From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow.
Aeschylus
This week, we’re thinking about size–from large to small. For this challenge, pick a color and select several photos that feature that color. Start with a photo of a big subject in that color (for example, a wall) and move all the way down to a small subject in that same color (for example, an earring).
As you look through your photos, you’ll notice that the size of the subject is clear to the viewer depending on how familiar we are with the subject and what’s surrounding it. For example, a close-up shot of a penny can make it look as big as a window. But most people know how big a penny is, so there’s no mystery about its size. (The experts call that “size constancy.” A penny is always a penny no matter how large it looks in the photo.) But sometimes you and I photograph something less familiar and it’s not clear in the photo how large it is. A trick that expert photographers use is to shoot the subject near other easily recognizable objects.
Here’s an example with my first color–aqua. In the first image, you get a sense of the size of the beautiful aqua-colored water relative to the beach, the hill, and the people. (Fun Fact: Once I chose this photo, I noticed more aqua in the towels and clothing!)
In the next photo, you can get a sense of the size of the door in relationship to the signs on either side and the small plant growing near the opening in the wall.
Cerullian Door, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico 
Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
In the image above, we can judge the size of the bowl in comparison to the cherries.
In the last image, the earrings look tiny because we can see them in relationship to the hand. (My husband’s!)
Here’s my “red” collection from large to small. I’ll start with the large subject–a wall. Once again, the other elements in the image–the window, the dog, and the tables–give the viewer a sense of its size.
Next, I’ll move on to the medium red subject. A man in a red shirt is standing next to a painting in the Art Institute in Chicago.
The last image of a mushroom is a common object. We all know that mushrooms are generally small. (Size constancy.) We also see the leaves and twigs surrounding it.
We invite you to join the fun by participating in our From Large to Small challenge this week. Be sure to link to this post and include the “Lens-Artists” tag.
Special thanks go to Dianne Millard for hosting the Let’s Get Wild challenge last week. I’m sure you’ll agree that her love of nature has been her passion in life–both in terms of her career with the National Parks Service, as well as her photography. I was transported to another world with all of your “wild” and wonderful photos.
We hope you’ll join us next week when it’s Ann-Christine’s turn to host LAPC #152. Until then, have a wonderful creative week and please stay safe.
Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
This is an interesting challenge…at first glance, it seems that is has the potential to expand how I see. Thank you.
Hi, Brenda. Wonderful!! I’m delighted. I hope you can post this week.
Great idea, Patti
my interpretation is a bit different: https://solaner.wordpress.com/2021/06/05/lens-artists-photo-challange-151-from-big-to-small/
Hi, Andre. This theme was.a bit different! I’m expecting there will be lots of variety this week. Glad you joined us, too.
Thanks, Patti. I‘m also looking forward for the other contributions
Great selections Patti. Love the aquas, but red always has a lot of ‘pop’. Excellent.
Hi, John. Yes, I love the “pop” of red, too. Glad you joined us! Thanks for your kind words on my choices.
These are great! I love how you went from large to small with both colors.
Hi, Beth. I’m glad you like them. It’s the first time I’ve tried anything like this and it was fun! I hope all’s well with you, too.
Oh this is going to be fun. 😀
Wonderful, Cee! I had fun, too.
hi patti again a wonderful and interesting theme what you have chosen, i like your photos very much, here is my contribution for this week, https://wp.me/p2AvI7-3N9.
many greetings robert
p.s.: I hope that you found the little detail on hamburg övelgönne.
again many greetings robert
Hi, Robert. What fun! Is it the seagull on the bag?? I really enjoyed your images. Glad you enjoyed this one!!
thank you so much for your comment patti and i am glad that you like the pictures. i was thinking more of the dog in front of the man as the seagull on the bag.
many greetings robert
An interesting challenge this week Patti. I will need to give this one some thought. Love your aqua images!
It does take some thinking, Jude, but I thought it helped me think more about the relative size of my subject. Hope you join us! Glad you like the “aquas.” Those earrings are one of my favorites!
Well this is different Patti! I first went to the rose garden to shoot some pink roses of different sizes, but found more of what you’re asking for in my archives. Thanks for changing things up. And, your images are great.
