Lens-Artists #386 | The Power of Juxtaposition

This week Patti is the host and she has introduced the theme, The Power of Juxtaposition. This was a new word for me and I will admit I was very confused at first of what to photograph – the word was throwing me off.

Patti however had some great examples in her post – please be sure to check out her interpretation of The Power Of Juxtaposition on her blog.

This stretched my mind a little bit. I read the theme before my husband was heading out on his section of snowmobile trail and suddenly had an inspiring creative jolt… checking the snowmobile trail in the bush… after it snowed last night. I was still feeling baffled by this word, I hadn’t read to the bottom, but trusted I would head out and capture the pure beauty and feel into the inspiration. When we got back, I looked up “what is juxtaposition in photography”.

This is Google’s definition of Juxtaposition in Photography…

Juxtaposition in photography is the artistic technique of placing two or more contrasting, opposing, or incongruous elements side-by-side within a single frame. This composition tool creates visual tension, irony, or thematic contrast, compelling viewers to find deeper meaning or unexpected connections between subjects.

Patti’s words for the theme, “This week, we invite you to join us and explore juxtaposition as a photographic technique. On a walk, look for subjects that contrast in color, form, texture, structure, or size. Or, think about a message or story you want to convey and look for scenes that dramatize it. Or, search your archives for images that contrast different environments, cultures, landscapes, and people–for example. If you wish, use post-processing techniques like adjusting the brightness and contrast, or cropping so that your subject(s) take center stage. Include the tag “Lens-Artists” in your post and link it to this post.

I am sharing photos from inside the bush where the snowmobile trail goes through. The contrast between the snow and trees, had my heart melting! Or the snow on on side of the trees and bare on the other and the snowmobiler (my husband) against the white snow.

I love the contrast of the image looking through the cover of the forest into the opening.

The bare side of the trees. Turn 180 degrees and…

It felt magical riding through the bush, knowing we were the only ones in there (trails closed – were checking this section to see if safe to re-open – note we ran into tracks in the bush, people were riding on closed trails, its a shame they do not understand the trespass of this or the safety concern with multiple downed trees).

Natures destruction after the freezing rain storm. I just love how nature pops in the pure white snow. I am grateful for the snow fall last night for this magical morning!

This one above caught my eye, with the stark orange colour of the snowmobile stakes on either side, within those stakes the trees. I really enjoy lines within images that lead your eyes.

Its like mother nature just laid down a soft pure white blanket over everything last night.

I am grateful I felt the creative urge to go with my husband, its not often to have the trail to ourselves and be able to go at a beautiful slow speed to enjoy each moment through the bush.

The peace that can be found within, going out into nature, silent, the roar of the engine and yet when stopped, there is pure peace and quiet. An immersion in nature that my body and soul needed. The reset, to calm the chaos. Embrace and breathe in the fresh winter air. Touching elements within nature to ground with the trees and snow.

The messages within nature, are compelling. A part of our winter, that after a week of freezing rain and rain, as late as a rain storm yesterday, has kept the snowmobile trails intact. Our enjoyment to continue with the forest bathing among the trees. How easy it is to forget about the outside world to allow my heart to speak.

This journey through life, for me as of late is a bit of a juggling act of life and how to handle grief and all of the elements that arise with this over time. A feeling of overwhelm is quieted, calmed instantly when within the trees with my camera.

Next week John will lead the challenge! If you would like to join us please use the tag Lens-Artists so that we can find you. For more information on the Lens-Artists challenge please click HERE! Have a great week and be inspired!

This was fun, what did stump me at first, I found my creative flow deeply immersed within nature enjoying the stark contrast of the freshly fallen blanket of snow all over the trees in nature. <3

Thoughtful Thursday Photo & Words | #7

Its interesting when good things come into our life, how sometimes we can naturally resist. Whether you don’t feel worthy or worry what others may say. Energy can be wasted, with something that really isn’t of concern.

Wanting everyone to truly live their best life. In abundance with deep gratitude, love and laughter.

This week we were reminded, after sadly another loss within the community the importance of living your best life, always. Especially when, my best life, is not the same as yours, much like yours is not the same as mine. I see it in myself, my husband and each of our kids. We all do have interests that overlap, so grateful for that, and our own individual ones that we each love, but don’t force the others to enjoy. My husband could careless about taking photos himself, but he loves taking me on photo tours – win win!

I began this post last night, I am finishing before I post this evening. Sitting on my couch, wrapped in my cozy housecoat, freshly out of the shower with a castor oil pack on my abdomen. Where I will be for the evening.

It was another icy morning, thankfully not as bad as last night. The trees were so pretty, and you could hear the creeks and cracks of the branches covered in ice and snow.

