Shutterbugs and Photographer Friends,
Welcome to the World Through My Lens, 10.2019. The photos below were, for the most part, taken during October for the 2 photography challenges in which I am participating. One challenge is the Sunday Stills series hosted by Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. And the other is The Everyday Eye Candy Project 52 with LaShawn at Everyday Eye Candy on Facebook and her blog, Everyday Eye Candy. Before we get started today, you can visit last month’s World Through My Lens post, here.
World Through My Lens, 10.2019
Had high hopes for learning more about my DSLR camera in the photography class I registered for. But that was not to be. Will share more in an upcoming Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone post. So most of these photos were taken with my trusty Samsung phone. But I am learning to experiment with the settings on it.
Here are my responses to this month’s prompts for the World Through My Lens, 10.2019
WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 41
EVERYDAY EYECANDY PROJECT 52, WEEK 41: Yellow
I have the worst luck growing flowers in El Paso. Try to blame it on the hot, dry climate. But Lowe’s is selling these beautiful – what? – daisies? – so someone in El Paso must be able to keep them alive. Such a happy flower and a happy color. Love the peach tips!
SUNDAY STILLS, 10.06.2019: Lines and Squares
A few weeks ago, PC and I enjoyed a hike followed by a top-down drive along the old highway that connects Las Cruces, NM to El Paso, TX. The pecan trees were just beginning to change color. They created the loveliest, leafiest canopy across the road and it was a delight to drive under their branches.
The photo I selected for ‘lines and squares’ was taken of a pecan grove we passed along our way. I saw lines everywhere: in the trunks lined up in near perfect rows, in the branches reaching for the sky and in the fencing surrounding the orchard. When I got home, I was sad to discover the lines didn’t show up as well in my photo as they did with the naked eye. Often the case. Photography just can’t always accurately capture natural beauty.
So I used a couple of filters on Prisma to enhance what my eye saw but my camera did not. By doing so, I discovered the squares in the fence. I give you lines and squares.
World Through My Lens Week 4
Everyday Eyecandy Project 52, Week 42: Pumpkins
Our Lowe’s had the most interesting assortment of pumpkins and gourds. I snapped this first photo there. These gooseneck gourds were so unique but too rich for my budget.
These are the pumpkins we selected from the pumpkin patch at La Union, New Mexico. More fun to pluck them from the vine than grab them from the bin.
Sunday Stills, 10.13.2019: Think Pink
Taken right before my mammogram, you can see my bra on the table behind me. Rosy-ed up this photo with a filter called ‘rouge’ for additional think pink emphasis. Seventeen years ago, when Brennyn was only 18, she found a lump on her right breast. We got her in right away for a check and images. Four days later she was having surgery to remove a 5 cm+/2 inch+ mass. Thank goodness, it was something called an fibroadenoma.
Eight years ago, I had a similar scare when my mammogram results showed a mass on my left breast. Additional images indicated the need for a biopsy. And hallelujah, the results were benign. Now I have a tiny marker in my breast but the mass has disappeared. More hallelujahs!!
Get your mammogram, girls! Knowledge is power.
World Through My Lens Week 43
Everyday Eyecandy Project 52, Week 43: Everyday Life
The Outlet Shoppes of El Paso have become our favorite shopping and walking and spending place. We visit at least once a week under the guise of getting in some steps. But rarely come away empty-handed. Lately, I can most often be seen carrying an #H&M shopping bag and PC usually scores something at #UnderArmour. We also patronize #OldNavy, #LoftOutlet, #NikeOutlet with much enthusiasm and regularity. So the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso have become part of our weekly, if not almost everyday, life.
Sunday Stills, 10.20.2019: Birthdays
We don’t have any birthdays in October. Not immediate family, anyways. PC’s mom’s birthday is in October. But I don’t have a photo from her celebration. So, I dug deep in the archives of my Google photos to find this gem. It was taken the day before my granddaughter Cady was born, so 07.27.2010. Brennyn’s birthday is 07.30 and Lauren’s is 07.31, so in this photo we are loaded down with bags from Target, where we had gone birthday shopping for everyone. The next morning was our sweet baby Cadence’s birth-day. This isn’t a stellar photo by photography standards but it is a fair photo that radiates love and reminds me of good memories.
World Through My Lens Week 44
Everyday Eyecandy Project 52, Week 44: Boo
Since Lucia was tiny (she’s not too big now!), she has talked about seeing ‘ghosties’. I talked a little bit about it, here. She has always loved putting a blanket over her head and pretending she is a ghost. The night we carved jack-o-lanterns was the perfect time for her to toss on a plaid throw, transforming herself into a ghostie. And we all know what ghosties say…”Boo!”
