Images of Christmas: Donna's Personal Photo Challenge

Hello friends!

I always look forward to Donna's monthly photo challenge.
This month's challenge is all about images of this wonderful season that we are in.
There are many beautiful things to choose from....where does one begin??

So...here are just a few of my favorite Christmas things:

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#1. The Poinsettia...

I just love them and don't consider my decorations complete without one...

...or two...or three...or ten.

I love them in all colors but it's the red ones that really do it for me.

So, I have a new macro lens and played around a bit with it here.

These cute little tiny thingys in the middle are actually the blooms...

...but I bet you already knew that, didn't you?

The red and green parts are both considered leaves or foliage...go figure.

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#2. The Christmas Bokeh...

A "bokeh" of what, you might be asking...

...this kind of bokeh.

 I just love a big bokeh of Christmas lights sparkling in the background!

And let me just confess right from the get-go...

...I am a lover of colored lights!

There, I said it.

I know there must be a support group out there for me somewhere :)

Anyway, it's easy to achieve this by focusing on an object in the foreground...

...in this case, my lovely Christmas socked feet.

The farther your tree is away from you, the more bokeh you will get.

OR you can just point your camera to the tree and "unfocus" your image :)

Oh bokeh...glorious bokeh...
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#3. The Christmas Candle

And nothing says Christmas (other than a poinsettia) like a glistening candle!
Of course we love them even when it's not Christmastime too...
...but especially during this season, they represent our Savior...
...THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!



This photo was taken two years ago with my awesome little Sony P &S.
I had just discovered how to use the macro setting...
...after I had already had the camera for about five years.
I didn't even know what bokeh was back then but I accidentally created some.
The room was dark, all except for the candles and tree lights.
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Thank you, Donna for another fun challenge...I can't wait to go see what others have posted.
My prayers continue to go up for you and Mr. Jim as you face these uncertain days.
May the Light of Christmas fill your hearts...
 ...with unspeakable joy and peace unlike any you've ever known.
God's blessings on you both!

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."    James 1:2-4