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WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: An Unusual POV

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Challenge: Go out and take photos and share a shot that reveals a new and different POV.

I have made mention of our family’s afternoon gatherings for sunsets when we are at the beach. However, sunrises are a different story! My wife loves being the first one out to see the sunrise and find shells that might have washed up overnight, but she is often solitary in that venture. Occasionally, I tag along with camera. On one such morning, I found this coconut that had washed up…not a normal sight on the section of beach we frequent.

IMG_0054As I lay on the ground, an early morning jogger came by, took a quick glance, and continued on his way. While not necessarily trying to capture his passing, these three photos in the slide show do:

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As this jogger ran by what I thought was an unusual, “stop and smell the roses” moment, it reminded be that our personal POV drives us: mine – wanting to find something that was photo worthy; his – staying in shape. Our “point of view” means everything to us and often directs the focus of our day. For example, if our point of view is that we must be physically fit, it will motivate us to get up early and pound the pavement (or beach) and watch what we eat. If we have a passion for a political ideology, we will immerse ourselves in the latest news, attend Town Hall meetings and voice our opinions on everything political. Unfortunately, our POV often causes us to give passing glances at the really important things of life.

However, God calls us to have a balanced and overarching spiritual perspective on life, seeing it through a “God lens.” This POV is often seen as “unusual” in our day and time, just as it was in Jesus’ day. In fact, when asked why he spoke in parables (spiritual truths wrapped in everyday life stories), Jesus said it was to help his listeners to have a perspectives that were unique in comparison to the ones taught by their religious leaders. However, even their lack of spiritual insight into his parables was foretold in Old Testament prophecy:

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ [Isaiah 6:9-10]

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. (Matthew 13:14-16, NIV)

The disciples’ eyes and ears, however, were blessed as they began to perceive the message of Christ. Because they were “all in” with Jesus, having made the decision to follow him, they began to see the world through the “God lens.” As a result their POV shifted from selfish to selfless, from temporal to eternal, from religion to relationship. Having this new, and unusual (to the world) POV, transforms everything we see!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sea

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This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is Sea

For more than 25 years, our family has made an almost annual pilgrimage to the Florida Emerald Coast with its wonderful white beaches and emerald-green waters. It is a time of reuniting with family members from all over the country and a chance to welcome those who have joined the family, either by birth or marriage.

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Santa Rosa Beach with Panama City Beach in the distance.

The walks on the beach, kayaking among the dolphins, cornhole competitions, and  family gatherings each evening for the sunset, give a much-needed break from the routines of life. In the background of all of these activities, the constant, rhythmic pounding of the sea’s waves on the beach supplies the soothing sounds that bring additional refreshment.

Gulls and Sanderlings Sun in the Surf

2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty – Psalm 93:2-4 (NIV)

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus (Take 2)

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In September, our community hosts the annual Southwest Iowa Professional Hot Air Balloon Festival. Weather conditions permitting, balloonists launch at least four times to test their piloting skills. A parade, flea market, YMCA 5K Balloon Chase, night glow and other fun activities surround the event.

Last year, I heard the nearby “whoosh” of the burners filling a balloon envelope with hot air. To my surprise, the competition target to which pilots toss weighted bags from their baskets was placed just a few blocks from my home. That meant that all 50-plus balloons would be close and low! I hurried to find my post and reveled in the multi-colored, sky parade floating effortlessly through my neighborhood.

I took this series of shots of one balloonist’s pass of the target, intentionally getting some shallow and greater depth of field focus shots (the first is my favorite). Here are the results:

Out of focus balloon

Balloon is piloted just above tree level as it approaches target to drop weighted marker.

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Balloon ascends from the target.

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Street signs are of no value to balloonists.

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“Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon”

Thanks to Southern Sea Muse’s Photo Challenge post that jogged my memory of these pictures! Here are a few more close and overhead shots:

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Hot Air Balloon Days is September 20 – 22, 2013, Creston, Iowa, USA.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus by Cheri Lucas Rowlands on August 23, 2013

For this challenge, get out there and take a picture demonstrating the concept of focus. 

  • Snap a photo of something or someone in focus, against a blurred background.
  • Share a panorama or landscape in sharp focus, in which you can see details far away.
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Shallow depth of field – corn stalks in the foreground

I live in an agricultural area with corn and soybean fields almost within a stones throw of my home. One of my church members, who sells crop insurance, recently asked me to take a few pictures of corn for his website. The scene, just down the road from my church featured a seed company’s test plots with the local grain elevator in the background.

