Today, the temperature sits at -9°C, with snow gently drifting down throughout the day. The sky appears overcast, a soft white hue. It’s a chilly winter day, and I feel content being indoors, wearing my woolen socks and reminiscing over photographs from past trips. Remembering the blue skies and warmer weather. These are taken years ago, my nephew took me to the waterfront in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada for a visit. I loved the snow-covered mountains, standing majestic against the dark blue sea.
A view of a couple on a wooden pier, side by side, also memorizing the stunning landscape around them, with snow-capped mountains towering majestically in the background, their peaks adorned with fluffy clouds that seem to hover gently, casting a soft shadow over the tranquil water below. The air is crisp and refreshing, while the gentle lapping of waves against the wooden structure adds to the peaceful ambiance that enhances the breathtaking scenery, making it an idyllic moment. That’s what I recall, and hopefully, that is the essence of what this photograph captures.
A view of a couple on a wooden pier with snow-capped mountains in the background, with the clouds hovering at their peaks. So beautiful
I often end up taking photos of the seagulls when I am by a pier; this time, they were perched on a worn wooden pier, gracefully overlooking the serene blue waters and the distant mountains. Their calls carried across the waves, adding a sense of liveliness to the calm surroundings, while I captured the beauty of the moment through my lens, trying to freeze it all in time. The landscape was a perfect blend of tranquility and vibrancy, making the experience truly unforgettable.
Click the gallery to enlarge the images.
The image features a fish market building located on the waterfront in Sidney,
The iconic fish market building on the waterfront in Sidney, British Columbia, surrounded by tranquil waters and a clear blue sky.
It is cold, and the world outside is mostly white, blanketed in a thick layer of snow. The brown hydrangeas are still up under the snow, their once-vibrant blooms now a muted memory, yet they stand resilient in this wintry landscape. Here are some close-ups from their leaves, showcasing the unique textures and shapes that remain visible even beneath the frosty remnants.
Delicate dried petals reflecting softly against a smooth surface.A close-up view of dried hydrangea leaves, showcasing their intricate textures and muted colors.
The stunning beauty of winter, featuring icicles and frozen plants that perfectly frame a flowing stream. This picture captures all the cool details of the season, showing off the calm yet eye-catching sights that winter landscapes bring. The mix of cold elements and running water gives a fresh take on nature in this chilly time of year, making you appreciate the delicate balance and beauty found in winter’s embrace. I hope the vibe of winter’s charm in nature comes across.
Icicles and frozen vegetation framing a flowing stream,the beauty of winter details.
Winter and cold weather make for a nice backdrop for the old red mill in Immilä, Finland
I uncovered some historical insights, and here they are in a nutshell. The Immilä rapids have been the site of grain milling since the Middle Ages, with the earliest written record of mills dating back to 1548. The first sawmill emerged in the 1760s, by which point a settlement and an inn had already established themselves on the hill. As the 19th century unfolded, the population grew, and Immilä transformed into a vibrant village of craftsmen and millers. Following World War II, three mills were operational in the Immilä rapids; alongside two sawmills, there was also a power plant equipped with auxiliary machinery, including a bark planer. The final mill to close its doors was the Immilä district sawmill in May 1969. Of all the mill buildings, only the one erected in 1901 in the Immilä district remains today.
A winter scene featuring a red mill surrounded by snow-covered trees and a partially frozen river.
This week, I sought something distinctive in John’s Cellpic Sunday. While the quality may not be top-notch, I genuinely relished the challenge of capturing the moment. I took a cozy café scene with my front camera while outside in the cold, featuring a customer getting dressed to leave in the background. It reminded me of the beauty in capturing unforeseen moments and the joy that comes from sharing those experiences. Even if the outcome isn’t technically perfect, what truly matters are the stories and memories that accompany the image.
A cozy café scene taken with the front camera by me outside the cafe in the cold of a the customer busy at a table in the background.
Here are some more images from this old church and a link to more information of Espoo Cathedral .
I have additional images taken, but I plan to share them separately, as I think these particular ones align well with Dan’s theme. I’m aware that people often overlook images when there are too many of them, which has been a common mistake in many of my earlier posts. I really strive to thoughtfully select and limit the number of images I include. Hopefully, I can keep the attention and ensure that every image adds value to the story, creating a more deliberate and enjoyable experience as they explore the content.
The church was crafted in the late 15th century by an anonymous “Espoo master” and constructed between 1485 and 1490 under his guidance. The only remnants of the medieval structure are the eastern and western sections of the nave. The armory was dismantled from 1804 to 1806, and several other portions of the church, including the original sacristy, were taken apart between 1821 and 1823 when the edifice was transformed into a larger cruciform layout.
