Patti’s technical challenge this week focuses on juxtaposition. Sometimes that is illustrated by contrasting elements that are found in proximity. The photo below was taken in the Portland Japanese Garden. I was drawn to the monochromatic geometrical stone steps beside a mossy hill of naturally irregular surfaces.

In nature, you can often find a contrast of color, texture, shape, size, and other physical elements. Often, you can add the concept of living and non-living matter.

The human world is full of interesting juxtapositions, some accidental, some contrived. I captured the shot below more than a decade ago, but I remember the moment of realizing that the person walking away from me would be visible behind a pedestrian street sign. There was an emotional moment of absurdity that I thought would make a good story picture. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a very good camera on me at the time.

This final shot is a moment of posed juxtaposition that was simply fun, featuring my fun-loving kids and a statue of renowned children’s author Hans Christian Anderson. It makes me smile!