While Christmas markets are a feature of the Advent season in many countries these days, Germany is where it all began. There have been markets held here at this time of year since the late Middle Ages.
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Isn’t it part of human nature to grasp anything we perceive as a last chance? This week the Lens Artists team offer us a last chance, namely the opportunity to share some photos taken this year but not (yet) used.
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I may be biased but I do think London does Christmas rather well. From the lights in the West End to light trails in some of our most beautiful parks and gardens, from shop window displays to those in people’s homes … from late November the whole city starts to take on a festive air.
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Have you ever noticed quite how varied are the barks of different tree species? At least as much so as their leaves and fruits, yet we seem to take much less notice of them.
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I am less than keen on November. The weather is rarely pleasant, though we did get a couple of crisp sunny days. I have to admit though that we still had plenty of autumn leaves on many of the trees though most are now bare. And there were even quite a lot of flowers, at least until the first frost bit.
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If you could choose a superpower, what would you opt for? Many of us, I think, would choose the ability to fly. Haven’t you sometimes watched a bird ride the thermals and wish that you could do the same? Or looked down at the earth from a plane and wish to be able to enjoy such views all the time?
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There is nothing ordinary about a leaf. There is so much variety in their shapes and textures, and in their colours of course, especially (but not only) in autumn. They are endlessly satisfying to photograph because of those textures and shapes just as much as for their colours.
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I think many of us are drawn to the mysterious. We like to wonder about things only half seen. And we all share a sense of curiosity. In fact, humans evolved to explore the unknown, because doing so helped us survive; to find food and shelter, and to learn how to adapt and thrive.
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Photography, especially black and white photography, is all about light and darkness, and balancing the two. Too much of either and the photo is at best dull, at worst incomprehensible.
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Opinion is very much divided on the topic of street art and graffiti. Some dislike it all, regardless of the skill (or lack of it) of the artist. They feel it disfigures a cityscape, rather than enhances it. Others love it for its rebellious nature, again regardless of the skill (or lack of it) of the artist.