Sunday Stills, 10.27.2019: Something Scary
Okay, I am bending the rules here, but I am giving myself permission to do so! Sharing a little video rather than a photo for something scary.
PC and I dressed up and took Cia trick-or-treating. Had the best time. At one house, ‘Campa’ played a trick on Lucia. There was a large baby doll attached to the wrought iron gate leading up to the house. As Cia approached the gate, PC touched the gate lightly and it swung (or swang?) toward her, causing Lucia to promptly turn around and head back down the walk. But what came next scared us all! Have a look.
RANDOM SHOTS
As always, I will close out this post with a few random shots I have taken during the month.
More Lines
Walked by this wall downtown with its delicate cut-outs and had to snap a pic. Took 2 or 3 without my big head in the frame but then accidentally snapped a shot with my face partially in the photograph. I like the contrast between light and dark, the blue in the sky, also visible through the open work in the wall, and the blue of my chambray shirt. The orange in my cardi plays well with the blue tones.
Hide and Seek Cia
At first, Lucia was a bit reluctant to explore the corn maze. Then she realized it was a grand opportunity for a big scale game of hide and seek. Off she went. With Gabba fast on her heels.
The Rio Grande
Not so grande where it runs through El Paso on the border with Mexico, the Rio Grande was more impressive outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Would liked to have waded in it but there were trespass warnings everywhere. And the current was surprisingly swift.
YOUR TURN
What would your World Through my Lens 10.2019 post look like? Well, here’s where you share a photo with me! Would love for you to share a recent fave photo from your phone over on my Facebook page. If not a favorite photo, how about the 3rd photo in your gallery? I will go share mine, now. Meet you over there?
P.S. Hope you stop back by on Tuesday for our second annual soup-stew-chili recipe swap and blog hop. Lots of great recipes and a link-up so you can share your favorite fall soup.
Hugs and kisses,
Nancy
Beautiful photos Leslie! Especially the pumpkins, such beautiful colors! Enjoy your Sunday!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Nancy!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Those yellow flowers do look happy!! That one green pumpkin looks like a goose or was that a gourd? Cute pic of you and your girls! And boo to that scary ole spider scaring that baby girl!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Wasn’t that a mean ole spider. Poor Cia. And poor PC and Gabba who didn’t expect the spider to jump either. Thank you, Dee. Have a story idea percolating. Need to get ‘er written for the tent prompt!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Can’t wait to see what story you create!! I’m changing the short story prompt party a bit. Instead of the party being open for 20 days, it will be open for 10 days but I’ll post the prompt a few days before the party opens so that maybe others will have a chance to create a story and get linked up.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Sounds like a good plan. Once I come up with my idea, I generally write it all at once. But sometimes I can’t think of a story!! Thanks for letting me know.
Dee | Grammy's Grid
You’re welcome 🙂
Retirement Reflections
I love your autumn photos, Leslie. You are a talented photographer!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, my…have never considered myself a photographer. What a sweet compliment! Thank you so much, Donna.
Tamara
That video is EVERYTHING! 💖
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Aww, thank you!! Felt like a mean old grandmother but we had no idea what was going to happen and all of us jumped when the spider popped up!
Terri Webster Schrandt
You had a busy October with your phone capturing great moments! I’m always so happy to see your monthly posts! If your phone works and you still are learning you camera, then you just do what you can. I took some photos with my camera but accidentally put it on a weird setting where I couldn’t see what I downloaded! Luckily I could import those into Lightroom and could view them. And BTW, creativity is encouraged for the Sunday Stills challenges, so your scary video makes the cut. Also, I’ve been known to take photos at garden stores too, just in case I can’t find my own when needed. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Terri. Your floating ginkgo leaves was such an inspiration. Will be looking for similar possibilities here if we get a nice rain. Or maybe objects frozen in ice for a similar effect?
Laura Horton
Your pictures are so beautiful! It is finally fall here in Louisiana, so yes, please, bring on all the soup!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Woo hoo!! Hope you found some soup recipes to try.
