Sibelius Hall is located by the beautiful Lake Vesijärvi. Sibelius Hall is a congress- and concert center. Sibelius Hall was built in 2000 adjacent to an old factory building. The modern wooden architecture is combined with the old industrial history in the most interesting way.
The very spacious Forest Hall and the stunning lake scenery create an incredible atmosphere. A view to Lake vesijärvi is beautiful.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday.
Yesterday we visited the Sibelius Hall in Lahti, it was an open door day. This is the first photo I took when entering the building. Her are two edits of the same photo.
Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday
SevenforSeptember. I have been looking at posts for this challenge, but time has set limits past week. So I am now posting something I took yesterday on the 7th, after enjoying the warmth of the sauna, I was cooling down on the patio. The sun coming down on a low angle at 19:19. The soft glow of the setting sun cast a warm hue over the view I was watching. As the gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves, I couldn’t help but appreciate the tranquility of the moment.
All these squares and sevens are about; the Squares Challenge and the theme is Seven.
Common Object. That is the challenge. Taking the mundane and shining a different light on it. Highlighting an object or scene that we normally pass by without notice, and making it something special. This process allows us to appreciate the beauty and significance of everyday things that often go overlooked. By giving attention to these ordinary elements, we can find inspiration and joy in the simple moments of life.
Laundry hanger – inspiring? I thought so.
Think about all the common objects you can see around you right this moment – a bottle, socks, a pen, eggs, coffee mugs, perfume vapor, cell phone – the list of subjects you have this week are endless.
Now the challenge is to simply make the ordinary look extraordinary, or at least photographed well. I am concentrating on the latter. You could try focusing on a particular detail or texture. For example, zoom in on the intricacies of a old locker , the rough texture of an old tool, or the delicate patterns in a piece of fabric. Alternatively, you could show how you integrate the ordinary object into your daily routine, providing a glimpse into its significance and relevance in your life.
Perhaps you can capture the moment when a mundane item takes on an unexpected, almost magical quality. Share a story about how something seemingly ordinary has become an indispensable and valuable part of your day, illustrating its significance through personal anecdotes and experiences. When it comes to composition, consider the placement and arrangement of elements in the frame to convey depth, emotion, and meaning. Play with lighting, angles, and perspective to create a visually compelling narrative that captivates the viewer’s imagination. The creative possibilities are endless, and I am eagerly anticipating to be amazed and to gain a new perspective on the everyday through your unique lens.
Start at the very beginning – pick an object that speaks to you – whether it’s your car keys that you pick up everyday, or the chef’s knife you use to prep dinner. Pick something that you’d like to share with the rest of us.
These I chose are from my summer house kitchen- not used anymore but inspired me enough to take the time to arrange a still life.
Arrange things how you want them – the great thing about common objects is that you can arrange them as you see fit; you’re not restricted by an inability to pick things up and move them around.
The overall look and feel of the colors in an image evoke different senses and emotions – do pay attention to the composition of colors and overall tones in your image, in terms of being complementary or adding contrast.
This is all about the visual weight that you’re assigning to things in your composed shot – obviously, larger objects that fill the frame are meant to hold the viewer’s attention the most. Certain items can add nuance and help balance a frame without taking away from the main subject.
Shadow play with everyday objects, sitting on a sofa you can be inspired by the blinds. In a restaurant I found the lampshade interesting. Or a stack of glasses on a table.
Shapes and reflections
My heartfelt thanks to Anne for her outstanding curation of last week’s Shorelines challenge. The sheer diversity and enchanting beauty of the shorelines showcased truly resonated with me, reaffirming the eternal allure of these natural wonders. I hope you eagerly anticipate the upcoming week, when Egídio will have the distinct pleasure of guiding our focus towards a new subject matter. I encourage you to join us for another new challenge. Until then, let your spirits soar and embrace the week with an abundance of smiles!
For those seeking additional details on how to participate in our engaging challenges, please click here.
This is such a challenge – well no challenge at all. I have so many shorelines from this summer that I am having trouble deciding what to post. Do I limit to one days worth of photos or from several ??? My week has been a roller-coaster of emotions to birthdays and a funeral and work on top of it. I started this post a week ago, and here I am next Saturday, still working on it. I wanted to post some of my new photos from Hailuoto, but me being me, well I do need to edit them first, but with all the all the things happening this week, here I am. Anne, I did get it done, I love this theme.
I am going to share some photos from our lake cruise through the three lakes, between the cities of Lahti – Heinola in Finland. We have for several year thought about doing this, but never got around to doing, but this summer we did.
