Shutterbugs and photography-lovin’ friends, welcome to The World Through My Lens, 12.2020. I am sharing my photos for December’s prompts for the Sunday Stills photography challenge. And in this shiny new year I am joining in for the Winter Photo Scavenger hunt with Mary Lou and Ellen. As well as Lysha’s iSpy photo challenge. More information on both of those below.
But first, let’s have a look at my responses to Terri’s prompts for Sunday Stills for the last month of this incredible year.
Dec 6 City Sidewalks
Dec 13 Winter Wonderland hosted by Susanne at Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Dec 20 Lights *changed the date of this theme to account for my move Dec 12-14.
Dec 27 No Challenge
Sunday Stills 12.2020
Terri had a very hectic December with a huge move from California to Washington over the holidays. I was glad there was no challenge for the last week of the year for her sake.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 49
SUNDAY STILLS, 12.06.2020: City Sidewalks
In my head, I envisioned walking the streets of downtown El Paso by moonlight and street light and taking some – ahem – *incredible* photos. But in reality, we never made it downtown this month, or even this season. So, I give you, my less exciting subdivision sidewalk.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 50
SUNDAY STILLS, 12.13.2020: Winter Wonderland
We have had some cold nights but not much else that would constitute a winter wonderland. Bah-humbug. I have some lovely photos of snowy days in years long past. But that feels like cheating. Plus it is easier to complain than go dig up old photos. Plus, I wanted to take photos of a freshly fallen snow this year. The best I can do with this prompt is a capture of the surprise dusting of snow we received in October. Autumn wonderland. Kinda.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 51
SUNDAY STILLS, 12.20.2020: Lights
Purrsnickitty loves the Christmas tree. We think she thinks we are providing her with her own indoor park every December. And when we pack it all away, she seems to get a little down-in-the-dumps for a few days. Here she is enjoying the tree skirt, the lights, the ornaments of her winter wonderland.
The prompts of January’s Sunday Still photos are:
Jan 3 Your 2020 Retrospective (share your year in images)
Jan 10 Night
Jan 17 Color Challenge: Glacier Blue
Jan 24 Fog and Clouds (PC and I are going to have to go on a trip to find fog)
Jan 31 Your Favorite Landscape
iSpy Photo Challenge 2021
Joining my blogging buddy Lysha at A Camera and a Cookbook for her iSPY photo challenge this year. Lysha hopes to inspire us to “look for the marvelous in the mundane.” Each week she will give us a list of 5 words to “iSpy” and photograph. At the end of each week on Saturday, we’ll link-up our photos and pick up our new prompts.
Week 1 Promts
– Hello 2021! – we welcome the new year quietly with a white Christmas Margarita.
– old – discovered this lovely rattan chair dumped in the desert not far from home. Thinking I may drag it a little further into the desert as a place where I can take respite on my walks. Would love to pose from it in my southern belle gown, too!
– goals – not an especially good photo but here they are. Feeling quite ambitious. And a little tired, just reading them.
– green – the best color in the world. I happily sought out green things for days. Here are just a couple of my findings. When I snapped the picture of the star, I was just trying to center it in my lens. Upon pulling the photo up on my laptop, I realized there was also green graffiti in the shot. And my hands holding my phone. Like the way your eyes kind of travel from the star to my hands to the graffiti and back to the star.
I pass the shed above on my way out to the desert. This green can is on the path I walk once I am in the desert. I should probably pick it up and throw it away. But it has become a little beacon on my walks. I look for it each time.
– happy – my youngest granddaughter Camila celebrated her first birthday this past week. I wasn’t sure we would be able to see her, Covid just keeps on keeping on. But when we dropped off her birthday bag of goodies (and a smaller one for big sister Cia), we were able to peek at the girls. And I was happy.
For next week the prompts we will be looking to photograph or iSpy are as follows:
– parts
– hungry
– details
– home
– sky
Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt (WPSH)
Grateful to my friend Deb for reminding me of this fun photo challenge. Participated in Mary Lou‘s fall scavenger hunt with great success. If I do say so myself. I believe Ellen is hosting this round. It’s not too late to jump in here with us as WPSH will run from 12.01.2020 to 03.21.2021. Just remember, all photos must be your own work and must be taken between those dates, please.
Here is the list of 20 prompts. But notice that up to three of these can be substituted using the alternative prompts at the end of the list if necessary.
- A set of three
- Round and round
- Peek inside
- Glass
- A treasured item
- Horizontal
- An opening
- A sign of the times
- Weather conditions
- Work in progress
- Measures
- In the distance
- Something beginning with C
- One of many
- Something with legs
- A face
- Comfort food
- Something you do every day
- Something yellow
- Marking time
Alt A. In pieces
Alt B. Textured
Alt C. Black and white
The first link up opened this week on Ellen’s blog, A Bracelet of Days.
My Finds
- #3 a peek inside – an old box spring. Guess where? Nope, not my bed. You have probably guessed correctly. This, too, is out in the desert. Would love to orchestrate a massive community clean up of the desert in our area. Maybe that will be my good turn this season. Sadly, the mattress accompanies the box spring. The mattress is mostly in tact but the springs were set on fire so now the coils are exposed.
- #7 an opening – clearly, I need to find inspiration for my photos elsewhere. As this one also comes to you from the ‘treasures’ in the desert near my home. Notice the lovely Franklin Mountains in the background? Nothing like a toilet with a view.
- #8 a sign of the times – no explanation needed.
- #12 in the distance – noticed this view of the Franklin Mountains at the head of the walk I take into – yup, you know it – the DESERT. In the distance, you can see the Organ Mountains in New Mexico. Was a little afraid I might come across a nude body on this particular walk. I didn’t.
