Lens-Artists Challenge #230 – Last Chance

Pam’s Kiawah View

“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.

Sweetgrass in Bloom

“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.

Favorite Blooms

“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.

Reflections, NYC

“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.

Double Vision, Kiawah Island

“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”.

New Kid In Town

“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 😊.

Lunchtime

“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.

Forest Primeval

“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.

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Tags: 2022, FAVORITES, LENS-ARTISTS, photography, year end

• December 17, 2022
• Photography
• 211 Comments