Taking in Life Around Me: Lens-Artist Challenge

This weeks #Lens-Artist Challenge prompt is guest hosted by Steve.  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 sharing our best-ever images.  Not gonna lie, this intimidated me because I would say I'm a hobby photographer and use the term photographer loosely, however, I do feel like over the years I've taken photos that when I look at them, they bring me joy or bring a thought of "yay, that turned out pretty good", and for me, that's what classifies it as a "best image". Will they win awards? Probably not. I'm not taking them for that purpose, but I love them and that's all that matters. I also knew that so many who contribute on here are incredible photographers and I love everything they share, but it can also intimidate me. That's my issue though. Haha! 

So let's see what I come up with. 

I took this photo when we were in Switzerland. There was a home with a cottage garden and I just love sunflowers. These were reaching into the sky. The sky was washed out, but I actually loved how it made the sunflowers stand out. 

In October of 2025 my hubby and I went to Colorado. One stop was the RMNP. I loved this tree growing out of the rock, with some of it's roots exposed. I also love how it shows my hubby relaxing. He has a job that often has him needing to be "on" at all times.

In our town, every February or March, the smelt run on the Lewis River. With that brings eagles and sea lions. I've always gone down to watch, but my lens could never get the reach needed. This year I had saved enough and bought a used Sigma 150-600. This was one of the images I took.  I was still practicing getting things right, but I was just so excited to finally get closer shots. 

One thing I love doing is going to our local wildlife refuge. This red winged blackbird seems to be yelling at me!

 Many many years ago when our daughters started playing soccer on a larger field is when I got my first DSLR. I took pictures of them and their teammates all the way through HS. I was sad when that season ended. Now my grandson loves to ride dirt bikes and I have a new "sport" to take photos of. This is him (age 8) on his dads parents farm where they have a track. 

Sorry, I had to sneak one more in. I remembered this one. I took it at the fair years ago and it was a fluke shot. I had no idea what I was doing. I think I had it on a pre-set thing on my camera. I loved how my girls and part of the ride were in focus but not the rest. 

Hosts of Lens Artist Challenge

Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com

Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com

Ann-Christine, aka Leya of  https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com

John of https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com

Sofia of https://photographias.wordpress.com

Anne of https://annegeephoto.com

Egidio of https://egidio.photography/

Ritva of https://sillarit.com/

Beth of https://wanderingdawgs.com/

Guest Hosts TBA

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin