Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 53

Welcome to the 53rd round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!  Together we have crossed a milestone in completing our first year’s worth of Tuesday Photo Challenges!  A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have contributed, read, commented and kept this series going across the first 52 weeks!  Let’s see what the 2nd year brings us!

With a theme like Mystery, I intentionally left the door wide open for your creative horses to gallop through and blaze new trails!  You found mystery and wonder in the world around us, the sky above and even the symbols that we summon to represent us.  You have once again managed to surprise and amaze me!  Thank you!!

Thinking of the theme Mystery, this was one image that also came to my mind…

This image is from my series of surreal images, each of which has a touch of mystery within it.  In this image, we might wonder what is drawing the woman into the sky, or what lies behind this sky?  Why would she resist escape from this dismal bathroom?

The following were this week’s participants in the challenge with links to their posts:

• Xenia posted first this week with a great haiku and photos in her blog Whippetwisdom.
• Rheka’s post in wHakAahUa is filled with the mystery of flowers, which is enhanced by technique and beauty.
• Charles’ image in charlesewaugh is truly mysterious in that, while recognizable as metal, it is not easy to figure out what it really is.
• Ladyleemanilla combines the mysterious in both some of the unusual items that she captured and the beautiful text that accompanies it.
• The only deadhead in the hameau provides a stunning, mysterious image in theonlyD800inthehameau; go check it out…
• iBallRTW brings us to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India, for some very unusual animal tracks.  Can you tell what animal made these tracks?
• Candace juxtaposes the old and new in her post in Netdancer’s Musings; a mysterious blend results.
• Leola’s brings us a mystery in Spiritually and Emotionally Connected with a photo that asks the viewer to identify what might be happening.
• Ron brings us a touch of mystery in his post in Progressing into Solitude, and adds a touch of Elmo to it!
• Amy brings us the mystery of horses in her blog The World is a Book…; what might these horses be hiding?
• Marie’s post in The New 3Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect is a bit mysterious, as Jupiter was crying…
• George, who writes the blog The Alchemist of the Woods may not have enjoyed flying (for all the right reasons), but did bring some mountain mystery with photos and poetry!
• Miriam went all out in her post in the Showers of Blessing, as she peeled back some of the layers of mystery of our favorite planet!
• Leaking Ink has a cat with a nose for mysteries, who solves them without any encouragement of humans!
• Steve celebrates Earth Day with us in a Bum without a Beach and brings along some Muscovy ducks for good measure!
• Judith shares a mysterious look from her cat in Nature Knows Best with a little touch of Macavity!
• Debbie brings us another Forgiving Fridays post in ForgivingConnects, examining the mystery of love with a little encouragement of Meister Eckhart!
• Khürt brings us the mystery of looking into a house in his blog, Island in the Net, as we wonder what might be going on in this house…
• Miriam shares mystery and wonder in her post in Out an’ About, as she brings us the moon, the flowers of the earth, the road ahead and many other images!

This is another great set of images, posts and participation!  Thanks to each of you for taking the time and being creative!  You have truly made this first anniversary very special!

Author: jansenphoto

A Fresh Perspective Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment. Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael. My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals. Universal Connections My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation. This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections. Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client. And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography! View all posts by jansenphoto