This week, Sofia issues the challenge – harking back to the very first Lens-Artists Challenge – This week we’re looking back at the very first Lens-Artists Challenge, July 2018, hosted by Patti. You can find that post here. Marvel, wonder. Elation, inspirational. We’re looking for the moments, places, and people that we treasure, the little stories behind a shot that stuff our lives with meaning and joy.

Photography in general often creates a sense of wonder for me. That I am able to capture on film or digital memory scenes of the infinite variety and beauty of nature, or the intricate beauty in a single flower, or the intricacies and harmonious details in a rich urban scene, always leaves me with such a feeling of awe and wonder.

Few places fill me with wonder as much as the Grand Canyon (below and in the Featured Image above). Nearly two billion years of Earth’s geological development can be seen in the Grand Canyon.

I’m in awe of the Painted Desert, overwhelmed by its history. This fills me with wonder. The Painted Desert was named by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado during his 1540 quest to find the “Seven Cities of Gold.”

The delicate beauty of a pure white rhododendron flower is also a thing of wonder. Such perfect design in nature!

Hiroshige’s Great Wave Off Kanagawa fills me with wonder, not only at the artist’s technique, but because of Hiroshige’s entire collection (Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji, 1831) and because of the culture and history of Japan during the Edo period (1600-1860). From Wikipedia: The Edo period was characterized by prolonged peace and stability, urbanization, economic growth, social order, isolationist foreign policies, and popular enjoyment of arts and culture.

Trees always fill me with wonder. They are such wonderful long-lived beings, protecting and presiding over the landscape with elegance and grace. This image of trees is shot lying in the grass in summer and looking up.

And, finally, as I’ve mentioned numerous times, I find the magnificent Big Sur of coastal California to be a place of wonder. The Big Sur is a region of the California central coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It has been described as the longest and most beautiful scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the United States (excepting Alaska and Hawaii).

Thanks to Leya for a great challenge. Next week is John’s turn to lead us, Saturday 20th June. Watch for it. If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.