You can find all of my photos on my Instagram feed, here. Would be obliged if you followed me and I will gladly return the favor.
YOUR TURN
What images found your lens last month? Photography has become one of my favorite past times this year. If the world returns to normal, in 2021, maybe I will finally be able to take that photography class I have been trying to take.
Hope you will run by to see the exciting photography of my friend Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. She hosts Sunday Stills and is a most talented photographer and storyteller. And stop in at Lysha’s, Ellen’s and MaryLou’s, too!!
Enjoy a picture perfect Sunday, sweet friends.
Hugs and kisses,
Natasha
These are such great photos. I LOVE all your desert finds. What an incredible treasure trove. But I can also see why you want to organize a clean up.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Natasha. I love the goodies in the desert for photography purposes but hate that our environment is being so abused. And then neglected.
Terri Webster Schrandt
I always look forward to your monthly wrap ups of your photography interests,Leslie! Thanks for the extra shout out about the move. Now we patiently wait. I giggled at your frost covered scarecrow and your cracked sidewalk! By the way, using archived images is always encouraged. Hopefully when things slow down in the world, I can get back on IG and FB. I can’t stand to read the hate amongst my friends. Glad you got to peek at your grand babies. Have a great week and take good care!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey, sweet Terri, how are you hanging in? Hope you are feeling settled in your new home. I know what you mean about IG and FB. Deleted my Twitter account the other day because of all the hate. Then reinstated it because I had forgotten I had asked an author a question and wanted to be able to get her response.
I get to actually hug and hold my babies next week as the kids need me to help with them. Life is good!
Amy Johnson
You did such a great job with this challenge. The photo with the booze and the masks is definitely a sign of the times.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Amy. Seeing your latest Bible verse journaling this morning on IG has me grabbing my colored pencils and my Bible.
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life
I love this post! I am going to try to link up with Lysha’s, that sounds like a lot of fun!
I love your photo for happy; glad you got to peek at your littles, I know how precious that is it right now. I wish it were more though.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey, doll!! Thank you for the kind words. I loved seeing my babes and guess what? Lauren called and needs me to help next week. Five days of time with my girls.
Come join the photo challenge and play along when you can!!
Joanne
That winter photo scavenger hunt sounds so fun! You find some really odd… um “treasures?” in the dessert.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha!! You made me snort! Treasures is right…as in one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!!
Deb
Who knew the dessert would hold so much material for photo prompts! I’m also surprised that someone would go to the trouble of taking rubbish there just to get rid of it.
Oh yes please, do somehow get a picture of you in that wicker chair all dressed up!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi Deb, isn’t it so sad that people will go to the trouble of loading up all of that junk only to dump it in the desert rather than taking it to the landfill? Sickening.
Not sure I can squeeze into my southern belle gown but will try!!
Bri
You have a way of capturing art really! That’s how I see your photos!! Love your goals, but even more I love that you got to peek at your sweet grandbabies. Have a great Monday, Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Aww, thank you, Bri. Such a sweet compliment. My daughter has asked me to come help with the babies next week so I am going to be in pig heaven!!
Dara
I really like the found objects from the desert!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks, Dara. I like photographing less than beautiful things but hate finding them dumped in the desert.
Ellie
Such great picture captures! My cats also love it when the Christmas tree is up! Under the tree is their favorite place to be!
Happy belated Birthday to your granddaughter!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Ellie, for the sweet comment. Isn’t the Christmas tree just a gift we give to our kitties. Love the excitement ours display when we take the tree out of the box and begin to assemble it!!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Beautiful photos. Love the scarecrow with the dusting of snow on him!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Carrie. I loved that scarecrow snow picture, too!!
Danielle
These are such great photos! I can’t believe how much you found in the desert! Our cats used to love the Christmas tree too. 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Danielle. I think our desert area needs a good clean up. Not sure who would be responsible for doing it, but oh, there is so much trash out there. So very sad.
April
Fun post, as always. I love taking photos, but my children don’t want me to share most of what I take pictures of–them! It’s just so hard. They are so cute, and I don’t think to take pictures of anything besides them. Ha!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey, April, thank you! I think kids all reach a point when they are done with smiling for mom or grandma for pictures. That’s when they seem to move straight into selfies!! My 4 year old granddaughter is already there.
Laura Bambrick
I love the angle of the sidewalk in the photo you took! And the sky is so BLUE in that star photo! It’s always fun seeing your pics!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laura! No filters necessary for our cloudless blue skies. Gotta love El Paso.
Allie Mackin
A winter scavenger hunt how fun! Love the round up of photos and Purrsnickitty under the tree is too cute! My cats are the same : )
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks, Allie. The Christmas tree is so fun for the kitties in a season where they can’t go out in the backyard much. Hated to take it down.
Lysha
Thanks for joining in on the photo challenge! That is a gorgeous shot of the chair in the desert! The ‘happy’ pic brought tears to my eyes. I know COVID is just rough in so many ways, but I love how people are trying to make the best of it! Your photography game is really getting good. Keep up the great work!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Lysha. So glad to be joining you. Thank you for your kind words. If that chair sits much longer in the desert, it is going to come home with me!
Kellyann Rohr
The mask and vodka bottles – oh yes, a sign of the times indeed! I love that rattan chair you found – what a fabulous cast off! You would look amazing posing with it in your Southern Belle dress!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Kellyann. I could take the mask and the vodka bottles, put on my southern belle dress and sit in the rattan chair!!
EileenT
Thanks for joining us on the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt. You’ve made a great start and I’m looking forward to seeing what you find next. Eileen x
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Eileen. Enjoying the hunt for these prompts. Thank you for coming by!