PBC – June 2017 – Use a Different Lens

June 30, 2017June 30, 2017 lightwalker1 Facebook, Just me and some words, PBC, Photo Blog Challenge, Photography, The Daily Post, Twitter Challenges, Creativity, garden, Inspiration, Photography

PHOTOBLOGGERS CHALLENGE – JUNE 2017 – USE A DIFFERENT LENS

Many years ago, I purchased my first SLR camera – A Chinon. I loved it! I was in heaven snapping pictures in my living room, on the street, in the park, or off my balcony, where ever I was. I barely learned how to use the ASA, F-stop and Aperture functions before developing the film became too expensive. The undeveloped rolls languished in my fridge for 20 years or so. A sad state of affairs.

One day, when I was feeling particularly unhappy, I swept into the camera store and walked out with a Nikon D60, three lenses, a couple of filters, a charger, an extra battery, a cleaning kit, and a camera bag. I was in heaven. The one and only time I treated myself to such an extravagant shopping spree. I smile every time I think of it.

This month’s A lil Hoohaa – Photo Bloggers Challenge is to use a different lens. This technical challenge was the impetus I needed to finally start to figure out how to use my NIKON D60 in a mode other than “Auto” or what I call “Running Man”. The Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8D lens I opted to use for this project has never been used previously. It has lain in the camera bag sad and unwanted. Not unwanted because it was considered inferior, unused because I was intimidated. After all, it is a manual lens. In my mind, I could only use it if I knew what I was doing. And I don’t. So it sat inside its black bag, waiting for me to know what to do.

I enjoyed this challenge, more than any of the others I have participated in. I learned a few things, I remembered a few things, and I;m anticipating future fun. The photos look more 3 dimensional, the colours appear to be richer, the textures more touchable, and f/11 is still my favourite f-stop. I look forward to using this lens on a regular basis.

Anenome – 1/2000 sec f/14.50 mm ISO 3200

Columbine – 1/60 sec. f/20.50 mm ISO 200

Textures – Columbine blossoms, Spruce Tree & Peony leaves – 1/80 sec. f/11.50 mm ISO 1600

Rose Bee – 1/400 sec f/5.50 mm ISO 200

Velvet Rose Petals – 1/30 sec. f/22.50 mm ISO 800

Cheryle – June 2017

Please stop by A ‘lil Hoohaa to see the rest of the entries for the

A ‘lil Hoohaa Photo Bloggers Challenge June 2017

RECENT AWARDS

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words About me, awards, Challenges, Facebook, Leibster award, Nominations, Premio Dardos Award, Versatile blogger Award Purple Version

I would like to thank Aquileana, Julia and Rameesha for nominating me for several blogger awards: The Premio Dardos Award, The Leibster Award and the Versatile Blogger Award.

I encourage you to pop in to each of these blogs and see what they have to offer.

Aquileana has an amazing history and mythology blog where I am learning so many interesting things.

Julia’s Red Page blog is a quirky collection of fashion, recipes, movie reviews, poetry and photography. All excellently crafted to tantalize my visual and intellectual taste buds.

Rameesha has created a blog that is both beautiful and filled with thoughtful inspirational insight.

The criteria for the awards include posting the Award Logo on your page, link to your nominator, answer the questions pose, nominate other bloggers and create your own questions for your nominees to answer.

I am humbled and so happy to be nominated. I appreciate their support and the encouragement the nominations represent. However, I no longer accept awards as I have difficulty nominating others. Not that I cannot find bloggers who are deserving, but because I agonize over picking one over another. I have difficulty making decisions. I will respond to the questions asked as part of the award, but decline the nomination process.

All of the bloggers I follow are wonderful and are deserving of awards, each for their own unique approach to life and style. If you wish to be nominated for one of these awards, please let me know. It would make be happy to nominate your blog.

Julia from https://myredpage.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/premio-dardos-award/

Rameesha at https://rameeesha.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/yay-second-nomination/

Aquileana at https://aquileana.wordpress.com/

Here are two sets of questions posed by my nominators.

Why do you blog?

I began blogging in January of this year (2015) in an attempt to give my day some structure, provide me with prompts and topics, a writing community and an opportunity to work on my discipline.

What do you blog about?

I am an introvert, not one to blog about my daily activities. I do blog about meditation in The Meditation Cushion. Other than the prompts I enjoy writing poetry, posting photos and am still looking for my voice.

What is your craziest passion?

I am addicted to chocolate. I’m not sure it can be called a passion, but I am passionate about it. I can’t help it. I can’t keep it in the house. It’s crazy I know but that is the way it is.

What inspired you into writing?

I began writing when I was a young girl, Poetry commemorating the death of my Great Grandfather is the first time I can recall writing, other than for school projects.

What do you like to read in other blogs?

Inspirational topics, travel, other cultures, history, slices of life, poetry, photography and art.

What is your favorite book and how did it change you?

I love Anne of Green Gables and all the sequels. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of female equality, feminism and of being independent in a time when women weren’t thought of as being capable of leading their own lives.

What is your favorite quote?

Everything happens for a reason. Not easy to accept sometimes, but in the end with hindsight it proves to be true.

What do you love about writing?

The words, the language, the putting down on paper my ideas and thoughts, the beauty of how words can be visually stimulating.

What are you most likely to think when you look up at the blue sky?

Wide open spaces, freedom.

