Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge: Macro (and a Single Flower)

09 February 2015

Lens:

1. Geranium Blossom; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

2. Geranium Blossom; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

Let me know which you prefer and why. Click onto image to enlarge.

Pens:

They’re arriving daily. Those early signs of Spring. A large pile is accumulating by the kitchen window. It’s as if the sunlight will sprout and the rain will nourish selections. Yes, seed catalogs are keeping my spirits perked with chatter about flowers, herbs and vegetables. In fact, I mailed my order to The Cook’s Garden last week. I’ll be blissfully awaiting their arrival.

The Cook’s Garden catalog, 2015

The landscape is resting and its solemnity sometimes forces much contemplation: the cycle of life, seasonal paces, circadian rhythm, movement of day to night. Winter pushes introspection in ways that spring, summer and fall shirt. Though each does have its way with me, giving me deeper or lighter moods to carry me through the days.

I’m always amazed at the genuine effects that Mother Nature has upon me. Each of us is spirited by one or a few or many passions. Certainly the natural world and its teeny tiny and larger gifts has been a mainstay in my adult journey.

At this moment I can hear the bluebirds. Their melodious back and forth is another sign that Spring is not too far in the distance. They are preparing, just as I am. My eyes court their gorgeous markings, and I feel a surge of enthusiasm for this day’s temps that are rising. It’s the same reaction that I have every day when flocks of geese fill the sky overhead on my daily walks. They seem to appear from nowhere to pluck my heartstrings.

In the Lens section are images of the result of one of my winter indulgences (hot chocolate is another): a geranium blossom that I snipped this week. Geraniums are brought inside at the end of each summer’s season. They fill my kitchen with their scent and bring color occasionally throughout the winter months. This tiny blossom was another beacon of hope in my week.

Tip of the Week:

As part of my mission to introduce competitions, here is a photography contest that honors nature: the International Garden Photographer of the Year, Macro Art category.

From their Website: “The competition is open to everyone, amateurs and professionals alike. Entries are welcome from any country in the world. There are no restrictions on the type of camera you use, or the techniques you use to produce your final image. You have to pay a fee to enter. But unlike free competitions, we provide feedback on request (after the judging), we have a huge range of cash and other prizes available to winners and to runners-up, together with the unique prize of having a photograph exhibited in our exhibitions.”

Ethereal Beauty, Anna Omiotek-Toott, Third Place Winner, 2014

While the competition has closed for this year, you can check back this month for the results. Click here to see their website, They have other categories that might urge you to enter next year.

View other entries for this week’s challenge:

https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro-spiky/

https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/its-all-in-the-details/

https://patchworkponderings.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-macro-amethyst/

https://mamamaitri.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro/

https://theyyouandme.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/eyes-phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro/

https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-macro-challenge-and-day-3-black-and-white-challenge/

http://luciledegodoy.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-5/

http://uniqueartchic.com/2015/02/09/macro-tulips/

https://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/phoneography-challenge-macro-4/

http://helpalongthepath.com/2015/02/09/keyboard-phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge/

http://nwframeofmind.com/2015/02/09/iphoneography-monday-macro-velella-velella-on-the-washington-coast/

https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/phoneography-and-non-slr-device-photo-challenge-macro/

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-macro-4/

https://artisticlicenseoflife.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-nature-2/

https://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/phoneography-and-non-slr-challenge-macro-10/

https://manylikeit.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/macro-lichen-on-a-drystane-dyke/

https://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/things-to-see-and-places-to-be/

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.

Advertisement