Here are some shorelines of these three lakes; Vesijärvi is a lake of 111 square kilometres (43 sq mi) near Lahti in southern Finland. The city of Lahti is connected to Päijänne through Lake Vesijärvi and Vääksy canal. Lake Päijänne is the second largest lake in Finland (1,080 km2 (266,874 acres)). The lake drains into the Gulf of Finland via the Kymi River. And through lake Päijänne you reach Lake Ruotsalainen which is medium-sized lake in the Kymijoki main catchment area. it is located in Päijät-Häme, near the town Heinola.
I also love the seaside as you might know. Last weekend I visited Hailuoto for the second time.
Just to give a little information; Hailuoto is an island in Northern Ostrobothnia. It is the third largest island in Finland, known for its beautiful nature, sandy beaches and bird watching opportunities.
A small, close-knit community of about 1,000 inhabitants lives on the island, and you can get there by ferry from Oulu. We drove there with my. son and two grandsons. The day was gray, windless. We were lucky no rain
Lighthouse
The Marjaniemi lighthouse reaches majestically into the sky. Its pale brick walls reflect bright sunlight. When I touch a building, I feel its strong foundation. Historical stories whisper in my ears.
This lighthouse has been seen as a symbol of Hailuoto since the end of the 19th century. The design of Finland’s leading architect Axel Hampus Dahlström was built and finally put into use in 1872. Since then, it has been an unusual aid to shipping.
“From the appearance of the lighthouse, you can immediately see where Dahlström has taken his impressions,” guide points out. ” Italian architecture has had a great influence.” I would have not known this immediately 🙂
The lighthouse happens to have a so-called “Italy window”, which has been used to send signals to the sea through colors. The fact that the colors are the same as the Italian flag is just a funny coincidence. The real Italian atmosphere is created by the architecture.
On the west side of the island, the low tide revealed a fascinating landscape of rocks and vibrant green grass, creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of a multi-hued sky. The ever-changing sky displayed an array of gray tones, each one offering a unique charm when observed from different directions. Despite the shifting shades, the beauty of the scenery remained constant, providing a moody landscape. As we appreciated the enchanting surroundings, our grandkids gleefully immersed themselves in the cool waters of the Baltic sea, huge enjoying themselves.
On the eastern side of the island, the shore stretched out into a beautiful expanse of grassy knolls and swaying reeds, with fields extending as far as the eye could see. The gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and sea, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere. The old dock was only a pile of rocks, worn down by years of relentless waves and weather. Despite its dilapidated state, it still held a certain charm, a reminder of times long gone . Over time, nature had reclaimed much of the area, with wildflowers blooming between the cracks in the stone, and seagulls nesting in the crevices. It was a place where the past and present intertwined, each telling a story of the island’s rich history.
Leaving the island this was the last photo I took. The wind turbine dominated the scene.
Last week, John’s Cool Colors inspired us! it was great to see your beautiful interpretations of this theme even if I did not comment on them. Thank you, John, for hosting such a beautiful challenge.
This week Anne has a lovely challenge, that has unfortunately has inspired beutiful posts, but due to lack of time I have just looked at them, but no comments. Sorry for that. But life happens…
What’s up later today? It is my turn to lead us, so please visit my blog later today, Saturday 7th September. Until then, take care and and keep on smiling! I will make sure I comment on all posts linked to my blog no matter what.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
I am a bit strapped for time, so here is one post for many challenges I want to participate in . I hope you don’t mind me combining them this week 😀
I visited Hailuoto in Oulu this weekend. The day was cloudy, but it didn’t dampen the mood, the place was still beautiful as I remember it being.
For Monday Window.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday.
For John’s Cellpic Sunday.
This is a tricky one, I really like monochrome or black and white photos. I know there is a difference between the two but many times they are considered the same. I don’t want to seem to be boasting, but I consider myself to have few real nice ones. Here are three that I chose 😀
Favorite? This is one I am rather happy about
Also this one
Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Sitting in my backyard watching the sun light the flowers, such a lovely bright color against the blue sky and green leaves
Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day
the windows frame the view beautifully. The gentle sway of the trees outside provides a soothing soundtrack, completing the tranquil ambiance that the windows so perfectly capture.
Monday Window: 26 August 2024
It was a windy and cloudy day and we did not feel like barbequing so we drove to Lahti have lunch. We drove to Vuorikatu and first thing I noticed that lots of construction had been done and the sea of signs was the second thing I noticed as we got out of the car. it’s a jungle out there.
Looking down the hill you can see the ski jump hills, a landmark of the city. Behind the fence was a (Harjun koulu) school. I took a photo of the entrance. In the last two photos you can see some of the yard, and an apartment building and the tower of the Lahti City Hall
From the hill you can see to the hill on other side , (Ristin Kirkko) the Church of the Cross it is the main church in Lahti, Finland. The modernist church, completed in 1978, was one of the last design projects of the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The first photo in the gallery below.
