Category: Photo Challenge

Challenges from the Wordpress Community

Brake-light

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares,  is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

brake-light(s)

My first hyphenated light: This is not a pleasing composition (ironic as my photo challenge this month is all about composition) but this car photo-bombed the shot I was composing as it pulled up at the traffic-lights in front of me the other day and rather than bin it as I normally would, I thought, now here’s another ___light for Becky. There are even spotlights under the guttering on that pub, but they didn’t show up enough for a photo of their own. All this and sunlight too!

brake-lights (noun) = Illuminated brake-lights indicate your car is slowing down or has stopped, giving other cars — in daylight, dim light or darkness — plenty of time to stop so they don’t crash into you.

January Squares | Day Eight

Candlelight

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares, is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

candlelight

A votive candle or prayer candle is a small candle, typically white or beeswax yellow, intended to be burnt as a votive offering in an act of Christian prayer, especially within the Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic Christian denominations, among others The size of a votive candle is often two inches tall by one and a half inches diameter though tealights are commonly used.

candlelight (noun) = dim light provided by a candle or candles.

January Squares | Day Seven

Skylight

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares, is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

Skylight or Rooflight

This might be a risky choice because actually there is no glass in this roof opening, but Becky is pretty flexible as long as it’s square. Which it isn’t of course, it is most definitely oval though the frame is square…

I’ll shut up now.

This striking Skyscape is the American artist James Turrell’s celestial observatory stationed on a hilltop in the Tremenheere Sculpture Garden just outside Penzance in Cornwall : from the circular bench inside you become mesmerised by the bright white walls and contrasting roof open to the weather – in this instance an azure blue sky that looked as though it had been painted on the ceiling. I can’t imagine what it must be like to watch clouds drifting across or even stars!

I have seen another of Turrell’s installations, Skyspace, in Canberra. He certainly gets around!

skylight (noun) = an opening in a roof or ceiling, fitted with glass, for admitting daylight.

January Squares | Day Six

2020 Photo Challenge #1

Once upon a time I ran a challenge for those of us who love photographing benches (2015) and although some fellow bloggers have suggested running that challenge again, I think benches have had their time in the spotlight. However, I have been thinking of ways to challenge myself (and possibly you) this year and decided to challenge myself by trying out various photographic techniques, skills or concepts. If you would like to join in then I have a 2020 Photo Challenge page set up to explain the simple guidelines and proposed monthly assignments.

January’s theme / technique: Composition and Framing

Composition and Framing is dictated by the camera and lens equipment as well as where you can and cannot stand whilst viewing the subject. Challenge yourself by using a prime lens or not using the zoom on your lens so you have to physically move to take the shot. Often the more creative images come about from taking the time to move around a subject. We’ll explore some of these techniques over the coming months, but for now consider these tips:

    1. Horizontal vs vertical – which looks better? Why?
    2. Missing parts of people or objects irritate the viewer and create an incomplete image. It distracts the eye. So watch the edges of your image.
    3. Rule of thirds
    4. Look for frames – These come in two types, natural or man-made. Natural would be an opening in trees or a rock formation with a hole in it. Man-made frames are doorways, windows or arches. All of these help contain the subject or scene in a form that is very pleasing to the eye.
    5. Watch your background. Make sure that there is nothing there that would detract from your subject. Things like chimneys or lamp-posts growing out of heads and other subjects diverting the eye from the main subject. You want balance by not going in too close but including enough of the environment of the subject or object to contextualise it.
This week's assignment - clearly identify your subject. Begin by explaining your choice. How will you draw attention to it?

I am going to use the same subject throughout this month, but you don’t need to. Each assignment will look at different ways of arranging the subject elements and to recognise the key ingredients of a scene.

Continue reading 2020 Photo Challenge #1