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

  1. Three by Lisa Avatar

    Welcome back ! My post https://threebylisa.wordpress.com/2026/10/18/sunday-still-colors-of-fire/. No lava but lots of fire.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. LOL, sorry Smitha! A couple of years ago I named my color challenges from things in nature. So I tried to explain how lava has many colors (mostly autumn) and black. I try to use black or orange for October color challenges since they are easy to find.

      Like

  2. Welcome Home! I enjoyed following your posts on Facebook. Thank you for that.
    All your photos of orange, brown, and black are perfect for October. You have incredible ones. But of course, I love seeing Brody!
    Enjoy your time at home. It’s great to go away for a bit, but always wonderful to come home. Happy New Week to You!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Nancy and I appreciate you following along on FB! Writing those posts was like writing a WP post every day! Those posts were also shared to the Viking and Rhine River groups of FB. The ones I read had been very negative and I wanted to share my perspective on travel and the ups and downs. Definitely great to be home!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. […] Sunday Stills Color Challenge: the color of lava […]

    Liked by 1 person

  4. […] thought that this would chime rather well with Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Colors of Lava and Black. I do miss a flaming Autumn. But I’d like to leave you with a couple of images from home. The […]

    Like

  5. I love the cuckoo clock, Terri and those vibrant trees in the spokane park. I’m glad you’re back and enjoyed your Europe vacation.

    So lovely post!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Suzette! It was an amazing, if slightly exhausting trip but worth it all!

      Like

  6. Hi Terri and welcome back! I love all the colours you’ve included in your post and the way you approached the prompt. The autumn colours are lovely and I love the way you included the Swiss Chalet, just perfect! Hope things are settling down for you and I must say the book with Marsha was a fabulous read.

    I don’t quite know where I was going with my post but here it is:

    https://debs-world.com/2026/10/19/keeping-the-fire-burning-lava-black-sand-and-midlife-adventure/

    Deb from Debs-world.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Debbie! The trip was eye-opening which I will share about soon. Thanks for reading Marsha’s book (she did the lions share). I’d love to know how you deal with jet lag.

      Like

  7. […] I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Color Challenge: “Colors of Lava and Black” . […]

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Sounds like you had a wonderful time Terri! I like your cuckoo clock. The Alpine Chalet is so picturesque with its flowers trailing down from their railing boxes. My contribution for lava and black is kind of different and not nature related in the least. I was at a classic car cruise this Summer and there were Mustangs parked and on display in a corner of the park and I photographed several of them in red, black and orange. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Linda, we did. So many photo ops! I’ll check out your post soon!

      Like

  9. I don’t know why you chose black and lava either but I’m glad you did! I love all the lava found on the Big Island and your gorgeous pictures of them! I also love your AI enhanced picture at the Alps- so inviting! I need to make that trip, too. 🙂 Back to the challenge, you gave me a perfect opportunity to revisit the mysterious landscape of Craters of the Moon! The Strange Landscape of Craters of the Moon – Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha, thanks, Susanne! I made some small AI adjustments to the original fondue photo–took out the lean, “moved” the plate and balanced it out. I’ve heard of Craters of the Moon!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ok, I wondered what AI enhanced really meant! It’s a great photo, and definitely very inviting!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Not too much different than a light room edit or dare I say photoshop.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I do plenty of light room editing but haven’t tried AI.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. […] Sharing this mysterious landscape with Sunday Stills, Colors of Lava and Black. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Beautiful collection, really like the lava rock photos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Pam! The Big Island of Hawaii is the “youngest” island and there is plenty of lava rocks and formations, oh, and lava!

      Like

  12. I love all the pops of “lava” color!! Beautiful, Terri!

    Mine this week: https://frostonthemoosedung.com/2026/10/18/sunday-stills-lava-black/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Cathy! I’m glad to see you back on the blog!

      Like

  13. I loved your ocean shore photos especially, but the entire gallery is so beautiful and full of memories. Great color theme, too. Here’s my entry:

    https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/where-the-creek-leads/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Egidio! The black sand beaches in Hawaii are spectacular, great memories indeed!

