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.

Countdown to 2021-15

Photography, Still life

Today: Sunrise at 9:21- Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:53 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . A minute less of daylight than yesterday. Only 6 more days until winter solstice.

Times are odd, I’ve started to read and even execute recipes I find. Most of the time I read them and slightly change them. Like with this fish recipe I found for pike-perch, it was meant to be done in the oven.

I sliced an onion, three garlic cloves, and thump sized ginger that I had grated, I first fried them in an oil and butter mix, then I placed the salted pike-perch fillets on it to fry. for a side I used the potatoes left over from the previous day and fried them also with onions. Our Sunday meal was ready. It was so tasty 🙂

it didn’t look all that great, but the taste was delicious.

I also decorated this glass vase for our kitchen table with Christmas balls.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Tree tops

Landscapes

Countdown to 2021-14

Photography, Still life

I finally got around to replacing my spring, summer and autumn wreath on our front door. I also really wanted to place this red wooden heart to it, but as it had nothing to hand it by I just took a photo of it. I have seen prettier, but this will do fine, I’m not going to be picky knowing the doer.

Today: Sunrise at 9:20 – Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:54 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 9 more days until winter solstice.

Red heart with feathers and red and white ribbon

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-13

Photography, Still life

Sunday morning, sleeping in late. Coffee and bagel for breakfast. Reading the newspaper taking the time. Sunday morning. Time goes on, tik tok, tik tok. An Old clock my son found in an abandoned house years ago, we still have it, for no good reason at all, as it does not work anymore.

Today: Sunrise at 9:19 – Sunset 15:14- Length of day 5:56 hours – time of dusk 0:58 minutes . Three minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 10 more days until winter solstice.

Old clock my son found in an abandoned house years ago, we still have it, for no good reason at all as it does not walk anymore

One photo trying to capture white with Xmas theme 🙂

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Moss covered rocks

Landscapes

Countdown to 2021-12

Photography, Still life

We made an online order for our Christmas meals starter – we ordered fresh fish from a local smokery. For years now the starter is the more important part of the meal. Fish, roe, caviar and all the side dishes that go with it.

Today we need to do some shopping, so lets go on on a hunt for something red… like an ambulance.

Today: Sunrise at 9:17 – Sunset 15:15 – Length of day 5:57 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 10 more days until winter solstice.

I was listening to music and I thought I’s share one artist I often listen to Paolo Nutini. He seems to have disappeared from the scene, but I do love his voice and songs. Nothing to with Xmas, but good music is good music.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Lovely moment

Landscapes

Countdown to 2021-11

Photography, Still life

Yesterday went by with nothing worth mentioning really, Blaa, Blaa. Dull, Boring. But now is Friday…. 🙂

Today: Sunrise at 9:16 – Sunset 15:15 – Length of day 5:59 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes . Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 12 more days until winter solstice..

I took this picture of the wooden Xmas decorations I talked about in a previous post, the ones I made for school sale. I was even too lazy to set them up, I just put them on the side table and took a photo with my mobile.

Only thing happening was trying to figure out what to get our grandkids for Christmas. The kids don’t have that many requests. One of them answered their dad when he was asking what would he like Santa to bring him: Not now, I am having fun playing. That is a bad translation.( Ei nyt, kun on kivat leikit 🙂 ) This is not even happening in our household, a hearsay.

As I was thinking what to post I came across this old car city with happy families in the cars. This one is at our summer house, these I think are my husbands old toys.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Little bit of sun

Landscapes

Countdown to 2021-9

Photography, Still life

We walked through the mall today and saw Christmas decorations to try to lift our Christmas spirits, as I for one, really do not have any.

Today: Sunrise at 9:15 – Sunset 15:16 – Length of day 6:01 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 13 more days until winter solstice..

It was so nice to sit and chat face to face, enjoy nice lunch, that I did not make myself. Like a journey to the good old days 🙂 LOL , yeah.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Dreaming of

Landscapes, Photography

Countdown to 2021-9

Photography

Today: Sunrise at 9:13 – Sunset 15:16 – Length of day 6:03 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Two minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 14 more days until the direction moves towards light and winter solstice is here.

Candles are something that I associate to winter and Christmas, they bring wonderful soft light that I appreciate at this age, as I, for sure look prettier in this light 🙂

Today I am meeting a friend for an early lunch or coffee. These encounters are so rare these days, but personal contact is so much more meaningful – even if there are no hugs and you sit within certain distance from each other. But to to see expressions give the conversations more depth and warmth.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Just before dusk

Landscapes

Behind the trees you can glimpse the lake in the December dusk

Countdown to 2021-8

Photography

Today: Sunrise at 9:12 – Sunset 15:17 – Length of day 6:05 hours – time of dusk 0:57 minutes

Three minutes less of daylight than yesterday. Only 15 more days until the direction moves towards light and winter solstice is here.

My cats love playing with the decorations. Here is Tinka doing her thing 🙂

I was wondering why the Finnish flag was flying in the pole, after checking I found out that 8 December, is the birthday of the composer Jean Sibelius; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish Music.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-7

Landscapes, People, Photography

It was a beautiful morning, I had to go to have some labs taken so I was out of the house early as 8:15, but was in too much of a hurry to take a photo of the lovely pink sky then. So i took one at the Health Center at (:30 and ten minutes later when I got home. It is 10AM and we have sunshine and blue skies. After two days of grayness this is bliss.

Sunrise at 9:10 – Sunset 15:18 – Length of day 6:08 hours – time of dusk 0:56 minutes

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-6

People, Photography

Today is Finland’s 103rd Independence Day. We are celebrating it by lightning two candles at 6 PM to the window. We also placed our Xmas light outside. I also lit some candles in my office, this I just took minute ago with my mobile..

