Sofia has us looking back at the very first Lens-Artists Challenge in 2018. That post, found here, started the Lens-Artists challenges. Sofia’s post, as you can see by the title, is number 402 in the series. For this challenge, Sofia writes, “Marvel, wonder. Elation, inspirational. We’re looking for the moments, places, people that we treasure, the little stories behind a shot that stuff our lives with meaning and joy.” Her challenge and wonder-filled photos are here.

My opening image features an unusual and wonderful sight—snow on a mountaintop. You might wonder what’s unusual about that. Look at the foreground, and you’ll see palm trees and desert plants. These are the White Tank Mountains near Buckeye, Arizona, where we had a winter home for 15 years. In all that time, we saw snow on the mountain only once. On the morning of February 22, 2019, as we headed for the gym, the peaks were dusted white. By the time we drove home, the wonder had vanished—the snow was already gone.

In 2015, we arrived in Buckeye in early November. Along the highway, we noted a vast field of roses. Before we started visiting Arizona in 2009, I always imagined deserts as barren and devoid of life. How wrong I was—and what a wonder it was to see our first Arizona cornfield. But the real marvel came when we discovered they were growing roses here, a crop far more water-intensive than corn. My wonder grew as I realized how farmers combine modern irrigation with the Sonoran—the world’s wettest desert—to coax such delicate, thriving beauty from a harsh climate.

One year in Las Vegas, we visited Fremont Street, home to the original casinos that brought tourism to the city. This was the first photo in my gallery that came to mind when I learned this week’s challenge theme. An artist and street vendor was sculpting faces, live or from photos—in this case, a cell phone photo of a baby. I was filled with wonder at the artist’s skill as he brought that face to life in 3D. I am always in awe of those whose steady hands bring arts and music to life. Then I think of all the wonderful talents people display in their daily lives and work. Watching him work reminded me of the incredible range of skills that fill our world—from the precision of an accountant to the knowledge of a zoologist. These specialized minds and hands shape our daily lives in ways we often take for granted.

The very next day, we traveled to Hoover Dam. As I stood before that immense wall of concrete, my thoughts returned to the lone artist from the night before—how skilled hands and minds, when multiplied, can build something so vast. Looking at the tourists leaning over the concrete ledge, completely transfixed by the deep blue reservoir below, I realized I wasn’t alone. There is something wonderful about watching people get utterly lost in the sheer scale of what human beings can accomplish.

In 2016, we visited a Native American Powwow in Fargo, North Dakota. Living here, I’ve become aware of the deep history of Native peoples that predates the waves of immigrants who later shaped the Upper Midwest. I’ve attended several of these Native American celebrations, as well as gatherings honoring German and Norwegian heritage. For the challenge, this portrait of a father and daughter in their colorful attire came to mind. It’s a vivid image of a father passing his heritage down to the next generation—a moment that still fills me with wonder.

In 2015, we visited Chief Looking’s Village, a city park perched high on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. We were blessed with a beautiful sunset that evening. I knew I wanted to conclude this post with a sunset image that speaks to the wonder of another day in a lifetime of sunsets enjoyed by this old man. I used Excire Search, a Lightroom Classic add‑in, to search for “sunset,” and it returned the maximum number of images—100 choices. This photo is also a canvas print hanging in our kitchen, and it felt like the perfect conclusion—a sunset from the state of my birth, taken in a park named for a Mandan chief, tying naturally back to the Native American portrait.

Thanks to Sofia for giving me an excuse to revisit a few images that first appeared in earlier challenges, along with a couple I reprocessed in 2K HD for my Flickr gallery you can see here. Last week, Patti hosted a challenge that focused on bringing out the subject in our photos. On Saturday, June 20, it’s my turn to host next week’s challenge. My post will go live here at noon Eastern Time in the United States.

If you’re sharing a Lens‑Artists Challenge response for the first time, welcome—we’d love to visit your post. To participate, publish your take on this week’s theme, link back to this page, and add the Lens‑Artists tag so others can discover your work. You’ll find more details on how the challenge works here.

John Steiner