Happy New Year 2022
Author: Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
My name is Ritva. I am an avid, self-taught photographer from southern Finland, currently living in Kirkkonummi. Interest in life is evident in my diverse subjects, capturing anything that catches my eye. Whether it’s the delicate intricacies of a plant, the breathtaking beauty of a landscape, or the compelling energy of urban life, My lens finds and celebrates beauty in all its forms. Nature serves as an enduring wellspring of inspiration for me, as I seek out and immortalize its enchanting moments. Additionally, in portrait photography I try to capture human emotion and connection , as I aim to encapsulate the very essence of each fleeting moment.
I totally enjoy playing with photos and immersing oneself in the editing process. It’s truly satisfying to have the flexibility that shooting in RAW provides, opening up a world of possibilities for editing. I’m of the same mindset when it comes to photo editing; I prefer to maintain the authenticity of the moment captured, striving to avoid over-editing and keeping the essence of the shot true to life. However, I also appreciate the occasional opportunity to explore artistic expressions through my edits, transforming images into minimalist monochrome representations that beautifully convey the essence and emotion of the scene. Or using colors to enhance the mood of the image. This delicate balance between realism and artistic expression is what makes photo editing such a captivating endeavor for me.
Inspiration and ideas change. My knowledge changes and grows. Each piece I create is simultaneously an extension from the past, where I’ve come from and what I’ve learned, as well as a preview of the future, where I’m going.
I do not classify myself as just a photographer, as some might think from looking at my work. I am a sculptor, a painter, a photographer, an artist.
If a viewer stops for just a moment to view and reflect on a photograph, a photo collage or a painting I have created, then I have succeeded in my work.
What winter looks like – 12
I am continuing to share winter photos, yesterday it snowed. These are what it looked like from my window.
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter.
What winter looks like – 11
I am continuing to share winter photos, these I took yesterday of a ball hydrangea that is outside now covered with snow, that I dusted of and this is what I captured.
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
Happy Holidays!
What winter looks like – 10
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 8
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 9
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 7
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 6
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 5
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 4
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 3
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like – 2
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
What winter looks like
I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.
Not all images are new, actually most are images are imagers that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts with the newly learned editing skills that I have been working on for years. I am a self learner.
I am not really inspired by anything at the moment, so this is one way I try to stay active. Winter can be beautiful, gloomy, watery, cold or depressing. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. Images can be in color or black and white or both. I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.
Snow covered trees
Even if winter is not my favorite time of the year, I have to admit that it can look very pretty.
I like blue color
I was trying to come up with a title, I could not come up with any. I thought I’d make a post, but I have nothing to say. Nothing is happening. Days are short. I work. I watch tv. Sleep. Then I do the same again.
I have been practicing oil ink paintings, most of them are rubbish. I have tried to do warm tones, reds, orange and yellow. Cold tones, they turned out much better. It looks so easy, but to get anything presentable is hard. It is fun, but the room needs to be easily ventilated, but with the cold weather we have been having you just cannot keep the windows open.(-16C / 9F for nearly a week, today it’s only -1,3C /29F) so I’ve had my head full of fumes 🙂
I have not photographed anything worth publishing lately as I have not been doing anything.
I have admired our updated kitchen, I am happy with how it turned out. I more than once I questioned my choices in colors and materials. We only changed the tiles, countertop, sink and lights, the cabinets remained as they where. The kitchen table was sanded and re-waxed, so it is now the same shade as the kitchen countertops
Now I know the topic, it is something that is common in both of paragraph’s above, blue. They are blue.
Independence Day
That’s it, Independence Day here Finland is cold and dark, but candles are traditionally placed in the window, mine are in front of the blue waves
Sweet little Tinka
My cat Tinka captured in black and white. She is so pretty!
“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”
– Charles Dickens
“There is something about the presence of a cat… that seems to take the bite out of being alone.” – Louis J. Camuti
Ink Oil Paintings
As I have tried to stay away from the computer and monitor, due to the light being so bright for my eye at the moment, eye saving mode makes it so yellow that there is no point playing with my photos.
I have been trying to learn a new technique – oil ink painting. Abstract Art. It is so much fun, but harder than I thought. I tend to put too much color in them, I do like colors 🙂 . Well I have only tried 5 papers, so it is to say that I hardly have any experience. Simplicity it the the key here too, which I have not yet learned.
Here are some of my attempts 🙂 for your enjoyment or not. I am still sharing!
Thanks!
First I want to thank you all the followers for their support on my November survival.
Kiitos seurasta marraskuun selättäjät!
At the end of the month I got an eye infection, so I got well behind in my replies to your encouragement and comments. I hopefully was able to reply to them today. I have not been a very frequent visitor to my fellow blogger due to the thing. The light from the monitor irritates my eye. I am on the mend and in weeks time it should be nearly as good as new, or at least as it was prior the infection.
During this darkness I am dreaming being on a beach at sunset. Here is one beautiful memory.
How to survive November 2021 Day 30
It is over, done, goodbye November 2021
Thanks for all my November surviving companions and people cheering me on my journey through the November darkness. I do have to admit it was not so bad this year as we have had several sunny days even thought the sun is out for only for short while.
The next thing to look forward is Christmas, time to find some decorations and slowly build the atmosphere to the our home.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
How to survive November 2021 Day 29
It feels like winter as the temperatures are -9C ( 16F) frost has made art on the plants that are left. I am continuing with nature shots .
Yesterday I was not able to post or be by the computer, so I am posting my last two November posts today. It is over, November once again I survived it and we are ending it in a sunny, but cold day.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
How to survive November 2021 Day 28
It feels like winter as the temperatures are -6C ( 20F) frost has made art on the plants that are left.
Two more days then November is over and we can start waiting for the next big event – Christmas will be here sooner than we thought.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
How to survive November 2021 Day 27
I have not lit up candles this year as often as I used, I should they do bring beautiful atmosphere and soft light.
Luckily I have some green candle holders to get the green vibe going.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
How to survive November 2021 Day 26
First time I missed a day in this challenge. A dear friend gave us tickets to The Miracle – A Night with Queen “INNUENDO 2021” #queentribute as she was not able to attend the show.
The singer sang well and the band played well , we had an enjoyable evening. So I was too tired to start writing the post after 10, actually I wanted to sit down and have a glass of wine instead. So, a day late..
My green findings and bunch of other colors as well
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
How to survive November 2021 Day 25
Frozen flowers.
That’s it for today!
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 