Lens-Artists Challenge #279 Magical

This week Ann-Christine asks, “Magical – I wonder…what is magical to you?” According to Wikipedia, Magical can mean: “…beautiful or delightful in a way that seems removed from everyday life. ”

The feeling of creating magic!

A game of dreidel is played during Chanukah. 4 sides of the spinning top have hebrew letters that represent, “A great miracle happened there!”

The menorah represents 8 Days of Chanukah

In this time of war it is also important to remember the Ukrainian people who are standing up for the right of their country to exist against the odds. Their fight keeps the war contained to that region.

Standing up with strength

Last week I lost my Aunt Elsa. She died in Boca Raton, Florida at 99 1/2 years. Elsa leaves two children and many, many grandchildren. She was the last of the previous generation. A Holocaust survivor born in Lodz, Poland. Despite the horrors that she experienced at the hands of the Nazis she remained a quiet, kind, sweet, and optimistic person. Much of the family lives in Israel. I will miss her.

I am saddened that the world has forgotten the history of 75 years ago. My parents carried their trauma of surviving Nazi concentration camps before restarting a life in New York after World War II. I also feel it in my bones. Being aware of what trauma does to those who survive I see no winners in war. My first cousin (1 generation removed) from Holon, Israel spoke to a Sacramento, Ca. congregation last week. She spoke about a yearning for peace in the region. 

Maybe in the coming year 2024, a miracle or some magic can happen to bring about peace for all!

Lens-Artists Challenge #277 Empty Spaces

Patti from P.A. Moed Creative Exploration in Words and Pictures challenges me to look through my library of images and discover how empty spaces contributes to my total image.

To define empty spaces Patti turned to the experts at Adobe. “Emptiness in an image can help isolate the subject and also highlight it by drawing the viewer’s attention to it. What else? It can convey a mood–like loneliness, solitude, fear, or sadness. By isolating the subject and surrounding it with empty space, you also create drama, which gives your images a powerful, visual appeal.”

Lonely Leaf on a foggy, cold day
Another leaf alone catches a bit of sunshine
Early morning fishermen
Happy alone
On the sidewalk in San Francisco. Sea Gull enjoys found sour dough bread!
Sea Gull watching family at the beach in Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove
Pelican in West Palm Beach Florida

Do you think that my empty space (negative space) adds to the subject matter? When I look at these images I categorize them as minimalism. So whatever the acknowledged term is I do use this point of view when I am out taking photos.

It is December 2nd. I was reminded that today is my “Half Birthday” by Baskin Robbins. I think they want me to celebrate with an ice cream cake. Well, it is raining, and I am not sure that I want to rush this next birthday. My high school class is thinking about having a group celebration for the Big 75. Three quarters of a century. I do think that I am due a BIG memorable celebration of some sort. Not sure how, where or when. I do have a half year to come up with something.

First things first. Moxie has been diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. So far, she has had 3 seizures in the span of 4 months. So far she has no side affect, but the dosage has been increased. She will be on medication for the rest of her life. This means that I need to figure out who will take care of her if I was to plan a trip. At this time no trips are planned.

Being kind of a home body lately for a number of reasons.

  1. There is an unknown canine illness that prevents me from taking Moxie to the dog park. So we retrieve at home. Moxie is reluctant to walk around my neighborhood. I guess she is happy to have me around. In the summer she didn’t want to sit on my lap much, but now she can be demanding of some sitting time. I don’t mind.
  2. The stores are crowded, and parking lots are no fun.
  3. I have so much to do at home. My blog and photography, my genealogy, and knitting.
  4. My newest hobby is quilting. I went to my first guild meeting and I will join in the 2024. I am finishing up a project: a sampler hanging that I started before CoVid. Getting in my last 3 lessons when I put it all together. Pics to follow.

This month I am on Baby Watch for my great grandson Kingston to be born to my granddaughter Alyssa. Due date January 6. Again, more to come!

Lens-Artists Challenge #276 Looking Up, Looking Down

So for this challenge, James of JazziBee Blog wants me to go for the extremes of Looking Up, and Looking Down, to show the effects of what I can capture at these angles and get a different perspective on my view of the world. 

The holidays are upon us. I was very happy to host Thanksgiving Dinner this year. At the table with me were 10 family members. And one Cantelope or Butternut Squash depending if you want to go fruit or vegetable! (That is the size of a fetus at 34 weeks according a website). Yes, I am going to be a great grandmother. Hopefully, in another 5-6 weeks.

Back to the challenge. I am posting just a couple this time. Enjoy!

Calaveras Big Trees
Old Sacramento Parking Garage
Pacific Grove Monterey Cypress
On one of my trips passing over the Sierras in California
Looking down from One World Trade Center Observatory

I hope that the next few hectic weeks provides enough time to take a breath, be kind to others and yourself, and be respectful!

Lens-Artists Challenge #276 Filling the Frame

Anne from Slow Shutter Speed challenge me this week. “When you want your subject to stand out, fill the frame! When you fill the frame with your subject, you eliminate various background distractions. The viewer’s eyes have nowhere to wander. Their attention is where you want it.”

Looking at my library, I decided to concentrate on my food images. I noticed that I have many, many images taken at local farmer’s markets over the years. And the produce does not change all that much. I have enough images of gourds, pumpkins, and peppers. I think I may need to move on to other venues.

The following photographs were not cropped in. I saw my subject and took the photograph.

Lettuce from the Berkeley Farmer’s Market
Red, ripe strawberries
I liked the multi colored lollypops
Smiley faces

In one of my early photoshop classes, I was told to replicate an art piece. I needed the head of a fish, a lipstick and a fence. The last two were easy to obtain, but where was I going to get a fish head. Well, I called up a local supermarket, and spoke to to fish department. And he obliged me with this perfect looking fish. Thank you “Bel Air”. The photograph was so strange that after getting all the items assembled I decided to drop the class and focus on things that were more appealing to me. I just couldn’t see having this fellow stare down from my wall.

What do you think this fish was about to say?
Pickles of all varieties served at Katz’s Deli in New York City.

A long time ago, my son read a magazine that always had a group of photographs that filled the frame so well that it asked us to try and figure out what the image was?

Can you guess what this is?

I hope that I fufilled the challenge and fill the frame.

Now to get busy with the upcoming holiday preparations for Thanksgiving. Being mindful of what I have to be thankful for, and how I can share this feeling.