30 Days of Composition: 1-15

Day 1: Viewpoint

Sometimes a different point of view allows us to notice details

 that take on another dimension or importance. 

This is the back view of the biggest steam boat on Lake Léman in Ouchy.

I love how huge the Swiss flag looks and how the water is starting to churn up

 and the steam rises as the boat leaves the port.

Day 2: Framing

I had to find a way of interpreting this inside as the weather was windy and rainy.

Luckily, I had a little box with a shiny base which allowed my Dahlia bloom

to be framed three times.

Day 3: Negative Space

I love using this kind of composition which allows us to really notice the subject

without any distracting clutter.

This is a young lavender stalk from one of my lavender plants

 which is blooming for a second time this summer.

Day 4: Diagonals

They bring a really dynamic element into the frame and seem to shout:

"Look at me!"

I love diagonals in architecture.

Day 5: Rule of thirds

It's about keeping our main subjects in the upper or lower right

or upper or lower left of our frame.

This creates visual harmony.

Day 6: Leading lines

These really pull us forward into the image to notice the elements where the lines

converge. In this case it's the Lausanne Cathedral on the other side of the bridge.

More Leading Lines.

I wanted to add this sideways capture of an escalator just because I like the abstract

dimension and the way our eyes are also pulled into the lines in a rather fascinating way!

Day 7: Symmetry

This one rather speaks for itself.

 I like the early morning lighting which created the soft blue colour.

Day 8: Filling the frame

This is a beautiful way of coming in really close to our subject so that we can appreciate 

each small detail, like the curly petals and stamens of this yellow Dahlia.

Filling the frame with a beautiful Gaillardia bloom

Day 9: Odd numbers

This is a house in my neighbourhood covered in Virginia Creeper.

We can just see the three windows on the top floor.

Day 10: Balance

I enjoyed creating a still life image of cherry tomatoes and using the rule of thirds.

The main subject is the two tomatoes in the foreground, balanced by the glass dish

of tomatoes,

 purposely out of focus so it doesn't enter into competition with the main subject

in the foreground.

Day 11: Abstract patterns

I enjoy noticing abstracts and patterns in the world around me.

I went downtown to capture the glass walls of a modern building

and took the photo on the diagonal because it seemed more interesting that way.

Day 12: No foreground

This prompt felt a little awkward to me because I do love foregrounds

with soft backgrounds.

I photographed an angel decoration with a crystal butterfly.

I thought that it would be rather flat and boring on its own, so I added a corner of

my decorative mirror.

It's true that three things within this frame makes it more interesting.

Day 13: Circular

I had to think about this one - and imagined that taking one of my camera lenses

and holding it in front of the Begonias on my balcony

would make a fun and interesting shot!

Day 14: Form or Shape

I love the harmonious rounded shape of the weather vane down by the lake.

This shape is echoed in the granite rock on the left.

We can also see the soft shapes of the mountains in the background

and the shapes of the rocks which are part of the port.

Day 15: Texture

This is the trunk of a Plane Tree and I do enjoy how the bark of these trees peels off showing

different textures and colours.

This looks like a bark butterfly.

Texture: a larger part of the Plane Tree trunk.

I have really been inspired to create images which express the daily prompts in the best way possible.

Next time, I will post the next fifteen interpretations of the daily prompts.

I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

Day 7 - Vibrant

Today I was inspired to do something a little different!

I was looking for something bright and colourful and vibrant

and preferably abstract!

I saw just the thing on my balcony 

and made a collage of the different elements.

I hope it brings some joyful colour into your day!

This is SOOC (straight out of my camera)

There have been no manipulations or Apps

and I don't use Photoshop.

Happy Saturday!

Happy New Year 2017!

On this first day of the New Year

I wish you Beauty

Confidence in what lies ahead

even when it's still shrouded in mystery

May there always be a light shining in the darkness, 

however small.

Remember

the sun also sets on the most difficult of days.

and a new day dawns at the break of day

which brings us all a new beginning.

Discover new paths

even when they go uphill

those are the most rewarding!

Delight in the sparkles that come our way

and take the time to linger as glorious colours and patterns

enter into our line of vision.

Let the light come into our homes and into our hearts

Remaining supple when the wind suddenly changes direction

Unexpected happenings in life allow us to really see the essential

and invite us to change our priorities and adapt.

We learn resilience.

But most of all,

just love life and it loves you right back!

***

Not only is a new year a total mystery, but it is also full of new energy

waiting to carry us forward to new adventures.

Let's live them!

Wishing you all a New Year full of peace in your hearts

and the capacity to rejoice in all the little and wonderful instances

that are given along the way.

How Can We Define Impermanence?

Everything changes constantly.

Just going for a walk, I notice how the things around me change from day to day.

This lovely crinkly leaf was not against the railings when I passed this way

the day before.

The life cycle of a leaf is an example of impermanence.

Melting ice

illustrates how fast things can change in a matter of moments.

Not resisting change

Life is comparable to a river, or flowing water.

It is a progressive movement, a successive series of different moments,

joining together to give the impression of one continuous flow.

Going with the way things are rather than fighting the natural flow

and wanting things to be something else.

Non-resistance helps us to adapt to constant change and to accept it.

The impermanence of the seasons.

As one season celebrates its plenitude, another lies dormant,

waiting for the moment of rebirth.

Like crumpled tan gloves dropped on the earth, these fallen leaves

seem completely connected to the first snow fall

and in acceptance of their condition.

The fleetingness of shadows

and how their impermanent nature can charm and enthrall us

Their brief and changing presence makes me stop awhile

and enjoy them so much more!

Trusting change

Change can occur in different ways.

Sometimes we seek it out and other times it comes upon us unawares.

There are many crossroads throughout our lives

and important choices to make.

We ask ourselves: "Which ways shall I go? Should I turn left or right or

continue on the beaten track for fear of the unknown?

Whatever changes comes upon us without warning, as much as those

we specifically choose,

putting our trust in the long-term outcome

gives us newfound strength and the confidence to carry on,

come what may.

Slowing down and shifting priorities

Because of recent unexpected events. I have been forced to slow down considerably.

I have always enjoyed reading, but because of other much-loved creative activities,

and of dealing with the practicalities of life, 

I often put off reading-time till very late in the day

when I'm almost ready for bed.

These days, with a plaster cast on my right hand and arm,

I have had to review my priorities.

This has given me the opportunity to incorporate my reading times 

into new and different moments of the day.

I have created new spaces in my daily routine

which reminds me to continue to do this even when my right hand

is free again in five weeks' time.

***

Although I am not a Buddhist, I feel very much aligned to a great deal

of their philosophy.

"In Buddhism, the term 'annica' refers to the doctrine of impermanence

which asserts that all of conditioned existence, without exception,

is transient, evanescent, inconstant."

(Taken from Wikipedia)

Early Buddhism dealt with the question of impermanence

in a very rational manner.

According to 'annica', impermanence is an undeniable and inescapable fact

of human existence from which nothing that belongs to this earth is ever free.

So, however we feel about the impermanent nature of all things,

seizing the moment as it comes to us

to live it fully

just the way it is

seems like the very best thing we can do for ourselves and for others.

***

I know this blog entry is much wordier than a simple entry

on photography, but I'm currently following a workshop called:

"Celebrate Impermanence"

which has opened the door to new ways of observing life as it is

which is in a state of perpetual change

made up of

a multitude of moments.

If you are interested to read more about the workshop above.

You can find a link

HERE