08 December 2014
Lens:
1. Weathered Wall; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally
2. Weathered Wall; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally
3. Weathered Wall; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally
Let me know which you prefer and why. Click onto each photograph to enlarge.
Pens:
While many, many states suffer from drought and low water tables, in the Mid Atlantic we’re watching puddles float across lawns, mushrooms appearing in pine needles, leaves decaying faster, chilling temps, and the grey, grey of sunless rainy days.
During mid-week on a cloudy and dark morning I decided to walk to the end of a curved road that nestles a church and its cemetery. When I arrived, the mood of the day forced me to notice the weathered wall that meandered on all sides of the graveyard.
From afar the wall serves its purpose as a deterrent to trespassers. But as you near its once white-washed surface, its character is revealed. I became completely engaged with decay and crumbling surfaces. Each step around the border of the cemetery had me notice yet another abstract coloration. I imagined Tom Sawyer coming to the rescue to fill the cracks, scrub the mold, scrape the peeling paint, and generally labor over each stage of the wall’s deterioration.
Weathered Wall; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/ Lens and Pens by Sally
I was struck by every discovery on the aging surfaces. Muted colors were strongly provocative. Holes carved from fallen stone and lines of decay added a punch that otherwise would be “just” a sign of keep out.
Nature provided the brushstrokes that changed the colors from cement greys and whites to blacks, greens, oranges, and browns. Pale to sharper hues, the length of the wall was continuously lined with variations on these themes.
This discovery was uplifting. Nature had transformed this plain wall into a series of non-representational visions and clever displays of decomposition. With our sunless days I felt rays of light being cast from nature’s paintings.
In the Lens section are the images that show the magic of the wall’s lure. I was attracted to nature’s hand: her ability to alter the expected into the unexpected. The results are a limitless series of macro images–images that continue to change designs as the weather moves across and into the surface of the wall.
Tip of the Week: Brazilian photographer Eleonora Di Primo records nature without details. She provides the simplest of interpretations. Di Primo’s macro photography brings the viewer into the world of the unseen. Her work can be viewed here. Hope that you enjoy it.
Star, Eleonora Di Primo
Other entries for this week’s challenge:
https://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/dolls-house-1/
https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/little-wonders-at-our-feet/
http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/phoneography-mushrooms-pop-up-for-macro-challenge/
http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/phoneography-challenge-macro-3/
http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/a-little-bit-of-festive-sparkle/
https://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/phoneography-and-non-slr-challenge-macro-8/
https://angleandviews.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/alea-iacta-est/
Note:
As always I welcome comments about this post or any part of my blog.
If you’d like to join the Photo Challenge, please click here for details. If you have any questions, please contact me. Below is a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming Photo Challenges:
1st Monday: Nature.
2nd Monday: Macro.
3rd Monday: Black and White.
4th Monday Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Animals, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Objects, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel).
5th Monday: Editing and Processing with Various Apps Using Themes from the Fourth Week.
Lens and Pens by Sally 
Loving the textures in #3.
Lovely to hear from you. Thanks.
Hi Sally – I enjoyed the pens part much – and hearing about the weather and your discovery – well written 🙂
My fav of the three images is the 3rd because the first two give me the creeps. Even with the wonderful descriptions – about how nature impacts etc. – well I just felt like getting a tool to scrape the peeling paint and felt like there was mold maybe there – isn’t that horrible for me to feel that way. Maybe such clarity added to it – lol – but the texture in each is real nice – and that third one is my fav by a ing shot – but only because it has no peeling paint showing – lol.
I truly appreciate your comment. Thanks.
thanks – and I really like your work! 🙂
I’m humbled. Thanks so much.
Gorgeous textures – nothing like the beauty of decay!
I do agree, the “beauty of decay” intrigues. Thanks so much.
Incredible what a good eye and awareness can make into a beautiful images. My favourite is the last one.
Otto, that’s lovely. Thanks so much.
The second one is just a little more mysterious to the eye. Have a great weekend Sally.
Laurie, hope that you build more memories with your little man this weekend.
They’re all good, Sally, but my favorite is the first. Here is my macro contribution: http://livingwithmyancestors.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro-5/
Linda, thanks so much.
I prefer the second shot in the close up, but they are of course all very good. How many shots did you take altogether, how many are you hiding for us?
Best regards from the Four of us, Dina x
Dina, lovely to hear from you. I adore your questions. I took over twenty shots. I do plan to return when the light is better. It was a grey, grey day. See you soon. Thanks so much.
Good eye Sally; these would make lovely background textures for future shots!
Tina, I appreciate your comment. See you soon.
