November’s Photography Theme Image Round-Up
In November community members were invited to explore the theme - Nature vs Manmade. It brought up a lot of interesting discussions around our personal connection to nature, as well as more global environmental themes too. We began to see how us humans connect with the natural world, to grow food, communicate with each other and relax. We also saw many images representing how we use earths natural materials to build our homes and industries. It was a very interesting theme to explore. Below you can see a collection of the images created.
Christopher Gerard
Nestled within a small clump of trees on the hillside above the Cuckmere Valley is the smallest church in Sussex – the church of the Good Shepherd, Lullington. It dates from the 13th century, no less, and is 16 feet square with seating for only 20. There is no electricity and evening services are conducted by candlelight. It is the remains of the chancel of a larger church, which is believed to have been razed by fire in Cromwellian times. I should think it fairly safe to say that the church is older than any growing thing nearby, although there is an ancient Yew tree half an hour’s walk from there which is estimated to be 1,600 years old!
Martin Espinola
Minimal Country Estate with Swimming Pool.
Anthony Hart
Another from this mornings walk
Denise Savage
I was on my usual dog walking path. And noticed the tiny white flowers that dotted the open grass. I suddenly thought “David and Goliath”. I have my own thoughts attached to this image with those words in our nature vs man made theme. And I want to leave it open for others to bring theirs too.
It may not be the most technically correct image. But my phone has a wide angle view that enable to capture the feeling that I had when walking. Some things we do just feel so giant and too big . . . But that little flower - reckon it is one courageous dude.
Andy Ilachinski
Iceland's landscapes may be a dreamland for photographers, but there are constant reminders (well, OK, maybe not constant) of human presence;
Martin Espinola
A different kind of flower.
Martin Espinola
Impact of Farming
Grant Smith
Harvest Ending…
Brian Nicholson
Today I was in Beecraigs Woodland and I found a nice spot for my lunch as I sat on a dry stane dyke looking over the countryside in full appreciation of being able to enjoy days like these after being at home yesterday due to the weather.
I sat here and shut my eyes and listened to the wind in the trees behind me , after some time I got my camera out for this scene that I feel has all the elements for this months theme.
I watched the sheep slowly move about and they made the perfect tringle with one poor sheep left out
Christopher Gerard
One sheep dog, one hundred and thirty five sheep, and a fair bit of fencing.
Jerry William
An orb-weavers creation stands proud in the midst,
unexpectedly thwarted by an early morning mist.
May Hamilton
Finally, some beautiful lichen varieties growing on the fence post. There must be at least 5 different varieties growing here. So beautiful to see ❤️
Brian Nicholson
Yesterday I was revisiting the woodland that surrounds Gladhouse Reservoir for time to reflect on my week and feeling more positive now after the webinar on Friday seeing all the people here in this community which helped me.
I created some lovely images and whilst there it made me realise what photography can give you in the way I love nature and what it can offer....the best wellbeing thing for me.
I loved this scene for the current theme with the beautiful profile of the tree as it leans over towards the manmade fence with it's canopy filling the top of the frame and the backlit luminance of the leaves with the sheep grazing in the background.
Craig Williams
There are a number of manmade items - birdtable, 2 stone owls (one blinded by children), wooden gateway and finally the large cotinus plant in the middle masks a manmade pond with lots of small fish and newts. The garden is approximately 100 metres in length. There are a number of trees all around creating a haven. 👽
Terry Hathaway
I finally managed to edit this image from the workshop weekend last month. The day after the workshop I visited this classic place and timing was perfect for this image - the vastness of nature vs man made
Darrell Oakden
I was out on a mindful walk this afternoon and saw the gate surrounded by trees.
Carol Spence
A morning walk over a bridge to an island park in a local river. Most of our Autumn color is sadly gone.
Lynn Medley
An enticing bridge to follow a path into the forest.
Brian Nicholson
As I said with the huge dump of snow I had to get out a have fun in the snow.....on my way back home I thought this would be a nice way to end this months theme for me with snow transforming what was autumn only a few weeks ago....
I used the lines of tyre tracks to lead you past a telephone poles a walker heads towards the tunnel to a barrier in the background and red sign.
John-Martin Bramham
The Bridge Across natures path
Deanna Roussey
A morning walk over a bridge to an island park in a local river. Most of our Autumn color is sadly gone.
Peter Grant
Nature vs Man-Made: In some way Hadrian's Wall has existed as part of the natural environment since it was built about 1900 years ago. The sycamore tree grew for almost 300 years beside the wall. I was fortunate to see them both the day before some idiot took a chain saw to vandalise the tree.
