I am sharing scenes from five countries for this theme The Space Between.
I am starting with doors leading to boathouses and a view through an archway of a partially collapsed brick structure reveal a jagged brick wall in Finland.
A lakeview from an old wooden boat house overlooking calm waters (Finland)
An open door leading to a wooden dock by the water (Finland)
A view through an archway of a partially collapsed brick structure, revealing a jagged brick wall and overgrown ground beyond. (Finland)
A view framed through a heart-shaped opening captures the essence of urban life showcasing the bustling street life, a man selling ice cream and a riverboat in India.
A perspective of a street, framed through a heart-shaped opening, view at the essence of urban life. (India)
A a man leaning against a cart between the two poles selling ice cream in a bustling street. (India)
A waterfront scene featuring a riverboat and architectural structures in the front.(India)
Additionally, I have an image of a wooden bridge and a picturesque road framed by trees from Australia.
A striking black and white image of a wooden bridge, showcasing its structural design and the road leading through. (Australia)
A winding road surrounded by lush greenery (Australia)
A charming waterfront image features boats between a street lamp and a street adorned with historic buildings from France, and a last-minute addition from Italy shows a man reading at an open window.
Two boats moored between a lamppost on the water (France)
A charming street with steps, lined by historic buildings and street lamps.(France)
A last minute addition : A man reading a document at an open window, capturing a moment of contemplation.
I really want to showcase images that catch that sweet spot in between, using black and white photography to highlight intricate designs and the beauty of nature, showing off the contrast and richness of life in different places. I hope the variety of scenes gives you a taste of the amazing cultural and environmental vibes out there!
I am going to share these images from the summer in Juveninkoski, Finland for Sunday Stills: Fountains and Falls. The cascading water, while not enormous in size, offers a charm that captures the essence of nature’s beauty. There’s something incredibly soothing about the sound of flowing water as it dances over the rocks, that appeals to all our senses. This place, surrounded by lush greenery makes you appreciate the simple joys that nature provides.
Juveninkoski waterfall in Finland showcasing its natural beauty and steep drop.
Juveninkoski is an almost vertical waterfall in the village of Partala, in the town of Jämsä. It gets its water from the small Nytkymenjoki river in the area. The water plunges down a rocky cliff for almost 7 metres, but the total drop height of the rapid is even more than that. After the fall, the flow of the river slows down.
Click to enlarge photos.
Juveninkoski is reportedly the highest and steepest free-flowing waterfall in Central Finland, which is why it is one of the most famous nature sights in Jämsä today. Especially during the spring. Later in the summer, too, the rapid is a pleasant attraction as one can see the rapid in the green embrace of the surrounding trees and bushes that is when we drove to see it in August.
A view of the river leading to Juveninkoski waterfall, surrounded by lush green trees and rocky terrain.
There used to be a mill and a ski factory at the river and, in addition, the river has been used for log floating. The fall has been named after Heikki Juvén, a ski factory owner born in Partala on January 10th 1907. Some remains from these past times, such as blocks of concrete, can still be seen in the rapid.
The descent is quite steep on one side, but on the opposite side of the rapid, there is a path that offers an easier way down.
Intricate roots and rocky terrain in the lush surroundings of Juveninkoski waterfall.
The village association in Partala has worked to refurbish the surroundings of the waterfall. They built an observation platform along with flower beds and a sign with information of the history of the rapid. There are also two millstones on the observation platform. Downstream of the fall there is also a small pond, where you can go to swim during summertime.
A serene swimming spot by the tranquil pond surrounded by lush greenery.
All in all, Juveninkoski is a beautiful waterfall, with perhaps one of its best qualities being its steepness: “traditional” waterfalls falling free like this are rare in Finland.
Since the last visit in 2018, 12 Apostles had a new observation deck jutting out of the coastal cliffs. It made it easier to take photographs of those marvels. Not doing my scouting work properly I decided to follow the sign from tourist info and walk to Gibson’s Steps and the beach. It only one kilometer but it was hot, and we could have driven there as well. But the beach was worth the visit. I was able to get some pics of the Apostles reflecting from the wet sand.
The iconic Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, the stunning rock formations and vibrant blue waters.
