Inspiration comes cloaked in many different ways.  Sometimes it feels wrapped up like a gift that can’t wait to be opened. Other times it might be present in a book, a song, or a person. As a photo blogger, my camera lens seems to alert me to what I love, with nature and random curiosity on the forefront.

We are all inspired by someone or something.

Take a seat. The outdoor art gallery near Death Valley is a great invitation to think on that ponder.

This week, Tina of Travels and Trifles, challenges us with Last Chance photos. Photos from 2022 we haven’t used yet. The photo above of the mosaic couch is from the few hours spent at Rhyolite Ghost Town a few months ago. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was a great look at random brilliance in the desert.

Inspired? Yes.

But first, I find myself catapulted to The Island of the Misfit Toys, from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  The island was a place where all the unloved toys that didn’t fit in, ended up.  Kind of sad, I know. I used to love to love those toys. 

To make a long story short, Santa rescues the toys and regifts them to be loved in the right places.

Photography is a bit like that, isn’t it?  We take hundreds of photos, decide which ones we love the most, and use them. The others are set aside, maybe not misfits, or any less loved, but set aside just the same. 

Last chance? Not today. Today…we bring some of those photos to light, and give them a second chance to shine.

Cape Flattery is the northwestern most point in the United States. I love being able to visualize the wind in this photo. And to capture the sense of peace, or is it deep thought, of the man in the man in the photo is extra for me.

At Lassen National Park, I am also inspired by what returns following a forest fire.

In Maine, I am inspired by the seeping tide that has collected stories of lobster boats.

And at Cape Alava, the quiet ocean on this day was secondary to the evidence of the raw strength of the tides and the winds off the Pacific.

Inspiration.

And Len-Artists comes to mind. For the last few years, I have enjoyed the chance not just to write, but also read the hundreds of posts inspired by this group of photographers. They make us better, all of us. The challenges are fun, and to see interpretations of a single idea explode into possibilities YOUR WAY seals the deal. It is fun. At the end of January I will humbly join this team who has inspired me to keep on, to stay the course, and to find inspiration with their creative nudges.

Thank you. I will continue to enjoy walking along side all of you as you wow me with your visions, make me laugh with your creativity, and humble me with your impressions of this beautiful world we all call home.

Wind Kisses, Donna

Thank you for your unique and fun responses to Ann-Christine’s Perfect Patterns challenge last week.   This week join us with your previously unused favorites of 2022.  Link them to Tina’s post here, and use Lens-Artists Tag so we can find you.  We will be on a hiatus for the holiday season. Look forward to 2023 when John will lead on January 7th.

Want to know more about the lens-Artist challenge  click here.