February 7, 2009

Photo Challenge: Textures & Patterns

Today is the new Brenda Photo Challenge, and I am excited to be the hostess this time! The theme is Textures & Patterns. With the weather being so cold, I did not take any new photos for this challenge. But I had plenty of choices to select from my inventory of traveling pictures. I am always on the lookout for interesting scenes that feature great textures and patterns because they help me stretch for better artistic compositions. I chose the photographs below because each one of them makes me want to reach out and touch the subject matter.

This old grist wheel is built right into the stonework of an exterior wall of the Inn at Evins Mill (where we stayed last October). The photo was taken at f/3.5 and 1/60 second.

history and structure are combined at the Inn at Evins Mill
I love interesting trees and can’t resist taking pictures of them wherever I go. The stately pine in this photo was at Bryce Canyon National Park. Its weathered bark, shining in the morning light, tells a story about its difficult life. The camera settings were f/7.1 and 1/800 second.


what stories can this tree tell of life on the canyon rim?
While we were traveling on our Kentucky trip in November, we stopped at the Buffalo Trace distillery. This weathered door and stone foundation belong to an old warehouse used for storing the filled whiskey barrels. The warehouse roof and some upper walls were damaged by a tornado in 2006. Thankfully, no one was injured and not a single whiskey barrel was harmed! Repairs were made with the original old bricks. Unless you know where to look, it is hard to see where it was repaired. The photo was taken at f/5.6 and 1/160 second.

precious whiskey barrels are stored inside this door!
We didn’t take a tour at the famous Jack Daniels distillery last year (too crowded), but we stopped at the little town of Lynchburg to have a look around. In the town square was a charming bronze statue of Mr. Jack, settled in a reflective pose. I zoomed in for a close-up of that deeply lined face and weathered hands. The camera settings were f/5.6 and 1/30 second.

Jack reflects on how Lynchburg has turned into a modern-day tourist trap
This was such an interesting picture, I decided to play with Photoshop and see what mischief I could create. I was pleased with this result, using a light blue/grey color wash and a graphic pen filter. Presto, it turned from a photograph to a sketch!

this is my kind of sketching!

23 comments:

  1. Cool Statue Donna!!! I can almost feel the metal! We thought along the same lines...I like your stone samples! Thanks Donna for hosting this Challenge!!! Great theme!
    hughugs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great job. What an interesting challenge to give us. We have a little local market we shop at that's in an old grist mill so the wheel is very familiar. Love that door and the statue. Wonderful details.

    ReplyDelete
  3. HI there, I found your blog through Donna and am loving it. I love these photos..especially the last two. Even SOOC the statue is amazing. Good work!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a fun challenge and great pictures. That statue picture and your photoshop work are excellent!

    I love your pictures from your trips. Thanks so much for sharing and being a great blog friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. okay you did it. i love all the textures and richness of the photos. and you did a fab job on the photoshop pic. very cool

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow Donna. I love all of your photos but that last one is awesome! It really does have interesting texture! Thanks for a fun challenge! Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent!! Love them all and the commentary. Thanks for being the hostess, and forgive me for not participating (please). :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for being our hostess for this challenge round! I had so much fun thinking on this one.

    I love your photos of the past! The old grist mill is my favorite but I also love how you captured each wrinkle in the statue's face. Delightful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great photos! I really like the last one and can't wait to have time to explore my new photo editing program so maybe I can create picture like yours. Thanks for picking such a good theme.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are SO creative! Great job in your finds and a most gracious hostess too! Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful pictures. I liked the man in the photo and the sketch.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so glad you take so many wonderful pictures on your trips that you can share them will all of us...these are all great. I especially love the stately pine!

    ReplyDelete
  13. A love the picture with the door best - the colours are really cool!
    Thank your for this great theme, I really enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I loved all of those pictures, but for some reason I really liked that 3rd one. It just stands out so much. Great job!
    HUGS.
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful pictures, Donna! I especially love the last two.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Donna, What amazing photos! I love them all. My two favorites are that bldg. with the blue door and the statue! Photoshop must be so much fun!

    Hugs to you!
    Nita Jo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your pictures are just spectacular. I can actual imagine feeling the coolness of the stature. The The distillery door and wall is just beautiful as are all your other pictures. Thank you for hosting the picture challange. I absolutly enjoyed it myself.
    Hugs Lucy XXXXOOOO

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love the topic of the challenge. Your photos are fabulous! I love the one you have in your heading, too!

    ReplyDelete
  19. These are fantastic, thought provoking photos.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful comments! I love sharing my photos with all of you, and I was thrilled to be the challenge hostesst this time!

    ReplyDelete
  21. great photos Donna..thanks..sorry I am a bit late getting around to visit...have been a bit concerned with the bushfires down south

    Annie

    ReplyDelete
  22. Donna,
    Thanks for coming by to congratulate the winners of my contest.

    I don't think we've met before.

    Your photography is wonderful!
    I love the idea of the textures
    in art, and certainly something we all try to achieve.

    I will look forward to more of your photos.

    Blessings,

    Barbara Jean

    ReplyDelete

Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!