July’s Photography Theme Image Round-up
In July community members were set the challenge to “photograph the first thing they see”. This challenge was an interesting one, opening up the opportunity to not only allow them to explore their photography, but also learn more about themselves too.
Sometimes when we head outdoors, we instantly see something that catches our eye. Sometimes we go onto photograph this and other times we discount it, as it’s not what we have been “told” makes a good image. July’s challenges supported everyone in allowing themselves to connect with what they were instantly drawn to. In doing so they could look at why. Was it a memory, the colour, the shape, the light or the movement of the subject? From here they could begin to really connect with it, seeing it in its entirety, and using what drew them in to create an image. This opened up more opportunity for connection and photographic opportunities.
On the Sea
Boats and people on the sea drew many in - seeing both the colour and movement on the water.
May Hamilton
Arriving at Nairn Beach I immediately seen a pretty coloured sailboat..I waited till it was in a better position and then a bird to go by. Just taken with the phone camera.
Ian Taggart
visit from one of the ships taking part in the Tall Ships race.
Sue Rafferty
The last day of my trip I had a walk on Low Newton beach in Northumberland. There are lots of classic views of Dunstanburgh Castle from the road down to the beach but the first thing that captured my attention was the light on the water where the boats were moored. A couple of guys were enjoying the lighter sea conditions and obviously having a great time. I like the lightness and simplicity of the image which gives that feeling of being at the coast on such a great day.
Flowers
Flowers proved to be the most popular choice of subject with many being drawn to the colour and shape of them. Members used many techniques and different compositions to tell the story of what drew them in initially. This really showcased how draw we are to colour.
Brian Nicholson
At home today with a sore throat and headache and whilst sitting with my patio doors open to get some air in the first thing I saw was some dandelions at different stages, trying to be creative I played around in manual focus to create this image and some creative addition in the colour for the background.
Stephanie Barker
Since were sliding into the last few days of the challenge, I thought I’d post one last image captured this on my walk
Raymond Metcalfe
A walk to the supermarket this morning this was on the way there lots and lots of bees but I only had my phone just snapped this.
Jonathan Hawkins
I don't get out much at present but the first thing you see outside my house are hollyhocks. This was taken before the rain gave them a good bashing
Aileen O’Keeffe
The first thing I saw when arriving at our local park was the water lilies in the pond - Prior to this I had been trying to capture lilies but was never able to get close enough to them - delighted to find these were at the edge of the pond.
Sue Rafferty
As I walked through the dunes the first thing to catch my eye was the wild flowers in the marram grass , the ragwort really popped but mostly going over so I thought I would try an ICM image which captures the impression of what I could see.
Yvonne Jevons
First thing you see - these are a series of images taken of a clematis that hasn’t done much over the last 3 years but this year it has shown it’s true glory. From a beautiful flower to then losing its petals creating a frond type head and it is now a swirl of lovely fronds. I’m so glad I made these pictures, watching the flower evolve as I am with my photograph
Wendy McCallum
Hubby and I like to head out for a drive after work on a Friday. Whilst stopped in the car, this is the first thing I spotted., i.e. foxgloves blowing in the breeze. Glad I took my camera with me (and a long lens). I guess I could have moved some of the grass on the left out of the way gently but I kind of liked the natural wild look.
Lynn Medley
First thing I saw this morning was seeing the magic lilies are up and blooming.
Leaves and Trees
Trees open up so many photographic opportunities. It was great to see some members being drawn to individual leaves and the shapes of the tree branches.
Adrian Todd
Catching up with this month challenge, this was my first image on arrival.
As it was my first time out for a long time I popped up to a local park where you can freely walk around. I had my kit with a 24mm to 70mm and other lens too. This was my first shot which I love how the leaf was cupping the water from a hard day of heavy rain.
Peter Grant
First thing I saw was how quickly the berries have turned red on the rowan tree behind our house - a week ago they were a pale yellow. It's an old wives tale that a lot of early berries is an indicator that we will have a hard winter - hope it's wrong!
Adrian Todd
A Sun Hug
On one of my many walks around the woods I was drawn towards this small stem of brown leafs. I loved how the warm light was shining to give it a warm blanket of light on its final days.
