Lens Artists Challenge #63: magical

Ann-Christine has set us a difficult challenge this week, difficult because there are too many magical choices. I can’t find the photo that came to mind first, but searching reminded me of a challenge I used to love: the Phoneography Challenge, hosted by Sally at Lens and Pens by Sally. Browsing that folder, I found more magical things to share than you want to see. But here are a few. This first is the photo from the now-defunct Weekly Photo Challenge that got the most likes ever on my blog.

But wait! There’re more.

A delight for the soul

As much as I enjoy color, especially after a long winter, sometimes only black and white will do.  For me, this is such a case.  Every third Monday, Sally asks us for a monotone shot taken with a mobile or none-traditional camera.  This was taken pre-iPhone some years ago with my iPad.

“To see in color is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.” – Andri Cauldwell

“There’s something strange and powerful about black-and-white imagery.
”– Stefan Kanfer

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Editing & Processing…windmill

I almost didn’t participate this week, feeling mostly brain dead when it came to thinking about editing.  I know photomontage is the new thing, which made me want to try something else, but nothing came to mind that felt fresh.  So I put together two versions of a photo of a Minnesota windmill taken while driving back from Wyoming (with an iPhone held to the side and clicked while I watched the highway) and two shots of feathery things that looked as if they would be blown away (literally) by the windmill. As Sally always asks, which do you prefer and why?

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Macro…almost spent

“Macro“, my favorite of all Sally’s challenges.  This dandelion is almost done spreading its seeds, thankfully not in my yard, as it’s in the park. A weed is, by definition, something you don’t want where it wants to grow (okay, not Webster’s definition, but certainly a working definition.)  In the mountains of Wyoming, a dandelion is just another wild flower.  In the yard of our neighbors in Cleveland, the thousands (yes, literally) of dandelions were a danger to my yard. Dandelion plants take too much of the grasses area to be allowed and they have a nasty way of spreading rather rapidly!

When we first moved into our house, I tried to dig out all the weeds, including dandelions, by hand.  But every morning, there were more, including in the area I’d dug out the day before.  I offered our younger daughter one cent per dandelion head she picked…in our neighbor’s yard…to keep them from spreading seeds in our yard. After $10, I quit.  I thought it would make sense to pay a lawn service to spray her yard, but of course I never did. We used a lawn service for a few years to get things under control. After that, I dug everything by hand.

This almost-spent dandelion does have an unearthly beauty, especially as it’s nowhere near my lawn.

 

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Challenger’s choice…duck, duck, no goose, duck

As September slides away into autumn, the fourth Monday rolls around, giving us “Challenger’s Choice“once again for our theme over on Sally’s blog and her mobile photography challenge.  When we visited Morton Arboretum no long ago to view the Lego exhibit, we also enjoyed a stroll through a marvelous children’s garden, which is where I caught up with this trio of relaxing birds. The noisy crowds obviously weren’t bothering them!

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Black and White…Roll out the barrel.

These aren’t really the sort of barrels you’d want to roll anywhere.  It definitely wouldn’t be a barrel of fun. However, “Black and White” is the third Monday challenge over at Sally’s blog and this is my entry.  I hope your week’s off to a great start and if you take photos with a non-traditional camera, feel free to join us.

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Nature…desert sunset

I realized this morning that the photo I used for the challenge, chosen last night after a very long day, was one I took with my Nikon and not my phone.  I used both during my trip, so I got a bit confused.  So for Sally’s challenge and this week’s theme, “Nature,” I submit this one instead, taken my last night in the desert, a fitting farewell photo.

Phoneography and the Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge: Macro…pollen

If you take photos with a non-traditional camera,please consider joining Sally’s weekly challenge (begins each Monday).  There’s a theme for each week and lots of talented photographers take part.  Sally also shares thought, tips, and links to work done by other photographers.  It’s lots of fun.  And today, since it’s the second Monday of the month, the theme is “Macro.” I was playing with the Olloclip, a much-appreciated Christmas gift that allows eve closer macro shots with my iPhone 5s, and getting up close and personal with some flowers. I have to admit I was thrilled with the results!  Here’s one of them.  And don’t forget to stop by and take part.

Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge: Reflections on water

“Nature” is the theme for every first Monday in the Phoneography Challenge. I’ve been getting out into nature at every possible chance now that the weather is good. Friday, I took to the side trails in the park, to explore the places I’m always glancing at while exercise walking. I ended up by the river and found these lovely reflections, symbolic of the reflections going on in my mind while walking, relaxing, and renewing. Do you have a preference?

Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Challenger’s Choice…playing with the abstract

This week I’m having a bit of fun with editing a photo that was originally something of an abstract.  The parking garage I use while at work is damp and cold even when it’s nice outside.  On this particular day, you can see that there was moisture in abundance and I grabbed my phone from my purse on my way to the van and snapped some photos.  The fifth Monday (none this month) is when we play with editing, but I’m using editing to look at different ways to create various feels from one original photo.  In the interest of saving space, I’m leaving each photo a bit smaller than I normally do, but you can see it in a larger size just by clicking on it.  I’d love to hear which photo you enjoy the most and why.

Here’s the original with no editing except my name: