Lens-Artists Challenge #230 – Last Chance
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come.”
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Each week the Lens-Artists Challenge presents us with an opportunity to include images on a specific subject. But what about the images that are among our favorites but have not fit any of the categories? This year we’re giving you an opportunity to include images on any and all subjects that are personal favorites – BUT, they must have been created in 2022 AND must not have been previously published in response to a Lens-Artists Challenge! It’s an opportunity not only to revisit 2022’s images, but also to take a stroll down memory lane for some of the year’s highlights. (special thanks to Amy for the idea!) For example, I’ve opened with an image made during a walk with a very good friend who sadly for us left Kiawah to move closer to family. She and her husband are sorely missed but of course are still in our hearts.
“Every year, Every day, Every moment Begin again.”
Shellen Lubin
Those who follow me know how much I love our annual sweetgrass bloom, when the fragile green becomes a brilliant rosy pink. I made the image above in September at the entrance to Kiawah’s Ocean Course but it never quite fit this year’s challenges. Also on the subject of blooms, the grouping below includes several I’d seen in this year’s travels but hadn’t used for any of our challenges. On the left a cactus and a wildflower from our visit to North Carolina this past summer, and on the right a floral display on which I loved the sign during a visit to NYC earlier this year.
“This year will become next year if you’re not careful!”
Anthony T. Hincks
While in NYC I always like to head out for a short photography walk with i-phone in hand, to explore nearby neighborhoods. I made both of the following images that way. We were in NYC twice in 2022 and the reflection images that follow were from each of those visits.
“Celebrate endings, for they precede new beginnings.”
Jonathan Huie
As reflections go, NYC because of its many high-rises is filled with them. While we do not have high-rises here on Kiawah, we do have more than our fair share of reflections. The image below captures one of my favorites, which I pass every time I walk to the beach. It is beautiful any time of day, especially when the sweetgrass is in bloom. On this day however, it was the deep blue of the sky reflected along with the palmettos in the pond below that drew my eye.
“I heard someone say, “It’s December! Maybe 2022 saved the best for last.”
Steve Maraboli
I’ve posted a few times about my good friend and her 2 beautiful Bernese Mountain dogs. Sadly this past year both Mozart and Geneve journeyed over the rainbow bridge. Never one to dwell on sorrow, my friend has a new light in her life, mini-bernedoodle Nellie, shown below with Geneve before she passed. I consider it a privilege to be asked to photograph loved-ones and was happy to capture this image as the new “baby” worked to get the attention of her “big sister”.
“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.”
Josiyah Martin
Of course, we cannot close out a “favorites” post without at least one butterfly! This year I posted several but somehow this one was lost in the shuffle. This is its opportunity to shine 😊.
“Life is such that beginnings and endings are neither. “
Craig D. Lounsbrough
I’ll end this set of favorites with an image from a visit early in 2022 to nearby Magnolia Gardens. I’ve added a touch of impressionist blur to soften it. To me it speaks of peace and serenity, which I wish for all of us as we journey toward the year ahead.
“Treat every day like it’s a new year because it is.”
TemitOpe Ibrahim
As always, we thank you for your beautiful responses to Ann-Christine’s Perfect Patterns challenge last week. We hope you’ll join us this week with your previously-unused favorites of 2022. Please remember to link them to my original post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.
And now for some news! It gives us great pleasure to announce that Donna Holland of Wind Kisses will be joining the Lens-Artists team beginning in the New Year. Donna has been a loyal follower of our challenge, has previously Guest-Hosted, and consistently delivers thoughtful and beautifully illustrated posts. Be sure to follow her at her site, windkisses.com. We are also announcing that the Lens-Artists Challenge will be on hiatus for the remainder of 2022. We look forward to rejoining everyone when John leads our Challenge on Saturday, January 7. In the meanwhile we send thanks to all of our followers and participants as well as warmest holiday greetings to all who celebrate, and our best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.
Travels and Trifles 
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The standout for me is Nellie with Geneve. Or maybe, that’s a product of Instagram, and me watching too many snippets of dogs, cats, turtles, owls, and hedgehogs 😅 Happy 2023 to you and your family, Tina.