Wendy McCallum
One of the first things I spotted when we stopped for our picnic lunch across on the other side of the Corran Ferry was this interesting tree! I was attracted to it by its shape and the light and shadow play on its mossy bark and branches. It definitely deserved attention. Fab find.
Carol Spence
After the webinar yesterday I was inspired to get outside with my camera, Clouds heading my way I thought I might just beat the rain I headed up the hill to the woods but alas the heavens opened and I found myself sheltering under the trees! I closed my eyes taking onboard Kims eyes closed exercise and found myself surrounded by beautiful moss and dripping leaves.
Wildlife
Some members were initially drawn to the animals we share the planet with - movement drawing them into connect.
Christopher Battles
As I was driving to the "first thing" challenge I had a "hit the breaks!" moment when I spotted spots! What a treat to witness these fawns.
Simon Temlett
So the first thing I saw at another nature reserve was this marsh frog although the challenge should be first thing I heard. These guys are unbelievable loud for such a little creature!.
Brian Nicholson
This evening I set off from Flotterstone carpark at the foot of the Pentland Hills to try to get some atmospheric images in the rain...I hadn't left the carpark for long when I cam across this toad in the road....I got down at eye level and when I focused it's eye I could not believe the colour of it .
Carol Spence
July Challenge,
The first thing I saw when we arrived to our Airbnb near Glencoe were these adorable Red Squirrels, my husband was still bringing the luggage in whilst I had my camera in hand I can't believe how many photos I took!!
Kathy Wolfe
First things I saw this morning on the beach.
Birds
Birds proved to be a very popular subject choice this month with a mix of images out and about to images created in a hide.
Hayata Takeshita
The one with the clouds was the toughest one. I saw the cloud formation first and the dramatic contrast between light and dark. I had to wait for birds to cross in front. But they moved too fast to get focus as they passed. So I pre-set the focus but then had to get a bird to match the focus. I have lots of blurry bird photos, lol.
Glen Sowerby
Headed down the coast on a rainswept / thunderstorms Saturday. Most people had stayed away so it wasn’t crowded. First thing I noticed were the gulls happily resting on the bollards. Roker Pier in the background.
Aileen O’Keeffe
The first thing I saw when arriving at our local park was the water lilies in the pond - Prior to this I had been trying to capture lilies but was never able to get close enough to them - delighted to find these were at the edge of the pond. Among the lilies was a Moorhen feeding her chicks.
Darrell Oakden
Went to sit in my shed for half an hour and these are some of the first birds I saw.
Hayata Takeshita
I like the shot of the bird in the fence the best. I like how the fence is a real element of the photo. What I really like is how the background went so white. Having the blue takes away some of the starkness of it.
Simon Temlett
After spending all week sitting in front of computer screen pushing buttons, I took a walk in the rain along a local river. Finding dryish shelter under a tree canopy, spent a fantastic hour watching the world go by. After a raucous mob of busy long tailed tits had passed though, it was just me and the dipper...
Simon Temlett
First thiing I saw; gannets again!
Was heading out this morning and I thought I'd go via the seafront. Low tide, standing on the beach, sun in my face (we'll ignore the fact it was blowing a hooley) and these guys are diving just 20 - 30 yards away.
Nature is just freakin' awesome
Hayata Takeshita
My favourite location on the Jersey Shore. It has nice white sandy beaches, several jetties and a fishing pier. It also has an artsy looking bridge between Somers Point and Ocean City.
Simon Temlett
Swallow drinking
The Sky
The sky proved to be very popular too, with many being drawn to the clouds, colours and vast expanse.
May Hamilton
A while after the lovely zoom I was looking out of the living room window and seen my deer family in the field. They are funny. I'm allowed to watch them and speak to them but if they see my camera they run away. I noticed the beautiful light in the field again and the sun setting directly behind a tree.
Christopher Gerard
Ah, now that's a bit better!
Simon Temlett
A bit of a cheat but I took my drone up to photograph some crop marks for an ongoing archaeological project I'm involved in and saw these crepuscular rays...