How do you define happiness?

As a meditator happiness is a stabilized mind, where I don’t experience extreme highs and lows of emotions. Helping others always makes me happy in my heart, always has always will.

1.What is the thing you think about the moment you wake up?

My dreams and my day

What is satisfaction to you?

Getting to the point in a project when I know it is done. There is no more to add or subtract, maybe just a little editing.

What is your surmise on sacrifice?

Sacrifice is essential for growth. It is not always possible to take the step which sacrifices something you cherish, a belief, a relationship, the status quo in order to move forward to the unknown.

Where is the line between insanity and creativity?

I believe that depends on who is defining it. Many people think creative people are insane, they live their lives so differently than the norm. A person can be insane and not creative and visa versa. Insanity is a destructive, negative force or mind set. Creativity is born of creation and hope.

What defines you?

My soul, which represents all of my experiences from the beginning of existence until the present and the future.

If you had to teach someone one thing, what would you teach?

To meditate. It helps people become compassionate and loving. There is no room for hate and intolerance when meditating.

When you think of your home, what immediately comes to mind?

Sleeping in my own bed all comfy and cozy

What is infinity?

The illusion of time

If you dropped everything to pursue your dreams, what would you be risking?

Everything that represents stability, family, status quo, possibly sanity.

If you spend a day watching movies when you should be working a day wasted or well spent?

Well spent if I enjoyed the movies. I can always use them for inspiration.

PHOTOBLOGGERS CHALLENGE – MAY 2015 – SPRING

May 31, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words, Photography, POETRY Challenges, Facebook, food, gardening, May 2015, Photobloggers challenge, Photography, Poetry, signs of spring, Spring, The Daily Post, Twitter

The challenge this month is spring. Here are my photo interpretations of the month of May.

To begin I will refer you to a previous post a poem: The Sound of Spring Has Come to My Garden.

https://lightwalker1.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/the-sound-of-spring-has-come-to-my-garden/

Apple blossoms bloom bring about thoughts of fall fruit and pie

Hardening off tender plants in preparation for their days in the garden sun

Rhubarb leaves – poisonous, but the fruit is delicious

Rhubarb ready for tarts

The taste of Spring, flavour ready to eat

However you enjoy it, Spring wakes up our eyes, taste buds and imagination of good things to come.

Cheryle May 2015

FOUR ELEMENTS PHOTO CHALLENGE

April 8, 2015May 7, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words Air, Challenges, Earth, Fire, Four elements, Inspiration, Muse, Photography, Poetry, Water

Four Elements Photo Challenge

Erin of Erins Big World Blog has challenged me to the Four Elements Photo Challenge. I am to post four photos that illustrate the elements Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Stop by Erins Big World check out her photos and her applesauce recipe mmmm. https://erinsbigworld.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/four-elements-photo-challenge/ I hope you enjoy my selections.

AIR

The sun warms

Messages written

In faith

The words free

Fly to their destination

FIRE

fire on the water

A waterfall of fireworks

Reflect a false heat

Upon the water

WATER

Summer Ravers Rollick

On waves which ripple and

Sparkle with the kiss of the sun

EARTH

Tufa, fresh water rock

Sediment of limestone deposits – its’ creation

Crevices carved by fresh water

Hold secrets for the imagination

In order to share and spread the fun I nominate the following four blogs, people I have met through Photography 101, to participate in the challenge: Their photos speak to me each in their own unique and inspiring way.

Christina of From My Horizon https://christinapictures.wordpress.com/

Karen of Expressing My Vision https://expressingmyvision.wordpress.com/

Cynthia M Voss of https://cynthiamvoss.wordpress.com/about/

Richard Gessford of https://rgessford.wordpress.com/about/

The Challenge:

Post four photos that illustrate the elements Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The added poetry is part of the challenge criteria. I added that feature on my own.

This is supposed to be fun. Don’t worry if you are unable to participate or to nominate four other bloggers.

Day 3 – 5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge

March 18, 2015 lightwalker1 Photography 5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge, Black and White, Challenges, Inspiration, Muse, Photography

Today, I have posted what I call Clouds Caught in Glass as my Day 3 offering for the 5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge. Thank you hirundine608 for your nomination.

I in turn nominate: emiliaciepla of The Light Inside of Us.

There is no pressure to accept if you are unable to participate. After all, this is for fun.

5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge

March 17, 2015 lightwalker1 Photography 5 Day Black and White Photo Challenge, Black and White, Challenges, gardening, Inspiration, Muse, Photography

My friend hirundine608 challenged me to the 5 day black and white photo challenge. This is my post and nomination for day 2. I nominate: Johanna Massey http://johannamassey.com/ There is no pressure to do this challenge is you are unable to accept. This is for fun.

This is the dancing birdbath.

Day 1 – 5-Day Black & White Photo Challenge

March 16, 2015March 16, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words, Photography Black & White, Challenges, Events, Inspiration, Muse, Photography

I have been challenged to post the 5 Day Black & White Photo Challenge by my blogging buddy hirundine608 of http://needleatseabottom.com/. The criteria are to post a black & white photo for the next five day and invite another blogger to participate each day. I have accepted this challenge.

As for the second part of the challenge: I nominate: Donna George of Donna George Blogs. I enjoy the photos on your blog and thought you might enjoy the challenge. There is no pressure, If you don’t want or are not able to participate.