This week Egidio leads us to reflect on Lens-Artists Challenge #31 – Landscapes. Be sure to check our his examples in his blog post here. I really like his minimalist landscape example – so peaceful and serene. Egidio encourages us to share 6 images only for this theme, photographers can get excited and want to share more 😉 his limits are helpful.
I have previously shared our recent travel photos so these images are more personal, some fav locations and one country road that really stood out to me!
Fall Country Roads
2. Loon Family on Methuen Lake
3. Early Morning Mist over Methuen Lake
4. Country Road
5. Driftwood & Waves on the Beach
6. Winter on the snowmobile trail through the forest.
Thank you for joining in my view of this challenge! I specifically chose images this year that I had taken. Check out others in the wordpress reader by searching Lens-Artists!
If you are interested in joining in on the Lens-Artists Challenges, see here for more info! Be sure to use the tag Lens-Artists in your wordpress blog post!
Today’s date, this year, it hitting a little harder.
The roundness of a face.
November 8, 2008 my little brother Adam fell and hit his head multiple times. This unfortunately began a long road of recovery and major life transitions, all while living with immense pain daily.
Our family was gifted this mask, in the beautiful shadow box with some crystals and his explanation (on the back). This is a partial photo of the mask, made by my brother Adam at one of the Brain Injury Association meetings.
Adam helped bring this association to our small town, knowing first hand what life is like living with a brain injury and the help people need, yet felt out of reach. Connection, which is why the meetings were key, for people to gather with others and their loved ones to feel safe in a space where they could be heard and understood.
As hard as it is to share a part of his mask, one final fatal fall took his life. In 9 days it will be a full year without him. I honestly cannot even believe this is our reality, that my younger brother, we will never see again. He can no longer tell his story, but I can, his family can. One’s who knew his journey, shared in his ups and downs.
We never know what life is going to hold for us tomorrow, or even 5 minutes from now. I will never forget the day I got the call that he fell. Or how proud he was telling us about the brain injury group, an accomplishment that brought him true satisfaction for not just himself, but the other people who would benefit from this group and the resources that would come forward.
On the right of his mask, Pain + Pleasure = Life … a Sadness that he just couldn’t pull from, knowing he was living in pain every single day. Transformation and change, some beyond the individuals control, many aspects of their life changes and its not the same for every brain injury. A deeper compassion for those “invisible” illnesses that we cannot see and sometimes when described, its hard to believe, yet this is their daily truth. An injury that forever changes someone, especially their mental health and loving themself. Going from being incredibly eager and capable to struggling to provide for your family, a challenging reality and adjustment for a person.
Seeing first hand the group, that still continues to this day in Mount Forest on the last Tuesday of the month, makes me so humble and proud, it was hard to go back to the group after Adam’s death, however I then was quickly reminded, everyone there understands on a level that so many people do not. They themselves or a loved one have experienced a loss of some kind affecting their brain and mental health – goes hand in hand. Their level of compassion towards others, is like no other.
Round could also reference, the circle of life for our Adam. An injury that significantly impacted every area of his life, ultimately was his final moments. I know he knew he was loved, but I pray he felt it deep to his soul.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
Living and working with tradesmen, I have many in my life and watching over me. I felt inspired to take as many ’round’ photos as I could within our home. Without setting up, as natural as possible, real life.
In the laundry room, on the counter.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
Today’s inspiration are the ’round’ within bubbles… from a macro view! I love how some of the bubbles you can actually see how round they are in the water. Took a break from washing dishes to capture the bubbles.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
I am “late” to this party, however welcoming in with open arms. I found this challenge through Ritva’s Post, which honestly had me very intrigued given that November is a ‘hard’ month for our family.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
A macro shot below of berries on a local no winter maintenance road. Although dried the tree had many berries still on it and the odd bee enjoying a stop!
I was recently reminded the importance of being authentic within your own life.
The only one you hurt by self sabotaging is you!
As I write this, after publishing my weekly Lens-Artists Challenge, I took time oiling up with my essential oils that support my physical and emotional health and am investing in relaxation and calming for my soul.
