Discovering Hidden Beauty from Above

Lens-Artists Challenge #332 – Shoot from Above

Longhorn

I always enjoy looking for different angles when I am out photographing. That is especially true about famous and iconic locations. So, when I read Ritva’s challenge for this week, I was excited. Instead of relying on my archives, I captured a new batch of photos. To recapture Ritva’s challenge, here is what she said:

Let’s Shoot From Above this week!
Let’s get creative with a top-down perspective. Let’s have fun.

Be sure to visit her post to get inspired for this challenge.

For my response, as I often do, I try to focus on one theme or location. I went to the Heritage Trail Memorial Park. This park has quickly become one of my favorite parks near our home. I can find much in the park, including a good biking trail, wildlife, and incredible scenery along Brushy Creek. One feature that makes this park unique is several statues honoring the pioneers who helped establish this land. Getting photos from above proved a bit hard because of the size of some of the statues, but the results were gratifying.

Native Heritage


The Pioneer Boy

Because Brushy Creek runs through the park, there is plenty of wildlife and wildflowers to photograph. On this brief walk, I saw a couple of white egrets. However, the wildflowers and plants got my attention for this challenge.

Gregg’s Mistflower in the Winter

Near some of the statues is where I had previously photographed several butterflies on Gregg’s Mistflowers when they were still in full bloom. With winter settling in, those flower patches had an exquisite beauty. The flowers reminded me of golden nuggets.

Another plant I saw along the banks of the creek was Rockspray Cotoneaster. I got both a macro and a full top view. The plant symmetry is another eye-catcher.


Anne’s theme of resilience last week was an eye-opener. The varied responses were excellent. This week, Ritva gave us all another angle to improve our photography — and it was lots of fun using it! Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when creating your post so we can easily find it in the Reader.

Next week, I host another challenge. I hope you will join us again on Saturday at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out another exciting challenge. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.

Those are the stories behind the shots. If you liked these photos, you might also be interested in other posts featuring Lens-Artists, Macros, Parks, Round Rock, Sculpture, Texas, and Wildflowers. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.


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39 Responses

  1. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Wow, Egidio, I absolutely like the lighting on the sculptures. You and your camera did a wonderful job. I also enjoyed the plants. Great post!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you so much, Anne. I went mid- to late afternoon searching for that effect to be more pronounced. I’m happy you noticed the light. Thank you very much.

  2. Writing to Freedom
    | Reply

    Nice collection Egidio. My favorite was the top view of the longhorn, and the macros are great too.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Brad, much gratitude for this comment. The toughest thing about the longhorn was to get the horns in one shot. I had to use my super wide angle lens and avoid getting my feet in the shot.

      • Writing to Freedom
        | Reply

        I’ve done that, thinking I had a great shot to see my feet in the image! 😊

        • Egidio Leitao
          | Reply

          LOL My super wide-angle lens is a beast. It helps me capture the horns as in that image, but it also often captures my feet.

  3. Wandering Dawgs
    | Reply

    Your images of this park as seen from above are great. It looks like a wonderful park to visit. I love the sculptures, especially the longhorn.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Beth, I appreciate your feedback. I like that park more and more.

  4. Travtrails
    | Reply

    The first shot is interesting…

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Indra, I’m very glad you liked it, too. Thank you.

  5. Leanne Cole
    | Reply

    Those sculptures are incredible Egidio, you did a fantastic job of photographing them.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Leanne. I had a hard time with the Native Heritage statue because of its height. I had to stretch and get my camera high while looking at the articulated LCD screen to see what I was capturing. The others were easier because they were smaller or lying down (as in the case of the Longhorn). I wanted to make sure I was not capturing my feet while using a super wide-angle lens.

  6. Toonsarah
    | Reply

    The sculptures look very striking from these angles – I especially like the detailing on Native Heritage like her plaits and feather earrings 🙂

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you very much, Sarah. I was pleased with those details, too.

  7. photobyjohnbo
    | Reply

    Nice work, Egidio! I’m looking forward to exploring Tucson for subjects to meet this challenge as well. I must say, I didn’t realize how tall you are to be able to take photos of statues from above. >grin<

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, John. I’m also thankful for a fully articulated LCD screen. I was nearly on tip toes getting that image of Native Heritage. The LCD helped me see what I was capturing.

      • photobyjohnbo
        | Reply

        One of the few things I don’t like about my new camera is that the screen isn’t fully articulating, though I think that it does tilt enough to get shots similar to yours… however short my arms and legs are. Maybe a monopod will help me… I can use it like a selfie stick! >grin<

        • Egidio Leitao
          | Reply

          That fully articulated screen was a top priority in buying my current camera. I do a lot of low-angle macros and need to see what I’m photographing. For this week’s challenge, I wish I had taken my monopod to use photographing the tall statues.

  8. Tina Schell
    | Reply

    Well done Egidio! I especially loved the way you captured the plants this week. You seem to have so many parks nearby your home, all with very unique items of interest. Lucky you!!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Tina, many thanks for your comment. Yes, there are several parks within a five-mile radius. I’m constantly looking for those to use while biking. Luckily, city officials are seeing the benefits of connecting those parks easily, too.

  9. These are so well composed and lit photos, the statues are my favorites, I like how you used focus differently on all the nature shots. And I am ever so happy to have inspired you to go and shoot new photos. Beautiful as always Egídio

  10. carabeinsplash
    | Reply

    I love the shot of the longhorn. Plus I’m amazed at the detail you captured in the Native American statue.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Cara, thank you for writing. Photographing those statues resulted in better photos than I had expected.

      • carabeinsplash
        | Reply

        It’s really satisfying when that happens. 🙂

  11. restlessjo
    | Reply

    Love the close up of the Cotoneaster, Egidio. It looks like a special place.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Jo. I like that park a lot and keep discovering new things there.

  12. JohnRH
    | Reply

    Great perspectives of great statues Egidio. Well done.

  13. Rupali
    | Reply

    Amazing work, great angles, Egidio.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Rupali. I appreciate your feedback.

  14. Sofia Alves
    | Reply

    Beautiful photos, Egídio and my favourites this week are the two Cotoneaster shots. Amazing!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Sofia. This was such a fun challenge.

  15. I. J. Khanewala
    | Reply

    Absolutely beautiful collection

  16. Vicki
    | Reply

    A great selection for this week’s challenge.
    (by coincidence yesterday I brought home a small dried ball to look at under my microscope almost the same as your photo of Gregg’s mist flower in winter. I have no idea what mine is called and whether it’s any relation to yours).

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Vicki. Do you have a way of finding out what you get under your microscope?

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