Photography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Macro (Barely Spring, Barely Budding Magnolias)

13 April 2015

Lens:

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

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

3. Budding Magnolia; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

Let me know which you prefer and why. I strongly encourage you to click each image to enlarge for better viewing.

Pens:

The seasonal change moves sunrise by sunset. Spring has an intention to restore the balance in the visual landscape, and the seesaw variations that we are continuously witnessing.

To keep the vigil going as well as limit frustrations, I play voyeur and spy everywhere that I meander. Sensibilities are on alert, and small rewards result. One day is lyrical with sunlight and weather to strip outer layers of coats and sweaters. The next retreats to cold, grey, moody, and windy. Then days seem to be on the side of inevitability—the calendar ticking toward fields of wildflowers and their cunning blooms.

So with each day that passes, I built self-talk, embracing the forecast for days of cooler temps. I pivot and throw myself into cleaning my gardens, caring for spaces that were ravaged by winter’s wrath—debris and all. I think about planting early crops of Spring, and I feel rejuvenation spreading through me. I envision seeds of plenty sprouting fresh life for consumption and viewing.

After a respite I venture on a long walk. I noticed magnolias still had not released their petals, but the tips of their blooms were evident. I decide that they are exactly what I need to demonstrate Spring’s reputation for towering potency.

Each bud is a precursor to a tree’s worth of pinks and whites. That palette will stun onlookers, and keep them steadfast for the short breath of a flower’s life. Still, the magnolia, even in its very short existence, is a near perfect Spring jewel.

In the Lens section are three images plucked from that walk. I converted them to monochrome, just to observe their tiny transformation. I settled with that change, because it suited my obsession with Spring’s edging toward a full-blown explosion.

Nuances of the seasonal shift are apparent, and they teasingly perform with a slow cadence. I salute Mother Nature for her ability to keep us in our place, which is exactly where we belong.

Tip of the Week: Excerpts from the exhibition #MobilePhotoNow, which ended on 22 March 2015, can be seen at the Columbus Museum of Art’s website (click here). It showcased examples of works by today’s mobile photographers. Here is a description from their site:

“Columbus Museum of Art, and the #JJ COMMUNITY, one of the largest photo communities on Instagram, present #MobilePhotoNow the largest mobile photography exhibition ever organized by a museum… (It) highlights the emerging art form of mobile photography, and the power of social media and smart phones as a means of creative expression and connection. The … exhibition co-curated by CMA and #JJ community features more than 320 images from 240 photographers representing nearly 40 different countries.”

MobilePhotoNow Exhibition, Columbus Museum of Art, 2015

For additional information go to The New York Times online to read a (10 February 2015) article called “From Smartphones to Museum Walls, ” which discusses the exhibition. Click here to view.

View other entries for this week’s challenge.

https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-macro/

https://angleandviews.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/spring-close-up/

http://nadinetomlinson.com/2015/04/13/macro-phoneography-challenge-raindrops-on-leaves/

https://patchworkponderings.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/phoneography-challenge-macro-rust/

https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/phoneography-macro-challenge-the-roses-are-ready-for-their-close-ups/

https://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/tiny-beauty/

https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/perspective-can-make-all-the-difference/

https://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/phoneopgraphy-challenge-macro/

https://angelinem.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/phoneography-challenge-macro-in-the-kitchen-2/

http://luciledegodoy.com/2015/04/13/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challenge-12/

http://thoughtstalesandwhatnot.com/2015/04/14/phoneography-challenge-i-choose-to-bloom/

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/phoneography-macro-and-cees-bw-close-up/

https://livingwithmyancestors.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/photography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-macro/

https://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/phoneography-and-non-slr-challenge-macro-11/

http://nwframeofmind.com/2015/04/16/iphoneography-challenge-macro-spring-trillium/

https://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/summer-no-more/

https://rfljenksy.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/spring-flowers-rainbows-clouds-mud-hikes-people-picnics/

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.