What a square ⬜ Solitude Amidst Urban Greenery

I don’t often crop my photos to square, but since I did one, why not try few more just for the fun of it. It does sometimes bring different things to the main focus.

From an aerial vantage point, we peer down onto a nondescript sidewalk. The pavement, a patchwork of square tiles, stretches ahead like a monochromatic ribbon. But it’s not the pavement that captures our attention; it’s the lone figure treading upon it. A person walks, the posture suggests introspection—a deliberate escape from the cacophony of urban life or just maybe she is lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to the world around her .

On either side of the sidewalk, lush trees stand sentinel. Their leaves form a natural canopy, filtering sunlight into dappled patterns. Their branches reach out, as if urging the wanderer to pause, to breathe, to listen. Adjacent to the trees, empty bicycle racks stand in orderly rows. They wait patiently, like forgotten companions, for riders who haven’t arrived. Numbers—cryptic symbols—adorn the road. “20” and “20.” Are they parking spots? Coordinates? We can only speculate. Yet, these markings lend an air of mystery, inviting us to unravel their meaning.

Have a I captured this fleeting moment, preserving it for eternity, a glimpse of quietude.

In this shot you are invited to step into the wanderer’s shoes. To feel the coolness of the pavement, the rustle of leaves, and the weight of our own thoughts. It’s a reminder that amidst the hustle, we can find stillness; in the ordinary, we discover the extraordinary.

So, take a breath. Walk alongside the solitary figure. Let the greenery envelop you. And in this urban reverie, find your own moment of reflection.

Remember: Sometimes, it’s in the spaces between footsteps that life speaks loudest.


20/20

The scene unfolds like a forgotten interlude—a pause in the symphony of urban life. The buildings, stoic and weathered, stand shoulder to shoulder, their walls bearing the marks of time. The beige structure, unassuming yet dignified, seems to lean slightly, as if sharing a secret with its crimson neighbor. And there, nestled between them, lies the narrow street—a silent conduit for wheels and footsteps.

The cars, like obedient sentinels, rest in neat rows. Their colors—pearl white, midnight black—mirror the monochrome palette of the pavement.

And then, the trees. Ah, the trees! their branches stretch upward, defiant against the rigid geometry of man-made structures. Leaves flutter in the breeze, casting fleeting shadows on the asphalt. No bustling crowds disturb this tableau. Only one’s hurried footsteps echo off the walls.


Amidst the beige and the red, the cars and the trees, we glimpse the poetry of stillness.

Black and white cars

View to Finnish National Theatre

Last week I posted pictures of doors and hallways in Ateneum Museum – this is from there too. On the other side of the square you can see the Finnish National Theatre. This week for Ludwigs Monday Window I give this view.

The Finnish Theatre was established in May 1872 . For the first 30 years of its existence, the company operated at the Arkadia theatre. The theatre did not acquire a permanent home until 1902, when a purpose-built theatre was erected in the heart of Helsinki, adjacent to the city’s main railway station. The building design was by architect Onni Törnqvist-Tarjanne. The company moved to its new home on April 9, 1902 and was renamed the Finnish National Theatre.

Monday Window

What a square ⬜ Need A drink?

I don’t often crop my photos to square, but since I did one, why not try few more just for the fun of it. It does sometimes bring different things to the main focus.

For some reason I have lots of window shots newly edited, due to having gone through the archives lately looking for forgotten gems . This looked good as a square, a view to a bar. As I played with it I did two edits and I prefer the one on the top with the faded colors and haze finnish.

I do like editing and see if can capture mood I was in when I took the shot. Mellow maybe?

A day at the museum

Here are some artworks from the collection exhibition; A Question of Time reflects on the major questions of our time through art. The exhibition also offers fresh perspectives into Finland’s oldest and most extensive art collection and how it was built.

each gallery can be opened separately and click the image’s to see them larger

Doors to Ateneum

This year we did not fly to the sun vacation due to many reasons, so this week we have been visiting few museum. We went to see the collection exhibition; A Question of Time reflects on the major questions of our time through art. The exhibition also offers fresh perspectives into Finland’s oldest and most extensive art collection and how it was built.

Here are few doors from the Ateneum – Finnish National Gallery entrance and few doorways at the museum.

Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

Revisiting photos – nighttime in the city

It’s amazing how a fresh perspective and improved skills can breathe new life into old photos. The process of revisiting and reimagining them can be quite rewarding; it allowed me to uncover hidden photos that I previously overlooked. Embracing artistic freedom and honing your editing skills can truly transform the way one looks at your own captures.

I took these in Australia, but I ignored them previously due to not being sharp enough. But with a bit of artistic liberties they turned out to be Okey shots. First shot is from Sydney and the other from Melbourne

What a square ⬜ Fashionable?

I don’t often crop my photos to square, but since I did one, why not try few more just for the fun of it. It does sometimes bring different things to the main focus.

For some reason I have lots of window shots newly edited, due to having gone through the archives lately looking for forgotten gems . This looked good as a square.

Street Photography – marketplace

This man seated next to table was relaxed, hiding a yawn maybe, selling vintage toys, and other old other miscellaneous objects caught my attention at the Níce market. The atmosphere was relaxed and casual, with other people seated at tables covered with white cloths in the background gave the shot depth.

door – in italy

The composition of an image can significantly alter the mood it conveys. The door to a Mecca building from Italy I chose demonstrates it , choosing between a landscape and portrait orientation can evoke different emotions. With a landscape orientation, the focus may broaden, capturing more of the surrounding environment, while a portrait orientation can emphasize the details and grandeur of the building itself. This shift in perspective can subtly influence the emotional impact of the image.

