15 August 2016
Lens:
I. Photomontage Converted to Black and White: Taken in Camera+, edited in Snapseed and Pixlr
1. Raindrops and Sunset, Photomontage; Copyright © 2016 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved
II. Photomontage Prior to Conversion to Black and White: Taken in Camera+, edited in Snapseed and Pixlr
2. Sunset and Reflections, Photomontage; Copyright © 2016 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved
Let me know which you prefer and why. Click on image to enlarge, which takes you to another page. If you decide to leave a comment, please return to this page.
Pens:
Reflections of raindrops linger throughout the day and night, throughout the seasons, throughout life’s seesaw-ing moments. They infiltrate my visual journey. Instinctively, I watch for those mirroring formations. I survey my universe in a discreet manner, really not consciously. When I stumble upon or serendipitously discover various formations of those tiny globes, I am lured, attentive to their mysterious performances.
Months ago while the sun cast its light upon afternoon droplets that were clinging to the garden’s bounty, I was drawn to a single stem with a duet of reflections. Each droplet seem to hold the universe in its interior. The world inside seemed a microcosm that incited inspection. Sometimes that world is so simple that it is extraordinary in its plainness. Those tiny spheres revealed a microcosm of nature, one that inspired inventiveness and playfulness.
In the Lens section is an original photograph (#2) of a photomontage made from the combination of a summer’s sunset and those two droplets. The two images blended together as though meant to accompany each other’s journey, mostly in my head.
Reflections conjure more than what is before our visual awareness. They ask us to go deeper into our psyche and search for meaning, to not necessarily take the image for face value.
As I combined the two images, the reflections with their small earthscapes reminded me of the fragility and strength of the land. Those water droplets exemplify the confluence between nature and human nature.
While the globe of cosmic space would be real whether I saw it or not, my recognition of its existence binds our connection. These teeny mirrors express whatever is before them, sizzling or subtlety acknowledging the universe’s dynamics.
Tip of the Week:
Quotes about water that inspire:
“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” ~~ Kahil Gibran
“I must go seek dewdrops here, And hang a pearl on every cowslip’s ear.” William Shakespeare
“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.” Jacques Cousteau
“Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.” The Buddha
“All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was,” ~~ Toni Morrison
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” ~~ Rumi
View entries for this week’s challenge:
https://ohmsweetohm.me/2016/08/15/
https://patchworkponderings.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/sky-watch-sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge/
https://traveller2006.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-black-and-white/
https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2016/08/18/over-in-a-second/
https://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/in-deepest-shade/
Note:
As always I welcome comments about this post or any part of my blog. My photographs for the mobile photography challenge are taken with an iPhone 6.
****If you would like to buy a print of any of my photographs or have any questions, please view the Contact Information found on the masthead. Thank you.
If you’d like to join this Mobile Photography Challenge, please click here for details and history of the challenge. If you have any questions, please contact me. Below is a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming 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, Panorama, 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 
Stunning photography, Sally
Amanda, lovely to hear from you. Thanks.
For me the colour this time Sally. I’m warmed by those pink and golden hues.
Su, thanks for your thoughtful comment.
How surreal, I’d really like to do this type of work but I end up being such a realist!
Maria, I also lean toward being a purist. But there is something drawing me to this kind of work. Thanks for your comment and visit.
This composite image is gorgeous, it’s like a mystery, forces the viewer out if his or her daily thought patterns to explore new coast lines, new expressions and new words. I think I prefer the B&W version, but they are both gorgeous.
Otto, I’m humbled. Thank you so much.
Both the photographs are my favorite, Sally. 👍 Great work!!
Lovely to hear from you. I appreciate your comment and visit.
It’s really hard to choose between these, Sally. Both are really gorgeous. 🙂
I appreciate your comment. I enjoy your work as well.
Hi Sally! This time I can’t decide. Both are looking fabulous.
Indira, thank you so much.
Hi, Sally. The water droplets are an intriguing idea. My favorite is the b & w because it adds a bit of mystery to the shot. The colors detract from it–at least for me. I’m enjoying your visual experiments. 🙂
Patti, thank you for your thoughtful response. Enjoy your week.
Wonderful quotes. Shakespeare’s words are, for me, the ones which go perfectly with your images.
Thank you for your response to the combination. I also thought that his words worked with the subject. See you soon.
this is my first entry to your challenge. I’m relatively new to iphoneography and am looking forward to participating in more challenges
https://traveller2006.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-black-and-white/
Once again welcome and feel free to ask me any question. I’ll do amy best to answer. If I do not know the answer will find a resource for you.
A wonderful post, Sally! And I love Helen’s ‘conversation’ 🙂 Reflections always draw me, however simple or complex. Yesterday I was walking with my group beside the river and they kept disappearing into the distance while I lingered over the reflections. Your montage is purely beautiful and as so often I’m pulled to the liquid colour. A happy week to you!
Jo, you’ve brought a huge smile across my morning. Happy walking. Wish that I could join your group. Enjoy nature.
The black and white runs a close first to the second photo, Sally. There is just something peaceful to me in the monochrome. That second one’s colors though, are lovely.
Have a great week.
Angeline, enjoy your week. Thanks so much for your comment.
Sally, as always a wonderful and thought provoking blog. The second photograph caught my eye, Your layering of the two photographs created, for me, not only a peaceful harmony, but an artistic pallet that connects one with nature and human nature of your photographic vision of raindrops and sunset. 👍
Connie
Connie, I’m humbled by your response. Thank you so much.
Good morning, Sally. I really like the colors in the original montage. The pastels of the sky are just the right contrast to the amber rays of the sun.
Ω
Allan, the sunset was magical. It was the night of the strawberry moon. What a beauty–see you soon. Thanks.
Sounds good, Sally. I will have an entry for your challenge later this morning.
Ω
Will await your entry. Enjoy the week.
Sally, you know I’m a fan of photos of water droplets, so I immensely enjoyed these two. I can’t decide which I like best, as they both give different feelings and highlight different aspects. Tried my first photomontage yesterday. I loved it; my husband was bemused and not impressed. 🙂
janet
Janet, photomontage seems to appeal to certain individuals. That’s a discussion I plan to raise soon. I am pleased that you tried it and enjoyed it. I appreciate your comment.
Strangely, hard to choose between the two shots. Raindrops seem to have an effect upon most people.
Lignum, I agree. They are mysterious and wondrous. Thanks for your comment. Enjoy your week.
Lignum, did you see raindrops before you read what Sally wrote? Is it just me? I saw two wine glasses before I read the rest of the post. LOL.
Anyway, Sally, I like the second photo because the thought of standing there, holding a glass of wine with my good friend cheers me up. (I don’t think B&W will do under that circumstance. 😉
Have a great day.
Helen, you absolutely brought laughter and smiles to my day. Salute to you. Thanks so much.