Hi, Anne. I love your spirit of adventure! This was a fun challenge for me, too. It got me thinking more about the relative size of the subject. Thanks for your thoughts on the images, too. 😊
This theme and your interpretation is quite fun Patti. Now I am thinking how can I take this one as well…I love how the colors correlates to the size and it´s dominance in the overall picture.
Overall—I give it a yes!
Wonderful! I’m delighted. Looking forward to your post!
This is a fascinating challenge and your photos are wonderful. I love the red wall in Cabo.
Hi, Anne. Wow. Thanks! I’m delighted!!
I gree, this is a fascinating challenge. Your photos tell stories. I love the blue example especially.
Hi, Amy. Thank you!! I’m delighted you like the challenge and the photos. The aqua earrings are my favorites!! I love that color, too. I hope you have a good week.
Oh, very good, Patti….I need to get thinking! 😳
Hi, Sue. Wonderful!! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
😊😊
Terrific examples Patti – must admit this one took some serious thought!! Loved the aqua door especially as well as the dog with the red wall
Hi, Tina. It did take some thought, but it was fun, too. Your post is a gorgeous response! Isn’t that aqua door great? That was a favorite find on one of our walks in San Jose del Cabo, as well as the dog by the red wall. I’m delighted you enjoyed them!! Enjoy the week.
This should yield some fun posts, Patti!
Hi, Sandy. I’m enjoying the posts very much! As always, there’s a lot of variety and individuality. I love that!!
A very interesting challenge Patti. This in one to ponder. Love your examples
Hi, MM. It was fun to ponder. I hope you have fun with it! Glad you like my collection.😀
🙂
Hi Patti
Great challenge this week. You put a lot of thought into it. I really really like that cerulean door! And your bowl of cherries bowl matches my own dishes. The painting in the Art Institute is gorgeous and seeing the visitor in the red shirt really sets it off and makes me feel present there.
Here’s my offering even though I failed to do your suggested approach to drilling down, I hope its ok:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/06/05/we-now-interrupt-our-regularly-scheduled-great-blue-heron-programming/
Best, Babsje
Hi, Babsje. Great! Thank you! I’m glad you took the challenge and individualized it. Your images of the cygnets are wonderful! So, we both love aqua dishes!!
Thanks Patti. Sorry I cheated a bit. Thanks for forgiving me. And YES to those dishes. How funny is that. 😊
I really like this theme Patti and look forward to joking in
I lie the teal and the red variations with the size
And out of all the photos – the man in red at the gallery is my favorite today –
That photo says so much and has a wonderful time change feel and essence
Hi, Yvette. Thanks! I thought it would be a fun challenge and a bit different, too. Glad you’re joining us. Yes, the man is interesting, isn’t he? I loved his red shirt and how he contrasted to the painting. The Art Institute of Chicago a marvelous museum. Looking forward to your post!
🌺🌸🌺🌸🌺😊
Great idea for this week Patti. Like your choices, especially the shot of the dog in front of the wall. Very nice 🙂
Hi, Andy. I enjoyed your post, too! That dog was a happy find as we took a walk through San Jose del Cabo. It’s such an artistic and lovely town.😀
This was harder than it looked, Patti. It reminds me a a new game we played with our neighbors, Timeline. If I’d left out several pictures, it would have been a lot easier, but no, I don’t want to do something the easy way. Of course, I had to use the same beautiful turquoise that you started with. How could I not -right? Thanks so much for the fun challenge! Have a great week. 🙂 https://alwayswrite.blog/2021/06/05/lapc-151-large-to-small/
Great! Turquoise! I’ll take a look next. It is like a game, isn’t it? Glad you joined in and “played” along.
Thanks, Patti. I think you’d love the game. It was new to us.
A very entertaining exercise and I really like your selection.
In the photograph of the door, I was struck by the sign with the name of my city, Zaragoza, I was happy to see it.
Hi, Ana. Ohh!! Zaragoza! Wonderful! I enjoyed your collection, too. The Sunday rice (which I called paella) looks delicious and that orange rose….so beautiful. I hope you have a good week.
