Lens-Artists Challenge #195 – Colorful Expressions
“How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun.”
Vincent Van Gogh
This week Anne invites us to explore color and the way it influences our images. Vibrant colors like those of the toucan above and the artistic glass below drew my attention despite the fact that I’m not much of a fan of either yellow or orange. Still, I couldn’t resist their bursts of color.
“Orange is an underrated color, it’s the second most underrated color after yellow.”
Michel Gondry
Blues and greens, on the other hand, are among my favorite colors. In studies of the emotional impact of colors it’s been said that green is the color of nature and growth (or on the other hand envy and greediness), while blue denotes calmness and stability. Nature, growth and calmness – no wonder I’m drawn to them!
“Green calm below, blue quietness above.”
John Greenleaf Whittier
Whatever their meaning, I loved nature’s color combinations of green and red in the plant above, and the green and blue of the peacock feathers below.
“Earth – a tiny blue and green oasis of life in a cold universe'”
David Suzuki
Sometimes it’s the combination of multiple colors that catch the eye and draw the lens, for example the three brightly-colored images that follow:
“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.”
Claude Monet
At other times, it’s monochrome subjects that draw the eye – such as the two images that follow:
“There are only 3 colors, 10 digits and 7 notes. It’s what we do with them that’s important.”
John Rohn
I hope you enjoy this week’s play-date with color as much as I have. Sincere thanks to Anne for the gift of a smile as I created this one. Please remember to link your responses to Anne’s original here and to use the Lens-Artists tag. Thanks also to Sofia and to all those who responded to her bokeh challenge last week. It was great to see the results from those who were familiar with the technique as well as those who put it into practice for the first time.
We’re excited to announce that next week’s Guest Host will be none other than JohnRH of John’s Space. Take a moment to visit his ever-interesting blog to be sure you don’t miss his post. Until then, as always please stay safe and be kind.
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Travels and Trifles 
Absolutely beautiful ! I love every photo!!
❤️❤️
OOOh la la what gorgeous colors, Tina. What a wonderful treat to the eyes.
Such brilliant colors, Tina. I love that bird at the top. Really sets the mood for the others. Our encounter with the Chihuly installation occurred at Biltmore, but I’ve heard it’s moved to different places. So glad we saw those colorful pieces, any of which would have been good for this challenge. But you’ve selected a great one, one that shows up in the dark!!!
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Absolutely gorgeous post, Tina – this time you knocked me out at first sight! Ah, what a gallery! “Having a Ball” with them all, but this time my favourite is Chihuly. Wonderful.
Many thanks Ann-Christine. Hard to go wrong on this one 😊
Tina these all so vibrant and colorful . Saw those umbrellas in Asia and are so colorful . Thanks for sharing these Anita
Thanks Anita! Yes those were at a market in Cambodia. The colors were so vibrant!
They were so beautiful..didn’t see them in Cambodia but we saw some Chiang Mai.
Your photos are really something to behold. I admire the framing, the light, and obviously the play of colors!
Thanks so much Florin, very unusual for me!
Beautiful images and colours Tina, I especially love the toucan and the Chihulys! 💖
Thanks Xenia, that bird was incredible!
I think this might be one of my favorite posts of yours!! Outstanding Tina!
Well that certainly gave me a smile this morning Pam! Many thanks.
💛💛
Stunning colorful expressions of colors you’ve showcased, Tina.
Gosh … you posted 4 photographs I almost added too. But, yours
photos are perfection. I took a few photos of a Toucan when I was in Colombia.
I found them very interesting to photograph. Your umbrella photo is mesmerizing.
I saw Chihuly in Vegas. His gallery there is awesome. Great entires, as always.
Isadora 😎
Many thanks Izzy. Yes the toucan is a bird we never see here and his coloring was just so amazing! and the umbrellas are a personal favorite. Glad you enjoyed.
Great colour combination! I also prefer green and blue, but the composition of yellow and orange is really beautiful!
Thanks very much Simone. BTW I wanted to comment on your little ant image but comments were closed. I absolutely loved that image!
Thank you Tina! 🐜
What would life be like without colour ! A beautiful colour celebration here Tina . Yellow has come into my life more the older I’ve become… love that ‘simple’ quote from Van Gogh🌞☀️🌞 perhaps I’ve overdone it therewith 3 Lol
Aren’t those peacock feathers gorgeous !
Hi Poppy – always loved to see your name come up! Not sure what it is I dislike about yellow, after all I adore sunflowers and mustard flowers – ah well, not losing sleep over it LOL. And yes, the peacock is so glorious when showing its colors. Couldn’t resist that one!
Oh wow so colourful and vibrant Tina! Love them all!
Thanks very much Aletta, glad you enjoyed.
What a smorgasbord of color, Tina! I liked the bright colors of the toucan and the more subtle colors of the succulent plants.
Thanks Siobhan – we had so very many ways to go after this one!
It’s interesting isn’t it how colours that we wouldn’t pick out as favourites nevertheless attract us as photographers?! But everyone seems to be drawn to blues and greens, probably for the reasons you cite. Maybe that’s why your peacock tail is one of my favourites here, along with the colourful umbrellas!
Thanks sarah – that umbrella image is one of my personal favorites. I’ve used it before and its one of few I have hung on my walls.
A set full of classics. The succulent is lovely and new to me. When you just say the words one might think that red and green would look brighter than red and blue, but in the photos of the succulent and the peacock’s feathers, it is the other way round.
Thanks I.J. – the succulent is one that I’ve seen often in California but never locally here so I find it unique and beautiful.
