John’s Challenge: Share up to six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene. Choose your favorite places, your favorite photos, or a single location that inspires you. Natural or man‑made, peaceful or wild—if water helps tell the story, it’s fair game.
I grew up by the sea in Espoo,, and it has left its mark on me. I still prefer the sea to lakes, even though I love lakes too. It is more about the feel, the scent of the sea. And I live in a country of a thousand lakes. This place comes to mind with this big, old boulder that’s partly underwater, surrounded by tall green reeds and grasses. It’s where my friends and I used to hang out and have fun. Across the sea, there’s this dense little island with a couple of saunas, and further back, a marina full of sailboat masts. But I don’t remember any of that from when I was a kid. There’s also a skerry where we used to wade through the water to get to. We even carved our names into the skerry, and believe it or not, they’re still there!
This next image from one of the lakes near our summer house. There are a few lakes near Ruuhijärvi, that are all connected through waterways. First up is Salajärvi, which is close to Ruuhijärvi and sits at the same water level. All the water here flows straight into Ruuhijärvi through the Salajoki River. Then there’s Sylvöjärvi, located a bit southeast of Ruuhijärvi. The water from Ruuhijärvi trickles down into Sylvöjärvi through the Immilänjoki River, and from there, it makes its way via Arrajärvi to the Kymijoki River. Last but not least, we have Oksjärvi, which is a little further north. the waters flow into Salajärvi via the Luhtaanjoki River, and then they continue on to Ruuhijärvi. Sorry for giving you more information you will never need and most likely I will forget this too.
Few facts for those who are interested: As I refreshed my memory about Finnish lakes, we are country with nearly 188,000 lakes scattered throughout its beautiful landscape! It’s amazing to think how this stunning scenery was crafted by massive glaciers during the last Ice Age, which carved deep depressions into the land. Picture those thick ice sheets covering Finland thousands of years ago, gently scraping away at the soft rock and soil to create those lovely hollows and valleys we appreciate today. When the climate warmed up around 10,000 years ago, the melted glaciers filled those pits with water, forming the lakes we enjoy now. Beneath it all lies the ancient Precambrian shield, a robust layer of rock that has helped maintain those charming shallow basins. With Finland’s cool, wet climate, there’s always plenty of rain and snow (not so much these days)to keep the lakes full, ensuring they never have to worry about drying up! Most of these lakes are shallow and connect through a serene network of rivers and streams, especially in the breathtaking central region known as Finnish Lakeland.
I fell in love with Norway during my first visit there this summer; in this image the beauty of the fjord’s landscape captures my heart with its turquoise-blue shimmering waters in the foreground, framed by rugged dark rocky shorelines and gently rolling green hills. The expansive snow-covered mountains rise dramatically, their peaks partially obscured by fluffy white clouds. Beneath a clear blue sky, the sunlight dances on the water and the crests of the mountains, serene wilderness atmosphere that resonates deeply within me.
I found the Fjords are truly fascinating! A fjord, as I’ve come to understand, is a stunningly long and narrow sea inlet, surrounded by towering cliffs or mountains. These natural wonders were shaped by the tremendous forces of ancient glaciers, which carved out their characteristic U-shaped valleys beneath the water. You’ll often find them exceptionally deep—some, like the incredible Sognefjord in Norway, plunge to over 1,300 meters! It’s interesting how these fjords typically feature a shallow ridge at their mouths, created from remnants of glacial debris. Norway is a treasure trove of these beauties, with more than 1,000 fjords dotting its coastline!
Henley Beach in South Australia holds a special place in my heart, as I actually lived there for a while just about 100 meters from this beautiful beach. It’s a place that deepens my connection to the sea – the ocean, in particular. I could have chosen to reminisce about Bondi Beach in NSW, where I had an unforgettable experience with the ocean currents nearly sweeping me away; I distinctly remember the sand slipping from beneath my feet… Thankfully, my older sister was there to grab my hand and pull me to safety. But since I never lived there, Henley Beach remains my choice.
San Diego – La Jolla. I have such fond memories of living in San Diego during the 90s in my twenties, and we often found ourselves visiting La Jolla Cove—a small, picturesque beach surrounded by stunning sandstone cliffs. It was always a joy to see the resident sea lions and the vibrant marine life. I’m sharing this shot to reminisce about the lovely times we had there. Our son was just a year old, he loved running around the area,
We drove a few years ago along the Northern California coast, and I loved the scenic landscape, with its rugged cliffs and sandy beaches where waves gently washed ashore. In this shot, the foreground shows earthy, textured soil and lush green shrubbery covering parts of the cliffs, while the ocean extends into the distance under a bright blue sky. Several seagulls can be seen flying above the water, adding life to the tranquil morning scene. The horizon blends soft clouds with clear skies, creating a peaceful and natural atmosphere. I don’t remember the name of this place, but I will always remember the feeling of being there.
Now I have shown my six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene.
Plus in the Header image, you can observe the stunning vistas from the Bondi to Coogee Walk… a remarkable sandstone cliff situated in Sydney, Australia, close to the iconic Bondi Beach. The eastern coastline of Sydney features stratified, weathered sandstone cliffs overlooking the ocean.
A big thank you to Sofia for her fun “What Is It?” challenge! Next week, Beth will be all set with a new theme. Make sure to follow her here to catch her challenge on Saturday, September 12, at noon Eastern Time. But now, we are hosted by John. Don’t forget to link back to his original post in the comments and tag your entry with “Lens-Artists” to ensure we can discover it.
You can keep up with all of our challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Beth. Ritva,
For information on how to join the Lens-Artists challenge please click here.
Until then, let’s keep exploring, broadening our horizons, and maintaining a positive mindset
What I enjoyed most about this post is that the water is not simply the subject of the photographs — it connects different periods and places in your life.
The memories from Espoo make the opening especially personal. That old boulder which seemed so much bigger when you were a child, and the names you carved into the skerry that are apparently still there, are wonderful examples of how a landscape can become part of our own history. Places change, we change, but small traces of those earlier moments can remain for decades.
I also genuinely enjoyed the part about the Finnish lakes and how the waterways connect Salajärvi, Ruuhijärvi, Sylvöjärvi and eventually the larger river system. You definitely did not need to apologise for including those details! They add another layer to the photographs, because suddenly the lakes are not isolated views but parts of a much larger landscape shaped by water and geology.
The contrast with Norway is fascinating too. The turquoise fjord surrounded by rugged mountains has a completely different character from the softer Finnish lake scenery, even though both landscapes owe so much of their form to glaciers. And then Henley Beach, La Jolla and the Northern California coast bring the story back from geological history to personal memories.
In the end, this feels like more than a collection of six waterscapes. It is almost a visual map of places that have stayed with you at different stages of your life. Beautiful photographs, but the memories and stories behind them are what made the post particularly memorable for me.
I am glad you enjoyed my post
Absolutely stunning. Impossible to pick a favorite. Great choices for the challenge this week
Thank you Kirstin
Stunning post, Ritva. Your photos of Finland and Norway filled my imagination.
Calm and peaceful, is that you are looking for ?
At times, yes 🙂
Wonderful wonderful examples for the challenge and as always ,beautiful images.
I love the light and sharp focus of many of them, especially the light at La Jolla. The lovely warm sunset? at Henley beach is another great composition and time of day to photograph.
Thanks, trying to keep this personal
Nice photos
THANKS
You’re welcome
Great photos! very enticing.
Thanks Rebecca
The names still carved into the skerry after all this time is such a good detail — and “I used to think this rock was so big when we climbed on it as kids” is something I now watch happening in reverse, our kids scrambling up rocks that look enormous to them and ordinary to me. Also, please don’t apologise for the lake hydrology; the fact that all those Finnish lakes drain into each other in a chain is exactly the sort of thing I enjoy knowing. The La Jolla shot with your son at one year old is lovely.