John Martin Bramham
an image of mine from today in the woodlands I had been itching to photograph this spot for a little while now. while I do like the composition I think fog/ mist is what's need to make it a great image. besides those little bugbears its quite fascinating how nature just takes over our abandoned buildings especially with the three growing out the side.
Andy Ilachinski
I have a few older images (i.e., taken many years ago) of "deeply entwined" man and nature; here is one...
Michael Held
Practising some streetphotography in Kiel yesterday
Denise Savage
The tenacity of nature encourages me. It can crack through the hardest of what we might create or pull together and process from the earth. But the earth, nature will always come back with, but it is mine first. And I will return it to me.
I took this image with the month we were working with Something New. I wandered some streets in near town, something I don't do very often. This had really captivated me at the time.
Brian Nicholson
This was the little fern I mentioned I saw outside...hence my resistance to weed 😊...i used the sunlight to help create contrast and the shadow.
Simon Temlett
a stop for the bus that'll never come.
May Hamilton
The carpet of bright Autumn leaves at the local Angling Club made for an interesting 'sea' for the boats brought ashore for the Winter.
Yvonne Jevons
Nature vs man made - this old staircase caught my imagination
Wanda Lynn Searles
Another from this mornings walk
Greg Sexton
The "Wall and the fence" @ Burghead
Roy Jenkins-Parker
Man Made Sculpture, from fall trees on a disused railway line. Which is now a public footpath. Moss and lichen, infusing with the wood to reclaim it. A circle with nature and man.
Andy Ilachinski
Nature + man-made come together in a park in Southern Florida
Sue Rafferty
Manmade with Nature - Sakura Friendship Garden, Durham University Botanic Gardens.
Granite benches arranged under cherry trees in this circle of friendship, a beautiful peaceful space which had a real connection today. I was thinking of the theme but also how it seems to represent our community values, that coming together, how we have nurtured the community and now as friends share inspiration. I know I for one have grown as a consequence. ❤️
Michael Held
We need stairs to get to the top of the mountain… 🤷🏼♂️ man lost vs. nature I think 😉😄
Christopher Gerard
Inspired by Michael's picture - The South Downs Ways, Westdean, East Sussex
Too many steps to count!
Darrell Oakden
Getting myself ready for a job that is looming.
Andy Ilachinski
OK, as a counterpoint to all my entries thus far for this month's theme (that collectively leave the viewer with "man-made structures being dominated by nature" - this was *not* intentional on my part, just what I found "lying around" my hard drive that might match the theme!), here is an image that is consistent with the theme and (to me, at least) conveys a happier state of mind.
Yvonne Jevons
Unfortunately I have not been able to get out at all with camera so I thought I would share an image from a few years ago of the interior of a roof I saw on my travels some years ago. The natural beauty and skill of the creator held my gaze for a long time and still does
Duncan Bulman
This fisherman's shack in Aldeburgh (UK) is losing the fight I think
Michael Held
This monument from the war is at the Baltic Sea near Kiel. The scenery is somehow nature vs man I thought 😄
Peter Grant
Nature vs Man-made: the wind turbines in Aberdeen bay
Yvonne Jevons
I finally managed to edit this image from the workshop weekend last month. The day after the workshop I visited this classic place and timing was perfect for this image - the vastness of nature vs man made
Rebecca McCartney
Ocean is so calm in the sunrise but the shipwreck shows how the ocean is stronger then man made ships.
Denise Savage
Nature vs Man Made . . . . inspired by an earlier shared of a boat slowly being reclaimed by the elements.
This one is just across the river from my home and in the background is the hill we live on! My home is actually in the picture when I zoom all the way in. . . . . fuzzy though it is.
It's also a location that is used for some photographic workshops I've discovered. Early morning at the right time of year and it is a photographic gold mine. I've been to try and do that, but the bed is always warmer. Hahaha.
The name of this boat is also what the name of the bay and area is. There's a little sign that tells the story. I didn't realise it was here until just recently. Sometimes there can be so much so close to us and we don't even know.
Craig Williams
Nature vs Human Made . . . .Humans made the "cairn" in the sea on the coast at Embleton, Northumberland. I took the shot some time ago but wasn't enamered with it. When I returned several days later to capture Dunstanburgh Castle the cairn was gone. Inspired by the Wasi-Sabi images on the video I played around with a B&W version.
Roy Jenkins Parker
Craig Williams
The West Pier in Brighton was opened in the hey day of pier building in 1866. It was built of cast iron and wood. In 1916 the final building was completed - a fine theatre/concert hall was added. The pier is the only Grade 1 listed pier.
The pier fell into disrepair in the 1990s onwards. Very much a combination of nature and manmade tragedies befell the pier. Storms started the process and a large fire really did for the building. The sad part was that agreement had been reached and money allocated to start the restoration.
