Purple {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

Purple.

From lovely lilac to plum to deep burgundy and everything in between. Quite a spectrum.

But where is it hiding?

I found it in plants native to South Carolina.


I found it as I was editing fall photo shoots.


I found it under my nose while trick or treating with the kids.


I found it atop a cactus plant.


I found it mixed with other kernels of the indian corn.


I even found it buried among a variety of leaves nestled up by the house.


By taking on this challenge I was reminded that we need to slow down and look around.

So often life gets so hectic that we forget to breathe, let alone appreciate the beauty that is right under our nose.

On Tuesday evening I had a thoughtful comment from Sukhmandir Kaur on my ww post, Greetings from South Carolina. It read,"I don't envy you moving but the lake house looks worth it, what fun! It just doesn't seem like you without Iowa but then the distinction of your pictures of the kids show that Iowa is just a place your camera happened to have been in residence for a time, and that you are where your camera is."

This comment touched my heart. And it made me stop and reflect on my photography.

Time and time again I was told how beautiful Iowa looked. There was definitely beauty to be found in Iowa, but truth be told, I had to dig deep at times and really focus in as to blur out the unsightly distractions around me. There were six long months of winter- the landscape can get pretty bleak.

The point is, there is beauty to be found everywhere, regardless of where you call home. Today I feel privileged to have a camera that allows me to capture pieces of beauty anywhere I go.

Slow down. Open your eyes. It's there. Just waiting to be unveiled.

"Photography is the beauty of life, captured." - Tara Chisholm



I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.


<a href="http://www.projectalicia.com/p/autumn-photo-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/divindecay/autumnchallenge3-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge"></a>

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be brown. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

*Link your posts up here*

1. Dina @ 4 Lettre Words  2. MG Atwood  3. scrappysue  4. Bumbles & Light  5. Kristi {at} Live & Love Out Loud  6. Project Alicia  7. Purple and Black Halloween party  8. Barefoot Mama  9. Rebecca-the garden-roof coop  10. Carletta's Captures  11. Purple Rain  12. Meyser  13. The Daily Wyatt  14. say cheese  15. Briana  16. Dominique@Dominique's Desk  17. Henrietta  18. Barbara  19. Life Accomplished  20. My Third Eye  21. Tezzie  22. Imprintalish  23. little macaroon  24. swanski  25. Naptime Momtog  26. The Ranch Wife Chronicles  27. Its what we do  28. Grandma Deal  29. Leovi - Secret illusions about you  30. Gatorette and Me  31. Christine  32. Keeping up w/times  33. Crinkle Photography  34. Tina´s PicStory  35. Beth @ Snaps of Our Life  36. ALittleBitCrunchy  37. Because I'm the Mommy  38. Saun  39. Chic Homeschool Mama  40. Bunch of Barrons  41. alita jewels treasures  42. JennyRain  43. Traci  44. breeellen  45. Cedar  46. Captivus  47. Life-n-Reflection  48. adventures of an American Girl  49. Deanna@Snippets from Springdale  50. DaenelT ~ Living Outside the Stacks  51. Serendipityissweet.com  52. Tish  53. Helen Watson-Jones  54. Shannon Jones  55. Lili's View  56. wind  57. First Day Walking  58. Through A Photographer's Eyes  59. Eden Hills  60. PullingMyMaskOff  61. Kimberly V  62. Far & Away - Australia  63. Stasha B Photography  64. A Rural Journal  65. The Colour Purple  66. Susan @ Sunflower Status  67. mk-blogg norway  68. Katie Lloyd Photography  69. wonderland  70. ginger  71. Deanna @ Life. Captured.  72. Lilahbility  73. Simply You, Simply Me  74. Tiaras & Tantrums  75. Honey Mommy  76. Tots and Me  77. Rosie@leavesnbloom  78. Live, Love, Travel  79. Pondering Pony  80. Story of Us Photography  81. EdT.  82. Miriam  83. Got My Camera  84. Emily @ Scattered Horizons  85. Light Trigger  86. Dawn  87. DASH Photography  88. Shannie  89. Claires 365  90. Leslie Ann Photography  91. Sweets and Shutterclicks  92. Julia P. Valentine  93. Cathy Willman  94. Perspicacious Paula  95. Cori's Big Mouth  96. Mirka  97. cooper's view  98. LynetteB  99. House of Emery  100. Cindy Clare Photography

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