And then we drove up the hill to see the radio masts of Lahti an other landmark of the city
Lahti is an important radio city because of its old radio broadcasting station. The Finnish Broadcasting Company was established in 1926. It was soon found that the radio broadcasting station in Helsinki was not powerful enough. The first long wave station in Finland was built in Lahti because of the city’s central location. Built in 1927, the 150-metre-high radio towers became a landmark of the city. Lahti’s broadcasting station was inaugurated on 22 April 1928.
The popularity of radio increased quickly in the 1930s, and it became necessary to expand coverage. In 1935, a new long-wave station was completed in Lahti (today the Radio and TV Museum Mastola) with a powerful 150 kW Marconi transmitter. In 1953, ultrashort (FM) waves and transmitters were introduced in broadcasting. In the same year, the transmitter of the Lahti long-wave (AM) transmitter was replaced. In 1958, Suomen Televisio was established and began its television broadcasting. Currently, FM and television transmission operations in Lahti are run by the Tiirismaa station, completed in 1967.
The AM station in Lahti stopped broadcasting in 1993, as the Finnish Broadcasting Company discontinued its long-wave service. Mastola
John’s Cellpic Sunday
This week, John invites us to immerse ourselves in the captivating realm of “cool” in all its diverse nuances. For my contribution, I’ve opted to explore the serene and tranquil allure of the color blue. By intentionally keeping the accompanying text succinct, I aim to encourage each viewer to discern and derive their own unique impressions and emotions from the evocative imagery. In my perception, the predominant use of blue exudes a sense of serenity and invites a state of relaxation. I’m curious to know if you share in this interpretation and whether it resonates with your own sentiments.
Talbingo reservoir lake in NSW Australia – Blue lake
Mountains and sea just before sunset in BC Canada
Last week, Sofia guided us through the wonders of adding a sense of scale to our photos. It once again brought attention to the composition of images and how important it is.
This week, it is John’s turn to focus on cool colors. He provides excellent directions and terrific images to illustrate the challenge. Above was my take on it, hope to see yours.
When you post your response, please remember to link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Next week, Anne will host the challenge, I wonder what the mood will be in her post, so look out for her post next week.
Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
I took several shots of this Pink Paper Daisy (googled it) from my summer bouquet, I wanted to experiment with different angles and lighting conditions as well. In addition to the focus, I also varied the background and the distance to the subject to capture a series of images that showcase the delicate beauty of this flower. The result showed the intricate details and vibrant colors of the Pink Paper Daisy, revealing its features from various perspectives.
For Cee’s Flower of the Day.
You can sense the changing season in the air, as the days grow shorter and the nights longer. The warmth of the sun feels different somehow, as its angle changes in the sky and its rays become more gentle. The sun is lower, casting long, golden shadows that stretch across the landscape. The earth’s scent is changing too, as the fallen leaves begin to decompose and release a subtle, earthy fragrance. Can you feel it in the crisp breeze that carries the promise of autumn?
Debbies Six Word Saturday
Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day
Beach, seaside, and coastal areas , in general have always been one of my favorite places to be. There’s something incredibly soothing about the sound of the sea, the rhythmic symphony of waves crashing against the shore, and the vastness of the ocean stretching out as far as the eye can see. Walking barefoot on the soft, warm sand, feeling the grains beneath my feet, brings a sense of relaxation that is unparalleled. Whether it’s the gentle sea breeze, the mesmerizing colors of the sunset reflecting on the water, or the endless opportunities for exploration and discovery along the coastline, the beach is a place where I find true happiness.
It doesn’t matter if its a bit windy or cold, the seaside has its own lure whatever the weather.
Searching for beautiful seashells on the beach is a delightful pastime . Whether it’s the vibrant hues of a sun-bleached conch , each shell is a unique . As you wander along the shore, there is joy in spotting the intricate patterns the sea has sculpted into the sand, creating a fascinating canvas that changes with each tide.
Posted for Brian’s Monochrome Madness and Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
This week we are challenged by Sofia from photographias She wrote: So, this challenge might feel technical, but it really isn’t. Scale is something that attracts our eyes more often than we think and intuitively we look for ways to convey the size of what we’re seeing. There’s plenty of ways to do it, using people or objects, perspective or leading lines.
I started doing the search and I noticed I always compared the scale to people, and the scale was most prominent in nature. What came to mind was the vastness of the ocean, the sky but how to show it. I have been in awe of the redwoods, various rock formations I’ve been lucky enough to have seen. There’s something truly humbling about standing next to an ancient redwood, feeling dwarfed by its sheer size and presence. The intricate patterns and colors of the different rock formations I’ve encountered have also left a lasting impression on me, showcasing the immense power and artistry of nature. Additionally, the endless expanse of the ocean stretching out to the horizon, and the ever-changing canvas of the sky, constantly remind me of the boundless beauty and scale of the natural world.
