Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

November in Finland

November in Finland, a world of gray,
Where autumn whispers its final farewell,
Leaves relinquish their vibrant display,
And nature succumbs to the winter’s spell.

The air is crisp, with a biting chill,
As frosty breath dances upon the breeze,
The sun, a timid presence on the hill,
Casting feeble rays through the barren trees.

The days grow shorter, the nights grow long,
As darkness blankets the land in its embrace,
A melancholic hymn in nature’s song.

Yet amidst the gloom, a flicker of light,
As candles glow in windowsills,
Warmth and coziness fill the bitter night,
A sanctuary from the winds that blow.

November in Finland, a somber sight,
A season of reflection, a time for respite,
Where nature’s cycle finds solace in solitude.

Lens-Artists Challenge #274 – Asymmetry

lens-artists, Photography, Traveling Australia

Face is the first thing that came to mind, we are all a bit lopsided, right. It has been demonstrated in photo manipulations that symmetric face is odd. I have no photo for this or the interior one, but they came to mind first about the word asymmetrical.

In fact, we’d argue that asymmetrical (yet balanced) rooms are among the most interesting, unique, and elevated spaces. With an asymmetrical approach, you need to reject the literal, mirror-image equilibrium and seek out balance in more abstract terms.

We are exploring asymmetry with Donna. I liked this – Asymmetry – an informal sense of balance.

I really don’t think about any style when taking a photo, I only think about a composition that is pleasant to my eye. In this post I am sharing photos from Brisbane.

My first image is of The Brisbane River is the longest river in South-East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea

These are taken below or underneath the subject – architectural design choices.

Traffic below

Traffic , this is for certain not symmetrical 🙂

My cousin took us all around Brisbane, he knew the town and all great spots for photos and as he had been builder on many of the buildings we saw, he had so much knowledge about them, This place offered a great framed view of the city. But I think I got it right in terms of these not being symmetric, but the opposite.

concrete blogs by the sea.

My last one is an image of flowers by the beach on a misty morning

Distant

Landscapes, Photography, Traveling Australia

Seen from distance and above from the highest building in Brisbane.

Debbies One Word Sunday: Distant

How to survive November 2023 – 5

how to survive November

What can I say, today the sunrise was at 7:56 and sunset 16:16. it is gray and rainy. It is Sunday and it is not raining and the temperature is as nice as +9C /48F mainly cloudy.

This morning, I gave instructions as my husband trimmed our oak tree in our backyard – we have to keep it under control or it will shade too much of the space. Now it gives in the summer time us enough shade to cool down on a warm day.

Yesterday we did shopping – for a vacuum cleaner – or a hoover as some would say. Our old one was taken by our son when he moved out. Not something that we had planned, but there it went and found a new home. It is a good thing he wants to keep his home clean. We found one 🙂

Well as I am now on a search for food photos, this is the only reason :-), we went have some Nepalese food. I had Chicken Shiraz and Naan bread. It was tasty and filling and the shiraz wine went well with it.

It is here a again the most cruel month of the year. It is dark and getting darker, and the same time as it is the challenge to post something edible every day of the month of November, I can do it, how about you? What to join us? There is a link below if you’re interested

November and its time to survive it. Theme for the How to Survive November is ‘Something to Eat’.

Lepis from Parallel Lines| in scale kindly hosts this survival once again. The InLinkz is at her blog, it’s at the right column. Let’s enjoy this November with marvelous flavors!

Also posted For Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge.

Elk or a moose

Captures from Finland, Cities, Photography

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

Gray days of November, so dreary

Nature, Photography

Gray days of November, oh so dreary,
Dampened spirits, and a heart full of drear.
The skies are gray, the winds they do howl,
As if the world itself were lost in a droll.

The trees stand bare, their leaves long gone,
Their branches skeletal, a somber song.
The grass is parched, the flowers all gone,
A desolate landscape, a winter’s dawn.

The days are short, the nights are long,
A time of rest, but little song.
The world is quiet, still and cold,
As if the season’s chill had grown old.

But even in the gray, there’s beauty found,
A time for reflection, a time profound.
The world may be dull, but not the heart,
For in the gray days of November, we find our part.

So let us embrace the gray, and all its might,
For in the darkness, there is still a light.
A light that shines within our souls,
A beacon of hope, in the gray days of November’s role.

For Debbie’s Six Words Saturday.

How to survive November 2023 – 4

how to survive November

What can I say, today the sunrise was at 7:54 and sunset 16:19. it is gray and rainy. It is Saturday and we woke up this morning at 10:30 – all this darkness just makes you want to stay in bed all day.

