Lens-Artists Challenge #138 – Natural Light
“A painter works with color as the medium, a photographer works with light.”
Carlotta M. Corpron
Amy’s Natural Light challenge is sure to deliver a treasure trove of sunrises and sunsets, all beautiful in their presentation of nature’s gifts. I’ve chosen to illustrate the light a bit differently this week. I’ve opened with a stormy sky captured on my iPhone one Kiawah afternoon. The storm was about to erupt and a fisherman was scurrying off the dock to reach safety. The deep color of the clouds was broken in places by the last remaining rays of sunlight peeking through. Nature at its best.

“It takes darkness to be aware of the light.”
Treasure Tatum
The dramatic light shining in the image above captures the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon in Utah. It followed a violent storm, the remains of which can be seen in the clouds above the canyon. My husband and I dashed to and remained in our car while the storm raged. Returning to the canyon when it abated we found ourselves alone with this amazing scene, as any other visitors had long departed.
“Life throws challenges and every challenge comes with rainbows and light to conquer it.”
Amit Ray
Not unlike our experience in Bryce Canyon, the red beaches of Prince Edward Island in Canada were made that much more beautiful by the light which followed a storm. There, a double rainbow appeared to further embellish the landscape.
“Let the starlight shine upon you, let it lead you to your peace.”
Victoria Moschou
Not all light is found between sunrise and sunset. Some of the most beautiful light can be found in the twinkling of the stars after the sun has set. My capture above was made at just such a time, when the stars were bright in the night sky over the ocean. Even on a slightly cloudy night, such as the one in my image, the stars can still shine brilliantly.

“O Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on earth.”
Roman Payne
For photographers, the world is filled with amazing subjects just waiting to be captured. While the glories of sunrise and sunset present us with wonderful opportunities, there are many other ways to see and show the light. Both the previous and the following images are examples of simple subjects that, when captured in the right light, become quite special. Above, a beautiful bokeh was created by light on the water beyond the flower, while below, the sinking sun created a lovely backlight on the coneflowers. Yes, they’d seen better days but were still exquisite. How fortunate are we to be able to see, save and share those little moments of delight?!

