“Wabi-sabi teaches us to be content with less in a way that feels like more.”
Beth Kempton
Some time ago I posted about Wabi Sabi (L-A Challenge #125) which had interested me after a photography class here on Kiawah. I found the concept fascinating, especially as it related to photography. AI’s definition: “finding beauty, peace, and value in imperfection, transience and simplicity.” seemed a perfect explanation. AI’s further definition simply states: “things are flawed, things change and there is grace in imcompleteness.”
As a photographer I find such things seem to demand attention and my years of blogging have shown me I am not alone in that. This week I’ve opened with two images of buildings that have seen better days, and I’ll follow with a simple image of a wall that drew my attention with its many age-related textures.
Wall of Wonders
“Pare down to the essence, but don’t remove the poetry.”
Leonard Koren
Mother Nature of course presents us with many examples of Wabi-Sabi. Each of the two images that followdrew my eye and my lens.
“My creative muse is wabi-sabi, a practice where inessentials are trimmed away or eliminated.”
Laurie Buchanan,PhD
The example that follows rather crosses the line between Mother Nature’s concept of natural and my human interpretation. In it the flowers that were once natural became sculpture-like as they aged.
Beauty Remains
“Wabi-Sabi is … beauty in imperfection and impermanence.”
Molly Martin
I chose the image that follows because it combines the impermanence of the man-made fence post and the natural decline in the surrounding elements.
Surrounded
“Beauty is hidden in the most unappreciated places and it simply takes an open and appreciative heart to find it.”
Sosuke Takahashi
I’ll close this week with an image of a man-made object which I THINK is a lantern but wouldn’t bet on it. I was drawn to what I think of as beauty in imperfection. After all, isn’t that what wabi-sabi is all about?
Imperfectly Beautiful
“The term wabi sabi suggests such qualities as impermanence, humility, asymmetry, and imperfection.
Andrew Juniper
That will do it for me this week. Our thanks go to Sofia for our topic – be sure to visit and link to her original post here, and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. Thanks also to John and all of those who responded to last week’s Landmarks and Monuments. I found it pretty amazing how few duplicates there were and was surprised both at the number of places I’d seen and how many I have yet to see! Finally, please be sure to join us next week when Patti leads us once again on her Pilotfish post. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Pericles
This week John invites us to share some images of landmarks and/or monuments that have captured our imagination or perhaps taught us something about history and those who came before us. I’ve opened with an image of Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock which we visited during our journey to the Middle East. The site is extraordinarily important to, and has caused conflicts between Judaism, Christianity and Islam due to its religious significance. Rather than go into the situation, I would encourage anyone interested to do a Google search which succinctly describes the rationale behind the various arguments.Suffice it to say its history is well worth exploring.
Speaking of history, the example that follows comes from our fascinating visit to Petra, Jordan. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it dates as far back as 312 BCE and was carved completely from existing rocks. The city was eventually abandoned after an earthquake damaged the city’s water infrastructure. It’s believed that at one time it housed as many as 30,000 people.
Approaching Petra
“Memorials become relics if they do not stir our modern conscience.”
Henry Waxman
As an American observing the daily count of U.S. soldiers lost in the Vietnam War, I was a firm believer in the cause. My perspective evolved as I watched the growing number of those lost to the war, and evolved further as I saw the devastation visited upon those who returned. During our Vietnam visit we were warmly welcomed everywhere we went in the south. On the other hand, it was difficult to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in north, even more so to visit their “War Remnants Museum”. But it is important to recognize that the families of those lost by your “enemies” are every bit as broken as your own.
A Visit to North Vietnam
“Life can only be understood backwards.”
Mackenzie Astin
For those of us in the U.S., the NYC 9/11 Memorial holds special significance. Many of us, including yours truly, vividly remember the day and its aftermath. It was certainly the end of our feelings of invulnerability and contributed to an incredible resurgence of patriotism. I’ve visited the memorial several times and am pleased to note the reverence and quiet power it continues to hold over those who visit.
