Monthly Archives: February 2021

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Soft

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“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?” ― Romeo

“Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.”
― Lao Tzu

“Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft.” ― Pericles

“When you are old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire, take down this book and slowly read, and dream of the soft look your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep.” ― William Butler Yeats

Thank you, Ann-Christine, for inviting us to interpret the word ‘soft’ for this week’s challenge. In the midst of a really hard time, globally, it’s nice to remember the softness that inspires and relaxes us. 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Starts with ‘S’

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This is Susan.She has such a sweet smile. And she sure is silly!

She has some seriously silly siblings as well, and simultaneously, their silliness is something super special. ‘Specially the sisters!

Silliness by the seashore is a specialty as well.

This post has been brought to you by the letter ‘S’ and by Patti of Lens-Artists. I hope you found it scintillating!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: A Glimpse into Your World

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‘A Glimpse into your world’. Show us the things you love that make your world spin or things about your world that make you delirious with joy. – Sheetal Bravon, host for Lens-Artists

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.”
― Mother Teresa

“I can wade Grief—
Whole Pools of it—
I’m used to that—
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet—
And I tip—drunken—
Let no Pebble—smile—
‘Twas the New Liquor—
That was all!”
― Emily Dickinson

“You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the entire ocean in a drop.”
― Rumi

My joy at being reunited with the ocean and with my adult children approaches delirium. These loves are far bigger than myself and help me to expand in appreciation and generosity beyond myself. They are a world of life and the life in the world.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: From Forgettable to Favorite

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This week’s challenge host, Tina, has crafted some amazing images using editing technique. Click on that link and see how she has turned some indistinct snapshots into stunning art.

I have to admit that my editing craft is quite rudimentary. The only software I have used post-production is the one that came with the Canon Rebel T3i. I can crop and adjust contrast, saturation, brightness, and hue. That’s about it. I don’t remove pixels, extend background, or add textural effects.  Still, I have created favorites from humble beginnings.

Cropping allowed me to get closer to my sister without actually crawling onto the ledge she chose to sit on. A little more color saturation and contrast took out some of the glare of the California sun, while adding some brightness brought details out of the shadows.

This one is definitely a favorite!

And here’s the original shot…I might also have used the Angle Adjustment tool to straighten the horizon a tad.

Here’s the original of a photo that I’ve treated in several ways:

Digital photos allow for a host of artistic possibilities when you use editing software. I have only scratched the surface. I look forward to seeing other responses to this challenge!