Mirror Lake – A Photo's Worth

Lens-Artists Challenge #273 Symmetry

This week’s challenge by Soffia of Photographias, “may look at first a hard one but, in reality, symmetry is everywhere. It’s also not as static a concept as it may seem. Why is symmetry important as a composition tool in photography? It creates strong and balanced images, affecting the way we feel the subject. Our eyes find symmetry harmonious and pleasing.”

After I retired from teaching/librarianship I focused on my photography, and enrolled in many community college classes. There, the role of symmetry was not encouraged. During photo critiques, if a subject was “dead” center, it was pretty much dismissed. I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but I must have taken this one to heart. I had to take a hard look at my collection of photographs to come up with these.

Architecture

Looking Up @ the California Capital in Sacramento

Landscape

Animals

Turtles along the edge at UC Davis Arboretum

Reflections

Taken at Black Miner Bar on the American River

Abstracts & Decorations

I hope you like my photo selections that may have received some critique in my photography classes. I’ll await your decision.

Maybe, it’s good to look at some symmetry as the world spins in its chaos! Stay safe, and take time to breathe!

Lens-Artists Challenge #257 Simplicity

Philosophy through photography provided this week’s challenge of simplicity. “The modern world is so stressful and chaotic that we are losing the fundamental clarity and simplicity that allows us to concentrate on what is really important.” So true!

Subject

Tell a story

Gull finds treasure on Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

Quiet Pomponio State Beach near Half Moon Bay

Lone pedestrian crossing the Embarcadero in San Francisco

Sense of Scale

Sailboat sails under the Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset

I had to look through my archive to find this one because usually, I will fill the frame with the people. But this time I was in awe of the surroundings.

Walking a long way down near a waterfall in Hilo Hawaii

As we got closer to the waterfall we witnessed its power.

So small on this Southern California beach

My granddaughter @ age 10 at Stinson Beach

The vastness and power of water bring perspective to our view of self. Watching how fast it can transform places. There is little a person can do to hold back the water. The world’s people are learning this the hard way.

Negative Space

Still Life

Textures

Splash of Color

Patterns

I hope that you enjoy the simple life. Which photograph spoke to you? I appreciate all comments.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #207 Seeing Double

Jez invites the hunt for reflections with a fantastic collection of great photo examples. Visit his post HERE.

Be it mirrors, still water, or glass I always look for reflections when I am out with my camera. For this challenge, I limited myself to some of the over 900 reflection images I have taken.

Taken many years ago with my first Nikon D70 at Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park.

Another view of Mirror Lake was taken in late April about 14 years ago.

I last visited New York City in 2014 during a snow storm in February. We had tickets to visit in March 2020 but canceled just as Covid got serious and N.Y.C. closed down. Good thing!

Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

Another view from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Which one do you like?

The rest of my images were taken closer to home in Northern California.

This is what I will call “Seeing Multiples”

Hope you enjoyed all of my doubles.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #174 Shapes and Designs

For this weeks photo challenge PA (Patti Moed) asks us to take a closer look at shapes and designs. Sometimes when I go out on a photo shoot I focus on one of these elements.