9/11 Memorial
“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”
Benjamin Disraeli
I’ll close with a final set of NYC images. On the surface it may be a bit off-putting, but for me it serves as a reminder. Monuments serve a purpose, helping us to recognize that one day we will all face the same fate. Whether we believe in an afterlife or not, what we say and do will in large part influence how we are remembered by those who are most important to us.
In Memoriam, NYC
“Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change.”
Tom Clancy
That will do it for me this week, I’ll close with a thanks to John for his thought-provoking topic. Be sure to visit his challenge here and to link to it in your response. Thanks also to all who visited, commented and responded to my “Memories” challenge last week. It was a wonderful way to get to know each of our respondents just a bit better – a lovely side-effect for the week! Finally, be sure to visit us next week when Sofia leads us once again. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind, and enjoy the adventure.
“Memories are better than diamonds and nobody can steal them from you”
Rodman Philbrick
Earlier this month my husband and I moved to a new home here on Kiawah which got me thinking about the many fond memories we’ve made since moving to South Carolina. As shown in both the image above and the one below, some of our fondest memories were made during our travels. Our first major foray (highlighted above) was a 7-week visit to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. It was meant as a test of our interest in travel. Needless to say for those who follow me, it set us on a journey to see as much of the world as we could. We often talk about our favorites – my husband’s was today’s opener and mine the one that follows.
Botswana – Two Birds
“Humans, not places, make memories.”
Ama Ata Aidoo
I’ve often featured the amazing creatures we saw during our visits to Botswana and South Africa so this week I’ve featured two of the very unique birds we experienced on our journey. We set about on our challenge to see as much of the world as possible (several of our favorites shared in previous blog posts), and have loved every minute of every adventure along the way.But our travels are only a part of the memories we’ve shared since moving south. I’ve featured another fun set of memories with the two images that follow. First, each year for over a decade we traveled to share a week with my family at the New Jersey shore. With 4 brothers, all of whom have wives, children and now grandchildren, it eventually became impossible to gather everyone at once. I’ve represented one of our many “beach weeks” with what became our annual crab fest – I can still taste them if I think about it😊.
Beach Week Bonanza
“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”
L.M.Montgomery
On my husband’s side we traveled often to visit family both in New York City and its rural environs. We have wonderful memories of both which although completely different always included much-appreciated family time and lots of exploration. I’ve often featured some of our favorite NYC adventures but another highlight comes from our explorations along the country roads with no specific destination in mind. The image that follows is from one of them.
Grazing, Ghent NY
“Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.”
Oscar Wilde
Sometimes it’s the little things we remember best. Over the years I and then we visited annually with good friends at their summer home in Michigan. A photograph often brings back a memory we might otherwise have forgotten. The image that follows immediately brings to my mind a beautiful evening with friends as we celebrated a lovely afternoon of golf followed by an evening watching the sun set behind a nearby hill.
Sunset Serenade, Michigan
“Memories need to be shared.”
Lois Lowry
Of course, as has often been said “there is no place like home”. I’ve looked back with a bit of nostalgia this week because of our move. Happily we are still on Kiawah and our friendships remain which to both of us is the most important thing of all. We love our new home but will miss the last – which, it seems, is always the case. I suppose that means we’ve chosen well along the way 😊. The two images that follow are both from here on Kiawah. The first, a sunset scene captured at Kiawah’s beautiful Ocean Course and the second (and last) from the back porch of our new home.
Sunset, Kiawah Island
Incoming Fog, Kiawah
“Happy memories are like lifesavers, keeping us buoyant amid stormy seas and changing times.”