Beautiful textures! I really like it! I ended up ordering this kind of device for the iPhone:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1027193-REG/square_jellyfish_spgjlyhd79_spring_tripod_mount_micro_ball.html/prm/alsVwDtl
Except for the little tripod legs, I didn’t get those, I got just the upper part which you can attach to a bigger product:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1027189-REG/square_jellyfish_spgmnt1078_spring_tripod_mount.html/prm/alsVwDtl
I meant, the upper part you can attach to a regular tripod. The mini one is not too safe for using outside.
Yes, mine does that too. I can use it with my tripod, or I can carry he lighter one that is not quite as stable but will do for some ideas brewing. See you soon. Thanks.
Maria, the one that I got can be small or extends a few feet. Hope that you enjoy your purchase. Thanks.
Cool pictures! I love these old walls, there is always a lot to explore. Here is my contribution of the week. I played around with dices https://angleandviews.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/alea-iacta-est/
I appreciate your comment. Thanks.
I love shots of battered walls! They’re all lovely Sally. Here’s mine for this week. https://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/phoneography-and-non-slr-challenge-macro-8/
Livvy, thanks so much.
I can’t stop staring at the unique fingerprints that decay leaves behind. Not something we think about every day. So glad you captured it!
Thank you my dear friend.
Beautiful!
Nicole, thanks so much.
I’m greedy and I like a lot of photo, Sally, so I’m going for the bigger picture in 3. 🙂
Johanna, I’m amused. Thanks.
I love these macro images, they are like paintings. I didn’t know you can take wall photos this artistically Sally. Here is my entry: http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-macro-2/ Thank you! Have a great day.
Amy, thank you so much.
I’m torn between selecting #1 or #3 as my favorite this week, Sally, there is so much to appreciate in these little views! I’m looking forward to viewing more of Eleonora De Primo’s work, thanks for sharing the link. 🙂
Lisa, my pleasure and thanks so much.
Intriguing shots. Great textures. Eleonora Di Primo’s work is gorgeous.
Patti, thanks so much. Yes, Di Primo’s photography is captivating.
Very nifty macros, Sally, and I’m going to have to go with Door No. 2.
Jann, thank you so much.
I loved the photos and the text. Difficult to choose just one. I go for 1 and 3.
I appreciate your comment and visit.
The 3rd photo appears more pleasing to the eye. I think you have framed this perfectly, and the others whilst great photos, did not attract my attention as much as the third. The placement of the contrast works in that photo really well. I stuck with flowers and fruit today. https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro-challenge-hydrangeacape-gooseberry/
I appreciate your thoughtful comment. Thanks so much.
The first one is my favourite too, but they are all good. 😀
Raewyn, thanks for your comment.
I love the neutrals and the textures here-the middle image is what really caught my eye-such a delightful symmetry of shapes and texture-wonderful, wonderful images Sally!
I appreciate your comment. See you soon. Thanks.
I like the first one the best also. A gold color peeks out more in that one. It seems crisper. What an interesting project. I am amazed at what you find in the ordinary and make it extraordinary!
Teresa, I’m humbled. Thanks so much.
I think I like the last shot for the same reasons as Janet: a wider view and more visible textural pattern. But they are all lovely. Happy Monday Sally 🙂
Lovely to hear from you. Thanks so much.
Happy Monday and phoneography challenge day, Sally. I have to vote for the final of your photos, the fourth one; the hint of the rust/orange/brown leaves at the bottom of the wall caught my eye, and then when I enlarged it, the whole scene with the cemetery entranced me. Great texture in all of the photos!
I’ve gone into nature for my entry today https://angelinem.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/phoneography-challengemacro-of-gone-but-not-forgotten-flowers/
Angeline, it was an inspiration to find such a fascinating example of human nature and nature. Thanks so much.
Good morning, Sally. I thought for sure I like the first one because it gives me a reason to get closer to peek in. But after I enlarge them, I like second one too. I struggled for a while, and my final decision is: #1 is my favorite. Not an easy question 😉 Helen
Helen, I appreciate your thoughtful response. See you soon. Thanks.
I think the 1st is my favorite. Though the others are only .1 away from being my favorite too:) I like the framing of it and can just feel the stone almost. I like that I can see a little more of the stone’s creation.
Here is my macro this week: https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/little-wonders-at-our-feet/
Thanks so much.
I think this wall would make Tom Sawyer happy to go back to his fence that is so simple to paint, Sally. Love the texture and depth you caught in your photos. I love stone walls for their beauty and character. I think your third photo is my favorite because of the complexity of so many patterns. Have a week filled with photo ops (and I know you will!).
janet
Enjoy your travels. See you soon. Thanks so much.