Taking in Life Around Me: lens-artist challenge

August 09, 2026

Taking in Life Around Me: lens-artist challenge

This weeks #lens-artistchallenge prompt is hosted by Egidio. Hosts change each week and the list of hosts can be found at the end of this post. They go in order.

This weeks prompt is focusing on things that we think are Over The Top (OTT). What's OTT for you, might not be for me. OTT is defined as something that is too extreme, exaggerated or beyond normal limits. I have a few other ideas as well to use.

For me, this hike was over the top...Beacon Rock in the Columbia Gorge is a crazy hike, with these trails built into the side of the rock. I'm not a fan of heights so this was a big stretch for me.

This bookstore in Venice claims to be The Most Beautiful Bookshop in the world. I'm sure some people might see that as an OTT claim but I thought it was so cool.

Why not sit in a chair that is sitting in water, looking at a book.

This bookshop floods all the time and any books damaged become part of the "decor" of the shop. From walls to this "staircase". I was so excited to visit it.

The Basilica di San Marco was stunning! To think they built the current structure between 1063 and 1094. WOW!!!

I saw Egidio posted a yacht in Venice, which reminded me I saw one in Venice as well and went on a hunt to find the photo.

Bad picture, but this yacht was in NYC....umm helicopter? Definitely OTT

My mother in law is Swiss. When our girls were growing up, she always told the story of the Kindlifresser. This stone statue of the ogre sits in the city center of Bern. It was meant to "scare" children to be obedient. If they weren't, the Kindlifresser would come and take and eat them..