What is the easiest meal to get everywhere 🍔 – a choice all restaurant’s have in in their menu. Well almost all!

Hamburger – this on was inspired Mexican food.

November and its time to survive it. Theme for the How to Survive November is ‘Something to Eat’.

Lepis from Parallel Lines| in scale kindly hosts this survival once again. The InLinkz is at her blog, it’s at the right column. Let’s enjoy this November with marvelous flavors!

Also posted For Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge.

Saturday Classics – 04112023

Saturday Classics

This song came to mind during a drive to the optician to get my new sunglasses with strength, it is so funny because I have absolutely no use for them at the moment. Grey day – and I heard Grey on Spotify – I Try – and I do try. I hadn’t heard this in a long time still resonated with me this song and voice. When you listen to this delicious, gravely voice, which sounds like it’s made of smoke and scotch.

Have a great Saturday

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.

Street Photography – food stand

Photography, street photography, Traveling Australia

Helsinki – esplanade last summer.

The popular Esplanade Park, fondly referred to as “Espa” among locals, is the most famous park in Finland and the green heart of Helsinki. People come here to see and be seen, to listen to music and watch performances, and to enjoy picnics. This Brazilian lady was selling food there the summer day I shot this photo. What caught my attention was the matching colors of the seller and the biker that had stopped by to chat.

How to survive November 2023 – 3

how to survive November

What can I say, today the sunrise was at 7:51 and sunset 16:21. it is gray and with the wind factor the temperature feels like 2C / 30F. SIX minutes less light today. Those are the facts of the day.

I love Italian food, I know bruschetta is an antipasto but it works well a light (?) lunch and it is always a pleasure to eat food someone else prepared.

Bruschetta is from Italy consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil and salt. Variations may include toppings of tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, or cheese.

November and its time to survive it. Theme for the How to Survive November is ‘Something to Eat’.

Lepis from Parallel Lines| in scale kindly hosts this survival once again. The InLinkz is at her blog, it’s at the right column. Let’s enjoy this November with marvelous flavors!

Also posted For Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge.

Galerie Door

Cities, Traveling Crete

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…

In Monochrome

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

How to survive November 2023 – 2

how to survive November

What can I say, today the sunrise was at 7:49 and sunset 16:24. it is gray and with the wind factor the temperature feels like -1C / 30F. FIVE minutes less light today… but it is a bit brighter today.

Something good happened yesterday, someone referred to me as an artist 🙂 that made my day. Wanted to talk to me how to promote my art.

How about some vitamins and fruit for a snack?

November and its time to survive it. Theme for the How to Survive November is ‘Something to Eat’.

Lepis from Parallel Lines| in scale kindly hosts this survival once again. The InLinkz is at her blog, it’s at the right column. Let’s enjoy this November with marvelous flavors!

Monochrome – the new yost type writer

Photography

The Yost is a remarkable machine which was quite popular in the late nineteenth century. It can be recognized immediately by its distinctive design features: the typebars are housed in an enclosed black cylinder, and the double keyboard emerges from a forest of long key stems.

The first typewriter bearing the Yost name came out in 1887. Later understroke models include the New Yost (1889), No. 4 (1895), and No. 10 (1902). A bar sometimes appears over the O in the name “Yost” on the typewriter’s decals, probably to indicate that it should be pronounced as a long O.

Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

How to survive November 2023 – 1

how to survive November

It is here a again the most cruel month of the year. It is dark and getting darker, and the same time as the light lessen the more moody and tired I get. I am ready to hibernate, this is a survival technique make yourself a challenge everyday, this month let’s eat… I mean we have to eat. To survive, to comfort us, to be sociable. The challenge is to post something edible every day of the month of November, I can do it, how about you? What to join us? There is a link below if you’re interested

What can I say, today the sunrise was at 7:46 and sunset 16:26 it is gray and with the wind factor the temperature feels like 2C / 35F. Not my happy place.

How about some avocado toast for breakfast?

November and its time to survive it. roads. Theme for the How to Survive November is ‘Something to Eat’.

Lepis from Parallel Lines| in scale kindly hosts this survival once again. The InLinkz is at her blog, it’s at the right column. Let’s enjoy this November with marvelous flavors!

Flower of the day – Martagon Lily

Flowers

Today my choice is not actually a flower, but an empty core of Turk’s cap lily or Martagon lily.