Rob DiSilvio
That will do it for me this week. I hope you’ve enjoyed my stroll down memory lane as much as I have 😊. Here’s to good times gone by and those that will surely follow. I’ll close by wishing you the best of both. I look forward to your sharing your own memories in response to this week’s challenge. Be sure to link to my post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. My thanks to Egidio for last week’s “Where Does It Lead” challenge, and to all those who shared their thoughts and images on the subject. Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when John leads us once again on his Journeys With Johnbo post. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
“I have lost my way many times, but nature has always guided me home.”
Bhuwan Thapaliya
This week Egidio leads us with an invitation to explore the many ways we might approach a “path”. He’s given us some beautiful examples and encouraged us to think about the many ways we might choose to reach a destination – literally or figuratively. I’ve chosen to be literal as the leading lines of paths have always appealed to me and my database has many options for the week. Having just moved, easy is at the top of my list for how I might approach the week’s challenge!I’ve opened above with the path that runs the entire length of the entry road to Kiawah. It spans the Kiawah River and is a popular route for bikers and walkers alike.On the other hand, the path in the image that follows was captured while visiting family in the countryside outside of NYC. Hard to believe it’s a mere 90 minute drive from one of the world’s busiest cities.
Heading Home
“I discovered the path created by the great teachers: time, nature and silence.”
Silvie Mateljan
Yet another path came from visiting family, this time in Colorado. Note this one was an early attempt at panning😊.
Colorado Aspen Impression
“If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.”
Philip Toshio Sudo
A few more Kiawah paths from left to right: Top – Osprey Point Golf Course, Boardwalk to Beach. Bottom – deer, dog walk, bike path
Kiawah Paths
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
Buddha
I’ll close with one more Kiawah example, a favorite image of a favorite place. This one creates a watery mirror image of a break in the trees. I think of it as Mother Nature’s illustration of how lovely a path can be.
Watery Path, Kiawah
“On this path let the heart be your guide.”
Rumi
That will do it for me this week. My thanks to Egidio for what promises to be a lovely week filled with the world’s paths. Be sure to visit his beautiful original here. Thanks also to Ritva for last week’s Music challenge – wonderful as always to see the creativity in your responses. Finally, I hope you’ll join me next week as I lead challenge #418. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
“I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Michael Masser and Linda Creed
After a brief hiatus to manage our move to a new home, I’m happy to join the Lens-Artists team and all of our followers once again. This week Ritva leads us with a lovely challenge – after all what could be more soothing after a difficult week or two (or more!) than thoughts of the beauty of music. I’ve opened above with a favorite moment during our visit to Israel where a group of children was warming up their instruments before a lovely street-side serenade.From there we travel to Scotland below, where yet another young musician entertained us with a song played on the iconic bagpipes.
Young Scot on the Bagpipes
“Golf is a game invented by the same people who think music comes out of a bagpipe.”
Lee Trevino
Staying with an international theme this week, we enjoyed a fun and quite unexpected parade while visiting France. I’ve shared several images of the event in the past but believe this is a first for the one that follows. I found the drummer happily marching along obviously enjoying his role in the parade (or perhaps the attention of the lady focusing on him with the camera!) 😉.
“Music is the beat of a drum that keeps time with our emotions.”
Shannon L. Alder
Heading back to the U.S., we had a ton of fun dancing and enjoying the music of a wonderful mariachi band while attending our friends’ daughter’s wedding. It seemed the band was having as much fun as we were 😊.
Mariachi Masters
“When the Mariachi plays, I feel something that makes me dance.”
Gloria Estefan
Finally, I’ll share my favorite interpretation of Rock Music seen during our visit to France. 😉
Rock Music, France
“Rock and roll is the vital connection between you and the mystery of human life.”
