"The Focal Point of All History and Life"

I took this photo during 2014 in Oxford while our family stayed a week there at Keble College (what a thrilling time that was!). This chapel inside the college was so, so beautiful and filled with such peace. It filled my heart with awe! I couldn't help looking up at that cross, with the beautiful stained glass images behind, and thinking of the truth of this Symbol - both of Shame and Glory, Suffering and Resurrection; the focal point of all history and life. How truly is the Cross of Jesus Christ the only hope for humanity! 

Part/Photo 1 Island Vacation Photos

Around last year, my family and I went on a week's vacation to a holiday island off the coast from where we live. It was a beautiful time, one of those times I shall always, I hope, have a fond memory of. So, for starts, I shall be sharing sporadic photos from our time there on this photography blog; sounds good? This photo was taken from our balcony in the holiday apartment we were staying in at the time. Beautiful, yes?

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth...!

Psalm 8:1

Gold Clouds (part 2)

This is what the sky was like in our neighborhood one evening a few weeks back, a fiery glow of gold, orange, yellow and pink and shades of blue as the sun sank behind the hill. It was soooooo beautiful! We were going back home from swimming that day and as I looked through the car window I saw the sky! You can imagine my reaction. Well, As soon as we reached our house, I rushed out of the car, ran to my bedroom and grabbed our camera and ran back outside to take dozens of shots... 

The beauty of His creation, the swirling clouds and the sunset, they gave me such a comforting sense of God's amazing love and goodness, that I am upheld by His hand and He knows and cares. I want to praise Him and thank Him for everything, including the sunshine and rain, because He is faithful in both, and his mercies and compassions endure forever. 

 

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
Therefore I hope in Him!"

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations 3:22, 26

Gold Clouds (part 1)

A few weeks back, I saw this in the evening sky while coming out of our car by our home. I raced to the house, grabbed our camera (yes, the old one was the only one in sight), and snapped away at the sky!

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork." 

Psalm 19: 1

(P.S. more sunset photos coming!)

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!

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!

Bay Flowers

Some months ago, we discovered a lovely bay surrounded by a quiet children's park and dining benches for picnics. Off in the distance, we could see the white little boats sailing on the clear blue water, and the blue and white hills of distant islands melted into the horizon.The view were lovely, a photographer's paradise you might say. But sadly, that day our camera wasn't working all too good... it was nearly out of battery and I couldn't do much zooming, so the pictures were few and some rather blurry. But there were some lovely flowers about, and thankfully I WAS able to take shots of them:

"The flowers appear on the earth; 

the time of the singing of birds is come,

 and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land..."

~Song of Solomon 2: 12

Little Shots of Beauty

In the last few days throughout the holidays, I've been able to capture some stuff on my "rainbow lens" as I like to call it, thanks to go being able to go out a bit more often and seeing things. Though sadly, our camera has been playing up a bit with the batteries so it got me frustrated sometimes....

anyway... here are some shots...

enjoy!!!

P.S. you'll notice that in both of my blogs I've made a "grab-my-button" icon. Please feel free to copy the code and place it on your blog! Thanks!

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
        Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass.
 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
         And your justice as the noonday. 

Psalm 37: 3-6

Blessing O' the Day

Verse:

"Come, and let us return to the LORD;
      For He has torn, but He will heal us; 
      He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 
       After two days He will revive us; 
      On the third day He will raise us up, 
      That we may live in His sight. 
        Let us know, 
      Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. 
      His going forth is established as the morning; 
      He will come to us like the rain, 
      Like the latter and former rain to the earth."

Hosea 6: 1-3

Dainty Randomness...

Verse:
For You will light my lamp;
         The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
 For by You I can run against a troop,
         By my God I can leap over a wall.
 As for God, His way is perfect;
         The word of the LORD is proven;
         He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

 For who is God, except the LORD?
         And who is a rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength,
         And makes my way perfect.
 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
         And sets me on my high places.
 He teaches my hands to make war,
         So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 

Psalm 18: 28-34

In His Love,

~Joy

Spring!!!

While the rest of the world is turning into the chilly, icy weather of Autumn (fall), and eventually winter, I can't tell you how lovely it is to have it Spring here!!!!! Oh, it is still cold, windy and yesterday we had a really powerful rainfall, but Spring is in the air, and that just makes me want to sing! Thank you Lord, for everything so beautiful! I just want to praise you today!

I thought to share with you some of the beauties I've captured of Spring:

Be blessed in the Lord this day, and may you sing for joy in His unfailing love and faithfulness!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"

In His love,

~Joy

Pink Beauty

Beautiful Carnations....

we got them from a shopping center for Mum one day :)

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11: 28-30

In His love

~Joy

Update on Gallery Photos

Hi again...
I know I haven't posted any new photography posts lately.
To be totally honest I haven't had much chance to go 'hunting' for the beauty around me as much being busy with school work. But I hope to post more things in the coming days :).


So this post is mainly an update to some of the photos I put up, on the Gallery with some Scripture verses accompanying them. I'd appreciate if you have a peek sometime :).
Click here to view the photos.

All Things Bright and Beautiful!

mist of rain from our backyard

Well, the rains have come to us, and spring is only a few days away! It so refreshing to have blessed showers enriching our gardens after the rather dry couple of weeks that have passed. On Saturday at midday when there had been a lull in the shower, I strolled through the garden, camera in hand, and rejoiced in God's faithfulness, in the rain that watered our vegetable garden and made everything so, so green! It reminded me of the hymn... we all know it so well... but I love it so much...

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Refrain:

All things bright and beautiful, 

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful;

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flow'r that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings.

Refrain 

The purple-headed mountains,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning

That brightens up the sky.

Refrain

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

Refrain

The tall tees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

To gather every day.

Refrain

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

Refrain

Here are some of the shots I took from our garden, they are a very simple little evidence of the beauty of God's handiwork.

 Yes, these are simple strawberry blossoms... and we haven't got any proper fruit from it yet... but aren't they lovely?

Below are some shots from the blueberry bushes... in the few days since I last took a look at them, so many blueberries have bloomed! (still green though)

YES! These are pomegranate  flowers below... not that we have had such bountiful produce from the shrubs themselves; every few months comes a rather petite little red thing with some semblance in taste and look to a pomegranate... but the dew, dripping on the red blossoms, do give a refreshing look, don't they?

Didn't recognize these flowers? They are lemons in bloom....

More rain drops, browned twigs and the beautiful mood of winter that's soon to turn into Spring!

This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly 
For the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3: 21-26

This verse, shared by a friend of mine, truly blessed me yesterday. Earlier I had read this verse and was amazed at the love of the Lord and His compassion for us that never, ever fails! Praise Him!

Might I say that I woke up this morning to an almost cloudless blue sky? It is sooo beautiful!!!! Well, and I decided something... can you guess it? I believe photography has become a hobby of mine! It is so fun to hunt out for beautiful things to take shots of.... Lastly, I best be going :). Today I've got Maths again to work on, and also a good violin practice Lord willing, as my lesson is tomorrow.

May the Lord bless you today as you walk with Him in the narrow path that He has laid out for you. He is our God, and to Him is the glory!

In His eternal, unchangeable love,

~Joy