Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #376 – Wings

lens-artists, Photography

This week it’s Beth’s turn to host the Lens-Artists Challenge. She is asking us to feature anything with wings.

Butterflies are captivating creatures known for their vibrant colors and delicate wings, symbolizing the beauty and fragility of life. Despite living only a short time, they remind us of life’s transient nature and the importance of cherishing moments. They represent transformation, rebirth, and freedom, while also embodying hope, spiritual growth, joy, and endurance across different cultures.

Birds embody a profound sense of freedom as they gracefully soar through the sky, their shimmering feathers reflecting sunlight in a breathtaking array of colors. As they glide on the gentle wind, they evoke feelings of wonder and tranquility, reminding us of the beauty in the world around us. Each bird carries its own symbolic meanings across various cultures, with doves representing peace and love, owls symbolizing wisdom and intuition, and eagles reflecting strength, courage, and boundless freedom. As I am not a good bird photographer, I don’t have the patience for it; my shots are of birds about to fly or landing, and they are none of the mentioned above.

If you believe in angels, it’s beautiful to recognize the myriad of thoughts surrounding them, from deep religious convictions interpreting them as divine messengers to philosophical views that frame them as symbols of protection, compassion, and guidance. Many see angels as gentle messengers of love, hope, and miracles, while others embrace them as reflections of our human potential and the uplifting qualities that define our humanity.

An angel sculpture with wings, resting on a gravestone of a child, surrounded by nature.

The evil wings I found were on this poster, the idea of devil with wings resonates deeply, often symbolizing the complex nature of a fallen angel—someone who once held a spark of angelic beauty but has now been warped into a representation of evil. This striking contrast between traditional angelic wings and their demonic counterparts, such as the transition from beautiful white wings to unsettling bat-like ones, underlines the tragic transformation and the profound struggle between good and evil.

A vintage poster showcasing an illusionist with a playful design featuring a devil and various animals, promoting a magic show from the 1700-1900s.

Beth said she can’t wait to see what we come up with, and I am always surprised about the creative journey we’re on together. Well, Beth, this is what I could muster up after a thoughtful exploration of ideas and inspiration. I’ve done my best, hoping to capture not just the essence of our theme but also the fluttering spirit of this challenge.Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to Beth’s post. Let’s inspire each other and all those who stumble upon our posts!

Last week you showed us some creative, mysterious images in your responses to Patti’s challenge Mysterious, and your unique interpretations were truly captivating. The way you explored different angles, shadows, and light brought a new depth to the theme of mystery, inviting viewers to ponder the stories behind each image, sparking discussions and inspiring others to delve into their own creative expressions. Your ability to evoke emotion and curiosity through your photography not only enhanced the challenge but also highlighted the diverse ways in which we can perceive and represent the enigmatic elements of our world.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, December 6 at noon eastern time when Ann-Christine will be hosting the challenge.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

46 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #376 – Wings”

  3. Ritva, a great gallery of natural flyers! I always enjoy birds taking flight, but your gallery of butterflies is my favorite. You’ve captured the delicate nature of these flyers.

  4. Ritva, thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful post. You may not have the patience for bird photography but the birds in your gallery are great captures. I really like the angel on the child’s headstone. The poster with the devil’s red wings is perfect.

  9. Another great gallery, Ritva. I liked the birds photos a lot. It’s difficult for me to photograph them as they are landing or taking off. As with another post I saw, the butterflies here are my favorite. Beautiful images all around.

  11. Very lovely, Ritva. I especially liked the butterflies. I’ve never had much success shooting butterflies. Yours are great.

  12. A superb series of wings, Ritva. For someone who mentioned not having the patience for bird photography, you bird images are beautifully captured and with very sharp focus.

    I love butterflies too and enjoyed your images (of them).

    I particularly like your word descriptions in this post.

  14. Beautiful and colourful butterflies, a great start. Your birds photos are ever so good and I like the last two photos as well. The lighting on the angel is just right

  16. Such a fun and interesting approach this week Ritva. Of course your birds and butterflies are amazing but your creativity including the grave sculpture (so sad) and that amazing poster (which is so perfect for the challenge) really captured my imagination. Great!!

  19. As always – a joy to visit you! Love the post from start to finish, but favourites are the butterflies. The beauty upper left is new to me – amazing!

  22. Beautiful photos! I love your butterfly collection! Your Angel comment, my brother passed away year ago, its been a hard year. Before my husband and I went to Cape Breton this fall for our anniversary I clewrly heard a message from him, when you see the bird you’ll know its me… this post just reminded me of the bald eagle we saw not once, but twice when in Cape Breton, both times flying ‘out of no where’ and into my sight. Angels ARE among us ✨️ 💖

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