The pier is a monument to manmade vs nature today. Thousands of starling roost on the metal slats, There was no mumiration when I took this shot.
This building held a fondness as I used to visit the team room when sailing my girlfriend's dinghy in the mid-70s. On a summer's day we would hang a line off the boat and catch mackeral.
Hayata Takeshita
If you wait long enough, something interesting will happen.
I went to get a full moon photo last Friday. I wanted to get a low moon over the jetty, but it was too cloudy and the jetty was kind of boring. I just hung out and the moon rose above the clouds and a fisherman planted his pole pointing to the moon!
Stephanie Barker
Perfect way to spend a Sunday morning at sunrise. It was so beautiful watching the mist rise off the lake.
Michael Held
An even more dramatic shot from a fire I witnessed on Madeira. That is nature vs man-made. Luckily nobody was hurt…
Christopher Gerard
Telegraph Hill
Terry Hathaway
As I try hard to NOT include man-made "stuff" in by photos, this month's challenge has led me to see the connection between the two worlds. Hot air balloon in the morning sun.
Andy Ilachinski
Two more "Nature vs. Man-Made" from iceland:
Hayata Takeshita
One more from Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge. I think this is nature with man-made instead of versus because the boardwalk invites the viewer to continue walking and enjoy the refuge.
The glow under the sun is from low lying fog. I have an image where the entire area is in fog, but I think it looks more inviting when it is receded.
Stephanie Barker
Absolutely stunning sunrise this morning. This was taken at the Crescent Hill Water Reservoir in my neighborhood. The building opened in 1879, and the Reservoir held 110 million gallons at least a two-week supply of water for Louisville’s population at the time. The Gatehouse contained valves that controlled the rush of water in and out of the Reservoir from the Ohio River . Now, the valves are controlled by employees at the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant.
Denise Savage
Inspired by the one of the ways to think about the theme for this month. A view from our back deck that goes over some of Hobart’s suburbs below, across to the river and then hills and clouds beyond. In winter this view is where the sun rises and we can watch it from the comfort and warmth of bed!
It’s a view that can hold reflected sunset light in clouds and water. We’ve even seen snow on the hill on the other side. Fog and mist roll through below us bringing lovely morning photographic opportunities. I need to remind myself that this is special. Familiarity makes me forget sometimes.
Stephanie Barker
Captured the stunning cloudscape as a water tower used it as a backdrop
Carl Wenczek
Last weekend I was sweeping leaves and tidying the garage and a Robin was flitting about. So I grabbed my camera and sat down quietly and was lucky that it flew into the garage and settled on a trestle. I thought it would be a good photo for this theme because of the contrast between the colours of the Robin against the blacks of the man-made materials around it.
Jerry William
Crowned Hornbill, Katembe Mozambique.
I found this humorous. First thing to come to mind was a verse from Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb".
"Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me, is there anyone home?" (Waters, Gilmour)
Sue Rafferty
A bit of a different take on the theme, man's behaviour changing bird's behaviour. This starling hopped on to the wing mirror as my hubby got back in the van and chatted away for ages, we were parked close to a sandwich shop and it became apparent it was waiting for something to eat. Even as I started to drive away it sat there, I got out of the space and round on to the road before it decided we weren't candidates for a snack 😊
Simon Temlett
A cormorant takes a pause to dry it's wings on a conveniently placed weed barrier; no perch required.
Hayata Takeshita
Red fox at Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge. The man-made part may not be serving this little one very well. This is the walkway in the back of the visitor's center. It's a little too comfortable resting there like a puppy with so many people staring at it. I saw the fox on two different days in the same location and it is probably the same one. The den is probably under the visitor's center building.
Lynn Medley
Nature contained in man-made.
I have previously attempted to get a clear picture of fish in water
But this time it worked! Probably as to do with the water being cleaner.
Lynn Medley
The huge window in this resort is the perfect area for indoor plants to thrive. Thrive they do!
Grant Smith
Sometimes a man-made warm cup of tea adds greatly to the connection with nature, (although does not necessary add to image quality from my iPhone).
It not about the image, it's about the experience!
Sue Rafferty
As I walked out of the kitchen this evening the sun was setting behind the cherry trees outside of the house. The light was coming through the glazed panels giving a beautiful aspect to nature and the telephone cable through the glass. .
Grant Smith
Start to finish
Gary Vivian
My unexpected moment of perception: Nature vs Man-made/ Man-made vs Man -made/ Man-made vs Nature/ Nature vs Nature/ Synthetic vs Synthetic?"
"The world around us...limitless,..or only a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." Paul Strand.
Terje Bjornseth
Protective building of a ruin