Click the galleries to see the photos more clearly, that is if you are looking at them on your computer as most of my followers are, I saw in the stats that the number is 82% ☺
The vaults and walls of the older sections of the cathedral feature murals, predominantly painted in the 1510s, showcasing both biblical narratives and scenes from everyday life. These paintings were concealed in the 18th century due to perceptions of being “crude and superstitious,” but were exposed and restored during renovations in 1931. The current campanile of the cathedral was finalized in 1767, with its upper section remodeled between 1868 and 1869.
These Black and white images are from Espoon tuomiokirkko , Espoo Cathedral (or simply The Old Church of Espoo) Which is the city’s oldest building, a medieval stone church built in the late 15th century and a significant landmark in Espoo, Finland. I actually had my confirmation there in the end of 1970’s.
I was trying to capture more mood and how the light came into this church than all the details, even though I have to admit there are many, and I could have gone that way in the editing process. The interplay of light and shadow created a serene atmosphere that seemed to envelop the space. Additionally, the various architectural elements, from the towering arches to the intricate glass windows, added depth , highlighting the artistry involved in the design of the church. Those walls revealed something new, whether it was the soft glow illuminating the pews or the subtle play of light dancing on the stone surfaces as I looked more closely to the image. Participating in Monochrome Madness allowed me to focus more on the essence of these moments rather than getting lost in the precise details.
Interior view of Espoo Cathedral, showcasing its historic architecture in monochrome.
Interior view of Espoo Cathedral highlighting its architectural details and natural light in black and white.
We were delighted to find parking by the Alexander Theatre as all the streets were packed with cars due to LUX Helsinki, which we also came to see. So obviously I was going to take a photograph of it, for some reason I thought I might have use for it. This building has been a cornerstone of Helsinki’s cultural scene. Today, it provides outstanding facilities for various events, including concerts, theatrical productions, and dance performances, making it an ideal venue for visiting groups.
The beautifully illuminated entrance of the Alexander Theatre, a significant cultural venue in Helsinki, adorned with festive decorations and snow.
A brief history of the building:
In the early decades of the 1800s, theatre troupes from Sweden, Estonia and Russia and also from Italy and Germany visited Helsinki. But this changed when Nikolai Adlerberg became the Governor General of Finland and established a Russian Theatre with a grant he organised from the Tsar’s funds.
Construction began in April 1876 and was completed in 1879. Originally the AlexanderTheatre was to serve the local Russian garrison. The bricks for the decorative building were transported all the way from Åland. The National Theatre and Opera companies moved to the building in 1918 and the National Opera remained on the premises until 1993, when they moved to the new Opera House on the Toolo bay. For this reason, AlexanderTheatre, the Old Opera House, is an important part of Finnish cultural history. Text from AlexanderTheatre page.
People enjoying the festive atmosphere at LUX Helsinki, with colorful decorations hanging above them.
Pancake ice is a fascinating winter occurrence characterized by the formation of circular ice floes in rivers, resulting from water agitation in frigid temperatures. Witnessing this spectacle was enchanting, marking my first and final encounter with ice pancakes. Captured on January 26, 2014, it feels like a distant memory. In Finland, pancake ice creates stunning winter landscapes as rivers form these round, pancake-shaped ice floes when the water is disturbed in freezing conditions, showcasing beautifully rounded edges and a surreal ambiance adorned with snow and frost. This natural marvel attracts photographers and nature enthusiasts alike, highlighting the Arctic charm of Finland in winter.
A tranquil winter scene showcasing pancake ice formations in a river surrounded by trees in Finland.
Pancake ice floes creating a mesmerizing pattern on a river in Finland during winter.
Last weekend, I attended the LUX Helsinki 2026 festival, which attracted large crowds despite the cold weather. Dressing appropriately helped, but my fingers did get really cold while taking the photos. Five of the twenty installations were situated near Hietalahti Market Hall.
Visitors admire a colorful light display during LUX Helsinki 2026 on a chilly Sunday evening.
Visitors explore the enchanting snowy landscape illuminated by blue lights at LUX Helsinki 2026.
The event featured colorful light displays, particularly at the eerily beautiful Old Church Park, also known as the “Plague Park” due to its historical significance. The Blue light and snow made the place look a bit eerie. It is also known as the “Plague Park” (Ruttopuisto), as victims of the plague in 1710 were buried alongside the church. The gravestones in the Old Church Park remind of the history of cemeteries in this part of town. The park is home to the second oldest church in Helsinki and remains a popular destination within the city center, blending art and history.
Visitors enjoying the LUX Helsinki 2026 light festival, surrounded by art installations on a snowy evening.