Circling back to the cultural phenomenon of Asian tourists taking pictures. Or at least I think it is culture thing, with all the different poses and selfies? I do take selfies sometimes, like the one with my gorgeous Billabong hat, but I don’t want to go through my holiday pictures and seeing my face in all of them. Imagine showing the pictures to your friends: this is me in front of the Grotto x 5, this is me in front of London Bridge x 10, this is me with victory sign or thumbs up in front of 12 Apostles, etc. But you get the picture. But getting the picture was often hard when there was a bus load of people in front of you. Eventually, there was nothing else to do but to photobomb their pictures.
Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, the breathtaking coastal cliffs and turquoise waters.
Twelve Apostles from the beach, with reflections on the wet sand.
We had lunch in Port Campbell and in the next table there was an American couple once again. They were from Tampa Bay, Florida. As it happened his grandparents were from North Finland, and he had visited our country when he was a boy. We had a pleasant conversation about their travels. They had visited New Zealand first, then Tasmania, then toured Australia and they were planning on continuing to Great Barrier Reef. The discussion turned to politics, and we got out of there fast. . Enough said.
The day wasn’t over yet; we still had to drive to Bendigo. We decided on Bendigo because it was less than 4 hours from Port Campbell and five hours from Talbingo, where we originally planned to go. Talbingo was a no go, but it was too late to cancel Bendigo. I also picked Bendigo because I once knew a professional poker player Keith “Bendigo” Sloan. He was from Bendigo but that is another story.
Now comes the part where I lost my faith in Google Maps many times. The Great Ocean Road is not situated in, let’s say, densely populated area. Next to it there is basically farmland, and the beginning of our drive was a combination of narrow asphalt roads, gravel roads, cattle, sheep, gum trees and warning signs for kangaroos. Turn right to stay on Cobden-Port Campbell Rd/C164 and drive 1,6 km, turn right to Cobden-Terang Rd/C156/C164 and drive 210 m, continue Neylon St and drive 1,3 km, continue from the roundabout to Camperdown-Cobden Rd/C164 and drive 12,5 km, turn right to Manifold St/Princes Hwy/A1/C164 and drive 60 m, turn left to Cressy St/C164 continue C164 for8,8 km and so on. Seemed it was forever until we got on any highway. That’s what you ask for the fastest and most fuel-efficient route from Google Maps.
But it was so much fun! The roads were in good shape and there was hardly anybody on the road. The speed limit was most of the time 100 km but like I said – no traffic. And no traffic means that somebody next to me is screaming – STOP – every few minutes to, you guessed it, take a picture or hundreds of them. Eventually we got to Bendigo just in time to collect the keys to the room and visit Woolworths or Woolies to the locals.
I always picked our drive to happen during the daylight. The reason being kangaroos and wombats. They move mostly from dusk till dawn. Most cars have the kangaroo bumpers for a good reason. The name says it all. Our high-end Corolla didn’t include kangaroo bumpers. It was sad to see so many road kills. We drove over 4700 km but still the number of dead kangaroos was staggering, and we saw couple of wombats, too, and one dead deer. I’m sure to local people kangaroos are mainly pests but to us they just seemed so cuddly and funny. If I understood correctly kangaroos are not very smart when it comes to traffic. They freeze in the headlights or something.
This week, John is guiding us through the My Go-To Places challenge, and I believe many of you can easily guess my answer. I’ve mentioned it on numerous occasions before: they are simply my home and my summer house. These serene spots allow me to just be myself.
This path takes me to a serene location surrounded by nature. Just this past Easter, I visited there. The scenery was not yet vibrant with greenery; instead, it appeared more brown and dreary. However, the melody of the birds chirping was beautifully powerful and soothing.
A serene winding road through lush greenery, inviting tranquility and connection to nature.
Summer green, a hue renowned for its calming properties, envelops me in a serene embrace here. As I sit n oone of my favorite places, I observe the gentle wind dancing through the leaves, accompanied by the vast expanse of blue skies overhead. The melodious sounds of nature create a symphony around me, wrapping me in tranquility—there are no problems to solve, only the bliss of the moment to savor.
A tranquil path leading to a lush green field, surrounded by trees and nature’s beauty.
