Lens-Artists Challenge #375: Where to Find the Mysterious
“Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y’all’s neighbourhood.”
Vincent Price’s words at the end of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
After an unanticipated hiatus, Patti is back with a thrilling challenge. When I saw the title, “Thriller” began playing in my head. Patti suggests several ideas about where to find the mysterious: low light, shadows, atmospheric conditions, and more. Check out her post for great photos and all suggestions.
Although the quote I shared above is a bit macabre, I am not going there. Instead, I am staying right here at home and showing what lurks in the dark, is hidden in the bushes, or is affected by the weather, as shown in the featured image above. Let’s see what mysteries I find around our home.
Macros can reveal mysteries we often overlook. One aspect of begonias I like is their dark, waxy leaves. They create an aura of mystique that contrasts with those bright blooms. When it comes to the Shrimp plant, one never knows what will be found when looking inside those petals.
In the backyard, the wildlife I see can be mysterious, too. Great blue herons, for example, are large birds standing 3.2–4.6 feet (0.97–1.37 m) tall. One can spot them easily out in the open. However, they can hide and lurk at the water’s edge, blending with their surroundings. The one I photographed below was hidden well, except for the dappled light that helped me spot it.
In contrast to the great blue heron’s size, green herons are much smaller, making them difficult to spot even at a distance. They stand only 1.3–1.5 feet (0.41–0.46 m) tall. To make matters worse, their color blends in very well with grasses and bushes. Both of these shorebirds hunt in stealth mode. I often find their intent looks very mysterious and determined.
This final photo was just captured yesterday. While attempting to get a macro of asters in the courtyard, I barely noticed a slight movement to my left. There it was, a very young green anole lizard. From the tip of its nose to the start of its tail, it was under 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long! It noticed me and gave me the look you see in the photo.
Where to find the mysterious? Sometimes it is right under our noses.
Did you have fun with John’s challenge last week? Based on the responses I saw, the answer is a resounding yes. I loved the photos and creativity you displayed. Now, I’m looking forward to the replies to Patti’s challenge this week. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag so everyone can find your post more easily.
Next week, it’s Beth’s turn to give us a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Begonias, Great Blue Heron, Green Anole Lizard, Green Heron, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Macros, Shrimp plant, Teravista, Texas, Wildflowers, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
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Steve Schwartzman
A real mystery would be finding a shrimp inside a shrimp plant.
Egidio Leitao
That’s a proposition for AI to tackle.
Leya
This is such an enigmatic post, Egidio! It’s difficult to explain how much I love it…you managed to weave in so much of nature and your feelings during the process too. The first and the last one are my favourites. I love the little lizard and the eye you got from it when you two noticed each other. One of those precious moments!
Egidio Leitao
Ann-Christine, what a wonderful feedback you gave me. Thank you. That connection moment with the lizard was surprising to me.
JohnRH
Great selections. I love that green heron shot. Definitely a lurker!!!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, John.
Leanne Cole
Beautiful mysterious images Egidio, especially that foggy first one, and I love what you said about macro, so very true.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the note, Leanne.
Sofia Alves
Brilliant take on the challenge, Egídio. So hard to pick favourites this week, the heron is fantastic but the anole is just gorgeous 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sofia. Glad you liked them.
Alison
The Blue Heron is a beautiful bird. I’ve only ever seen them in captivity.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback.
photobyjohnbo
You’ve brought out the mystery in your gallery, Egidio! Nice work in answering Patti’s challenge!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, John.
carabeinsplash
Great photos as always! The lizard looks annoyed that you’re in his space. I love Vincent Price. I was compelled to watch some of his movies this past Halloween. They’re still awesome.
Egidio Leitao
Cara, thanks for this feedback. Much appreciated.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
La piccola Anole è top,secondo me!
Egidio Leitao
La piccola Anole è stata una grande scoperta per me. Grazie.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Gorgeous photographs Egídio and sych a wonderful interpretation of the theme ☺️
Egidio Leitao
Xenia, as always, I try to use nature for my challenge responses as often as possible. Thanks for the feedback.