I am an avid enthusiast of black and white photography, often referred to as monochrome photography, which has its nuances that set it apart from color photography in remarkable ways. At Lens-Artists, we’ve explored minimalism and black-and-white photography separately, each offering its unique perspective and emotional depth, but when these two styles are combined, they create a powerful and engaging atmosphere that resonates deeply with us on multiple levels. The stark contrasts and the interplay of light and shadows in black and white can evoke a range of emotions, allowing the essence of the subject to shine through without the distraction of color. This week, I encourage you to embrace this artistic fusion and challenge yourself to capture images that marry minimalism and black and white, naturally you can also use you archives. Please limit your submissions to a maximum of ten images, a thoughtful reflection of your artistic vision and perspective.
Intricate details of dandelion seeds captured in a black and white composition.
By cutting out all the clutter and colors, you get rid of every little distraction, letting the heart of the subject shine through. This whole idea of simplifying things invites viewers to really think about what they’re seeing, encouraging them to dive into the tiny details and subtle nuances that might usually go unnoticed. Each shadow and highlight becomes way more important, sparking a conversation between light and form that pulls the audience in emotionally, ultimately leaving them with a clear narrative that’s not just powerful, but also super thought-provoking.
To master this aesthetic, consider these elements: Embrace negative space as essential to focus attention on the subject, recognizing that emptiness can be impactful; minimalism can convey emotions through tone and composition.
A delicate flower, showcasing the beauty of simplicity and negative space.
A white photograph of minimalist chairs, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow.
A black and white winter landscape featuring a cluster of trees shrouded in fog, embodying minimalism and tranquility.
Focus on Geometry: Use striking shapes and contrasts to convey your narrative. Highlight a key gesture or bold silhouette while emphasizing patterns, curves, and symmetry for balance. Keep it simple.
A black and white photograph of a weathered boat on the beach, highlighting texture and simplicity in monochrome.
Highlight Texture: Utilize textures like metal, stone, or fabric to add depth without color.
Simple: Eliminate distractions by featuring one strong element.
Dramatic black and white clouds framed by architectural lines, showcasing the power of contrasts in photography.
Utilize lighting to define your subject’s personality; side lighting adds drama, backlighting creates silhouettes, and overhead lighting highlights curves.
Aim for simplicity by eliminating unnecessary elements. Harsh light reveals structure while soft light creates mood, and contrasting blacks and whites deliver a striking visual impact.
A striking black-and-white close-up of a flower bud with droplets, highlighting the intricate textures and graceful forms.
A black and white photograph showcasing an open door framing a serene outdoor scene, exemplifying the beauty of minimalism and negative space.
Close-up of textured brick wall in black and white, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow.
A woman illuminated by candlelight, highlighting the contrast between light and shadow
Thank you, Anne, for your last week’s challenge: What’s around the corner. We got a great response to it; I really enjoyed it, seeing a glimpse of the places where we live, and apparently, you did too. Next week, be sure to check back on Saturday, January 24, at noon eastern time, when Egídio will be hosting the challenge. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your wonderful challenge entries
Lux Helsinki brought winter to the city and attracted an impressive 450,000 visitors between 6–11 January to experience moments of light, colour and stillness. By audience request, the Light Art Festival lasted six days this time, and next year’s event will be extended to eight days.
This week’s theme, “Markets” in Monochrome Madness comes to us from Sarah and her blog, Travel With Me.
I haven’t been to markets recently, and so I am relieved to say the colorful Goa market provided me with loads of images to work with. The vibrant atmosphere, filled with vendors and chatter, made the experience memorable. As the people in India dress colorfully and the fruits and flowers at the marketplace offer many different colors, just converting to B/W was not an option. Each photograph presented a unique palette, with bright fabrics and eye-catching arrangements that seemed to come alive under the warm sun so to be able to bring them all present in the images, well, it required a bit of editing to get the results I am happy enough to be able to share them with you.
Women selling produce at a bustling market in black and white.
A vendor at a market in Goa, surrounded by coconuts and showcasing daily life in monochrome.
A woman selling various goods at a vibrant market, captured in monochrome.
The array of bright fabrics, fruits, and flowers necessitated careful editing to preserve the essence of the original colors. I hope the monochrome images of daily life in the bustling market capture this richness despite transitioning to black-and-white photography.
A whimsical display featuring a playful red figurine pushing a cart alongside stylish clothing and a luxury handbag, celebrating 130 years of monogram design.
For This weeks Saturday Classics – Carly Simon song. At some point in my life, it was easy to relate to this song. Relationships can have they moments. And I listened to it quite often. I found Carly Simon through my sister, she introduced me to her records.
