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.
That’s what I am calling this flower, even though when I googled it could also be Mayweed. It is pretty, that’s enough for me, one of my favorite flowers, it is sunny. Brings summer to mind.
I have often expressed that I have a hard time naming photos or artworks. Today, I spent hours playing with some of my images that I posted on my other site ART BY RITVA. It feels like I spent the same amount of time naming it. I had options like Menopause and Hot Flash, but I ended up with “Magnified Elegance”. This is the final version at this time.
Naming means an extra layer of meaning and context to the piece. The title can give the viewer insight into the intention or create a different emotional response. All in all, naming artworks is an art in itself and can be just as fulfilling as creating the piece, but it is not for me, it is a pain in the butt.
If interested, check the post and see my other color versions of it. It’s truly a delightful process to work color schemers of my artworks that is what I really enjoy.
The photos shows the dogs in the window looking all curious and excited. They bark a welcome as we go by. It’s like they’re our neighbor’s official greeters when we drive towards our summer house. The way the dogs look and the reflection on the window give these photos a nice artistic mood.
Ludwigs Monday Window
I was trying to get shots with theme. Create a movie scene – and as I was at it very late in the challenge this was one idea. I did not end up using these, but since I took and edited them why not share them – I did take them and edit them on my mobile.
Last rays of light fell on to the bed, where the lonely lady had placed her loved childhood toys to rest on the pillows. I hoped to create a different mood by changing the colors and contrast and light. The last one is the most positive, the two first ones I wanted a to create a more sad and lonely mood to to them
Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday
Last week was truly an enjoyable experience as I delved into the world of quotes and poems for Ann- Christine. Selecting only few images was a challenge for me 🙂
This week Sofia gave us a fun challenge to showcase the difference between day and night. As Sofia mentioned, now that we’ve passed the Winter Equinox, the days are gradually getting longer, and we can finally bid farewell to the never-ending nights. We still have a good month or two to truly savor the increasing light, but we’re on the right track. So, here I am, sharing summer photos in the midst of winter… It won’t be long now, summer is on its way! Thank you to Sofia for inspiring us with Day and Night.
Not to be totally biased, I am also showing photos from cities little further away. Only due to that, do I have more than ten photos 😂
Hong Kong – view from Victoria Peak, known simply as The Peak, is a must-see Hong Kong destination — both day and night — offering iconic views of skyscraper-flanked Victoria Harbour, Kowloon peninsula and craggy mountain peaks.
The day light is still softly around, soft mist in the background, them blue moment arrives to slowly turning the day to night, the lights of the skyscrapers coming more visible changing the mood. Then darkness folds out the dark shield that hides out the scenery leaving the buildings in the lighted glory as main point.
White nights at a cosy Finnish summer house right by the water, relaxing baths at the sauna, skinny dipping in the clear lakes, magical moments in nature glowing in 50 shades of green and many more.
Finnish summer speciality is the fascinating natural phenomenon called Midnight Sun.
When nights are as bright as the day, you can do the same things you would like to do during the day. Go outside the house and enjoy the light and the calm. The purely magical moment is when the sun tries to set, and it paints the horizon from red to yellow and pink to purple. Everything around you is surrounded by beautiful bright light.
The Nordic region is known for its unique light conditions, influenced by drastic weather and daylight changes. The sun’s low position in the northern areas creates long shadows and side-oriented daylight, while the summer evenings are distinguished by a diffuse light. The distinct quality of Nordic daylight lies in its low angles and the gradual, breathtaking transitions of long sunrises, sunsets, and the enchanting “blue hour.”
People have developed a special relationship with light, intricately intertwined with the seasons and the variations in light. The high variability of light throughout the day, and especially between the winter and summer seasons, influences people’s traditions, color preferences, and overall connection to light. I for one, feel guilty in the summer if I spend too much time inside. When you have it you need to be outside.
