This week, Anne hosts a unique challenge asking, “How many of you venture out for our weekly photo challenges? Or do you hunt through your archives? Me, I usually rummage through my archives. I will admit, it’s fun, bringing back great memories. And having a reason to do that search is even better. So, this week, I challenge you to a virtual scavenger hunt!” She provides many possible options and even suggests that it’s OK to take a photo walk for new images. You can read her entire challenge post here.
For my opening photo, I chose a recent image that was fresh in my memory. This is one of the few photos I’ve taken that features a camera, and it’s also featured on my Lens-Artists blog page. During a particularly spectacular sunset in Buckeye, Arizona, I set up my tripod to capture the changing sky during the golden hour. While waiting, I decided to take a picture of my Nikon D500 with the rear display active.
While testing a lens that I considered purchasing, I visited the Phoenix Zoo. I noticed this flamingo with its head buried in the feathers of its back, its greenish eye watching intently as I prepped for the photo.
In a recent Cellpic Sunday, I shared a recipe for a Spam and cheese omelette. The pan, the omelette, and even the circular rivets connecting the handle helped me meet the challenge category.
On Christmas Eve 2017, I experimented with my cell phone to create a holiday post for my Cellpic Sunday series. I filled a wine glass with water and set it in front of a backdrop of holiday lights, partially veiled by a sheer cloth that let some of the colors shine through.
At a beading shop in Boulder, Colorado, I came across a decorated skull. This example of calavera art, crafted from ceramic or resin, features intricate floral carvings that cover the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw; a design that honors the departed with beauty and reverence.
This photo of a grille from a classic car could have also fit the categories “something with a smooth texture” or “something rectangular,” making it a true three-for-one image.
The glass facade of this building in Nashville, Tennessee, is getting cleaned by a window-washing crew. One surprise in this image was the sunrays at the edge of the building, which I had overlooked until I saw them on my editing computer.
Thanks to Anne for the opportunity to revisit my gallery and look for potential photos that meet the challenge criteria. I could have easily found many more, but in keeping with the challenge, I limited myself to these seven images.
I enjoyed looking at everyone’s submissions for Beth’s sports photography challenge last week. Next week, Ritva hosts, so be sure to follow her here so you don’t miss her challenge post, which will be published on Saturday at noon Eastern Standard Time. You can find more information about the Lens-Artists challenges here.
John Steiner
Journeys with Johnbo 
Good finds John. I like the Flamingo, glass, skull and the building at the end
Thanks, Brian! It was fun finding the items!
Great choices! That camera shot is interesting, and the glass and skull are excellent images. The beautiful flamingo shot reminds me of a Christopher Cross album cover.
Thanks, Nes. I was lucky to see that composition in post as I had a larger view of the flamingo in the raw image.
The flamingo honestly gave me the shivers – what an otherworldly creature close up!
Thanks, It was a good find for me.
These are all great choices but I especially love your green eyed flamingo and that clever shot of the glass
Thanks, Sarah!
John, what a wonderful collection for the challenge! My favorite is the flamingo with green eyes. I made your Spam and cheese omelet last week and it was a hit!
Beth, I’m glad you liked the Spam and Cheese omelette. It’s also great with ham or bacon. 🙂
Wonderful treasures John! I’ve never seen a white flamingo! I loved beautiful glass with water reflecting lights. Well done and worth waiting for!
Thanks, Anne. The flamingos in the group I saw were a real pale pink, almost white. They were in an exhibit at the Phoenix zoo.
I used to enjoy watching the flamingos interact at the zoo, but since they’ve put them behind glass (because of the bird flu), it’s just not the same.
That’s sad!
Great ones. I must go back to my photos to see whether all flamingoes have green eyes
I’d love to know what you find, I. J. Let me know, please.
Black and red. No green-eyed flamingos among the ones I checked
AI search told me that sometimes flamingos in captivity have nutrients that are proper, but not their usual food, so they develop greenish eyes
Ah
This is a fun collection and response to Anne’s challenge. Thanks John, especially the glass image.
Thanks, Brad. The setup for that shot was pretty easy. I’m not sure how I got the idea, but it was a great New Year meme with a Happy New Year greeting I made for 2018.
Fun!
Wow, the flamingo green eye was so surprising. Great threefer to finish.
Thanks, Rebecca. I was looking for photos of cats I’d made, and I happened to spot the flamingo photo, surprised also that the eye in the photo is greenish. It might have been reflective of the environment around the bird.
Great capture. Looks a bit dinosaurish.
Great examples for the challenge, John. The glass photo is beautiful.
Thanks, Egidio!!
A very creative approach and fantastic pictures, John. The cheese omelette makes me hungry;)
Thanks, Xenia!
Yana, not Xenia;). And you are welcome.
Sorry, i confused your site with hers.
No problem, John. Now I also had a typo in it (Yanaj instead of Yana.😉)
So, a similar story for me. I use an abbreviation of my last name in certain contexts, and it often happens that I get an auto-correct that causes problems.
No excuse for me mixing names and blogs. That happened to me a couple of months ago, again, I used the wrong name for comment on someone else’s blog. Apologies, again!
So sorry for the late reply, John. I haven’t been able to check my messages for ages. – And yes, autocorrect is the culprit in many cases. And mixing up names happens easily, especially with so many comments to reply to. So no worries at all.
Some creative picks in there. I love what you did with the wine glass and you motivate me to try it with the holidays coming upon us Love both the design and composition of the skeleton head. It encourages a closer look. And your feature as always been a favorite for me.
Thanks, Donna! The wine glass trick is easy and fun.
You’ve got a fabulous collection there, John. My favourite is the glass; background and reflections in the glass create a marvellous effect. And the bird’s eye (flamingo?) looks malicious although I’m sure the bird itself isn’t.
Thanks! The effect is stronger than I thought it would be.
Great selection, but it’s the one with pattern – grill of a classic car – that appeals to me the most (being a lover of minimalism).
Thanks. Vicki!
Wonderful selections. The water is fabulous .
Thanks, Marie.
Nice John..it’s great to see everybody’s take on this challenge. If I go out looking for a particular photo to shoot I never find what I’m looking for! So best to just take anything that looks fun and use it later
Thanks, Alison. It has been fun seeing all the finds!
Great response – love the flamingo and wine glass
Thanks, Nora!
Wonderful choices John. Loved the colorful wine glass, that was such a great idea. And you know I love the image you use on your blog of the camera’s back. Super!
Thanks, Tina!
That eye is mesmerizing, John, wonderful photo. And I love the photo of your camera, it’s a great idea and so well composed.
Thanks, Sofia! The sunset really told the story.
Great choices for this week’s theme, John.
Thanks, Rupali!
Wonderful photos all, John. I love the flamingo, an almost ethereal experience seeing it. And the glass of water, sparkles!
Thanks, Suzette!
Every shot is special, John 😀.
Thanks, PR. This was an interesting challenge!