It’s intriguing how such a simple adjustment can evoke varied emotional responses, highlighting the powerful role of composition in visual storytelling.


Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

French doors

This week, I have edited an image featuring French doors and Juliet balconies for Dan’s Thursdays Doors challenge.

After weeks of seeing only white around me, I needed some color.

Instead of simply applying the conventional technique of converting the imagery to monochrome, I took a different approach by emphasizing the composition of each photograph. Each composition offers a slightly different perspective on the same scene: a charming old yellow building in the picturesque city of Nice, adorned with elegant French doors, adorned with green shutters, and complemented by Juliet balconies. One of the balconies charmingly displays an array of flower pots, while the other serves as a picturesque backdrop for laundry drying in the gentle breeze. .

Street photography – traditional

I have shared this image before, but now edited the tone of the shot and also made a monochrome copy of it. What I like about this is the father’s traditional shoes – his whole style of dressing compared the the children walking with him.

I took this shot several years ago in Paris, but something in it appeals to me. I think the leading lines, depth of field and composition works. Too much analyzing 🙂 ?

Ateneum Entrance doors

Looking down to the entrance of The Ateneum art museum.

The Ateneum is Finland’s most renowned art museum. ​Our collection spans from the 18th century to Modernism. In total, our collection includes nearly 30,000 national treasures.

Dans Thursday Doors

Street Photography – up and down

During the dark season the entrance and stairs at our local railway station in Kirkkonummi provides some bright colors and it is a nice contrast to the dark days. I have to say even so I prefer the monochrome images to the color ones. the Leading lines and structure is more defined. Thoughts?

The ramp down and the stair in color in monochrome. Totally different mood

Pink and white doors

Don’t these candy stripped doors look inviting? Pink chairs and pike as an added bonus.

These are from few years ago from the village of Ruotsinpyhtää in Loviisa, Strömfors Ironworks is one of the best preserved ironworks communities in Finland. Founded in 1695, the iron mill village has retained its unique atmosphere throughout the years.

Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

Elk or a moose

I took this yesterday though a window, enjoying the moose or elk on the sidewalk in Matinkylä, Espoo. It was late afternoon so the it was already a bit dark. Are you surprised if I say gray? I did not a have camera with me so I took this on my mobile and edited it on Lightroom that I have on my mobile. So this is really a Cellpic 🙂 I did three edits, in the first one I added light and enhanced the gray tones.

The two others are more real to the actual colors of the moment, One I added light and the other There is quite a bit of vignette to bring your focus to the center. That one is the most accurate of the light and tones. It is amazing how editing can change a shot.

Is it an elk? Is it a moose? If you’re in Finland, the answer is “BOTH”! The iconic, majestic forest dweller  is known as a moose in North America and an elk in Europe. To make matters even more confusing, elk in North America is used for an entirely different animal – a kind of deer.

Cellpic Sunday

Galerie Door

I an still in old town Chania, in Crete. This wood door with only varnish on it caught my attention.

I liked how it looked, I really have no other reason for the shot, nor do I have a narrative to add to it. I thought it would make a nice shot. That’s all. That is why I have no many edits o it…

open door to art gallery

In Monochrome

in monochrome
Come a little bit closer

It is Thursday and my entry entry to , Thursday Doors! 

Street Photography – Chinatown

Photos taken in Melbourne in Australia few years back.

Melbourne’s Chinatown has flourished for over 100 years. Established in the 1850s during the Victorian gold rush, it is notable for being the longest continuous ethnic Chinese settlement in the Western World and the oldest Chinatown in the Southern Hemisphere.

Posted for Cee’s Which Way Challenge

Street photography captures candid moments of daily life in public spaces. From bustling city streets to quiet suburban neighborhoods, we try to document the raw and unscripted moments that unfold around us. With an emphasis on capturing the essence of a scene or the emotions of the people within it, street photography offers a glimpse into the beauty and diversity of the world we inhabit. Whether it’s a fleeting expression, a captivating composition, or an unexpected juxtaposition, street photography celebrates the beauty and intrigue found in everyday moments.

Red Door

I saw this red door at the end of the ally in old town Chania, in Crete. I looked inviting and the colorful walls enhanced it with the turquoise shutters adding interest in the composition of the photo . The stone walls added warmth to the area. What’s not to like so I took few shots.

Then I thought about the meaning of a red door, it can vary depending on cultural, historical, and personal interpretations. In many cultures, a red front door symbolizes a warm welcome and hospitality. It is believed to invite positive energy and good luck into a home. Also red is often associated with strength and protection. Some believe that a red door can ward off evil spirits and bring a sense of security.

Red door in Chania, Crete

Approaching the doorway at the end of the the street

Red door
the red door beckons to approach

It is Thursday and my entry entry to , Thursday Doors! 

Green Door

While in Crete I took few photos of doors, and this green door and it’s surrounding really intrigued me. I am not so sure that I would be so taken by it if I lived there, it needs a bit of love and care, but from a photographers point of view, I really appreciate it.

Green door

It is Thursday, and this my second entry to , Thursday Doors

Edited with a more punch ☺

Brown door

While in Crete I took few photos of doors, and this brown door at the end of an alley was one of them.

Brown door in Crete
Closer look

Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors

People will say we’re in love

Don’t laugh at my jokes too much, People will say we’re in love
in Love? Don’t laugh at my jokes too much, People will say we’re in love

Six-Word Saturday 9.30.23

Reflections

I came across these images from our visit to Las Vegas, these are taken from our hotel window reflections. I find the rather impressive and artistic.