Weekly Photo Challenge – Converge
“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. ”
Henri Cartier-Bresson
(3 photos)
TRIANGLES
Our challenge this week comes from Ben, who has invited us to show how lines and shapes can converge to create interest. Some of you may have noticed my absence from last week’s challenge. As it turns out, my husband and I spent the week in California, reuniting with good friends in several cities. In my attempt to travel light, I elected to leave my DSLR and computer behind – hence, my blogging absence.
LINES AND CIRCLES
“The sweet spot is where duty and delight converge.”
Thomas Mann
People will tell you that it’s the photographer, not the equipment, that makes the shot. While I find that true to some degree, if you don’t have the right equipment it is a great deal more difficult to capture what your photographic vision commands. Although I had a small point-and-shoot with which I took these photographs, alas they are not at all what might have been. As small cameras go, mine is not awful, but I sure could have used a polarizer and one or two of my good lenses while shooting in the mid-day sun.
CIRCLES WITHIN CIRCLES WITHIN LINES
“Remain true to yourself, but move ever upward…..for everything that rises must converge.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Two weeks ago my off-camera flash died when the batteries exploded inside (yep, shame on me for leaving them in there in the first place). I’m resisting buying a replacement because I’m seriously considering moving to mirrorless technology, but am not quite ready to abandon my trusty Nikon and it’s wonderful lenses just yet. Equipment not-withstanding, a few of the things that caught my eye during last week’s travels fit Ben’s challenge quite nicely. I hope you can enjoy my geometric examples by using your imagination to envision the creations I had in mind when I shot them 😊.
To see where some other bloggers found convergence, click here.
Travels and Trifles 
I’m breathless
Thanks so much Roviond!
Good for you for getting out from behind the camera. It’s hard to do, and I often regret it when I do leave it at home, BUT I hope you had a wonderful visit to California.
I’ll be interested to read your thoughts as you progress to mirrorless
Cartier-Bresson knew what he was talking about, Tina, and if I didn’t have an imagination, I wouldn’t be here with you. 🙂
Great images, Tina, especially the truck. You seem to be experimenting a little more with B&W. I really like your header. I’ve been shooting mirrorless for a while now. It suits my needs and style perfectly.
Thanks Ron – yes, I do love B&W images but the subject has to fit (hence my most recent post of B&Ws at Botany Bay). Interesting you’ve gone mirrorless – which brand did you choose?
Beautiful shots Tina ~ and I too am waiting for the eventual transition to mirrorless (will be a while, and I hope Canon develops a good one). Love the angles with the final shot being my favorite ~ Sounds like you had great travels and look forward to your continued adventures.
Hey Randall – thanks very much. Seems everyone is going that way but I’m not sure Canon or Nikon will lead this time – too anxious to protect their bases. I remember when I bought my Nikon DSLR it was partly because I wanted to use my Nikon lenses from my film camera. Of course, the new lenses that came out with the digital technology caused me never to use them at all after a very short time. I think the same will be true of mirrorless so will probably bite the bullet and go with new glass too. But not until it shakes out a bit and we see who will dominate the race this time around! And PS, over 300 comments on your last post?! Wow – well deserved my friend, your work is amazing.
Your thinking is the same as mine, even though I am hanging onto my dream of Canon coming out with an incredible mirror-less in a few years 🙂 Sony sure has a great product out… Thanks for the comment on my post, a fun surprise to see so many. Cheers!
Old tree and truck was great site… Did you feel ” naked” without all of your equipment????
Thanks Linda – I did indeed Girlfriend, I did indeed!
Wonderful take on this week’s challenge. I love the circle and lines ones the best, very creative take on the challenge. We can certainly achieve more with a DLSR and mirrorless camera, but a point-and-shoot camera is better than no camera at all 😀
You’re right Mabel. They say the best camera is definitely the one you have with you! I think a new iphone will be my next purchase – which might help until I’m ready for the mirrorless revolution! Thanks for stopping by.
Very nice shots Tina! I like ‘Lines and Circles’ the most 🙂 There is so much to see in terms of shapes and patterns in all these images.
Thanks Uday – a great example of something the eye can see but the camera couldn’t QUITE capture (altho I surely tried my best!!)