Michal Havlik
First thing I saw
Hayata Takeshita
First thing I saw. I visited a new location this weekend. This is the Manasquan Reservoir in New Jersey. I saw these awesome clouds over these submerged trees as I approached the parking lot. I had to work quickly because I knew how fast they can dissipate. I managed to get a few shots. I had to keep moving over because the clouds kept drifting!
Stephanie Barker
Sunsets like this can sometimes feel cliché, but when nature puts on a show, like this, it would be rude not to pull up a chair and watch.
I tend to default to taking photos of sunsets,sunrises and cloudscapes. This one was particularly captivating. I adore how nuanced the light, shadow, color and textures are in this image. The mood is subtle yet conveys the magic of it all.
Jarred Wilson
First thing @ First thing.
Being the Fuji fanboy I am I picked up a lil Fuji X100T to be one of those photographers who always has a camera on them this week.
This morning put on a nice sunrise to start off the working week.
Bek McCartney
I was out with the camera the other day and this caught my eye…. Photography of the first thing that I saw…
May Hamilton
Forgot to post this cloud for the other fans of clouds. It was a cracker!
Christopher Gerard
The First Thing I Saw... upon opening the curtains
Bek McCartney
Moody storm clouds, with amazing light.
Landscapes
It was great to see people out enjoying the landscapes that surrounded them. Initially being drawn in but one thing and then including it with all the beauty that surrounded it.
Glenn Sowerby
First thing I saw … Green Lake in Turkey, a tourist trip destination but whilst others rushed to the designated view point I was drawn to the clouds and a different perspective.
Jarred Wilson
A mate and I headed out for a weekend of photography - took a back road called The Forgotten World Highway here in NZ. This was the first view that grabbed our attention
Tricia Wood
The first thing I see in Harris is the iconic hill that is Ceapabhal in all her guises.. I’m always drawn to the littoral zone between land and sea and the interplay with the ever changing light.
Mikal Lindoe
Long time since I last had the time to post pictures, but here are some from the latest trips out with the camera. All shot within an hour's drive from where I live.
Shot with the OM-1 and the 12-40 mm F/2,8 Pro II
Dave Varo
First thing I saw when setting out for a walk across the moors a few days ago. Made on film using my Toyo 4x5 field camera.
Urban Areas
A few members created images in urban areas being drawn in by colour and shape.
Peter Grant
First thing I saw this morning was the sun rising behind a windmill beside a canal in Leiden, The Netherlands as we walked towards the station to catch a train back to Schiphol Airport for our flight home.
Lynn Medley
Using my Lensbaby Sol45 I chose that the beach balls to be the focus with the people walking away a plus. Not of nature but a creative shot with a Lensbaby.
Wendy McCallum
One of the first things we spotted in Inverurie today... loving spotting these patterned rabbits all over the shire.
Travelling and Transport
It’s not always possible to immerse ourselves in one location. It was therefore nice to see one member enjoy some photography on the move and two more head out to photograph the iconic Flying Scotsman steam train.
Wanda-Lynn Searles
First thing I saw this morning. Foggy morning heading to Tennessee from Vermont USA with my dad for the summer. Not the best picture as I’m using my iPhone and not my Nikon D7100 to upload this image faster.
Wanda-Lynn Searles
First thing I saw this afternoon. Looking in the passenger side mirror storm behind us. Having to take pictures with my iPhone XR to upload on here as I don’t have interest for my laptop while visiting my dad in Tennessee. Not a fan of using my iPhone to take pictures as I love my Nikon D7100.
Peter Grant
First thing I saw when I went down to Newtonhill this afternoon was the Flying Scotsman. Apparently this was the first time since 1964 that it had been to Aberdeen.
Ian Taggart
Flying Scotsman
Whilst perhaps not the first thing I saw it was the image I went out to shoot. It is a couple of miles closer to Aberdeen than the recent post of Peter Grant.
Black and White
Black and white can be a great way to emphasis certain shapes and really show the contrast between light and dark. It was great to see many members photograph this way to showcase their subjects.
Dave Varo
The results of Friday's trip out with the Large Format camera.
One of my photographic inspirations is the work of British photographer Fay Godwin. Driving home the other day I spotted a scene where I could try and replicate one of her most recognisable images, that of the A82 approaching Glen Coe.