Sue
What a fabulous, unusual take on this challenge, Egidio! Especially love that little lizard….
Egidio Leitao
Sue, thanks for enjoying the post. I loved discovering that little lizard, too, and how it allowed me to capture that macro.
Pamela Zmija ~ Artist & Intuitive
Oh that Heron photo is just wonderful, really does pull up the Mysterious theme!
Egidio Leitao
Pam, the heron tends to blend with the environment in that area. Thanks for writing.
Tina Schell
Egidio, your little anole lizard gave me such a nice smile this morning. We have them here but they are typically bright green. I find them to be quite nosy and they will come very close before skittering away. Loved your opener this week especially, beautifully mysterious. we also have green herons here but they are much less prevalent than several other varieties – perhaps because they’re better at hiding! Wonderful response for the week.
Egidio Leitao
Tina, the little anole was one of those lucky moments. The adults I see around here are also green, unless they are afraid (they tend to turn brown). The foggy image was a special treat. Thanks for the feedback.
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, I love everything about this post – The Vincent Price quote, the amazing images, and your final thought about the mysterious sometimes right under our nose. The first image is stunning and I love the two herons. Both are sometimes hard to see because they blend right in with their surroundings.
Egidio Leitao
Beth, what a joy to read your comment!
Amy
All are beautifully captured, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks so much, Amy.
Toonsarah
Wonderful images of the mysteries of nature that we can find everywhere if only we bother to look – as you do 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Sarah, thanks for the validation and feedback.
pattimoed
Wonderful post, Egidio. I love how you interpreted the theme. It’s true. Mysteries surround us and can hide in plain sight! Your images are, as always, beautifully captured and have such vivid coloration. I love the red begonias and the shrimp plant. And the eyes you captured…ohhhh….very mysterious!!!
Egidio Leitao
Patti, thanks for being open to this interpretation. My eyes and mind like vivid coloration. When you do macros, that generally increases the coloration I see on the big screen. Thanks for a great challenge. I had fun capturing new photos for the challenge.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Wonderful Photography, love the first and last shots, I like how you have woven it to nature- your favorite topic
Egidio Leitao
Ritva, weaving nature into my posts can become a challenge in itself. Thank you for the feedback.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
I can see the challenges in that
philosophy through photography
Egidio, love how you turn the everyday into a little thriller—begonias, herons, and a tiny lizard all whispering their secrets.
So true, the mysterious really is hiding right under our noses!
Green Heron click, my favourite!
Egidio Leitao
Philo, many thanks! When life gives you lemons… You know the rest. Just hunting for these treasures was a mystery in itself.
philosophy through photography
Welcome, Egidio. I love your take!
margaret21
A great, and unexpected take on this challenge. You’ve made me re-appraise what mysteries are right here, almost under our noses. Oh look! There’s a big spider, just on the skirting board. Now … where does he usually hang out? That’s … a mystery.
Egidio Leitao
Margaret, I feel rewarded that I sparked your imagination with the post. Thanks.
margaret21
😊
restlessjo
Love the reference to Thriller, Egidio, but your photos are absolutely beautiful this week. Especially the begonia and the blue heron xx
Egidio Leitao
Jo, thanks for the wonderful feedback.
niasunset
Like a painting. Thank you, Love, nia
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for these kind words, Nia.
bushboy
Ah…the mystery of nature. Always around always watching
Egidio Leitao
Brian, you know that well yourself. Thanks for writing.
Lindy Le Coq
What a fun post, starting with the quote from Thriller! All your choices are wonderful. I especially like both heron shots (of course!) and the begonia is gorgeous.
Egidio Leitao
Lindy, I’m so glad you noticed how much fun I had with this post. Thanks for your kind words.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Your first pic is wonderfully mysterious, Egidio. But I agree there is more mystery in the tiny world of flowers.
Egidio Leitao
Terri, thanks for this wonderful feedback. Nature is mysteriously beautiful.