Bruce Springsteen
I’m happy to re-join the Lens-Artists and our followers as life returns to a least a semblance of normal! I’ve enjoyed this week’s challenge and look forward to seeing your interpretations. Be sure to visit Ritva’s beautiful original here, and to use the Lens-Artists tag to help us find you. Egidio will be leading us next week so be sure to visit him next Saturday at noon. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
This week Ann-Christine asks us to look back to challenge #44, Harmony (interesting that the numbers are so similar). As many of you know, my husband and I are in the midst of moving from our home of 10 years and I’m the first to say I do not have much time for blogging. As such I’m repeating much of my post #44, for which I was the week’s host. Happily most of the earlier post works for today’s world as well. I opened with an image of a beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller from our visit to Africa. An incredibly beautiful (and harmoniously colored) creature.
Lilac-breasted Roller, Botswana
“Art is a harmony of the spiritual being with the human being.”
Alan Maiccon
My second image on that long-ago post was a photograph of a painting (which I did not purchase, but not because I didn’t love it!) I cannot imagine a better use of harmonious color than was used by the artist to create this scene.
Harmonious
“He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.”
Marcus Aurelius
I’ll keep it short this week as my time is very limited. Rather than delve into color harmony as I did on my original, I’ll simply add a third image from that long ago post. How can one explore color harmony without thinking of this beautiful creature?!
Beautiful Blue
“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”
Pablo Picasso
Finally I’ll add a recent image from one of my morning walks here on Kiawah. Captured last month (and speaking of beautiful creatures), this one was perched in a large tree here on my home street. As I’ve often said, one of the things I most love about Kiawah is its harmony with nature. I cannot think of a better illustration.
Beautiful Bird, Kiawah Island
“He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.”
Marcus Aurelius
With that I’ll close today’s post with an apology for repeating some of my long-ago post. My sincere thanks to Ann-Christine for its choice, and to you, our readers, for tolerating the repetition 🙂. Be sure to check out Ann-Christine’s beautiful post here and remember to use the Lens-Artists Tag in your response. Thanks also to all who responded to Beth’s Bridges challenge last week. I’ll admit I wasn’t able to visit most of you but I will definitely get back to it soon! Next week Anne will once again lead us on her Slow Shutter Speed post so be sure to visit her next Saturday. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
“Don’t blame your challenge, rather get up and see it as a bridge to your success.”
Bruce Mbanzabugabo
This week Beth has gifted us with a fun subject that I’m guessing most of us have either in our image collections or accessible from our homes – bridges. I’ll admit it’s one of my favorite photography subjects and living with so many waterways nearby, is the subject of many of my images. I’ve opened with an example from nearby Magnolia Gardens in its springtime glory.
As long as I’m featuring a nearby bridge, I’ll follow with one very close to the home where I grew up. On a recent visit with family, my brother and I took a lovely walk to a bridge I’d never known existed. There he regaled me with some fun stories of his youthful adventures. Maybe better I didn’t know about it back then!
Hometown Bridge
“Build bridges, not walls.”
Suzy Kassem
Let’s move farther from home on the next image. While still in the U.S., this time we’re in New England. I think perhaps this is one of the most picturesque I’ve ever seen. What do you think?
New England Reflection
“Don’t burn bridges, you never know when you might need them.”
Omar Al Busaidy
From simple to grand, the bridge that follows is the pride of Budapest, as well it should be.
Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest
“Every bridge built by compassion outlasts walls built by fear.”
Lawrence Nault
Bridges come in all shapes and sizes – as illustrated by the two that follow 😉. Note there are people in each – in the first about to cross and in the second in kayaks or rafts in the water below.
Small and Rickety, Patagonia
Big and Bold, Alaska
“Go near something big to see how small you are!”
Mehmet Murat Ildan
I’ll close today’s post with one of the prettiest bridge scenes I can remember. In Shanghai, the Garden Bridge was lit a beautiful blue during our visit several years ago. I was happy to include the two people who couldn’t have been better positioned if I’d posed them!
Garden Bridge, Shanghai
“Greatness is not measured by the walls we build but by the bridges.”