Tina introduces this weeks challenge theme with the word Ephemeral.
She introduces the challenge with an invitation to really open your mind…
“The more fondly we imagine something will last forever, the more ephemeral it often proves to be.”
Iain M. Banks
“I will start this week’s challenge with the dictionary’s short and simple definition of the word ephemeral – “lasting for a very short time“. To me, the perfect example of the concept is Kiawah’s lovely autumn sweetgrass. Some images from this season’s crop are featured in the image above, which, with any luck, will be with us until mid-November. Much more short-lived, the image that follows features yet another ephemeral element of life here on Kiawah – a magical layer of heavy fog.” Tina
The other morning I looked out after feeding the dog and saw the soft sparkle across the grass of early morning frost in the sunlight.
Fallen leaves, resting for a moment on the evergreen.
A brief stop on some berries.
Fall Harvest, in the country fields around us, feels like that time just flew by!
Gorgeous sunbursts and sunflares, a fleeting moment to capture!
At our aunt and uncles cottage this summer, a fleeting moment of this loon family floating by us, who allowed us for 5 or more minutes to stay close by capturing their essence.
The same weekend, I love nature, when you show them who you are, they will trust and put on a beautiful ‘show’.
Its MY turn – you can wait.
Mist over the lake early in the morning, I was grateful I woke when I did, as not long later it had dissipated.
A true real life, everyday Ephemeral example is our pup, who is over a year and a half now, however for anyone who knows what its like owning a dog, they grow through these stages so darn fast!
Above May 31, 2024 Day 2 with his new family. Below October 31, 2025 at just over 18 months he’s very much full grown!
Much like how fast kids grow, my goodness dogs – when you don’t have littles in the house – grow so.much.faster!!! LOL their doggy ‘toddler’ moments are much more apparent as well 😉
From earlier this year, during snowmobile season – we were grateful with plentiful snow this past winter, however there are times when snowmobile season is even more shorter!
The winter here is typically sometime in Nov until March – even into April and yet for some family members, that isn’t long enough…
This also shows his true size just over 1 yr old!
Thank you for joining me in this weeks Lens-Artists Challenge ‘Ephemeral’ and my take on it. I appreciate those who commented on my last weeks challenge posting.
Interested in learning more about the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here .
This challenge took me a brief moment to figure out where the outing would be to fill this creative challenge, Sunday’s gorgeous sunny, chilly weather was perfect.
This week my take on this challenge is ‘country street details’ and all the various signs, turns etc that you will come across driving in our rural area. Something that is calming to my nervous system and I can capture the immense beauty, a creative win for me. I was speaking with someone last week and they asked me to confirm my address, its a country address, she asked me if it was a real address even after saying it to her.
The various signs you encounter on country roads, could be vehicles, ATV/UTV, horse and buggy, pedal bikes, walkers, joggers… and the signs for the roads. I shared with my husband what the theme was, of course a drive was in order! What better way for a creative outlet, than to get out IN nature and photograph the signs!
I just love that our towns are surrounded by vast open farm lands.
Its touching to see these signs. Adopt a road in the name of a loved one.
Stay left to follow the road, and right for off roading! Lift your feet please!
My heart, my orbs… nothing better than natures beauty!
Well, reliving it in my photography is pretty next level actually!
Hmmmm… there is a few bridges around that are closed!
No Winter Maintenance roads, many become snowmobile trails in the winter!
Country street views looking up (above)… From here… (below)
The sunburst is interesting in this one! I love my RF 24-240mm lens when on trips like this!
Bins are out for pick up tomorrow… I love our bin system within the township we live in. Also having the mail box. Wont comment on how often lately its been used.
Follow the signs to enjoy lunch at a local spot, way out in the country!
Country road weights for trucks.
One of the most unique country “fences” we have seen! Just up the road from this weight sign.
I hope you enjoyed my creative spin on Street Views. If you are interested in participating in the challenge be sure to tag “Lens-Artists” and see here for more information!