In this song, Jesse, an ex-lovers, is coming back to town, and she’s getting prepared. He broke her heart, and she knows he’ll do it again if she lets him. Simon enlists her friends and family for support, and prepares a speech to let him know where he stands. That’s the chorus of the song, which contains Simon’s trademark imagery, letting Jesse know all the things she won’t be doing for him:
Cut fresh flowers
Chill the wine
Change the sheets
Put on cologne
Sit by the phone
But midway through the song, the plan goes out the window; she just can’t resist his charms. “Jesse, I’ll always cut fresh flowers for you,” Simon tells him.
“Jesse” was the lead single from Carly Simon’s ninth album, Come Upstairs. It became one of her best-known songs and one she would usually play in her rare concert appearances.
The building depicted in the picture is Lundquist’s commercial building, located in Helsinki. It is one of the most beautiful and representative buildings in Finland and a landmark in Helsinki’s city center. It has been renovated in recent years.
The building was completed in 1900 and designed by architect Selim A. Lindqvist. At the time of completion, it was Finland’s first pure commercial building, which contained no residential apartments. The façade is adorned with statues inspired by mythological goddesses, such as Artemis and Athena, reflecting the building’s original purpose as a shopping center.
Entrance of Lundquist’s commercial building in Helsinki, featuring statues of mythological goddesses.
Let’s kick of the year 2026 for The Flower Hour with a beautiful rose from my archives, showcasing its lively petals. Flowers, they offer us beauty and joy. Particularly during this season when they are so often found only in bouquets, so expect posts of past summer photos,
A vibrant purple rose in full bloom, accompanied by budding roses – nature’s beauty.
The January sun hung low in the sky, resembling a soft coin against a lavender backdrop, casting shadows that stretched like gentle, blue fingers over the fresh blanket of snow, guiding your way with beautiful patterns of light and dark. Walking through a snow-blanketed forest is more than just a stroll; it’s a heartfelt escape where the crisp air fills your lungs with revitalizing energy, and the soothing silence of new snow envelops everything in calm.
The slender white trunks of the birch trees twinkle in the sunlight, their delicate bark curling in pieces that catch the warmth of the afternoon.
As you make your way along twisting trails, nature’s tranquility wraps around you, inviting you to set aside the burdens of time and truly appreciate the stunning beauty surrounding you. The slender white trunks of the birch trees twinkle in the sunlight, their delicate bark curling in pieces that catch the warmth of the afternoon. Each graceful, drooping branch is wrapped in a thick layer of pristine white, bending the young saplings into elegant, icy arches above the path. The woods feel suspended in a shimmering stillness; even the air seems transformed into something crystalline and pure. With each footstep, the snow crunches beneath you, the only sound in this peaceful solitude.
For a moment, the world felt perfectly still—a silver-etched landscape—a white canopy.
As the trail dips into a gentle hollow, the light dances off the ice crystals suspended in the air, turning the birch grove into a magical cathedral filled with “diamond dust.” In that moment, the world feels perfectly still—a silver-etched landscape blanketed by a calming white canopy, reminding you of the quiet beauty of existence.
During my trip to Helsinki, I finally got to check out the Stockmann fairytale window before they shut it down at Epiphany, and I made it just in time! I’d walked by it earlier this year, but it was so packed with people of all ages staring at it that I didn’t even bother getting close.
One of the coolest Christmas traditions in the city center is the Stockmann fairytale window, which always gets people smiling on Aleksanterinkatu during the holiday season. The display window creates a cozy Christmas vibe and brings joy to kids hanging out at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu. This year, the window takes everyone into an enchanted fairytale forest to celebrate Stockmann’s 160th birthday. The centerpiece features characters from Moomin. The Moomin world feels like one giant hug, at least in the cartoons.
The enchanting Stockmann fairytale window featuring Moomin characters celebrating Christmas, creating a festive atmosphere in Helsinki.Muumi-Mamma and Muumi-Pappa hugging ( I don’t know the english names 😀 )
Since 1949, the Stockmann fairy tale window in downtown Helsinki has been bringing holiday joy to Christmas lovers of all ages. Over the years, this window has let folks step into all kinds of magical Christmas stories and whimsical worlds.
Yesterday we went to do some shopping and have lunch in Helsinki. This messy One Word Sunday snow was the attraction to these tourists. The sidewalks are kept warm so mostly they are snow free, but this pile of snow as there to entertain these kids. The parents were not too happy about it.
This was also suitable for Cellpic Sunday is hosted by John at Travels with Johnbo as I took it with my Iphone
Children playing in a pile of snow outside a Louis Vuitton store in Helsinki.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 