I liked your shape take – 🙂 – and the “CIRCLES WITHIN CIRCLES WITHIN LINES” also some organic, wavy grooviness in the middle of those circles that were within circles that were within lines – ha! and the lighting in that photo had me looking a bit extra – there is light on the table – the trunk – the back drop – and a bit to the left – just one of those images I keep seeing more and more each time I look.
welcome back and your trip sounds pretty great
Thanks Yvette, I had to really work to get that one – the bright sunlight and deep shadows were a real challenge with a Point and Shoot!! Thanks for giving it such careful consideration!
🙂
Wonderful shots…love the ‘circles within circles’ truly a lot to digest….GREAT stuff!!!
Thanks April! Not quite up to snuff but you get the idea!
I have read that same quote by Bresson on someone else’s blog for this challenge 🙂 and I like it here too. I love your circles photo, Tina!
Thanks Paula – that one was quite a challenge with a P&S but you get the idea! Would love to have had a polarizer for the shot.
Great photos Tina and it is definitely the photographer that captures the image and regardless of the camera used can present us with such magical photos that fit this theme so well.
Thanks Pomme – much appreciated. One of these days I’ll get myself a new iphone and then leave the P&S behind forever LOL.
The new phones are certainly getting better cameras. I still have the old ie 3years old!!!! 4 iphone. It is no good for photos at all only about 1 megapixel I think….
The old truck was my favorite, although I’m partial to old vehicles already!
Trey Ratcliff is using a mirrorless Sony and has a review on his blog. My husband is thinking I should try it as it would be much smaller to carry than my new Canon 6D. I believe Trey is no longer even using a DSLR.
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/sony-a7r-review/
Good to see your stuff as always! And you don’t need to apologize for being gone for a week. We all have lives outside our blogs.
Nancy
Thanks Nancy – really enjoyed the link to the a7 review. A friend in our photo club (Nikon D/300s and D/800 shooter) got the Fuji mirrorless and LOVES it. Many pros have dropped their DSLRs. I’m going to give it a year and see what develops, but I’m definitely going!!
Such lovely quotes, icing on the cake 🙂
Thanks Maya, glad you enjoyed!
Nice you see you back Tina .. and love the old abandoned truck 🙂 can see you still had a great time though . Coming to photography later I’m very loath – no – make that I never go anywhere now without my DSLR , but then I forgo the tripod at times which is also a mistake but not always practicable ! I need to work on sharper shutter speeds Lol
Nice you see you back Tina .. and love the old abandoned truck 🙂
Thanks very much Poppy – yes that truck was simply calling my name! I made my poor husband do a U-turn and wait for 20 minutes while I scoped it out LOL. I agree – my D300 is strapped to my hip whenever there’s a chance a photo might need me!😊
Wonderful images, Tina. I just LOVE the second and the third. The second looks like a person getting up in the morning and stretching his arms (I’m talking about the tree, of course, not the truck:)). And the third is just beautiful. Did you take in a botanical garden?
I’m glad you had a good time in CA!
Thanks Svetlana – yes the tree was marvelous. I have a shot of the entire tree and it’s incredible, but the truck is lost in that photo. And yes, San Diego Botanical Garden for the final shot. good eye!!
I did miss you and welcome back. I’m glad you had time off and time to enjoy with your husband. Lovely post as usual. I found it interesting to read about your camera as I currently take almost every photo on my blog with my iPhone.
janet
Thanks Janet – yes, I definitely need to upgrade to the new iphones. I have an old Iphone 4 and the photos are awful. i think the new ones will take better photos than my P&S!
Love the B & W photo of the old truck sitting next to the tree, it really engages me and pulls me into the story.
Thanks Charlie – it pulled me in as well!
Fabulous photos, but even better camaraderie and memories.
Thank you my friend – always wonderful to be with you guys!!
Such wonderful images and perfect for the prompt! You worked magic with that point and shoot!
Thanks so much Susan – you are WAY to kind! but much appreciated 😊
The abandoned truck and the tree is my favorite. Could the future hold a convergence as the tree and the truck might become one over time?
Thanks John – hmmm….having visited the LaBrea Tar Pits while out there I’d have to say yes, someday we’ll ALL be mixed together in one big messy lump!