Dave Varo
Connecting with my local environment #2
Bus stop, bus stop
Darrell Oakden
After listening to Adrian Beasley on the podcast talking about mono photography I was inspired and walking down the track opposite my house this is the first thing I saw.
Neill Windebank
one of my Black & white landscapes
Brian Nicholson
Today has been light drizzly rain all day and I decided to head to Gladhouse Reservoir in hope for some misty conditions ...I wasn't disappointed with the first thing I saw...using black and white picture profile to create a nice fading contrast as 3 geese flew towards me as the rest of the birds settled on the inlets of land into the reservoir.
Sue Rafferty
I moved further along the beach and was drawn to the rocks. I spent ages experimenting with long exposures, watching the waves break and eventually came across this small group.
I was really drawn to these as it seemed to represent so many emotions, the feeling of being overwhelmed at times whilst the tide rises. I decided to edit these as black and white to reflect that emotion but also to focus on the movement and the beautiful rocks.
Neill Wildebank
had a go at black and white
Yvonne Jevons
This is a local pond & the small foliage poking through the water & ripples kept drawing my eye. I felt it was more dramatic in b&w and I liked the abstract feel
Yvonne Jevons
First thing I saw whilst out with a friend. A man made harbour from these strange shaped concrete things. It was a beautiful day, I gathered several images of it and my friend told me a little about the harbour and that although very strange and industrial looking, the gaps in the shapes have attracted a lot of different wildlife including an otter though we weren’t lucky enough to see it. The shapes intrigued me, we laughed that they looked like some weird things from outer space and they had real impact in black and white with a bit of extreme processing.
Shapes and Textures
Connecting deeply with a single subject, it was great to see many members showing the incredible details of their chosen subjects in these images.
Brian Nicholson
First Thing I saw...last week as I left the carpark to hike in the Pentland Hills I saw the lowering sun light up the grasses being blown in the wind.
Adrian Todd
As my garden backs on to a barley field and the sun was just dropping, I ran out with my camera to get a couple of shots. The second picture is a shot though the corn giving the effect.
Ann Bollen
First thing I saw on Arisaig beach
Stephanie Barker
One of the first things that caught my eye- a perfect illustration of the fractal universe we live in.
Kathy Wolfe
Texture in the sand at low tide this morning.
Stephanie Barker
Learning to adjust the quality of my gaze to see old familiar things in a whole new light.
Sue Rafferty
I also created an abstract with the ripples of the water running in one of the streams, the way the breeze was playing with the light on the water was fascinating and looking at it it's hard to believe it is just sand and water.
Stephanie Barker
It’s been so incredibly humid here the mushroom boom is in full force. Caught these beauties on my morning walk.
Katy Wolfe
The first thing I saw this morning. The pond over flow to the ocean.
Yvonne Jevons
First thing I saw - yesterday morning was out in my back yard (amidst lots of building work) and saw these. Not had them in the garden before and they had popped up overnight. I knew they would be trampled once work recommenced so I popped my camera on my trusty homemade camera beanbag and a couple of pics low down. Just loved the shapes and of course they’re gone now so I’m glad I spotted them
Water
A couple connected with water too, enjoying seeing it flow and created the images below.
Denise Savage
From my little exercise the other day. I closed my eyes and just sat. I was at the start of a track near home. I opened my eyes and the first thing I noticed and saw was the diagonal lines of the hill slope, the path and then the creek. Each one being interrupted by the next. I then just sat in that one spot for good couple of hours an bit by bit noticed more little scenes to play with and photograph.
Peter Grant
First thing I saw yesterday - I had an early start and stopped at the Falls of Bruar where I took this 20 second exposure. Funnily enough the falls were within 15 miles of Pitlochry in Perthshire where I lived for about 25 years, but this was the first time I ever took a camera with me.
And a literal interpretation to end upon waking one morning by Ann
Ann Bollen
First thing I saw when I was saying morning to Sally
It is safe to say this month has been great and full of much discovery for the members. It’s great to look back and see all the varieties of images they came up with and hearing their stories on the Facebook group was a delight to read.
Now time for Augusts challenge….