Yes, it is wonderful to see the same wonders we discovered found a again in our children’s experience
From the sea in Espoo to Norwegian fjords carved by ancient glaciers, to La Jolla memories with your young son, to a Northern California coastline you can’t name but will never forget—Ritva, you’ve traced your whole life in water. Each image a place that shaped you, each waterscape a story of belonging. The boulder your friends and you carved your names into, still there after all these years. That’s not just a photograph. That’s a promise water kept. 💙
/ Love & Hugs / Khadija 💕🤗”
Thank you for your lovely comment Khadija
Another beautiful collection Ritva, I really liked the fjord’s landscape! So beautiful!
Pamela, thanks. the fjord’s landscape, what is there not to love
Such a diverse and visually striking collection of waterscapes. The clarity and natural colors in these images are exceptional. 🏞️✨
Thanks so much Aura
Having grown on the northeast coast of Brazil, I was fascinated to read your post and how you feel about the ocean. I could relate to every word you said. Your images are beautiful.
Thanks, yes sea/ocean brings so many feelings, I am glad we share the same ones
Ritva, your beautiful waterscapes all look like peaceful places I would love to visit. My favorite is the sea lions on the beach at La Jolla.
Beth, San Diego back then was a lovely place to live. Those sea lions are rocks 😉
These are all wonderful images, Ritva! It is difficult to pick a favorite, they’re all great. But the Norway picture is spectacular; I’d hang that!
Joanne, Norway was so gorgeous
A beautiful gallery Ritva and it’s easy to see why you fell in love with Norway too 🩵 xxx
What is there not to love there
Your love of the sea and other watery places shines through this post, both in your words and your beautiful photos!
Thank you Sarah
Wonderful selections and images Ritva. The lake scene and Fjord images are gorgeous. I would love to experience those Finnish lakes, at least during the summer. Especially this year when we’ve had two months of brutal heat (mid to upper 90s), with dry creeks, and bath warm lakes.
Yes Brad. summer would be the best time to experience Finland
Great selection of images! I thoroughly enjoyed your narrative, particularly the history of the Finnish lakes. 188,000 – how many have you visited or seen? That could be a series of blog posts…. Lovely post! pp
I have to say Pam. not so many 😂
Beautiful images Ritva, and beautiful memories!
Thanks Anne
What a beautiful collection, Ritva! I think your opening image is my favorite!
Thanks Donna
The names still carved into the skerry after all these years — that detail is the whole post for me. And I love that the boulder you climbed on as a kid looks so much smaller now. Please don’t apologise for the lake hydrology either, following the water from Ruuhijärvi all the way to the Kymijoki was the most interesting part. Henley Beach is a lovely choice over Bondi.
Thanks for enjoying those moments in my post, few personal memories give places meaning
A wonderful gallery, Ritva! Your photo of La Jolla Cove reminded me of a visit there some years ago. I saw a recent story noting that California officials have been actively considering restricting or partially closing La Jolla Cove to tourists because of repeated problems with people getting too close to the sea lions.
Thanks John, Yes I read that too
Late in the evening you have made me smile . . . for some 25 years I lived very close to that Bondi to Coogee walk you show and now resident some 100 kms south in the Highlands wish I could walk there again 🙂 ! Love the lake lands in Finland and we have our fair few in Eesti also . . .
Yes, Eesti look s alot like Finland. My sister used to live on the other end of Bondi – on the cliff side.
So did I, the first three years in Australia > Ramsgate Avenue :)!
These lovely images describe so well what a positive impact a waterscape can have on our wellbeing. Horrific news this last week from Nepal tells exactly the opposite story. But these are welcome and calming images of great beauty.
Nepal is one of the many tragic natural events lately, so many earthquakes, fires …
👍🏻 Super images Ritva!
Thanks Mark