
I can’t express how honoured I am to be your hostess this week. By joining each week, the Lens-Artists Challenge has been a engaging journey and I sincerely hope you will find this week’s topic as interesting.
When I was growing up, one of my favourite summer things was to lie down and look up at the stars. We would get a glimpse of satellites and the occasional shooting star. I have always found it incredibly peaceful. Now, with a camera in hand, looking up is just as peaceful. The same goes to looking down, when sometimes there are works of art underneath my feet.


For centuries man tried to recreate indoors the feeling of awe, I think we all feel when we look at a starry night, if on a smaller scale. It is a humbling experience, facing the greater things in life. Either with ceilings covered with thousands of stars or even with constellations, this is mankind accepting its own size and the world’s beauty.


For centuries man also tried to bring more beauty to the world looking down. This secular art of mosaic and cobblestone pavements is part of my culture. I still remember seeing men repairing the streets in Lisbon, with piles of limestone cubes by their side, chisel in hand, cutting small bits of each cube so that it all fit perfectly. It is made to last, like the Roman mosaics but now on a much bigger scale.


There are places where everything is worth more than one look in order to fully experience them. For most of us, going to the Louvre means seeing the Mona Lisa and perhaps some other known works of art. But the building is full of other treasures, all requiring a simple glimpse up or down to be discovered.


And finally, there are experiences in life that are hard to capture on camera. Typhoons aren’t something we come across normally but in Japan, we did. We were traveling to the small island of Miyajima off the coast of Hiroshima when Typhoon Vongfong decided to greet us. Tourists were evacuated from the island, but we stayed on, our accommodation already sorted in a local ryokan. Although the rain was now torrential, we were still allowed to be outside for awhile. It was then I realized how hard it is to capture rain like that in all its glory. I was left with looking up and down to see its effects on the shrine. Soon enough we were politely told to leave and get to safety. In the comfort of our ryokan, we saw the power of nature and felt hopelessly scaled down.
So, what have you discovered when you looked up or down? Were you surprised? I would like to thank the Lens-Artists team for this opportunity to host the challenge. If you join us, please include a link to this post and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can all find you.
Patti at Pilotfish will host next week, 11th September. Until then, I look forward to seeing your ups and downs.
Love the way you have narrated Sofia Alves.
Love the clicks too.
Thank you for this brilliant challenge
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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You are welcome my friend
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Up, down, and all around, those of us with a knack for photography see things that might otherwise go unnoticed. We look in all directions and then, sometimes suddenly and sometimes not so sudden, there it is, and we press the shutter and freeze our subject in time. Making us feel like time’s gatekeeper.
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Yes, it is all about the perfect moment.
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Wow. Great photos. Gives me some great ideas. To be continued…
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Looking forward to your photos, John. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
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The 7th image….stunning. The 8th…intriguing.
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Thank you so much, Brenda.
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The idea for my post came quite fast after reading the announcements in Amy’s blog: https://solaner.wordpress.com/2021/09/04/lens-artists-photo-challange-164-looking-up-and-down/
And, hey, the wave-like-tiles: I also walked upon them a couple of years ago 🙂
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I’ve seen your post just now, what a great response to the challenge.
Of all the patterns on the streets of Lisbon, I think it’s my favourite.
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I was there only for an extended weekend. So I don’t have seen everything. But, I found „love“ on that place https://solaner.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/wordless-wednesday-valentine/
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Excellent!
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😊
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Some great images, I need to see a what I can find…..
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Thank you, Sue. I’m looking forward to seeing your post 🙂
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Later today!
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Great choice of theme, Sofia! And I love your pictures. Thank you for hosting this week’s challenge.
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Thank you, Sue. It was such a great experience and enjoyed every second.
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Thanks for hostessing so beautifully, Sofia. I particularly like the set with the stained glass windows. I enjoy looking up at clouds (not that we see them that often in Arizona) and at stars when we’re in Wyoming where we can see every star in the sky. However, I decided to do something different and do up/down in several cities this week.
janet
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I enjoyed your post very much, Janet and thank you for your kind words.
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Wonderful selections for this fun topic! 🙂 Here’s mine, https://tblsite.me/2021/09/04/lapc-164-looking-up-down/
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Thank you so much, Lily. Your post shows two very different takes but I enjoyed them both 🙂
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Hi, Sofia. We’re delighted that you’re hosting this week and sharing your wonderful photos. I love your images of the Louvre. It’s true that looking up at the night sky brings us back to our childhoods and gives us a sense of eternity and the infinite. Your theme is intriguing and unique! Thanks for sharing your photographic vision with all of us.
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Thank you, Tina, for the invite to host and for your kind words, they are much appreciated. Looking forward to see your post 🙂
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Thank you, Sofia! I just posted a link. 😀
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This is a wonderful challenge and I enjoyed your photos very much. All you need for the typhoon is an audio of that rain. But I can hear it just looking at your photo. I shall respond to this challenge. Thank you!
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Thank you so much, Anne! I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to your post.
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Excellent challenge Sophia! I invited my husband Richard to participate. He’s an astronomer who images deep space. He has some great pictures. I’m handling the down portion. I love your church stained glass images. Beautiful. and your down images are simply wonderful for future photo outings.
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Thank you, Anne! Your post sounds promising, can’t wait to see it!
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Great topic and post!!!. I love your photos and everything you tell us.
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Thank you, Ana. Much appreciated 🙂
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How very nice to see you host Lens-Artists challenge, Sofia! I love this theme and your photos. We’ve been having only up and up days with our visitors but we watch down as well. Have a good September.
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Thank you, Manja. And I loved your post, as always. Have fun 😀
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I love the photos in your post and your memory of looking at the stars and satellites on summer nights. It really took me back to when I used to do the same thing as a child. Here’s my contribution to the challenge – https://mappinguncertainty.wordpress.com/2021/09/05/signs-of-spring/
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Thank you, Suzanne. It’s funny how some things are the same, no matter where we are. I shall have a look at your post 🙂
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Nice photos.
I think that there’s a rather matter-of-fact aspect to these which helps draw attention to the form of the subjects.
I wonder how much the angles affect the feel of these shots.
Here’s mine for this challenge:
https://stupidityhole.com/2021/09/05/rooftop-lighting/
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Thank you! I had a few shots for each idea with just slightly different angles. I hope I picked the right ones 😀
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Cheers Sophia for guest hosting! You captured the theme well. I, too, am one who is struck by the awe in many churches – especially the ones on your continent – yet I smiled at the wavy appearance of the square in Lisbon. I hope all is well with you.
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Thank you, Frank! And you made me smile with your comment about Lisbon, always in my heart. Keep well too.
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hi sophia, an interesting and wonderful mix of photos that you chose for the challenge theme, i like them very much.
here is my post, https://wp.me/p2AvI7-3SE.
many greetings robert
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Thank you, Robert. I am glad you enjoyed them. Your post is amazing, thank you for sharing your take on this theme.
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Gorgeous photographs Sofia and thank you for hosting this week’s lovely challenge! It gave me an idea for images where people can choose to follow the movement in the image up or down to whatever catches their eye: https://tranature.com/2021/09/05/silent-sunday-the-changing-season/
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Thank you, Xenia. I really enjoyed your post.
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Thank you kindly 💜
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Beautiful post and an interesting challenge this week Sofia. Great to have you with us – looking forward to many creative responses.
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Thank you, Tina. It’s been inspirational.
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Wonderful selection of images for an interesting theme.
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Thank you, Rupali.
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