Ive learned something recently about my health, it can be an interesting balancing act some days living with invisible illnesses, and then add in perimenopause and grief and overwhelm, its a sh*t show some days! Its actually incredible how quickly my body shifts into overwhelm. I am much better now, after many months of dealing with this, to be able to shift myself. I can see how I was living in fight or flight for a good solid 5 years, Ive said it many times, there were some f*ucking hard times, emotionally and physically, after having gone through many healing years, years previously.

After losing my brother, everything compounded. That overwhelm I felt before, that slowly creeped in, felt like it now was hitting me 10x harder. The emotions are felt also 10x harder. I used to be able to jump into go mode when an emergency hit or stuff had to get done – especially after my husbands accident, and now, I can hit that mode, but then after feel absolutely drained.

I began paying more attention to how I was feeling and what else I was experiencing. Something I noticed was waking up feeling very mucousy, or sudden hot flashes after eating – not just the “women” hot flashes, spike in anxiety, insomnia, itchy skin, flush, sweating, bloating/swelling, dizziness, heavy chest feeling, much more highly sensitive to some foods. It honestly hasn’t been enjoyable, I self abandoned a lot, its easier to especially during the winter and summer, summer you are outside more, up later in the daylight, eating a variety of things and in the fall and winter, with hockey, we tend to eat out more. Unfortunately all have had a negative effect on me, which I can also admit, ticks me off, why does Health Canada approve foods and drinks that harm our health with the ingredients in them. Europe is so different. The more I pay attention to what I eat and drink, the better I feel.

Ive learned my body goes into a histamine response, which triggers alot to happen. One of the triggers for the histamine response is tomatoes. Another if I eat too much is cows dairy cheese. I tend to eat a lot more goat cheese for this reason. I recently connected the dots with the tomatoes in the past month. However stress and overwhelm is also a trigger Ive learned.

Changes, can cause overwhelm for me – even positive ones. This hits me harder, which then can become causing a response in my body. Its wild when you begin listening to your body.

Ive been back taking my vitamins, most days. Ive noticed this makes a significant shift for me in my body. So embrace the things and ways of life that do make things easier for you. Embrace what works for you, we can learn so much from each other, this is honestly where I can say I have educated myself the most. Especially for my health. Do the things that align with your heart, be around people who get you and are also there for you, like you have been them. Be ok with not feeling ok, but knowing that you will get through it. Embrace time with yourself, down time doing nothing – with pride. Allow the passions to come forward, as a solace for you. Be ok with slipping up, no one is perfect. Or enjoy that glass of wine, with balance of what you are eating and drinking. Oh and hydration… with water, best friend!

Feel to Heal.

Ive learned in the years, this for me, well for all of us, we must feel to heal. Allow the emotions to flow, I love the analagy of e-motion, being in motion. Buried feelings, will re-emerge with a vengeance!

Cheers to listening to our bodies, allowing them to speak their truth to us and trusting our intuition to step forward into our world.

Ice & Finding Peace Amidst Change

The astrological shift that is upon us, was on point, the energy can move quick and can also be really, really good. As someone who has a more challenging time with change – even when good, this is mind bending, but also in a beautiful awareness.

This evening, with many things swirling around in my head, I stopped and began brain dumping onto paper. When in overwhelm, even things that take 5 min, feel like they could take 5 days. I started a list, even the “basic” item of make dinner or clean the kitchen – both are ones I have visual cues for, which also can feed into the overwhelm. Within an hour I had all but 3 items on the list crossed off, within 2 hours I had the 3rd one complete, shower before bed to begin relaxing! The others are going to wait for tomorrow!

We had freezing rain today, which also made the day more interesting work wise. Absolute beauty, however you can also see the strain.

The branches encased in ice, frozen in time.

Embrace the goodness that is coming into your life, change might feel hard, but the reward through that change, is worth even more. Filled with gratitude, even through frustration <3

Lunar New Year 2026 | Year of the Horse

The energy of this year feels different, it felt different before 2025 was ending.

“This shift marks the beginning of a new energetic cycle: it is a moment of collective renewal which, this year, coincides with the start of Eclipse season, a time of accelerated change and transformation. The Fire Horse carries intense Yang energy and ushers in a need for speed, passion, and bold forward movement. The upcoming year favors courage, independence, and decisive action, and asks us to move toward the direction that instinctively calls us. Moon Omens

Personally I am leaning into this energy, it feels aligned, it feels more effortless, flow with ease. Much like listening to my body of what she wants and doesn’t want, leaning into that intuition with full trust.

I am learning about this energetic cycles of where big energy is shifting, I find it fascinating and I know I am still skimming the surface of what I can learn.

For example I heard multiple times over the weekend to do any major/deep cleaning the day before the new astrological year, including washing hair. Honestly, this astrological year makes even more sense than Jan, its even closer to spring and just feels more fresh/new. Also entering the Year of the Fire Horse, one would be drawn to red, thinking fire, however too much fire could be detrimental, so earth colours would be better suited.

Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Artist & Intuitive | Pamela Zmija

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