DaShanne Stokes
That will do it for me this week. My sincere thanks to Beth for our challenge. Be sure to visit and to link your responses to her beautiful post here. Thanks also to John for last week’s Places Shaped by Water. Despite being in the middle of a move, I promise I stopped by to see all of the amazing responses. I also promise to go back and comment when my life returns to a normal level of chaos 😉. Finally we hope you’ll join us next week when Ann-Christine leads us once again on her Lagotto Cattleya site. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.”
Laura Gilpin
This week John has given us a most interesting challenge, which he’s illustrated with (as always) beautiful images. I’ll admit I struggled a bit with this one – first because living in a community surrounded by water means I have way too many images to choose from, and second because our many travels seem always to include water as well! That said, I’ve begrudgingly restricted myself to John’s max 5 images.
My opening above is a favorite image from Vancouver, BC in Canada. We had a marvelous visit there, such a beautiful place! It was also special because we were able to meet with a long-time blogging friend, Andrew Seal of The Changing Palette. I’ve followed with an image from some 2800 miles (4500 km) away – the beautiful islands of Exuma in the Bahamas.
Island Paradise, Exuma
“The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.”
Ralph W. Sockman
Of course there is no way I could do a post about places shaped by water without some images of Kiawah. Because John has so cruelly restricted us to 5 images, I’ve squeezed three views of Kiawah into a single entry. I made a point of including our primary areas of water – from left to right, marsh, river and ocean. John may call it cheating – I call it creative! 😉
Kiawah Island, Shaped by Water
“The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.”
E. Lockhart
Obviously when one thinks of places surrounded by water, an island is the first thing that comes to mind. On the other hand, one of the things I thought of almost immediately was our visit to Alaska. Its coastline (which is larger than that of the rest of the US combined) touches the Arctic and Pacific Oceans and the Bering Sea. It is home to 3 million lakes, 100,000 glaciers and over 3 million rivers including the Yukon, one of the longest rivers in North America. I have many more images from that spectacular place, several of which I’ve included in the past. For this post however, I thought an image of our visit to one of Alaska’s amazing glaciers would be interesting.
Insignificance, On an Alaskan Glacier
“Where the glacier meets the sky, the land ceases to be earthly, and the earth becomes one with the heavens…”
Halldor Laxness
I’ll close this week’s post with one more image of an amazing get-away my husband and I enjoyed several times years ago. Traveling from east coast to west here in the U.S., and with no direct flights, the travel time was a minimum of 8 hours in the air but was well worth the effort. Back then (and I suspect still now) it was a golfer’s paradise. Perfect weather, incredible Mexican food, warm and friendly people and of course amazing sailing opportunities all combined to make it a perfect getaway (except of course for the seemingly never-ending travel time😡). This image is from our accommodations at the resort.And yes, we DID use our hammocks!
Cabo Paradise, Mexico
“Paradise is not somewhere else… it is within you.”
Rajneesh
Thanks to John’s 5-image maximum I’ll close today’s post with a suggestion that you visit and link your response to his terrific original here. As always, please remember to use the Lens-artists tag to appear in our reader section. We offer our thanks to all who responded to last week’s “What Is It” challenge – it was so interesting trying to figure out your subjects! Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Beth leads us once again on her Wandering Dawgs site. Until then, as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
“First and foremost, make it an obvious picture of color!”
Bryan Peterson
This week Sofia offers us such a fun opportunity – to choose images in which the subject is not obvious. Well Sofia, Game On! I’ve opened with one of my most colorful images, can you identify it?And speaking of colorful, what about the image that follows, what do you think?You can skip ahead to see the subject of each of today’s images but I’m hoping you’ll wait until you’ve made your guesses.
FUNKY FLOW
“Photograph what could be… that is creativity.”
Steve Coleman
I’ve used the image that follows in a previous post – does anyone recognize it? If I tried to recreate it I doubt that I could and I have no idea whether I’d saved the original even if I wanted to try! Any guesses?
Outlined
“All creativity is an accident.”