It can be called paella, although in Valencia, where the dish comes from, they are a bit picky about what is considered paella. It’s the same as we call it, it’s delicious.
I really enjoyed this challenge and your selections to illustrate it.
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/lens-artists-chellenge-from-large-to-small/
Hi, Sofia. Wonderful! I enjoyed your red collection, too.
Looking forward to building my challenge-response. Your examples help to show the size relationship. Thanks for the references.
Hi, John. Great! I’m delighted you’re having fun with this one. This one really opened my eyes to the idea of size constancy. Makes a lot of sense. I think I’ll be more conscious of it when I shoot.
Oh what an interesting challenge! My color is sky blue, or just plain blue.
https://anthropologist.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/lens-artists-photo-challenge-151/
Hi! I’m so glad you joined us. As for “plain blue,” I disagree. Blue is such a soothing, celestial color!!
A great theme Patti – I had such fun searching through my archives for my chosen colour, yellow, and then arranging them in order of size: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/yellow-big-and-yellow-small/ Thank you for the super idea 🙂
Hi, Sarah. Your collection was fun for me, too! I really enjoyed it. I’m delighted that you got into the spirit of fun. Take care and have a good week, too.
I love that shot from Acadia (so different from my experience). Also, that wonderful light on the cherries. Reminded me of a claim that the natural taste of cherries is so intimately tied up in our experience of its texture that it is hard to reproduce in food. I loved that wall, a second look was needed to distinguish the painted parts from the rest. And what a lovely reminded from the Art Institute that fashions change.
It is a wonderful theme: finding a particular unity between the micro and the macro. My attempt here:
https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2021/06/07/yellowredgreen/
Hi, IJ. Maine has distinct typography, doesn’t it? The coast is so rocky and wonderfully green! I loved all the different types of conifers–some of which were new to me. Cherries are one of my favorite types of fruit. Yes, it would be very hard to reproduce that texture and taste. It’s disappointing when people use canned cherries for pies. It never tastes the same as fresh! Glad you shared your insights on color in your post this week!
This was a grand idea, Patti! I love your selection. I had so much fun with it that I went overboard, as usual, with 25 photos. Orrrange this! 😉
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2021/06/07/lens-artists-pc-orange-large-to-small/
Glad you joined us, Manja. I enjoyed your grand and glorious orange collection. It looks like you had fun with this one!
Oh yes, plenty of fun. Thanks again!
Hi Patti, I so adore your theme for the week. Your photos are brilliant too! 😀 😀
Here is my entry.
https://ceenphotography.com/2021/06/07/lens-artists-photo-151-focus-on-the-subject-from-large-to-small/
I had so much fun looking at your post, Cee. I love the idea of focusing on red barns! You really embraced the fun part of the challenge. Wonderful!!
Interesting topic! I should have fun with it!
That’s wonderful! I’m delighted you’re embracing the fun part of the this challenge!
I saw a few others’ posts, so I thought I’d give it a try. https://susan-joy-clark.com/2021/06/07/lens-artists-challenge-red-large-to-small/ I like your interesting and artsy examples above.
Hi, Susan. Glad you joined us! I enjoyed your red collection. And thanks too for your kind words about my aqua and red photos!
🙂
A wonderful topic this week and I love your great selection of photos. My favorite is the bowl of cherries for the colors and the incidence of light on the fruit.
This is mine:
https://wanderlustig2019.wordpress.com/2021/06/08/lens-artists-photo-challenge-151-from-large-to-small/
Thank you for hosting this fun challenge and a good week for you
Inga
Hi, Wanderlustig. I’m delighted you joined us this week. Thanks for your kind words about the bowl of fruit photo. I love cherries!
You are welcome. Cherry are very tasty 😊.
I like how you’ve framed all of these.
Most of this stuff is rather simple, everyday-type stuff. There’s nothing grandiose, but all receive a great deal of care and attention. The eyes move to where they need to move, though some of the images have space for wandering.
Just pleasing overall, I think.
