Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Colors of Lava and Black

As much as I love orange tones during Autumn, I thought we could mix orange with dark brown and black found in lava—whether lava rocks, flowing lava, or glowing coals within a fire.

Why have I chosen lava? No idea, but apparently the color of flowing lava depends on its temperature. It starts out bright orange, then as it cools, the color changes to bright red, then to dark red, and then to various dark brown tones. Solid lava is black.

Actual Lava Rock

Lava Rocks of Hilo Bay
Lava Rocks of Hilo Bay, Hawaii

“Black is always elegant. It is the most complete color in the whole world, made of all the colors in the palette.” – Ricardo Tisci

This is an example of solid lava that has eroded into black sand, seen along many beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Black Sand Beach

You don’t need actual pictures of lava for this color challenge, just a combination of brown, black, dark red and orange, or simply choose one of these colors!

“Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” — Dr. Seuss

Lava in the Swiss Alps?

Unlikely, but I got your attention, didn’t I? We spent the last three days of our trip in Basel, Switzerland. On our free day, we took the train into the Swiss Alps, specifically, the alpine town of Grindelwald.

The famous mountain village of Grindelwald is embedded in a unique Alpine landscape at the foot of the Mt. Eiger north face.

Swiss Hotel

The Swiss Chalet Style is famous in Switzerland’s alpine and rural regions. These homes use heavy timber construction, stone foundations, and wide, steeply pitched gabled roofs designed to handle heavy snow loads on uneven slopes.

Visiting Europe was a bucket list item for me and spending a day in the Swiss Alps was truly the foam on the cappuccino!

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Each day while participating in shore excursions on our cruise, we made a point of eating lunch with a view and sipping a cappuccino. We sat at a small restaurant in Grindelwald with this ephemeral view of the Alps. I will keep these memories close to my heart.

capuccino and fondue with a View

“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” — Winnie the Pooh

Autumn Colors

I love the ephemeral beauty of autumn leaves. Here today, gone tomorrow it seems. A bit of the lava colors in these images.

Suburban Autumn Sidewalk
An autumn walk in a Spokane park
Rustic Cabins
Rustic Cabins in Washington’s Cascade Mountain Range

Toward the last part of our trip to Europe, we strolled past this La Chouette Famille shop, where you can make your own owls. The shop was closed but I loved the door and decor.

Dark Brown Door, Strasbourg, France
Dark Brown Door, Strasbourg, France

I also couldn’t resist buying this small Cuckoo Clock from the Black Forest area of Germany.

Black Forest Cuckoo Clock

Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week

This week, I’m double dipping (x6) for these fabulous Photo challenges:

Many thanks to Hugh Roberts for hosting two weeks of Sunday Stills in my absence. I thought he wouldn’t mind if I played along with Ephemeral, hosted by Hugh

Festival of Leaves, hosted by Dawn.

Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan.

Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, hosted by John

Lens-Artists: Memories, hosted by Tina this week.

Wednesday Quotes, hosted by Sadje and Kymber

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is simple to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives. Your original images reimagined with AI tools in post-editing are also welcome.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
rust brushstroke

If you are participating in the monthly color challenge this week, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s theme of the colors of lava (and black)! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

Join me next week as we explore a new Animal of the Month–Creatures that are Scary.

We are back from our European vacation. I plan to spend more time sharing the details of our trip in the coming weeks. For now, I’m keeping this post short.

dark brown dog
Black or Brown? Brodie says, “Brauf!”
Autumn signature

© 2026 Terri Webster Schrandt | secondwindleisure.com. All rights reserved. All content on this blog is protected by copyright and may not be copied, reposted, or reblogged without written permission.


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20 responses to “Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Colors of Lava and Black”

  1. Wonderful, Terri! Bravo for a lot of “dips” 😀. I can totally understand how fascinating the trip must’ve been for you. Looking forward to seeing more impressions in your next posts. You’ve already visited my Sunday Stills post for today but just linking here for other readers:

    https://flightsofthesoul.wordpress.com/2026/10/18/golden-rain/

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  2. I’m not a fan of orange, but your pictures have changed my mind.

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  3. Wow Terri, those autumn colours are always spectacular! I think there are some black sand beaches over here but I haven’t seen them. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

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  4. I’m sure Brodi is pleased to have you home, Terri. I love those Autumn colours and lava is endlessly fascinating. I must never go to that town or I’ll come back with a case full of owls! Trying to stay clutter free xx

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  5. […] For Terri’s Sunday Stills. […]

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  6. Hi Terri, welcome back! I love the orange trees. They scream ‘autumn’. The pictures from Swizerland gorgeous. I loved their cuckoo clocks. We had been there in 2013 and at the time, we thought spending on a cuckoo clock was a luxury. Hopefully, we get to go again and I can get my own little cuckoo clock.

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  7. Very beautiful photos Terri and great quote. Thanks for joining in

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  8. Wandering Dawgs Avatar
    Wandering Dawgs

    Terri, welcome back! Wonderful photos! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your European Vacation!

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  9. Lava rock is so interesting. Even when it’s not in exotic places. The moonscapes around the United States in lava fields are all fascinating.

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  10. Beautiful places, lovely photos! Switzerland had its own shortwave broadcasting station that began broadcasting in 1935 and went off the air in 2004 in favor of internet broadcasting (cost savings).

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  11. I admire your rich impressions of lava as a range of colors. I had not thought of that. Thank you, Terri. I love your coffee… looks delicious. Great gallery, the La Chouette Famille shop is charming. I love that sense of village life.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Suzette! I’ve missed my virtual blogging friends! I re-read an older “lava” color challenge post and realized that flowing lava had many colors. Makes it easy right?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Excellent! Yes, how lava flows is a great perspective on this theme.
        Thank you, Terri.

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  12. Welcome back, Terri!👋 Fabulous gallery, as usual. 😍 The black lava sand in Hawaii is striking, along with your Swiss views. And autumn colours never disappoint, especially the red leaves contrasted with the bright green grass. 🍂 That shop in Strasbourg looks interesting. Too bad it was closed. Adorable shot of Brodie! 💖 He looks more brown than black, but it probably depends on the lighting. Our Zoey has a brownish tinge to her black legs when the sun hits.

    https://thedogladysden.com/lava-and-black-sundaystills-photography/

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    1. Thank you, Debbie! But first, how do YOU deal with jetlag? Ugh…
      Brodie is a dark espresso brown. But looks more golden in full sun like your Zoey 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It usually takes a couple of days to get over, and doesn’t get any easier with age, but hey, it was worth it, yes? 😀 Drink lots of water, get some sun if you can. Those are supposed to help reset the circadian rhythm.

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  13. Hi, Terri! It’s good to hear you’re back from the trip! 🙋

    I absolutely like the pictures of red leaves, as well as solid lava. The dog also looks so cute.

    Also, the new release candidate of one of my projects went so smoothly! I hope the final version gets released early next month.

    Have a wonderful and delectable new week ahead! ☺️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Aptivi, we are so happy to be back home. Travel is wonderful and felt blessed to see the amazing sights!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re most welcome, Terri. I’m so glad to hear that! Looking forward for the upcoming post about the trip. 😉

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  14. […] Terri’s #SundayStills Monthly Color Challenge – 18 October 2026. “Colors of Lava and […]

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● About Me
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I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

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