“A photograph is your vision, held together by light.”
Steve Coleman
Sincere thanks for your wonderful responses to Ann-Christine’s SOFT challenge, which showed us how very many kinds of softness there are! Thanks also to Amy, for pushing us this week toward the light. We look forward to seeing your adventures with light, wherever they may be. Please remember to link to her original post here, and to use the Lens-Artists Tag. I’ll be back to lead next week’s challenge right here on Travels and Trifles. We hope you’ll join me then and in the meanwhile will continue to stay safe and be kind.
Great captures, with some great quotes! The Canyon looks magnificent ..charmed me completely all the way! Double delight to watch the twin rainbows, and the stars speaks volumes. What an escapade with bountiful nature – lights and colors. Truly amazed!
Thanks Rohan, much appreciated
https://thevrindasharmablog.wordpress.com/
I’m really amazed!! The photos are all magnificent! Quotations caught my attention as well 💕
Thanks very much
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Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #138 – Natural Light – STAR
Tina, a beautiful collection of images showing natural light! I especially like the double rainbow and the night sky in Bryce Canyon!
Thanks Sylvia – actually the night sky was right here on Kiawah. Bryce as the post-storm sky
I remember when you went on that shoot this past summer – what a great shot!
They are all absolutely beautiful. I loved stars.
Thanks very much Joyce – it was a fun and interesting photo shoot.
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You’ve captured all these different light situations splendidly, Tina. I especially love the starry sky, something we don’t see too much of, here in Chicago.
Thanks Sue. Hadn’t thought of it but I’m sure you’re right. The ambient light would definitely be a killer.
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Your photos are all wonderful wallpapers of nature and the magic of light playing in them.Well done for capturing these moment.
Thanks very much Christina – Mother Nature did the hard part on this one. I was just fortunate to be in the right places at the right times!
Many wonderful images representing light of all kinds. I could get lost in any number of them. Are any of these images printed and hanging on your wall?
Thanks for that lovely comment Marlene. No, I’ve not framed any of these. No walls left LOL. I do have a few others framed but not many. That’s one of the reasons I like blogging. An opportunity to feature some of my favorites 😊
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The starry night and Kiwah Island captures are truly mesmerizing, Tina. Very lovely 🙂
Can I add this post for my next episode of Weekend Sky challenge?
Of course Hammad, thanks for the honor!
Good captured 👌
Thank you Siva
your photos are all beautiful, Tina. i love them all, i can’t pick a favorite but i lingered at the starry, starry night! it looks magical! appreciate your sharing them! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Wilma, it was a fun learning experience shooting the stars that night. We’re fortunate the there is very little conflicting ambient light here at the beach.
Tina, such fabulous pictures of light. The one of Bryce Canyon took my breath away – literally – when I scrolled down and it appeared.
Thanks Marsha – it was spectacular that afternoon. (although the storm did wreak havoc with our hike!)
Storms do that. We are supposedly having one right now. It’s almost midnight, so I’m not going outside. Neither of us felt like a walk today. I’m ready for spring! 🙂
Fortunately it seems spring has finally arrived in our corner of the world (although I hope Im not jinxing us!) 74 and sunny today. Feels like heaven! Hang in there, it’s on its way 😊
Yes, that sounds like heaven. And when the hot muggy summers come, feel free to come visit us. I’ve been in your neck of the woods in August. 🙂
Believe it or not Marsha, that’s our busiest season 😱. All the residents leave town LOL.
Sent from my iPhone
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LOL. As a northern girl with a dad who had August vacations, that’s when we went places!
The light makes all the difference, doesn’t it. Your first quote crystallizes my quest for the “right light.” Your images are really gorgeous – the sunset and the starry night – wow! The final two are my favorite kind of captures – when the light is at that angle. 🙂
Many thanks Andrea – I’m a sucker for bokeh and backlighting myself 😊
You’re welcome! Yes, I am too. 🙂
Tina these r all FANTASTIC…but i must share that i can’t take my eyes off of ‘ pretty in pink’. It just draws me in…..not to mention that capturing light seems to be a challenging task …at least for me!!!
LOL, thanks April. I actually took that one up near Jeannie and Gordon’s place in Michigan.
I love your post this week, and, although I’ve tried to select one photo I like best, I just can’t. At first, I thought it was the sky in the first one — I love clouds, varying colors and shades, and the patterns of all that together. But who doesn’t like a rainbow? or the delicate light on the coneflowers forming that much-desired fuzzy effect in the background — bokeh. Nicely done, as always, but there’s not one clear winner here. They’re all winners.
Thanks Rusha, I wanted to feature a variety of situations where light made an important difference. Glad you enjoyed
And you did! I’d go to any of those places!
Amazing pictures. Truly the work of the artist. inexplicable Pictures
Thanks very much Monica, glad you enjoyed these.
The starry night makes me go 😍❤
Thanks very much Ananya
Welcome Ma’am!🥺❤
Love all the clicks,beautiful!
Especially the rainbows 🌈 and starry ones.
The starry night click is very interesting.
Do you remember the shutter speed and Dharini.
Just curious.
Thank you for the visual treat.
Read Dharani….as Duration.
My apologies for the typo error.
My IPad going cranky I posted by mistake in Lughlana comment section.
Thanks very much Philo. The starry night shoot was really fun. I went out to the beach with some fellow photographers and we really worked the sky. We were hoping to capture the milky way but alas it was behind the clouds. Anyway the shot I posted was 30 seconds at f/2.8, ISO 1250. I shot it with my Fuji X-T2, 18-55mm lens
Thanks a ton Tina Schell for the detailed information.
I never tried star photography.
Very helpful for my attempt.
My pleasure Philo – good luck!
Beautiful
Thanks very much
Read Dharani…..as duration
My apologies for the typo error
Beautiful nature
Many thanks
Pleasant Nature
Thank you Siva
As always, your photos are breathtaking. The first one and starry, starry, night look like pieces of art. You are definitely a person who needs one of those digital picture frames that rotates so you can enjoy a lot of your photos on a daily basis. 🙂
Many thanks Judy, much appreciated. Had to smile at the digital frame idea. Not sure I’m ready for that level of self-regard, but appreciate the thought!! 😊