LOL thanks Henry, they are really beautiful dogs and wonderful companions for my friend. Sadly Geneve passed away of old age soon after I made the photo
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The Sweet Grass in bloom is beautiful. I like the shallow depth of field; it makes the foreground pop – your photography never ceases to amaze me. It is tough to choose a favorite, and the Sweet Grass does it for me, but I have to say your NYC Reflections has that touch of creativity that makes it unique. Funny, these are the things I love about viewing the photography of others – it makes me think, “hmmm, I want to give that idea go myself” 🙂 Reviewing old photos is also an excellent process to learn, as it is fun to uncover a jewel that has been overlooked, as you did with the butterfly shot, giving it an opportunity to shine. An excellent series to end the year with, Tina, and I look forward to what ’23 will bring.
Thanks as always Randall for your lovely comment. This year the sweetgrass was incredible, perhaps a warning of a very cold winter to come! We were in the low 20s last week but happily are back to 60s now. I find it more difficult to choose favorites these days as we are not traveling much and while Kiawah’s nature is astoundingly beautiful I fear readers may become bored with it after a while !! Then again, it’s an interesting challenge for me to keep finding variety in the everyday scenes. Fortunately there is always something new to see and being in one place adds a creative twist for a photographer 😊. Here’s to 2023’s opportunities and challenges, whatever they may be!
Thank you so much for hosting this challenge! I’m hoping to conquer the pingback this coming year lol but until then thank you for letting me share my last entry of 2022 and a very Happy New Year to all!!
LOL for the pingbacks Sherry – thanks of much for joining us and Happy New Year to you too
I hope to conquer the keyboard myself Sherry – thanks SO much, not OF much!
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I was just thinking that I had a number of photos on my desktop that I’ve taken lately and not used, but after seeing your amazing shots, I’m a bit hesitant to post them..All of yours are incredible!!!
LOL, thou dost protest too much Judy! Your images are always terrific as are your shared thoughts. Thanks so much for joining us – wishing you all the best in the New Year.
The picture of the dogs is marvellous. What a treasure it must be for your friend. Great topic for a challenge too. Thanks to you and your fellow Lens-Artists for hosting during the year. I don’t take part regularly, but I do enjoy visiting the posts. The standard of photography is so high and the topics are thought-provoking.
Thanks so much Susan, both for the lovely comment and for joining us whenever you can! it’s been quite a journey but our followers and those who join us now and then make it all worthwhile!
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Hi Tina !
https://sheetalthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/last-chance/
Took the chance and posted.
Yay!
HURRAH!!!! So happy to welcome you back Sheetal – and just in time for the year’s close. Wishing you all good things (including a return to blogging!) in the New Year.
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Tina, I always enjoy reading about and seeing your great picures! I especially like the NYC reflections and, of course, pictures of various places on Kiawah. Here is my post this week: https://mycolorfulexpressions.com/lens-artists-photo-challenge-230-last-chance/ Loved your unique topic!
Thanks Sylvia, both for the lovely comment and as always for joining us. here’s to a happy and HEALTHY New Year for us all!
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I may just have scraped through with a few minutes to go!
You did indeed Alison, thanks for joining us!
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Great
Thanks very much
Nice
Many thanks Ayi
Oh dear Tina! On the eve of Christmas Eve here is my addition to the fun and beauty. My family will be here tomorrow – about 12 of us if everyone is able to get here. Weather is icy tonight, but should be just rain by early afternoon 12/24. Wishing you and yours all the joy of the season!
lindylecoq.com/2022/12/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-230-last-chance/
Greetings Lindy and thanks so much for adding us to your holiday fun! Enjoy the family and the joys of the season as well!
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Hello Tina, Your images are always stunning, brilliant, amazingly sharp. Thank you for hosting with this topic. It brought on an early end to my hiatus. My offering can be found by following the link.
So glad you decided to interrupt your hiatus with this one Paul! Many thanks for the lovely compliment and for joining us for our closing post of 2022!