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Greater depth of field – Grain Elevator in focus

Thanks for coming by to see my photographic take on “focus.”

Now let me give a spiritual take on the topic. As harvest is just around the corner, and the grain elevators will have semi-trucks lined up to store the farmers’ bounty, I think of Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:13-21) of a rich farmer who had a great harvest. He decided to build bigger barns and to selfishly live off of the fruits of his labor “for many years” with no concern for God and others (the repeated use of the pronouns “I” and “my” give evidence of his self-ward focus). The Father’s response was:

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21 (HCSB)

At times, it is difficult for us to have anything other than a self-ward focus – a shallow depth of field – especially in the midst of life’s difficulties. However, we must remember the temporary nature of this life and focus on the greater depth of field – the eternal.

These green fields will soon be reduced to the rubble of decaying stalks – in the same way we see our earthly bodies deteriorate over time. However, if our focus is toward God’s call and obedience to His purposes, we will be accumulating treasure in heaven.

16 Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

So, is your life focus on a shallow depth of field (selfish) or a greater depth of field (eternal)?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Carefree (Take 2)

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Today ended a week-long visit of my two granddaughters and their mom  (#1 daughter) and dad. While the parents packed the car (of mostly preschool paraphernalia), I had the opportunity to meander around the yard with the 15-month old granddaughter, examining flowers and crab apple tree fruit. Some final “carefree” moments before getting back into our normal routine.Carefreehttp://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/photo-challenge-carefree/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Carefree

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Carefree by Sheri on August 16, 2013

In a new post specifically for this challenge, share a photo that means CAREFREE to you!

Having gone to the Iowa State Fair twice this past week, I would have to say that it is the epitome of the word “carefree.” This eleven-day event in August typically draws about a million visitors, who meander through the displays of 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands, Health) and FFA (Future Farmers of America) projects*, eat food on a stick, wait in line to see the Butter Cow, spend time on the midway rides or take a leisurely trip from one side of the fair to the other on the Sky Glider. There is no better way to end summer in Iowa than to attend the Iowa State Fair.

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Sky Glider at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

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*I must say that for many fair attendees, it is anything but “carefree.” For example, the youth, who take part in 4-H and FFA, spend many hours in preparation for almost the entire year for the honor of showing a project or livestock at the Iowa State Fair. Their dedication is admirable!

Weekly Photo Challenge: One Shot, Two Ways

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For this challenge, capture two images — a horizontal and a vertical version — of the same scene or subject. There are no concrete “rules” here, but a) it should be evident that both shots are of the same place/location or person/thing, and b) your photographs should ideally have been taken during the same shoot. – by Cheri Lucas Rowlands on August 9, 2013.

The first pictures were taken as I was traveling near my home in Iowa last Spring. The blur of wild blue phlox in my peripheral view caused me to turn around for a few photos. But the rusting gate and topless grain silo in the background captured my interest, wondering how many times that silo had been filled with corn, or imaging a farmer’s child jumping off the tractor to open the gate for his father as he brought in a full grain wagon from the harvest.

The next shots are of the garden angel and petunias growing there. The angel was given to my wife as a memorial at the time of her mother’s death. She loves her perennial garden with a splash of annual colors and the comfort of her mother’s memory in its midst.

Looking forward to the scene soon!

In slideshow format with a few more to meet the challenge.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow

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WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow:  – from Krista

100E0458The joy of being a grandparent is seeing the budding of a new generation. With two granddaughters and another on the way, we enjoy watching the cycle of life repeat itself. As much as babies and toddlers depend upon adults, it is always fascinating to see how intrigued they are by one another.

100E0460 My foreshadow pictures are of my granddaughter and friend, who adore one another. In fact, Daniel, a year older than Georgia and living about three hours away, tells his mother that he misses her. Their mothers joke about them being married one day, with Daniel’s mom wanting to work out a betrothal agreement. Will they? Time will tell, but I hope these pictures represent the foreshadowing of a loving marriage to come in both of their futures.

6 “But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ (Genesis 1:27) 7 ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. 8 The two of them will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one. 9 So a man must not separate what God has joined together.”    Mark 10:6-9 (NIRV)

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

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The “Golden Hour Challenge” is to capture that shot in the first or last hour of sunlight. This picture captured my sister combing the beach at sunset on the Florida Gulf Coast.Karen on Beach

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.4 Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber; it rejoices like an athlete running a course. 6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6, HCSB)