Now is time to have some Pizza

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-5

People, Photography

Today is, well Saturday, it is gray and and grass is green. The small amount of snow that fell yesterday melted as it rained rather heavily last night.

As I said the grass is green, so is the moss.

Today we are going to visit our son to celebrate our grandsons birthday, even though his actual birthday is tomorrow, he is born on the 6th of December, our Independence Day. This picture is from his first Christmas in 2011. I love this – those eyes

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Roof tops of Riga

Photography, Travel

Views from Terrace Riga over the roofs in Riga, sitting there I could see the whole views of Old Riga. Once again stating the obvious, that deteriorating building are picturesque. These photos are from several years back, but I came a cross these and thought I’d share them with you.

Countdown to 2021-4

Landscapes, Photography

It’s snowing! It’s Friday! It’s Weekend!

I got out of bed 9:20, as do not have to hurry to go nowhere. It was dull gray no sigs of brightening at all, and it didn’t, it started to snow, side ways.

Friday again, I am not able to keep track of the days anymore as they tend to be all the same. Same, Same but different. I had to check from the newspaper really Friday. It was 🙂 Nothing to write about – so this is todays post!

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021-3

Photography, Still life

First, I have to correct all who thought I did anything resembling the decoration in my previous post. No! Those decorations were from a store display – at Aarikka. I will later post my handicraft, they did sell well, but they were unique pieces – all different 🙂 I must try to be clearer in my ramblings.

Secondly, I would like to let you know that I survived the dentist, as far as a dentist visit goes, it was good. Check up, one cavity – fixed. The local anesthesia was given so that it did not hurt at all, that was the first!. Cleaning. Out of the door! Until next time in a year or two!

I took these photos are for FB photo group I am in, the theme is white. One of these images I added there. can you guess what my pick was?

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Thank you!

About

I am amazed, I really am!

It was way back (2016) when I was so happy to have 1000 followers and now slowly, but surely it is now 1700 followers. You have to come to follow me on your own accord, not due to my activity on commenting or following that many new bloggers, as I am rather bad at that. Thank you all for staying on with me all these years and for the new ones, THANK YOU SO MUCH for he follow! I do truly appreciate it, as I do not do this to gain followers, not really, but I appreciate you liking my recent ramblings and photos.

I remember that back in the days you took an apple to say thanks’, so here you are!

Countdown to 2021-2

Photography, Still life

Here we go, December has started continuing with the grayness of November, no snow, it melted as quickly as it came.

Yesterday was not the best of days, slept badly the night before and ended sitting on the sofa most of the day, not a very productive day. Today starting with an other note. I have something to look forward to, a dentist appointment. I am absolutely scared of it, but it needs to be done. It is only a check up, but still. Thumbs up, I will survive this too 🙂

I took these photos from a display window, and remembered I have done some wooden Xmas decorations, years ago to my boys school sale and I kept few to myself as they sold rather nicely back then. Yes, I will have to take a photo and share it now that I remember.

Would you like to join us? Join in with this title and link it to my page.

Countdown to 2021

Photography

I was pondering about what to post in December. I liked thatabout November, I did not have to think about the title for each post, it was enough that I daily changed the date. So I voiced my thought and Sue from WordsVisual came up with this title and said she’d join by linking the post to mine.

Would you like to join us?

I will be posting new and old photos somehow related to winter, Christmas and eventually anticipation of new year. My aim is to take one new photo a day, but not going to stress over it, if I don’t come up with anything. We started a 3 week lockdown and it is recommended that you basically stay away from people and public places.

Today I decided to repost pics I have in my media library of candles. Time to take out my candle decorations, I noticed I have hardly any out.

This certainly will be a different Xmas season. I think I will have to play some Xmas songs at home as I won’t be hearing in stores, as it’s online shopping mostly for Xmas presents. I will have to put on Sportify and go online.

How to survive November 2020-30

Black and White photos

The lyrics of the by Doors “The End” came to mind as I was thinking of what to say in this last post to; How to Survive November 2020 So it’s time to – “lyödä hanskat tiskiin” (throw in the towel) strait translation- throw in the gloves 🧤 .

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend

The end
Of our elaborate plans
The end
Of everything that stands
The end
No safety or surprise
The end
I’ll never look into your eyes
Again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need of some stranger’s hand
In a desperate land

Then my next thought was , what if my next months theme would be 1. Trying to find Xmas spirit? or 2. Countdown to New Year 2021? as I am so desperately bad at finding titles for my posts. This way, I would only have to change the daily date as I’ve done the past month.

If you wish to participate in this survival of the darkest month challenge, use this link to add your post to it. PARALLEL LINES

How to survive November 2020-29

Black and White photos, Travel

Two more post for this November, this has passed so quickly! Thank you all for making it that happen, the comments and company. I am really at loss trying to come up with an idea for today.

Candles, they work as a mood enhancer so well. Together with shells from our travels they take me to the warm and sandy beaches we have visited, so looking forward to travel again, hopefully sooner than later.

If you wish to participate in this survival of the darkest month challenge, use this link to add your post to it. PARALLEL LINES

How to survive November 2020-28

Black and White photos, People

I have to admit, I have not written so much about me and my life before. I have just posted photos as i have assumed that no one is really interested in what I do, or mostly don’t do. I have thought my photos will speak for themselves. Now I am wondering what to do when November is over, should I return to me old ways or keep on writing this nonsense in the future too.

Yesterday I put on make-up after a long time, no one notices if I do or I don’t at home. I had an on-line interview yesterday, so I had made myself presentable. So I am going to be boring and post a photo of me with lots of editing in color and bnw and the original also to keep it real :-), as I have no other idea for today. so it’s a #selfie #over50 #makeup post.