      Like

  14. What a wonderful set – now you’re just showing off, aren’t you!?! 😀 So clever combining six prompts into one very cohesive post. I like all your photographs. I’d never seen lava rock before, so thank you for sharing those images (I’d never have thought “black” – grey, maybe). My fav though, and for very sentimental reasons, is the Cuckoo Clock. I’m glad you brought one home with you. Lovely, lovely post Terri! xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, thanks so much Pam. It was kizmet to hit 6 challenges. Hey, I had to make up for lost time, right? Our area of Washington is made up of igneous rock from ancient lava flows from the Ring of Fire of the coasts of the Pacific.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Hi Terri, you visited some amazing places. I love the cuckoo clock and all your vibrant pictures.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Robbie, we saw and experienced so much. I couldn’t resist getting an authentic cuckoo clock from the Black forest of Germany. It was shipped home, we’ll see it soon.

      Like

  16. I love the colors, the scenes and the doors, Terri. It sounds like you had a wonderful journey.

    I’ll stick this in next week’s Thursday Door’s recap.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dan! It was quite amazing to be in 6 countries. Lots of stories to tell.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Welcome back, Terri. I hope you had a wonderful trip. Love your Grindelwald photos. Brought back memories of my visit there many years ago. It’s such a beautiful part of the country. I like you cuckoo clock souvenir too. Is it loud? Here’s mine this week: https://grahamsisland.com/2026/10/18/blue-hawaii-lava/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Graham. So great to be home, but wow, the trip was amazing! So you also visited the Alps? It would take every day the rest of my life to see them all. So immense and grand! The clock is a working one. It’s being shipped home. It’s smaller than the one we bought in Leavenworth but both are genuine German made. You can tell by how the number four is marked… 4 IIII instead of IV. I just had to have it from the Black Forest. 😄

      Like

      1. Good idea to ship the clock home. I took the mountain railway from Grindelwald up to Kleine Scheidegg and then hiked down the other side before ending up in Gimmelwald, where I stayed at the youth hostel for a week or so! Golden days.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thanks, Graham! Wow that sounds like an amazing trip in that area! Golden days indeed!

        Like

  18. Wow…the Swiss Alps!
    Love that sidewalk shot, you could link that to Deb’s Which Way. That’s her theme this week. I’m not sure if you follow her. You can find her link in my post, here
    https://lingeringvisions.wordpress.com/2026/10/16/which-way-garden-walk-in-the-fall/
    And those owl pumpkins! I wonder if I can do that? What are the eyes made of, do you know?
    And a “brauf” from Brodie, always welcomed ❤
    Can’t wait to learn more about your trip.
    In the meantime, get some rest!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dawn! I follow Deb. The Alps were amazing, the rest of this trip beyond expectations. That little owl shop was closed. I had to look it up.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. […] week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Colors of Lava and Black.’ See more responses here. I thought a collection of colorful lava fit the bill. These were taken on two of the trails in […]

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Wow. That lunch view in the Swiss Alps is outstanding! What a great selection of photos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Bernie! I took 2000+ pics, but don’t worry I won’t share them all. I had to make a few edits but it told a good story.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I also take a LOT of pics while in Europe and over the posts use lots of them.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes! Provides some good storytelling 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  21. 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/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m honored you could be a part of my European experience, PR!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha, thank you, Jacqui! I can’t wear the color but I love to look at it, especially in autumn!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. 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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh really? Those would be fun to see. Thank you, Cathy!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. 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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Clutter-free? What is that?? Lol, I get it. Brodie is happy but mad again that we went to church this a.m. luckily he is forgiving. Thanks so much, Jo!

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

  26. 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.

    Like

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

    Like

  28. Wandering Dawgs Avatar
    Wandering Dawgs

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

    Like

  29. 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.

    Like

  30. 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).

    Like

  31. 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.

        Like

  32. 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/

    Liked by 1 person

    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.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you! I get back to the gym this week, so that can help.

        Liked by 1 person

  33. 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. 😉

        Like

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

    Liked by 1 person

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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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