Ruth Josey
Wow! So many things you’ve covered! First of all, I love the first photo of the pecan trees and the squares in the fence, but I really love it when you posterized it (or cartoonized?). I’ve never thought of pecans growing down in El Paso. I do have two in my backyard but nothing interesting with those two :/ I’m so sorry your photography class didn’t give you any help. I did get a book for my new camera, which has been a little help (and it would be a whole lot more if I’d spend more time reading it). It’s one of the For Dummies series specifically for my camera (Google yours and I’ll bet there’s one for it, too). I picked up a bag of cute little assorted gourds and those are in a bowl on my dining room table. I love the way they look but I’ll bet they’re a whole lot neater when you pick them yourself. Those flowers at the first part of the post are so pretty! You’d think that fall/winter flowers would be pretty darned hardy. Well, you’d think that about summer flowers in our Texas climate, too, but I think for the first year they require water :/ I need something that requires absolutely NO water (or care) whatsoever. Your girls are gorgeous and your granddaughter is just precious! Love the Halloween scares – it’s things like that that they’ll remember forever (at some point fondly). Gorgeous wall! I really need to head to downtown Dallas and find some of the great backgrounds for my photos! And I love that your head ended up in it! I’ll try to get by your FB page and post a photo (I took some of trees at the rec center I use for workouts. I parked and they were such gorgeous colors). And a chili cookoff! I don’t cook chili but I love the idea of attending a cookoff (don’t we love those in Texas?)!
Ruth
VogueFauxReal.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think it has turned off quite nippy where you are in Texas as well as here in El Paso. My hands are so cold this morning, I am struggling to type. What a great idea to look for a book on my camera. The little guide it came with is so small, I guess to easily pack in a camera bag, but I would need a microscope to read it. Thank you for that suggestion. And for the sweet words on my babies and grand. We are so enjoying having them here in EP with us. That is what life is all about.
Shugunna Alexander
First of all, your grandbaby is very brave! I would have ran, ran and screamed and ran; lol😂😂😂my daughter would have done the same. Thanks for that video, still laughing. Beautiful pictures my Leslie!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha, glad you enjoyed the video of Lucia and the spider. Felt like the meanest grandmother but we had no idea what was going to happen either!! I think PC and I jumped, too.
Dara
Lovely pictures! I like the lines and squares and the pumpkins and gourds!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Dara!!
Nancy Dobbins
Hi Leslie,
What lovely photos…great color and composition (at least to my untrained eye!) I use my iPhone for all my blog photos and think it does a pretty good job for my purposes.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Our phone cameras are so handy and pretty amazing. I am beginning to try photos with mine in the ‘pro’ mode…ha! And it allows me to be a little more creative.
Jill
Love the filters you put on that first photo! The video of your granddaughter trick or treating is precious! She is such a doll!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. I love our little munchkin. Having such fun being a hands-on grandma.
Cindi
You’re a great photographer. I wonder if any of those photo stops need a Santa’s helper or something (YOU!) You rock!
Love your photography posts the best!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Cindi! To have someone call me a photographer is a great honor. Maybe I should look into being Santa’s elf this year! Did that years ago.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I have cysts in both of my breasts and they came up on my first mammogram and I had to go in for an ultrasound, no biopsy needed. It really is so important to ‘know’ your breasts and to get these mammograms done. Even if they make you anxious, it is better than not doing it! Those flowers are so colorful! I need to take photos just for fun again.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Do you have to have the more indepth mammograms? I can’t remember what they are called but because my breasts are so dense, they have to squish them even harder. But they can tell more about them by doing so and it has eliminated for the need for more studies and biopsies. When I had my biopsy, the doctor doing it was nuts. He went into my breast on the left and complete across it to try to hit the mass on the inside right of my breast. Even the nurses were upset and complaining about what he was doing. I had to direct him by watching the screen and telling him to go left, right, up. But it was all worth it to hear ‘no cancer’ at the end.
Rebecca Jo
What a fun little whoops with the camera capturing you on the side – I love it.
Love the fun edits you are doing. Gives photos such a life.
Cant wait for all the recipes tomorrow!!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Rebecca Jo. My camera has become my new best friend and favorite hobby.
Erica/Erika
Exceptionally beautiful photo of the daisies, Leslie! I could not decide on the colour and I agree with peach. Great effect on the lines and squares. I have not yet worked with Prisma and I have added it to my fun file.
Thank you for bringing attention to the importance of mammograms. Beautiful smiles on the family photo. I especially like how you captured Lucia in motion. Are not all children constantly in motion? Fun and interesting post. Looking forward to your Outside Comfort Zone post:)
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I tell you, this Lucia is like something else. So much more active than my daughters! Whew!
Thank you for the kind compliments on my photos. I am really beginning to enjoy photography. Hope you will check out Prisma. I appreciate that it has a free subscription that still allows for a lot of functionality and fun.