Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

lens-artists, Photography

Here I am trying to decide whether to be truthful or go with better photos for Ann- Christine‘s request. My last outing was to spend a moment in Helsinki while my husband went to play football (soccer to those in the US). I took a few photos, capturing the vibrancy of the city and the intriguing blend of old and new architecture. The streets were alive with locals and tourists alike, and I found myself engrossed in people-watching. There is certainly a charm to Helsinki.

This sight It always baffles me, the people lining up to get it to this shop 🙂 mostly tourists.

It always baffles me that people line up to get it to this shop

I took in the sight of the seagull perched majestically on top of The Johan Ludvig Runeberg Monument, which is a revered tribute to the esteemed poet J. L. Runeberg, located in Esplanade Park in Helsinki, Finland. The staue intricately sculpted by his son, Walter Runeberg, has stood as a proud symbol of Finnish heritage since its unveiling in 1885. While I paused to appreciate its significance, my attention was drawn to a street musician nearby, passionately singing “Hallelujah,” as his soulful voice filled the air, drawing in a small crowd of curious passersby. Moving on, I continued to soak in the vibrant spring atmosphere and soon found myself listening to a skilled trumpet player on a bustling corner of Aleksanterin katu, surrounded by the rhythmic pulse of city life, where countless people dressed in dark clothes walked by, adding to the tapestry of urban existence.

I went to have coffee and saw these three old men having a chat and looking at a mobile phone most of the time while they spoke. It struck me as fascinating how technology has permeated the lives of all generations, not just the youth. As I sat there, observing the exchange of smiles between them, I couldn’t help but think that these seasoned gentlemen, who have seen so much in their lifetimes, were equally mesmerized by the small screen in their hands. This made me reconsider my earlier thought that only young people are suffering from this type of behavior. In reality, it seems that the allure of technology transcends age, drawing everyone into its captivating world, regardless of the sage wisdom that comes with age.

Conversations

The afternoon was warm, and as I stood in front of the Tallberg building waiting to be picked up, I couldn’t help but appreciate the charm of the surroundings. I so prefer the old building to the new ones that seem to dominate the skyline; the history and character in its architecture resonate with me. A family with colorful jackets passed by, brightening my day after I had seen so many dark overcoats, including mine, that felt heavy and somber against the vibrant backdrop of the afternoon. The many ways the food deliveries are getting delivered is amazing; I observed a new method today …

I didn’t go wild this week as Egídio had us go last week, the thing that can be seen as wild are varied as the posts we got shows. This week Ann-Christine asked us to share images with a prompt: Seen on my Last Outing. Please link your post to her lovely and inspirational one and don’t to forget to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.

Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Anne from Slow Shutter Speed A photographic journey leads us once again with her unique post. Until then keep on smiling ☺

Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.

42 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing”

  1. Cities are great places for people watching if you’re not in a hurry yourself. Lovely snippets of life, Ritva. Including the old lads and their phones- a fount of all knowledge!

  5. I’m glad you decided to show your ‘real’ last outing as I know very little about Helsinki and we’ll be having a stopover there on our way home from Svalbard later this year 🙂 I like the old buildings and the street musicians sound good!

  6. Absolutely amazing street photography Ritva! I felt like I was walking with you and also enjoying the sights and almost hearing the sounds of the city.

  7. Now I want to go…to Helsinki! Great photography, colours and people and buildings – I love everything about this post, Ritva! Your text is also captivating – I especially loved your thoughts on the elderly gentlemen.

  9. Loved your response on this one Ritva – lucky you to have been exploring Helsinki just in time for the challenge!! Your street photography is wonderful as is your eye for recognizing the interesting moments.

  13. Very nice array of scenes and the thoughts that you had about them, Ritva 🙂. I am glad that there are some people at least who wear colorful stuff there 😀.

  14. Lovely pictures! Makes me want to see Helsinki. Also, I love the way you write about your outing and all your pictures.

  15. Thanks for taking me along this nice stroll through Helsinki. I loved your analysis of people’s behaviors. It’s wonderful to watch people.

  16. Ah, I recognize this part of Helsinki, although all the shops have changed since I last walked there more than twenty years ago.

    As for the technology, it may be more the connection and the promise of constant conversation that attracts people rather than the tech itself.

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