Nice take on this week’s challenge Tina…had to be tough to leave the camera behind, especially in California.
Thanks Andy – since it was primarily a people visit it wasn’t TOO bad leaving the big boy behind. But I SURE missed it at the Monarch Butterfly rest stop we visited!
Great photos Tina – that old truck is a classic. I’ve thought about getting a mirrorless – but not sure if they are suitable yet to wildlife and sports. Folks who have them seem to enjoy them.
Thanks Nora – yes that’s the one knock on mirrorless, just not fast enough for wildlife and sports. Maybe next year??
Nice shots T. Wondering how you felt for that week without blogging?! It is almost like brushing your teeth in the morning. …a habit, a ritual, …one that refreshes!
LOL, you’re right Ginny – but every once in a while it’s good to miss something because you appreciate it more the next time. So too my trusty Nikons!!
Wonderful
Many thanks Rabirius.
Great photos Tina. Thank you!
Happy you enjoyed Jaap, thanks!
Great to see you last week! California is full of old trucks – that’s a good one.
Thanks Jane-you too! Yes, we see many more vintage cars out there – probably because you don’t have those potholes from the northern snows!!
Great shots. I loved the last one the most.
Thanks so much Charuhasacharya – that one was a lot of work but I think it came out OK at the end of the day!
My favourite shot in this post is definitely the one of the abandoned truck.
Thanks Colline. I took one that also included the incredibly beautiful oak tree behind it but the truck got lost in the shuffle so I chose this one. Glad you enjoyed.
I am using my imagination and enjoying what I see Tina 🙂
😊 And a wonderful imagination it is Andrew! Thanks so much.
Good to see you back, Tina! Apropos mirrorless….I have been a Nikon girl for more than two decades, but my D300 is just too heavy now because of muscle fatigue with MS…so I have switched to mirrorless, and whilst I still have moments of wondering if I’ve done the right thing I am largely pleased with my little OMD EM1. But I did love Nikon glass!
Thanks for your input Sue – glad to know you’re happy with the mirrorless. More and more shooters are going that way. I’m wondering if waiting a year will mean even better technology. Ah the quest for perfection!!! (and lower cost of course!!)
Ha! Perfection – are you a pixel-peeper? 😉 but I know what you mean…A small part of me is still wondering if I have done the right thing…I was so wedded to my Nikon! Basically, I need to take a bit more care whilst I am getting used to handling the mirrorless – I make mistakes that I wouldn’t have done with the D300 because that was more intuitive for me. But I looove the weight! I know I shall have a camera with me more often now.
These are great photos, Tina! You certainly made great shots without equipment. I love the circles within circles… capture!
Thanks Amy – that was an especially tough one because of the bright sun and shadows. Thank goodness for post-processing altho I was definitely pining for my good Nikon!
I did miss you! Glad you are back. Good camera not withstanding, these photos are beautiful. Welcome to my struggles with a small point&shoot… 😦
Thanks very much Lois! And I feel your pain on the PandS !! Empathy is always stronger than sympathy LOL
Yes, Tina- you were missed last week… good to see you back… and even more, good for you for having the courage to leave technology behind. That’s a very tough vacation to take!
Love this collection of quotes; and, as always, love the photographic compliments (or- actually, it”s the other way around… the quotes compliment the photos…) Either way- super ❤
~Jane
Thanks Jane! yes, I kind of felt like I left my right arm at home 😀. But I’m back now and my camera is nearby if needed!!
The photographer’s eye overcame any lack of equipment!
Nice.
Thanks Ruth – but happy to be back home with my trusty Nikon by my side once again!
Beautiful captures and perfect portrayals of the photo challenge. The tree in the second was my absolute favorite. I can’t see what kind it is, but that trunk twist is beautiful!!
It’s a giant oak tree MMT. I actually had a shot of the whole thing but in capturing the tree the truck was pertty lost. Thanks for stopping by!
Good stuff! Great pictures and accompanying text is inspiring!
Thanks very much “la chica”!
Great post. A Mirror-less camera if it has flash built in can trigger a Nikon flash in slave mode. You could have the best of two worlds;)
Thanks Victor – excellent food for thought!