Those opening images immediately drew me in. Color on a grand scale!
Thanks John – yes I went for the “full monty” this week LOL!
I love your choices of images and quotes, Tina.
Thanks very much Rupali
Wow! You’ve certainly delivered colour! I can’t decide on a favourite …
Thanks Margaret, glad you enjoyed. It was a fun exercise this week.
Wow, Tina. You took colourful to a different level. Wonderful, beautiful post.
Thanks Sofia, must admit I enjoyed putting this one together.
All of these are glorious, Tina, but even as much as I love Chihuly (as you well know) that first one with the toucan is my favorite. It’s colorful on its own but the background makes it special. Hope you had a happy Easter.
Many thanks Janet – I felt exactly the same way, hence my including the toucan as the opening image. Great minds think alike LOLOL.
Very clever choices of images putting next to each other.
Thanks very much Cornelia
I’m WAY behind on blogging – but I had to stop by. Great choices of vibrancy and colorful balance. Gotta love what nature provides. The first two pics remind my that my latest beach walk is Yellow. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Hi Frank! Thanks for stopping by on your blogging return! Will be back to check out your yellows!
🙂
I love the Toucan and the Chihuly and ..well all of them. This post and your photos give us the glory of color to the fullest.
Many thanks Anne – I must admit I had fun with this one.
Well what can I say about all this wonderfulness Tina? You know my love for colour.. when I was a child I well remember my favourite colours were the combination of yellow and orange. You couldn’t have given me a better Easter gift than this post 🙂 I’ll share a link on twitter!
Thanks so much Liz – I do indeed know your love for color!! Happy to have given you a smile this week!
What a wonderful burst of colour with fabulous macros and I love the sign 🙂 🙂
Thanks Brian – I love that sign too. It almost looks like the turtles are flying thru the sky – now that’s a fun idea!!
Just have to watch out when they are landing 😂
Lovely bursts of colour, Tina!
Thanks Sue – thought this week’s challenge gave all of us an extra smile or two!
Yes! I need to put a post together..”
So colourful, fabulous
Many thanks Karina
Love love this post… having just spent Easter weekend with my 3 little grandchildren.. their emphasis on color was amazing.. I want the blue one , the yellow one, the green one… love your blues, greens, yellows and yes, oranges… they are happy colors!
Even happier while enjoying them with the little ones Linda! Lucky you 😊
Chihuly’s colours are always fab.
Indeed Jude – he’s quite the master.
That photograph of the blue hummingbird is stunning.
Thanks Khurt. That was from a massive installation of wall art in California. I thought it was amazing.
Love the vibrancy 🌺
Many thanks Indra
Delightfully colorful! Happy Easter!
Thanks so much Laurel – hope your Easter was lovely
Tina, your colorful photos are so cool. You can never go wrong with some of Dale Chihuly glass 😀
He is indeed the master, isn’t he Cee. Thanks very much.
Such wonderful, vibrant colors, Tina. You’ve posted a marvelous collection–again.😀😀. Beautiful work.
Thanks Patti – hard to go wrong when color is the subject!
Thank you Tina! I love these vibrant colors!
Many thanks Beth – look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Such vibrancy. So awesome!
Thanks Dawn. I’m usually a black, grey, tan kind of gal but enjoyed the bursts of color this week.
You certainly wouldn’t know it by looking at this post!
Great job!
Wow Tina! You really got into color and how it affects you. I loved it. I especially liked how you cropped in on the peacock feathers and the cactus.
Thanks very much Anne, enjoyed this one!
Actually there are 16,777,216 different colors in RGB color space, maybe drop a line to John Rohn. 🎨
LOL, I’ll leave that to you Mike! Thanks for stopping by
Turns out he’s dead so…. 😪
I have this sense of joy and peace just staring at the colors.
Colors can have a soothing effect on the mind.
Some of the colors are simple, not so bright colours, yet have a rich and attractive look.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful combinations of colors.
My pleasure Benjamin, many thanks
Wow. GREAT colors. I forgot about my Chihulys. They are always bright. Well done.
Thanks John. Yes, I think he understands color better than most!
So pretty, Tina. Yellow has never been a favorite color of mine, either. Interestingly enough, several years ago we took some kind of color test at work, and I came up a strong yellow. **Don’t tell me we HAVE to do something. I want to know WHY first.** Yup. That’s me! I don’t take orders well. 😆
LOL, I suppose if that’s the description I’m probably a yellow too Lois! Many thanks
I always love the umbrellas!
LOL, me too Sharon! Hope all’s well and that spring has arrived out there.
If spring means rain, yes it has arrived.
I love this series of colors. Excellent selections, Tina! The green/red in the plant is my favorite. The last one is stunning!
Thanks very much Amy – I enjoyed putting this one together. Something about focus on colors brings me a smile!
Such gorgeous, rich colors you share, Tina! I really love the peacock feathers! Coincidentally, I “met” Anne yesterday and discovered she lives in Sacramento, my former home. Wishing you a blessed Easter, my friend.
Many thanks Terri – the peacock is quite a showoff at nearby Magnolia Gardens. Yes, Anne is a wonderful photographer and does a great job of sharing the beauties in and around Sacramento. Glad you found her!
What a wonderful BURST of color to wake up to this Easter morning!!! It just feels good…THANK U Tina!!! ‘Let it rain’ is a favorite…makes me smile!! Happy Bunny!!!
Thanks April, glad you enjoyed these. And Happy Bunny to you too 😊