Martagon lilyhas a long history as a garden plant: it has possibly been known in Sweden since the Middle Ages and in Finland since the 19th century.

After flowering the downward curve of the flower-stalks is reversed and the capsules end up in an erect position. After withering the rigid stem supports the fruits under the snow – martagon lily sticks out during the winter. As the wind blows the seeds rattle against the dry walls of the capsule until they fall out in a hard enough snowstorm.

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

Street Photography – Old style public telephone box

Photography, street photography, Traveling Australia

While The Rocks is the site of Sydney’s oldest European settlement, there are attractions here that are also thoroughly contemporary. The Rocks, at the to bustling Circular Quay, here you can take in the charming, historic streets of this former convict settlement. And here I saw this old style public telephone box and a lady speaking on the phone next to it – a nice touch don’t you think ?

Circular Quay – The Rocks showing heritage elements like the red phone box

LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #273 – SYMMETRY

lens-artists

I think this says it all about this weeks theme, symmetry is everywhere. You just need to keep your eyes open,

Sofia is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist challenge

Church is an obvious choice when searching for symmetry , and I am sure I am not the only one pointing it out.

Flowers – obviously 🙂

Windows …hmn 🙂 and architecture has it in all shapes and forms

Nature, lets not forget it is in all creations. Wings of the pelican are rather symmetric, Yes?

Symmetry is everywhere as you can see 🙂

If you want more information on the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Bright Sunny Sunday

Photography, Still life

During the past weekend I have been trying to do presentable graphic art, monotype. I have to admit that I did not actually manage to do that. They fall in the category of not good not bad.

Saturday was bleak and grey, No inspiration coming from the weather then, but Sunny Sunday was cold but bright. I took these photos with my cellphone, mobile phone as I would say.

I have posted these for Cellpic Sunday , and One Word Sunday – I was Bright enough to post these together 🙂

Cooking oil is used to clean the color palette and the metal palette were we paint our creations

Saturday Classics – 28102023

Saturday Classics

I am of to study art – graphic arts . So I am making a quick post.

This song came to mind as it always brings my sister to mind. When she was a in her late teens she had boys singing this to her on the street. Why this now, well tomorrow would have been her 68th birthday, she passed away eight years ago to cancer. I still miss her.

Lepis is hosting Saturday Classics, you can add your own link here Saturday Classics

Street Photography – Chinatown

Cities, Traveling Australia

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.

Flower of the Day 26/10

Flowers

Frosty aster at the end of October in the morning light

For Cee’s Flower of the Day.

This is my last photo of this New York Aster this year. Autumn brown have really set in.

Red Door

Cities, Traveling Crete

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.

Approaching the doorway at the end of the the street

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

Street photography – towards the light

Photography, street photography

I am going to post images new and old of this genre in this new topic name. Shortly described below as what I want to convey in this photos.

I did three versions of this woman walking towards the light at the end of this narrow alley. It is always amazing how the colors can change the mood, I shoot with raw so the colors can be edited really differently. I think I like the more yellow toned one best.

Street photography – Lahti Street view

Photography, street photography

I am going to post images new and old of this genre in this new topic name. Shortly described below as what I want to convey in this photos.

Las weekend we drove to our summer house to turn the electricity off for the winter as we do not visit there during winter. My husband mowed the leaves, no need to rake them. Back story was that, them we drove to the city near by- Lahti. I took this autumn street shot as we walked down the road to get late lunch. On the hill on the other side you can see the City Hall of Lahti.

Located in the heart of Lahti, the city hall is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and an important part of Lahti’s cityscape. The monumental building, designed by architect Eliel Saarinen, was completed in 1912. The building stylistically represents late Art Nouveau. The over 100-year-old building, damaged in wars and fires, has been restored with respect to the original.

Flower of the day – 24.10

Flowers

Oriental bittersweet in the autumn tones. Love the rich tones…

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

Lens-Artists Challenge #272 – Billboards and Signs

lens-artists

There are signs everywhere, they try to sell us, they can provide information, they can warn us of hazards, they can make us laugh, and they can tug at our emotions. This week’s challenge asks you to share images of signs or billboards that strike your fancy.

Posted for John’s Lens-Artists Challenge

My husband is great at picking up signs and often points them to me, some I notice myself, but looking for double meaning in a sign – he masters that corner. Here are some signs I’ve spotted. Most of them need no explanations.

First I thought that don’t have any, but suddenly I noticed that I have several. And Once again I have posted too many, but as someone nicely said to me, it’s our blogs, we can post what we want or how many we want.

Found in San Francisco