Comparative Size: For example, placing a person next to a large tree can highlight the tree’s or rocks or mountains grandeur.
Negative Space: Using empty space around your subject can emphasize its size and importance. This technique is often used in landscape photography to highlight vastness
In the heart of the big cities, one can see the impressive high-rise buildings reaching for the sky, creating a concrete jungle that never sleeps. The scale and magnificence of these structures are truly awesome, offering a breathtaking view of urban architecture. Similarly, airports emulate the bustling atmosphere of a small city, with their vast terminals, intricate networks, and constant flurry of activity. The sheer scale and complexity of these transportation hubs is both stunning and, at times, overwhelming, leaving a lasting impression on travelers from all walks of life.
Perspective: The angle and distance from which you take a photo can significantly affect the perceived scale. Shooting from a low angle can make objects appear larger, while a high angle can make them seem smaller-
The micro world is a fascinating realm teeming with life, where even the smallest of things play a significant role. From the delicate scale on a butterfly’s wing to the vibrant hues of moss and lichen, every detail contributes to the intricate tapestry of this diminutive universe. Tiny flies dance gracefully in the air, while colorful flowers bloom, creating the beauty and complexity of the microcosm.
I hope you enjoyed my photo choices with size/scale! Sofia’s theme is a great reminder of the importance of keeping the scale of a subject in mind while we’re out with our cameras. Be sure to see her beautiful photos at her photographias. If you join us, please include a link on her site.
Last week, we all shared photos of gorgeous gardens for Ann-Christine’s “What’s in a Garden?” What’s happening next week? It’s John’s turn to take the lead, so please visit Journeys with Johnbo next Saturday at noon EDT.
If you want to know more on the Lens-Artists, please click here. Until then, keep on smiling ☺
For Debbie’s Six Word Saturday.
I have really bad tension neck, at the moment being on the computer is not recommended at the moment, so I’m on a short break.
Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness flowers are beautiful, captivating in both their natural, colorful state and the elegant monochrome interpretations. As I have immersed myself in the process of searching for photos, I found myself drawn deeper into the intricate details and unique characteristics of various flowers. From vibrant roses to delicate lilies, each bloom tells a story of resilience and beauty. It’s truly fascinating how the monochrome concept brings forth a fresh perspective on these natural wonders, allowing us to appreciate their forms and textures in a new light. So, in keeping with this theme, I am continuing exploring and capturing the timeless allure of flowers through monochrome photography.
Hope you all a have a bright and joyful day.
Vibrant Summer Flowers, A Delight for the Eyes. The black-eyed Susan, captured for Cee’s Flower of the Day, exude a sense of joy and vibrancy. As we immerse ourselves in the warmth of the summer season, the array of colors and textures found in these blooms invites us to take a moment to appreciate the wonders of flowers.
Johns Cellpic Sunday
Before thunderstorm on Saturday at the countryside. Love the contrast of the sky, and nature
I’ve always enjoyed a walk in a garden, camera on hand. What’s in a garden ? a state of mind? I have noticed when I visit a garden I tend to focus on details instead of the whole view of the garden.
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. ~Luther Burbank
Now, the photos can speak for themselves – no words needed.
And in my garden I find this to be true: A good garden may have some weeds. ~Thomas Fuller
Vancouver island garden -The Butchart Gardens
Chinese friendship garden in Sydney
Rose gardens in Vancouver and Portland ,Seattle
Thank you, Ann-Christine, for hosting this challenge have a look at her wonderful site and join us. Remember to link back to her original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can find you.
Last week Patti left us cross-eyed in a fantastic challenge of Zigzags. I loved how many ways we could look at this theme.
Next week is Sofia’s to host so I invite you to drop by her blog on Saturday 17th August and see what she is up to. Until then, keep on smiling.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
Posted for Ann-Christine’s Lens-Artists Challenge
The name of this boat, “Happy Days,” perfectly encapsulates the joy and relaxation that comes with being on the water. Happy Days boat in the harbor is a constant reminder to appreciate the simple moments of happiness and the beauty that surrounds us. Whether it’s the glistening of the sun on the water, the clouds above us or being with people we love.
We took a lake cruise, but not on this boat, but because of the name I had to take a photograph of it.
Debbie’s Six Word Saturday,
Dawn hosts this week Monochrome Madness, I also linked to Leanne’s post. I am so proud of myself, I was able to limit my photos to four. As Leanne also pointed out in her post , I don’t really photograph shadows much, or if I have I can’t remember them.
sorry for the life of me I cannot remember where I took this and I am too lazy at the moment to do the research. ( update, Leanne kindly recognized the city as Melbourne. Thanks 🙂
Forsyth Park Savannah’s largest and most popular park. The City’s most famous fountain—installed in 1858 and modeled after the fountains at the Place de la Concorde in Paris—crowns the northern edge of the park.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 