LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #241 – Spring

(Sofia leads.) It's Spring tomorrow, at least according to some man-made interpretation of the physical universe. Here in the man-made interpretation named the Colorado Rocky Mountains, created by Mother Nature of course, we are barely getting the memo yet. It is warming, slowly, and was a blue-sky day in a chilly breeze, as we hiked …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #240 – The Road (most often) Taken

(Johnbo leads.) Judging from my own long-time banner at the top, I should be able to relate, or not, with this theme. Despite my admiration for the contrarian individual, I often tend towards the road most taken. Johnbo's theme refers to favorite photography style or type. My fave is anything without people (landscape, seascape, architecture, …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #239 – Finding Peace

(Tina leads.) What more peaceful sedative for the soul than a breath of fresh rose? 'I could drink a case of you.' (À la Joni Mitchell.) From the recent holiday: Perhaps there is peace in a sip of the grape. Was it inevitable that mankind would refine fermentation? And you thought an apple from the …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #238 – Alone Time

(Leya leads.) Hmmm. Deeply insightful theme this week. As Despair.Com says about Loneliness: "If you find yourself struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. And yet you are alone. So very alone." Do not despair, that can be a good thing. In this crowded, hectic world it can be hard to find alone time. One of …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #237 – Bringing softness. Pt. 2

(Bren leads.) Here are a few more 'softies'. My memory being what it isn't, I believe these first two photos are conversions from print to digital, though the softness was in the originals. Stirling Bridge, Scotland: Somewhere in England, near the end of the previous century: Finally, we have the Bayeux Cathedral, one of my …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #237 – Bringing softness.

(Bren leads.) A first stab, just to be an early submitter, but I'm reminded of a couple of other photos I have that might be appropriate. Perhaps this is a good use of the iPhone photo 'tap and hold', that extracts a primary subject from a cluttered background, as I did with these Valentine's Day …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #236 – East Meets West

(Amy leads.) Baaannnzzzzaaaaiii!!! I mean... BONSAI!!! Many an American botanic garden has Japanese-style miniature trees: Denver Botanic Gardens Denver Botanic Gardens Franklin Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio Franklin Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio or... NORTH vs. SOUTH: Alaska Virgin Islands Get the message?    

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #235 – Shadows & Reflections in Monochrome

(Patti leads.) Hmmm. Inscrutable. I don't shoot monochrome very often, though I envy the many fine monochromaticists amongst us. I did shoot some monochromes last November near the old mining town of Victor, Colorado. There once was a lot of gold in them thar' hills. Shadows, but no reflections other than philosophical, in this spartan, …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #234 – Messages Pt. 2

(Wind Kisses leads.) Elizabatz inspired me to post some murals and messages from Belfast, Ireland. Murals about 'The Troubles':     The previous is in a lighter vein, as are these messages: Amen. "Message in a bottle, yeah Message in a bottle, yeah" ...or on a wall. Elizabatz has a nice art site too. Check …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #234 – Messages

(Wind Kisses leads.) Following is the ear worm for the day: "I'll send an S.O.S to the worldI'll send an S.O.S to the worldI hope that someone gets myI hope that someone gets myI hope that someone gets myMessage in a bottle, yeah Message in a bottle, yeah"--by The Police There must be a message …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #233 – A One Lens Walk

(Anne leads.) Per Anne: 'My challenge for you is to take a lens for a walk.' Walking outside is DISMAL today! From the archives, Nikon D5200 with kit lens. The Cloudup gallery below is quirky, as usual. If the last photo doesn't display, try clicking the arrow at lower right of the box, or the …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #232 – Looking Back

(Sofia leads.) Per Sofia: 'This challenge is about time, how things evolve.' '...Looking Back to the History of Art and try to represent steppingstones in its evolution.' '... 2-dimensional...' [Walk like an E-gyp-tian:] '...Perspective...' [I'm stonewalling.] '...Still Life...' [ I don't see anything moving.] '...AI and Art...' [AI selfies in Cloudup. (If it's black, refresh page. Click …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #231 – Favorite Images of 2022

(Johnbo leads.) I squeezed in the following new faves on 29 December, Twenty Twenty TOO. S'no flies on us! (Get it?!) S'winter. Happy New Year!    

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #230 – Last Chance Pt. 2

(Tina leads.) If you are fortunate, there is always a Pt. 2 in life. Last Monday we made our annual visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens, Blossoms of Lights: See you next year. P.S. Thanks for the time off. Kudos to all the fine Challenges and Hosts this year. Superb.

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #230 – Last Chance

(Tina leads.) Last danceLast chance for loveYes, it's my last chanceFor romance tonight ---Last Dance by Donna Summer Well, romance or not, it's Last Chance. Previously unpublished is easy to narrow for me. That would be photos I've taken since last weeks challenge. Our senior hiking group last Tuesday encountered animal life, domestic and wild, …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #229 – Perfect Patterns

(A-C leads.) Hmmm. Perfection. A noble pursuit, but always a pursuit? Do you think perfection must include precision? Once upon a time I collected cut crystal glass: English celery vase: Another red cut glass: All gone now. Do some artists strive for perfection? What could be more perfect than that? Do I detect a pattern …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #228 – Diagonals Pt. 3

(Patti leads.) HELP!!! I'm stuck in a Groundhog Day, deja vu all over again, time-space continuum wormhole, repeating loop. Diagonals, this week, is yet another great theme, and I keep finding DIAGONALS! "With a bit of a mind flipYou're into the time slipAnd nothing can ever be the sameYou're spaced out on sensationLike you're under …

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #228 – Diagonals Pt. 2

(Patti leads.) You Still Rock!! Devils Tower, Wyoming. We can do this. Are we there yet? Railing assists: Noooo problem. Up, up, up, up... I can do this. ... ... Am I there yet? ... ... Hello? ... ... Hello??? My work here is REALLY done.    

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #228 – Diagonals

(Patti leads.) You Rock!! "...300-million-year-old red sandstone Fountain Formations that tilt at a 60 degree angle." Wikipedia. My work here is done.    

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #227 – Home Sweet Home

(Tina leads.) I spent our U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in a part of Colorado I haven't visited previously, even though it is only a one hour and twenty minute drive from my home. (It's a big state, there is a LOT of it I haven't visited previously.) Beautiful downtown Woodland Park meant a cabin in the …