look at this image, you can almost feel the roughness, coarseness and sharp edges.

Wood on an old weathered barn, invites us to become enveloped in textures and colors. You can see the danger of getting a splinter and almost feel the rough texture of the old wood. Have you hugged a tree lately? Doesn’t this old tree look inviting. It’s the texture creating that invitation. And, add the symbiotic relationship of lichen making its home on a tree we can feel and see two types of textures.

Leaves also have different textures. The spiny cactus would certainly prick your hand if you grabbed it. But the leathered leaf would feel smooth to your touch. Just looking at each picture, I pick touching the leathered leaf. I can feel its thick, smooth and veiny quality.

Soft textures can be found in the strands of yarn and in the beautiful feathers of a bird. I know what those strands of yarn feel like; but I’ve never held an egret. But seeing those fine feathers spread out on its wing, I can imagine how soft they would feel.

And, last my favorite texture–rust. I don’t have to touch it to feel it’s rough surface and see its brilliant colors. I can almost jump into the rusty texture and strip off years of neglect. Just looking at the picture, I’m absorbed in the story and its history.

Texture helps my two-dimensional examples have a three-dimensional quality. Now it’s your turn. Show us your images where texture plays an integral part. When you share your post, please remember to link it to mine and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week we all had fun finding pictures for our quotes or quotes for our pictures1 Thanks Ann-Christine for that amazing challenge! Next week Ritva will be presenting the challenge. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 46 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #396: Illustrate a Quote

Gosh, I do a lot of confessing in this blog. I don’t usually pay attention to quotes. Yes, I read them, but then quickly file them away. So Ann-Christine’s challenge is a bit of a stretch for me, but a worthwhile experience. As I looked for quotes, I realized how the experiences of obtaining them and how they pertained to my pictures affected me. Let’s see what I found.

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!-John Muir.

I have witnessed many beautiful sunrises in various venues, but my photo below is a special one–first light at Yosemite Falls. Capturing this scene, during the winter, required getting up while it was dark, finding a place on the bridge, and waiting. As my friend and I waited, more photographers came. It was cold! The wait and frigid temperatures were worth it. Afterward, I remember feeling like I accomplished something amazing. Would I do it again? Only if I was prepared for freezing cold–thermals and two layers on top, and hand and foot warmers in place!

During my quote search, I came upon a few, but perfect, unattributed beauties like this one.

Colors are the smiles of nature.

Nature has many ways of bringing us joy–the forest, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and the ocean. But one stand out are the rainbows with their brilliant colors. I captured this rainbow during a campout in the Sierra Foothills after a short sprinkle of rain.

You know I love to photograph landscapes, and many are to be found in our National Parks. We happened to be at Lassen NP last year. I remember stepping out of our trailer to the smell of pine trees–how wonderful! Lassen is still recovering from a devastating wildfire, but much of her beauty remains.

Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment. – Ansel Adams

I started with Sunrise, so it’s only fitting that I end with Sunset. These are the two most photogenic times of the day to capture wonderful photos. This was taken early in my photo hobby effort. I guess I knew then when to press the shutter. How often does the setting sun shoot a beam through an open barn door? Unfortunately, I found another perfect, but unattributed, quote.

Sunset: the sun’s fiery kiss goodbye to the day.

I had fun finding quotes that would fit my photographs. It’s an exercise I hope to do again. When you respond, please remember to link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Last week we looked back with Beth. I had fun seeing your memories. Next week it’s my turn to present the challenge, so beware and look for my post!!

In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!