Day, evening and night image from Sydney Harbour
Night and day in Níce
Key west day and night
To participate in this challenge, you should link to or leave a comment on the week’s host’s original challenge post and please use the #Lens-Artists tag in your own post, so the post is easily found in the Reader.
Thank you to Sofia for inspiring us with Day and Night. Be sure to visit her beautiful examples for the challenge.
Next week, Egidio (Through Brazilian Eyes) will host his first official challenge with the Lens-Artists. His topic is Warm colors .Be sure to visit his inspirational site for more!
I found this image from my archives, it captures a close-up view of a green barley field with individual barley stalks and their grains clearly visible, highlighted by sunlight. The grains are at various stages of maturity, with some appearing golden and others green.
I am rather happy with this, but I’ve never posted it before as I like the softness and movement of it. It shows how you see even your own images differently as time passes and you look at your photos with fresh eyes.
For Debbie´s Six Words Saturday.
Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”
One of my all time favorites is Neil Young’s Harvest record.
I want to live, I want to give, I’ve been a miner, For a heart of gold, It’s these expressions, I never give
That keep me searching, For a heart of gold, And I’m getting old, Keep me searching, For a heart of gold. And I’m getting old
I’ve been to Hollywood, I’ve been to Redwood, I crossed the ocean, For a heart of gold, I’ve been in my mind, It’s such a fine line, That keeps me searching, For a heart of gold, And I’m getting old
Lepis is hosting Saturday Classics, you can add your own link here Saturday Classics
On Her page she writes: This blog is back with hosting the Classics after few years break. This time we’ll be playing on Saturdays and you can link straight here on this own page. Rules: There are no rules, as long as the song you play is a classic in your mind. Linking open 8 am and closes 12 pm.
Peach-leaved bellflower is one of Finland’s most handsome wild flowers and has been grown as a perennial since the 17th century for its attractive flowers. Pollinators look to large flowers for nectar and pollen, but also shelter from the wind and rain. Peach-leaved bellflower’s most common pollinators are bumblebees, flies and large honey bees.
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
Leannes Monochrome Madness
The recent weather has been quite challenging, with the continuous onslaught of snow. Sadly, this time around, the snowfall was accompanied by warmer temperatures, resulting in wet snow that has ultimately turned into a mix of sleet and ice on the ground. It’s a frustrating situation to witness, especially as we brace for the arrival of below freezing temperatures again on Friday. Winter can be enchanting and picturesque, but it also has a darker, more treacherous side, as evidenced by the slippery ice underfoot.
Admittedly, I’m finding it challenging to appreciate the beauty of the season in moments like these. In fact, I didn’t even muster up the motivation to venture outside to capture photos, opting instead to take them from the comfort of my windows. Now, looking back, I can’t help but chuckle at my own laziness.
As stated summer is a state of mind and age is just a number.
Usually we are somewhere in warmer weather at this time of the year, away from the cold and dark winter, we usually fly to catch some sun, D- vitamins and new places to be refreshed and relaxed. And when we come you can already notice the increased light that is more visible in February.
Well you need the catch the rays where every you can. 😂
Debbies One Word Sunday: Above
Ann-Christine has tasked us with illustrating a favorite quote or poem. I also did this, and in the end decided to enter my other take as an entry to Lens-Artists Challenge, but since I had already done this I decided to post it separately
I selected this quote to convey positivity. We all need a little bit of that in our lives. I added few more smiles than requested, but it is a smile ☺ of joy.
“Laughter and smiles are essential factors in a joyous life”
~Maya Angelou
Happy faces and lovely smiles are like rays of sunshine on a cloudy day, illuminating the world with their warmth and brightness. The simple act of smiling has the power to uplift spirits, spread joy, and create a ripple of positivity. When we encounter a genuine smile, it’s as if a little piece of happiness has been shared with us, making the day feel a little brighter and the heart a little lighter.