David Bailey
I loved the way the next image turned out after a few edits. It’s a capture I’ve not used in my blog before, I suppose there was never a topic for which it was a good fit. In any case, now seemed a good opportunity for it. So…any thoughts?
Beautiful in Blue
“I find the blend of technique and creativity fascinating, sometimes frustrating, other times rewarding but always very therapeutic.”
Thomas Folke Andersen
For your last guessing opportunity this one has been edited using some creativity apps so is probably today’s most difficult to identify. The good news is you’re nearly at the end of the post so you get to see the answer more quickly 😉.
Yellow and Blue
“Technique is always at the service of creativity.”
Evan Chong
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s challenge – the answers to the subject of each image are shown at the end of my post. Sincere thanks to Sofia for today’s fun. Be sure to check out and link to her post here. Thanks also to Ritva for last week’s challenge and to all of our respondents. I’m continually amazed by the capabilities of today’s editing products and enjoyed seeing what you did with your originals. Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when John leads us once again. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
Subjects of Today’s Images
1,Old-fashioned weaving platform
2. Party streamers
3. Oysters on the barbeque
4. Water flow on an iceberg
5. Yellow flags flying in the wind
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
“My photographs are not really about photography. They are about editing. “
John Waters
This week Ritva has reached all the way back to our challenge #154 which focused (pun intended) on the importance of editing. Personally I’ll admit I enjoy editing almost as much as photographing. Combined with choice of subject and the framing and capture of the scene, it is there that our personal perspective takes final shape. Both my opening image and the one that follows areedited versions of the original that follows them.Oftentimes while shooting we know that the subject may be boring at first glance but could be a good start for some fun editing.
Grasses Edit 2
Grasses Original
As with the image above,often an image offers more than one opportunity for an interesting edit. The subject that follows is an example.First, the original:
Riverfront Tree Original
“A good eye can edit before the shutter opens.”
Craig Coverdale
While I agree with Mr. Coverdale’s quote above, there are times when we can envision an image but conditions simply prevent creating it in camera. It’s times like these when we capture a scene knowing it will be “edit-worthy”. I’ve created two images from the original above. The first was a simple edit created by eliminating most of the dark area at the bottom and lightening what remained.The second is an example of a major change using Anthropics’ photo editing software. I’ll admit my less-dramatic edit was my preference in this case, but the second might make a fun greeting card for the right occasion.
Tree, edited
Tree Edit-2
I’ve included the next image as an example of a dramatic difference created by a simple edit from color to Black & White. Those who follow me know I love the simplicity of our beautiful magnolias, and I especially like them when edited to B&W.
Magnolia Original
“Editing is how you create meaning.”
Carolyn Drake
Magnolia, B&W
I’ll close today’s post with three versions of a glorious sunset captured earlier this summer from the Turtle Point Golf Course. (With the exception of the magnolia image, all of today’s images were from the same evening at the same place.) I’ll open with the original image which is a great example of shooting from the wrong place😩.
Rejected Sunset Original
“In my view, editing is as important as the actual photographing.”
Jonas Bendiksen
In this edit, which was created simply by changing my physical position before shooting, the sun is centered over the water creating a much improved image.
Centered Sunset based on changing my position
Finally, just for the fun of it, I asked “Claude” to add some ducks as well as some flying birds. I’ll admit I liked the flying birds but Claude really struggled with the ducks which after many repeated requests ended up as this version.
Sunset Enhanced by Claude
That will do it for me this week. I enjoyed “playing” with images to see what might result and which of my efforts would become my favorites. Now it’s your turn! We look forward to seeing your images both before and after. For a great example of editing expertise be sure to check out Ritva’s challenge here, and remember also to tag your post to appear in our reader. We also offer big thanks to Steve for guest-hosting last week’s “Best Ever” post. It was so much fun seeing your beautiful choices. Next week Sofia will lead us so be sure to check her Photographias site next Saturday at noon. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the adventure.
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