Here’s mine for this one:
https://stupidityhole.com/2021/06/08/melbourne-sunset/
Hi, SH. Thanks, as always, for your thoughts on the images. I’m glad you mentioned “care and attention.” It’s true–that photography really helps me (and all of us) pay more attention to the world around us. I loved your skyline images, too!
The way you explained the theme is fantastic!
An excellent challenge and thought provoking.
Thank you Pattimoed.
Love the Red wall and the Chicago art.
Thanks for keeping our brain sharp
Wonderful, PTP. I’m delighted to hear that! To tell you the truth, I’m trying to keep my own brain sharp, too!!!
Opps ..entered the wrong Pingback and linked to a different
site ..Love these photos and those gorgeous earrings.
Beautiful images featuring that vivid green, Anita. I’m glad you like the earrings, too!!
I am still thinking…and I think I will have my own twist to this one, Patti. A theme with many possibilities. Gorgeous examples, and I love that dog image. Your aqua is mezmerising – I do see why those earrings are your favourites! Stunning images all over as usual.
Hi, A-C. Thank you! I’m glad you like my aqua and the dog. And yes, those earrings are my favorites. I love that shade of blue-green. I’ll look at your post next.
♥
I especially like the photo with the dog. There’s a lot of color, texture, and hints of the scale.
Hi, Siobhan. That dog was a happy find. I happen to see him when we were walking through the streets in San Jose del Cabo. I’m delighted you like it, too. I’m glad you joined us!
Between a flaky internet connection, not being able to decide on a colour and then no internet connection it’s been quite a challenge this week. In the end I went with red:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2021/06/10/red-from-large-to-small/
I’m glad you persevered, David! Lovely collection!
It took a while for me to come up with something suitable. Here is my take: https://thisandthatthenextpart.wordpress.com/2021/06/10/lapc-151-from-large-to-small/
I enjoyed your collection, Chava!
Thanks!
I hope I´m not too late.. here´s my world in Turquoise, from Large to Small.
Thank you so much Patti for this creative challenge.
cheers.
https://justbluedutch.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/lens-artist-photo-challenge-from-large-to-small/
Hi! Can you send me a new link to your post? When I clicked this link, I got an error message. Thanks!! It’s not too late to join us!
Hi Patti.. sorry about that, I forgot that I had this post on Schedule. I should check on it asap. Thanks!
Another fun challenge, Patti! I like that you chose two colors, made for an interesting contrast. As John commented, the red really pops but I love the aqua too. The aqua in the clothes and towels in the first photo really pop 🙂
Hi, Marie. I’m so glad you joined us, too! You found pink in surprising places. Your post was a lot of fun. Glad you enjoyed the two colors. Aqua is fun, isn’t it? I thought it was funny how I didn’t see the aqua towels and clothes until afterwards!! Take care and I hope your husband’s surgery is successful.
Thank you, Patti 🙂
Love the bowl of cherries and the whole concept of color from large to small! Thank you again 🙂
https://lindylecoq.com/2021/06/10/lens-artists-photo-challenge-151-from-large-to-small/
Thanks so much, Lindy! I really enjoyed your collections.
This was a fun post and interesting way of looking at a favorite color! Your pictures of aqua and red are great. Here is my selection of yellow images: https://mycolorfulexpressions.com/lens-artists-photo-challenge-151-from-large-to-small/ Thanks.
Hi, Sylvia. I enjoyed your collection, too. It is a fun way of looking at a favorite color. Enjoy the week in Maine.
I found this more difficult than I expected, finding examples for size! Anyway here’s mine: https://suejudd.com/2021/06/11/lens-artists-photo-challenge-151-from-large-to-small/
I’m glad you persevered, Sue, and collected a great gallery of photos!
Thank you, Patti!
“Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered“ —Gordon Lightfoot, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Sebastien!! I’m delighted you stopped by.
That Caillebotte is one of my absolutely favorite paintings in the world. I even resorted to buying an umbrella with it on.
Thank you for the artist’s name, Luanne! I had meant to look it up in the museum’s catalog, but ran out of time. Thanks so much! I hope all’s well with you. Wonderful to hear from you.