Lens Artists Challenge – Favourites of 24

The challenge this week is to post your favourite photos of 2024.

Here’s seven, maybe not my exact favourites but certainly ones I enjoyed taking and found interesting. Linked to Lens Artist Challenge 330.

Magnolias of Cholmondeley Castle. I rarely take photographs of flowers, in fact this was one of only a handful I took in 24. I’ll pay more attention this year.

If you look it up or read any tourist information leaflets about the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxios (see, I told you!) this is the picture that will appear. Here’s my own addition to that well photographed scene of the Pinard Bridge and picturesque town walls.

Another from the World Fireworks Championships in Blackpool. Combination of three or four single frames to build up the image.

We had two or three days of mist during Betwixmas which made my local lane walk a little ethereal.

The Herdwicks of Lakeland are tough as old boots. As I write it’s -6°c in the Lake District but this hardy breed can survive in the harshest weather. This one had ‘Monarch of The Glen’ pretensions.

Playing around with this one, apart from being cropped I’ve not edited it at all. Any guesses?

And finally, at the start of a year that is already full of unknowns and uncertainties I leave you with a poem and a gate. Hold on to Hope and Happy New Year.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

Minnie Louise Haskins