Lens-Artists Challenge #339 – Life’s Changes
Whenever someone asked me what I would do after retirement, my answer included several things except spending hours enjoying photography. Enter this week’s lens-artists challenge. Anne shows us how much her life has changed since retirement. She wants to know about our “joys and passion of a hobby or life experience.” She asks, “What has enriched and/or changed yours?” Please take a look at her post and read about her journey. This is my reimagined life after retirement.
In 2020, COVID nearly put a stop to my reimagined retirement. However, a friend in town started weekly Zoom meetings called the Happiness Hour. (You can watch previous meetings at the Happiness Hour YouTube channel.) Without many options for landscape photography in 2021, I began learning more about macro. That featured photo above was one of the first macro shots I did using extension tubes.
In 2023, I began volunteering at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center after conversations and photo walks with another friend I had met at the Happiness Hour. It is an excellent way to assist the Center with its Fauna Project while chatting with several other photographers and capturing macro shots such as the one you see on the right.
Macro photography opens the doors to a world I seldom see with the naked eye. It also opens up a world of abstracts in everyday household items, such as this night light.
Jump to 2025. My life is even far more different now seven years after retirement. I have done several live and Zoom presentations to photography groups, including two at the Happiness Hour. Also, in 2024, I was one of eight featured photographers at the 5th Texas Photography Festival.
I continue to learn more about photography by following excellent photographers in the WordPress community and other social media. Continuing my journey and love for nature, I have started the Texas Master Naturalist program. That will give me more knowledge about nature and opportunities to give back to my local community in conservation and preservation efforts.
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
No matter what I do, nature and landscape are at the core of my photography journey. Last week, for example, we traveled to Port Aransas, Texas, to see several migrating birds that winter in that area, including the endangered whooping cranes. We spent several hours at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Goose Island State Park, and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. That marked the first time a trip was planned with photography as its goal.
I give thanks to John for the excellent challenge he had last week. John’s Pick-a-word challenge generated incredible responses from everyone. Fantastic photos all around!
I’m already preparing myself to see how you’ll respond to Anne’s challenge about life’s changes. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when creating your post so we can easily find it in the Reader.
Next week, it will be Ritva’s turn to lead us with 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 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 Abstracts, Flame Acanthus, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Lens-Artists, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Macros, Sunsets, Texas, WeekendSky, Wildflowers, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
For Hammad Rais’ Weekend Sky #144.
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Anne Sandler
What wonderful landscapes and macros Egidio! Congratulations on all your achievements in the photographic world. I just love your blogs!
Egidio Leitao
Anne, thank you for this very supportive statement. I appreciate your feedback.
Leanne Cole
I think COVID had similar effects on many of us, I got into food photography. Glad to hear that you love macro, I do too, which you know. Great to hear you have had lots of success with it too.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Leanne. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Steve Hyde
Covid seems to be a recurring theme on this weeks lens-artists posts and it’s nice that some real positives came out of that dreadful time. Every time I see quality macro shots, like this, I think, I should be doing some of that. Maybe I will this year. I have a lovely macro lens that never gets used for macro work. A great read
Egidio Leitao
I think that is a recurring theme. Our lives changed so much because of it. I look forward to your future macro shots. Thank you very much for your feedback.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Your macros are stunning Egídio and it is lovely to see the fruits of your volunteering at the wildflower centre – they are so lucky to have you too 😊🌼
Egidio Leitao
I appreciate your compliment, Xenia. Thank you.
Tina Schell
Terrific post Egídio. Especially loved your bug image – and I don’t say that often😊😊. Seems you’ve really thrived since retiring. I’d call it more like a reinvention than a retirement. Wonderful accomplishments with more to come.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Tina. Some of these bugs look so much better in a macro shot. I like “reinvention.” Thanks.
Linda
Whether it’s capturing a fleeting moment, evoking nostalgia, or sparking curiosity, images have a unique way of bringing people together and I’m grateful that you found your way to the Happiness Hour. Thank you for your support and friendship, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Linda, your support has been instrumental in my journey. I can’t thank you enough. I hope new viewers will visit the HH. See you this weekend!
Toonsarah
Anne’s choice of theme has prompted some really interesting reflections from several bloggers, yours included. It’s interesting that for many of us the challenges of Covid lockdowns led us to discover something different about ourselves and/or a new interest. Your macro photography is a fantastic example of that!
Egidio Leitao
Sarah, I agree with you. We are reading quite interesting accounts this week. We all seem to have found a positive side to COVID. Thank you for your compliment and feedback.
Writing to Freedom
Kudos on letting your passion for photography and nature grow Egidio. I especially like the bug image and skyscape. And I appreciate that you give back with volunteering and more.
Egidio Leitao
Brad, it’s such a rewarding feeling to give back to what gives me so much. Thank you for your feedback.
Writing to Freedom
My pleasure.
Hammad Rais
These macro and landscape captures are just mesmerizing. The pandemic era was quite a strange one for us all but we definitely learned something from it.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for writing, Hammad. When searching for a landscape photo, I had your weekend sky challenge in mind. I wanted to add it to the post.
margaret21
Well, hooray for the Happiness Hour and the changes it wrought for you. You’ve certainly developed remarkable skills.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Margaret. I appreciate your feedback.
I. J. Khanewala
I find your photos amazing. But even more impressive is the way you are helping to build communities
Egidio Leitao
I.J., thanks for these wonderful words. I appreciate the compliment.
photobyjohnbo
Now, a happiness hour is something I could get into (not to be confused with Happy Hour at the local taverns. >grin<)
Egidio Leitao
I learned a lot from those Zoom meetings. Unfortunately, this spring I have not been able to attend any of those meetings. I have an Italian class on Mon-Wed nights, also on Zoom.
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, your macros are stunning! I love the Blister Beetle. The landscape is wonderful, too. A few years ago we spent several days at Goose Island State Park in search of Whooping Cranes. We weren’t disappointed. I hope you saw some when you were there.
Egidio Leitao
Beth, thanks a million for your compliments. Yes, Goose Island was the place. Right across from the Big Tree, there were several whooping cranes, spoonbills, and sandhill cranes. They were far from the fence, but we managed to see them.
Rebecca Cuningham
The blister beetle is so colorful. Glad you have time to focus on photography with such beautiful results.
Egidio Leitao
Rebecca, those beetles are gorgeous to look at. They stand out among the Mexican plums.
restlessjo
Impossible to look at that last photo without thinking how very wonderful nature is, Egidio. Yours has been a remarkable and inspiring journey xx
Egidio Leitao
Jo, your words made my day. Thanks a million!
norasphotos4u
This post is very inspirational and the photos are beautiful!
Egidio Leitao
Nora, you are so kind. I appreciate this wonderful compliment. Many thanks.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Wonderful to get to know you better, Egidio. Our leisure lifestyles are everything! Photography opens many doors. Love the John Muir quote!
Egidio Leitao
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for your feedback.