God's Word {Photo Challenge}

I'm entering a photo challenge hosted by Kelsey from  A Ray of Sunshine. The challenge is, in Kesley's own words, "Photo Edit. Use your creative abilities and add a lovely new look to a photo you love! Add both the before and after photos." So here is my entry challenge:

God's Word... my Light and Joy

Before.

After.

 (I edited this photo via Picasa Web Albums using the "Cross Process" and "Sepia" effect)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

 Psalm 119: 105 (KJV)

Cathedral Serial (Part 1)

Once, my family and I visited a beautiful building of the past, that speaks of vision, determination, beauty, perseverance, hard-work and amazing splendor. It was a beautiful Church cathedral with glass stained windows, a beautiful organ and... oh, I could go into many details, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. You see, we had the occasion to spend an afternoon there once, and I got to take photo shots with our new family camera. It was really special! Anyway, I'm going to make a serial post (I know I'm terrible at remembering to keep up with serials and the like, so it will be rather sporadic, I apologize), of the photo shots that were taken from that beautiful church. Enjoy!

The Cathedral from the outside...

While visiting this Cathedral, I came to reflect on many things... it is wonderful to know, that God doesn't only listen to us in beautiful, big buildings like these, but anywhere and everywhere. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 21-24 KJV)

There were other things I was blessed by through gazing at the beauty of the place... it took over a century to build (I can't recall exactly how long it took, but it certainly was built in more than in one life time!). The pillars and buildings are of stone, strong and sure. Imagine how much perseverance and vision it took from the men who built and designed it, the struggles and trials of building such a beautiful church! And now the church stands, beautiful and magnificent. What does that teach us, in our own personal lives? "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galations 6:9 KJV)

Have a blessed day in Christ, dear sisters!

"The Little Things"

With the encouragement of my dear sister, Sarah, I decided to join in the photography challenge Lucia is hosting on her blog Lucia, etc. Her photography challenge is to capture the little things of life that we often don't notice or take for granted. Here is my entry:

Why don't you join in the challenge too?

A New Design, Reflective Updates...

Have you all noticed that things look a little different around here today? Yes, and that is all thanks to Bree from aeronautical graphics design studio, who did this beautiful design for absolutely free*! How do you all like the new look? I think it is simply perfect for a little photography blog like mine... simple, chic, and sweet <3. Bree's waiting list was really full last month with LOTS of orders, but she still made time to work on this design with patience and a sweet spirit. Thank you so much, Bree! 

The other thing is, yes, I've renamed this blog from Joy's Rainbow Lens to Rainbow Lens Photography. I don't know why, I just think it sounds better and looks better too without the "'s". And the addition of "photography" in the title hopefully will help viewers  know what this blog is basically about =D. Besides all that, I feel this blog needs a fresh start in what and how I post photography...

And now, I  have a question for my viewers... would you rather see me post frequent posts with just one or two photography pictures per post? Or a would a whole group of pictures in a post be better? I'm not sure which way will bring out and enhance the photos the most, and I'm very much a beginner at all this so I'd appreciate your opinion :).

I was thinking for a start, that I'll post in the coming days photos I took while my family and I were visiting a beautiful cathedral in our city in 2011. How does that sound to you?

I really hope and pray that this little photography blog will be a blessing to you in a small way, through the simple beauties of God's creation that I clumsily capture through my lens! (and if you ever have any advice to give to an amateurish, aspiring photographer like me, I'd really appreciate helpful feedback and comments =D).

*since designing my blog, Bree has started selling her designs, but still at a really cheap price. So, if interested in a simple, lovely design.... head over to her studio! P.S. Both Bree and her older sister, Elizabeth are really sweet Christian young ladies;  I really enjoy reading from their blogs as well!