Last week was truly an enjoyable experience as I delved into the world of dramatic photography for Patti. Selecting the most fitting images for the challenge presented quite a delightful yet daunting task.
And as I reflect on it, this week does not appear to be any easier, given that Ann-Christine has tasked us with illustrating a favorite quote or poem. The abundance of choices certainly makes this a captivating yet challenging endeavor. This week’s challenge offers an opportunity to delve into the profound world of words and capture their essence through artistry.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow / Ultima Thule: The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls
The tide rises, the tide falls,
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;
Along the sea-sands damp and brown
The traveller hastens toward the town,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls;
The little waves, with their soft, white hands,
Efface the footprints in the sands,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveller to the shore,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
To participate in this challenge, you should link to or leave a comment on the week’s host’s original challenge post and please use the #Lens-Artists tag in your own post, so the post is easily found in the Reader.
Here is the link link to Ann-Christine’s original post
Next week Saturday Sofia will be hosting the challenge, so please visit her inspirational site for more!
Anna Järvinen - Nuori Ja Kaunis ft. Olavi Uusivirta
I was watching Bodies on Netflix and this song was playing in the background here and there played
Some Finnish 🎶 music. I like this song. Young and beautiful.
These are the opening lines of this song:
Bite your lips together, get that expression again
As if I owe something, shall I pay it off now
I’m happy, what did you think
I’m happy, what did you think
Press the gas again, let life go
Scream your vocal cords apart
I’m happy, what did you think
Photo reference is to this line in the lyrics.
A birch branch quietly knocks on the window
Is it the wind shouting or is it someone else
You are young and beautiful, but who is it shouting
Lepis is hosting Saturday Classics, you can add your own link here Saturday Classics
On Her page she writes: This blog is back with hosting the Classics after few years break. This time we’ll be playing on Saturdays and you can link straight here on this own page. Rules: There are no rules, as long as the song you play is a classic in your mind. Linking open 8 am and closes 12 pm.
I don’t know how you start you posts, but what I do is, I open a new blank post. I choose an image, them I start to think of a title and maybe some text to it. I always start with an photo. I mainly posts photos, lately I have started add some more words to my posts, but I am a strong believer that the photo should convey the message – I don’t know if it true, but it is what I want to believe.
This photo I took years ago in Koh Lanta in Thailand, this is the first time I’ve edited it. I don’t know why I haven’t shared it before.
The beautiful beach, the tall palm trees, and the serene waters all bathed in the golden light of sunrise created a truly lovely scene that morning. The untouched sandy beach and scattered rocks add the feeling of untouched natural charm, while the sky’s gradient from blue to golden yellow is uplighting the spirit. I still remember to calmness and peaceful atmosphere as I had the beach to myself, just me and the tranquility of the lovely morning. I wish I was there now 🙂
Just out of curiosity, do the words add value to the post?
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. .
Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
A pedestrian area in the shopping area in Níce some years back. It was early October, but the weather was still nice and warm, and there were lots of people on the move. The shops were situated in lovely old buildings with Juliet balconies and green and white shutters in front of the windows. The atmosphere in the area was energetic and vibrant, as locals and tourists alike meandered through the charming streets, and the sight of colorful displays in the shop windows. The gentle warmth of the sun added to the allure of the scene, casting a soft golden glow over the picturesque architecture and creating a captivating ambiance.
Well, I do like playing with my images, so once again I did a monochrome version, but this time I am more inclined to go with the color version as my favorite, go figure :-) The golden glow more obvious in it.
Red berries on a snowy day, that’s it.
Pine trees basking in the sunshine on a rocky hill covered with white snow.
As the winter wraps the world in its chilly embrace, it presents us with scenes of enchanting tranquility. The stark contrast of the vibrant blue skies against the snowy landscapes is a sight to behold, a true testament to the captivating allure of the winter season.
With every image, I aim to convey the unspoken elegance of winter, without the need for accompanying explanations.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 