Lens-Artists Challenge #342 – It’s a Wild Life!

animals, lens-artists

First many thanks to Egidio for this challenge Lens-Artists #341 – It’s a Wild Life

I was totally lost at first with this theme, feeling like I had nothing wild or exciting in my photo archive to contribute. It was a bit disheartening to think that at first. However, after seeing several impressive posts from those who have already joined the community, I found that I actually do have some unique photos that capture wildlife that are meaningful to me.

Here are some animals that I have been able to capture with my camera over the years. Observing a koala in its natural habitat was truly a joy to see, as they seem to embody the essence of Australia with their gentle demeanor and tree-hugging ways. A penguin waddling through its natural habitat was something I never thought I would witness, as it brought a sense of whimsy and curiosity. Kangaroos, for us Australian visitors, are undoubtedly a treat, hopping gracefully across the landscape and reminding us of the unique wildlife Australia has to offer. Watching monkeys nurturing and feeding their young was heartwarming during my travels in Thailand, where their familial bonds were on vivid display. Encountering a giant grizzled squirrel in Sri Lanka was a new acquaintance, and seeing it scurrying through the lush greenery was also a memorable moment that stands out in my mind. Additionally, capturing a glimpse of an alligator in the Everglades of Florida with her baby was an experience I hadn’t anticipated, amplifying the thrill of wildlife encounters. Lastly, lizards, with their vibrant colors and quick movements, are always a delightful treat to observe, adding a splash of life to the environments I explore.

I found out I had seen more wild animals than I thought, and reflecting on those experiences brought a wave of nostalgia. I always tend to overshare, so I will stop here for now. Thanks, Egídio, for this challenge; it really had me thinking about the concept of ‘wild’ in more than one context. Even if I ended up remembering some of my encounters with the animals in their natural habitats, it made me appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of the wilderness. I could have chosen flowers, birds, or bugs, but instead, I focused on the captivating interactions I’ve had with these creatures, each unique and memorable in its own way.

Please remember to link to Egidio’s beautiful post  and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. I was happy to see that most all of us had a hard time choosing our images last week in Tina’s challenge! Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Ann-Christine leads us once again on her always-wonderful Leya post. Until then keep on smiling ☺

Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.

39 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #342 – It’s a Wild Life!”

  1. Beautiful post! I love how you turned the challenge of finding a “wild” moment into sharing such special memories of animals you’ve encountered. Your stories of koalas, penguins, kangaroos, and other creatures really highlight the beauty of wildlife and the emotional connections we can have with them. Thanks for sharing these moments; you’ve inspired me to look through my own photos and remember my “wild” encounters. 😊

  2. What a beautiful collection you’ve shared, Ritva.

    (and out of all the hundreds of times I’ve been to St Kilda pier, I’ve never seen a penguin there. 🙂 only at Melbourne Zoo).

    The monkey with it’s young is very special to witness too.

  4. I loved this post! Not only have you shared some beautiful animal photos but also some wonderful personal memories of your encounters with them 🙂

  5. You’ve shared some terrific images and perhaps more importantly some wonderful memories Ritva. I too remember seeing koalas and kangaroos in Australia and the thrill I got from it. As for the gators, well if you want to see gators you must come here to Kiawah where they are plentiful 🙃. Loved your post and your beautiful creatures.

  7. Such beautiful images you chose to share, Ritva. Thank you for bringing us the beauty of nature. Your words “beauty and unpredictability of the wilderness” resonated with me. I believe that is one thing that attracts me to nature: it is so unpredictable. Thanks for the beautiful gallery.

    1. I think there is wildlife even in the suburbs – if we look for it. But not in this scale. We have deers, foxes, rabbits and birds, occasional moose and squirrels just behind our fence and we live less than 2 kilometers from the town. I don’t think of them as wildlife really – even if they are.

  11. YOu have seen a lot of wildlife Ritva. I think you were lucky to see Koalas in the wild, it is getting very hard to find them, especially as we make their habitat smaller and smaller every year.

      1. Wombats are my favourite with their don’t care bulldozer like attitude about anything. Fence. No problem if I can’t go through it Ill dig under it.

  15. Your lizard is awesome and reminded me of the much smaller ones that would give me a fright when I was growing up, they’d never stay still and would run away! It makes such a difference to see them in their natural habitat.

  18. I am glad you found these beauties, Ritva! I had the same feeling at first – that I did not have any pictures from Africa and so on… Love your koala – I haven’t heard if they are thriving now or not after the big fires? Your lizard is something for me too – I love lizards, and whenever I visit a country with many of them, I talk to them and they respond! A great post.

  19. Pingback: Lens-ArtistPC24-342-Wild – WoollyMuses

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