Lens Artists Challenge #42 – Creativity

“Dreaming is easy. Creativity is a lot of work.”

E. Obeng-Amoako Edmonds

FACADES

This week Ann-Christine has challenged us to show some creativity.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve taken an artist’s brush to my images, and a recent class reminded me of how much fun it can be.  Combining that with some captures I made during our visit last week to Hudson New York, Ann-Christine has pushed me toward my attempt at artistic creativity. All of todays images were edited using Topaz, Photoshop and French Kiss Textures.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

“Genius creates from the heart.”

Elizabeth Goudge

Hudson is a fun little town in the middle of the Hudson Valley  – home of the well-known Hudson River School of 19th century landscape painters. It is filled with interesting shops and excellent restaurants and offers some great people-watching. At just over two hours from NYC it has become a popular getaway for busy Manhattanites seeking the quiet of a country weekend.

My husband and I were in Hudson for a family event but while there we took advantage of several of the restaurants. Along with delicious meals, I will also admit to having eaten some amazing chocolate croissants, which are high on my list of all-time-favorite foods. I also spent time enjoying the shops and wandering the neighborhoods with my Fuji at the ready.

CRACKED GLASS

“The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt.”

Sylvia Plath

Clearly it was a very creative person (or more likely several of them) who first thought about the town’s transition from a sleepy, one-horse stop along the rail line into a go-to destination. As the process continues to be underway, there are a number of buildings around town that appeal to photographers who, like me, are drawn those that are pre-urban renewal. 

LEANING LADDERS

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”

Joseph Chilton Pierce

It’s a funny thing about travel – places and things one would pass without a glance become much more compelling. In fact, many of the places that drew my focus would probably be considered eyesores were they to be found in my own neighborhood. 

THE DOCTOR IS OUT

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”

Albert Einstein

Not so the restaurant above. How creative the owners were to include the little booth in the right corner – which of course comes from Charles Shulz’s wonderful comic strip.  How many times have you smiled at Lucy’s advice to poor Charlie Brown? I suppose as they say, we do get what we pay for 😊.

THREE WINDOWS AND VINES

“Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.”

Cecil B. DeMille

I was drawn to the contrast of the three red squares in the building shown above. Interestingly on closer inspection I found a sign that said the business (which may or may not have been permanently shuttered) was cigar-making. Inside the window I saw what appeared to be a tall pile of tobacco leaves. Now that trade with Cuba had been opened perhaps American cigar-makers are in danger of becoming a thing of the past.

RED GATE

“To be creative means to be in love with life.”

Osho

The red of the gates above also drew me in to the scene. While the town’s renewal is definitely under way, it’s a bit sad to think that often the character of a place is lost in the process. Happily Hudson seems, at least so far, to be preserving its character while updating its structures.

LOVING DOORKNOB

“Creativity is the only way a man can ever experience motherhood.”

Girish Kohli

So here’s to the creative among us. Those who embrace rather than fear new ideas, those who try new things without worrying about failure, those who challenge themselves to think outside the box. Here’s to Ann-Christine for challenging us to be creative, and to all of those who will respond to her challenge. We look forward to hearing all about your efforts!

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to those who celebrate, and Happy Earth Day to us all!  Remember to check in next week when Amy bring us our next challenge. For more information about joining us, click here.  Remember to use the Lens-artists tag to have your post appear in our Reader section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: creativity, Fuji x-t2, Hudson Valley NY, LENS-ARTISTS

• April 20, 2019
• Impressionism, Photography
• 76 Comments