This week Tina made the challenge difficult for me. Her challenge, “The Eyes Have It,” really made me reach for the very few images that I could class as portraits. You can visit her challenge post here. For my opening image, I reached back to 2015 and a visit to the Arizona Renaissance Festival. The fair maiden was actually standing in a tree and blowing bubbles.
For my next image, I reached back to 2007 and a visit to the Republic of Kiribati. On a cruise, we visited the island of Tabuaeran, known also as Fanning Island. One of the native dancers was preparing to go on stage for his part in the performance, but he was also caring for his little brother.
I’ve shared many of these images before because I shoot so few portraits, I have few to choose from. For this challenge, I did reprocess the opening photo, but for the rest, I put high res copies on my Flickr site for you to pixel peep. You can find the album here.
My last images are of animals. They say that animals don’t have a soul, but when I look into those eyes…
I will say that when this mountain lion looked at me, I’m sure he was probably thinking, “There’s a nice fat lunch for me.” I’m glad he was in an animal enclosure at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Zoo.
I know I’ve said it before, but I keep reminding myself that I should take more portraits, especially since I am really fond of Luminar Neo’s advanced AI portraiture tools. Thanks to Tina this week for the opportunity to share again some of my favorite images.
This last challenge for June ushers in our July guest-host month. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the challenge topics from all of our guests in July. Here is a list of their themes in advance. Please join us in the coming weeks.
July 02 – Aletta Crouse of Now at Home is focusing on Treasures.
July 09 – Jez Braithwaite of Photos by Jez is Seeing Double.
July 16 – Andre of My Blog–Solaner is thinking about Summer Vibes.
July 23 – Tracy, who posts at Reflections of an Untidy Mind, has chosen Surrealism.
July 30 – Sarah Wilkie, who hosts Travel with Me, asks you to share Three Favorite Images.
If you’d like to participate but aren’t sure how to join in, you can find the details here.
John Steiner
Flare Legend Adventures
Enjoyed this post and the musician in action is my top one today
Thanks! It’s one of my all-time favorite images.
☀️📸
A varied and engaging entry, John! Love the old man and his guitar!
Thanks, A-C! I really should do more portraits. I keep saying that, but it doesn’t seem to happen. 🙂
…and then suddenly…
John, I visited Fanning Island in 2013 (also on a cruise ship). Those beautiful children were captivating and to this day I cherish the photos I took of them. The one you presented here is priceless.
I was sorry to see NCL no longer supporting the trips to Fanning Island. They brought a source of regular income to the people of Tabuaeran. I do understand the economics, though, adding four cruising days to travel some 1200 miles away from Hawaii.
These are all terrific John. I remembered the old man and the lady in red and the child are marvelous. Like you I had to reach back a bit but let’s just say we went for quality over quantity!
There you go! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it… >grin<
Oh what gorgeous photography in your photos this week. 😀
Thank you, Cee. Coming from you, that’s high praise!
John, this was a response worth waiting for. Amazing images. Animals do have souls, probably more pure than humans do, especially our pets who live with us.
Indeed, our pets are truly family. Thanks, Anne!
😊
Maybe you don’t have many portraits, but the ones you have are very striking.
Thank you for the compliment! It’s appreciated.
Great photos for this challenge John!
You really should take more portrait shots, especially candids like these. They are all excellent but the stand-out shot has to be of the two boys on Tabuaeran – fantastic capture!
Thanks, Sarah!
Terrific responses to the challenge John.
Thanks, Anne!
I love all of these, John, and I also really liked the musician. I don’t do many photos of people and certainly not portraits or close shots so I went with some additional humor.
Thanks, Janet! Humor is always welcome!
Wonderful set of images
Thank you!
John, wonderful photos and you really set the scene with that first photo of the lady in red.
Thanks. I’m sure that lady does a lot of work to get ready to appear in the Renaissance Festivals around the country. Her face makeup is beautiful.
It certainly is.
Terrific eyes, John!
Thanks, Teresa!
Your first picture is enchanting, John!
Thank you!
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Fantastic set of eyes, John 👏 Great shot with the hawk, & who doesn’t like seeing a big kitty 😃
Thanks, Jez!