With the arrival of early autumn, the enchanting mist that blankets the mornings and evenings creates a mesmerizing atmosphere, while the skies transform into a stunning palette of colors. It’s an absolute delight to seize the opportunity and take your camera along for an outing, ensuring that these beautiful moments are captured forever.
A serene morning landscape, where mist blankets a lush green field, illuminated by the soft hues of sunrise.
Lakeside, where the gentle sound of water caresses the shore and the vibrant yellows of autumn paint the landscape, offers a serene escape into nature. It’s here that I find my sanctuary, a place to reset and rejuvenate. My summer house is my primary retreat, where I spend most of my time during the pleasant seasons that invite outdoor activities. While winter holds its own beauty, I prefer to stay indoors, as the cold air isn’t my favorite companion. As the saying goes, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished,” reminding me to embrace the tranquility that surrounds me.
A tranquil lakeside view showcasing the serene water, autumn foliage, and cloudy skies.
I sat in my living room beside my grandson, having just snapped a few photos of him. With my mobile in hand, I captured the very spot on my sofa where I’ve spent countless calm and peaceful moments, gazing out at the changing seasons through the window. I’ve watched deer, hares, and foxes stroll by, and even glimpsed a moose once, while birds soared and squirrels scampered along the fence. This corner of my home is truly one of my favorite places, reminding me that “home is not a place, but a feeling.”
A cozy interior, a comfortable chair, and a peaceful view of nature through the window, perfect for relaxation and reflection. That is home to me.
Thank you, John, for this challenge. It reminded me once again to be grateful for what I have. Please link them to his original post here and use the Lens-Artists Tag so we can find you. Thanks also to Anne for last week’s “abandoned” challenge and to everyone who responded. I’m not sure why we are drawn to such things, but as long as they are around, we’ll keep capturing them.
I often dedicate countless hours to editing photos from the numerous places we’ve traveled to over the years. While I may not physically venture out, I immerse myself in the editing process, often losing track of time in front of my computer screen as I reminisce about those experiences. Which also is calming.
Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Sofia leads us once again on her beautiful Photographias site. Until then keep on smiling☺It might be someone’s highlight of the day.
It was time to move on. Next two nights we would spend in Wirrana Cove in Fleurieu Peninsula. Once again, the traffic was not bad at all in Adelaide. I’m sure it can be bad, like in any big city, but we didn’t manage to find any traffic jams. We drove close by another famous wine region, McLaren Vale, but we decided to come back on our way out. The views in Flerieu were gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, magnificent, awesome, splendid, superb, amazing, astounding, astonishing, marvellous, impressive, wonderful. Pick any word you like… Rolling hills, costal areas, forest, you name it. It had it all.
We got to BreakFree Wirrina Cove Hotel before, but we were able to check-in instantly. Probably, because there was hardly anybody staying there. It was off-season but the hotel was in a bad way too. We can’t recommend it if they don’t renovate fast. No rest for the wicked, so after carrying the luggage to the room we headed towards Jervis Bay. Jervis Bay is port from where you catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island. We were forewarned that there is nothing to see in Jervis Bay besides the lighthouse, maybe. That proved to be true, but we stopped at every beach on the way; Wirrina Cove, Second Valley and Rapid Bay.
Jervis Bay, not much to see.
Especially Second Valley was beautiful, and we ended up going back there the next evening for the sunset. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time or money to go to Kangaroo Island. Instead, we headed to Victor Harbour. On the way we nearly hit a deer jumping across the road. Also, stopped at Delamere General Store for ice cream and Crunchies candy bars, that Ritva remembered from her childhood. Guess you had to be there, as the saying goes, because I don’t care for them, even though I like just about anything sweet.
Marina St Vincent was the first stop in Wirrina Bay – we thought about getting boat to see sights but it was not due to off season available the days we were there, nothing to see here except for few boats.
Rapid Bay is well known for its very long jetty. While the original jetty built in 1940 is closed to the public, a new jetty (opened in early 2009) is now available for use. The color of the water aah
We didn’t really get inspired by Victor Harbor, even though I went to check out the railway to Granite Island. Granite Island might have been interesting, but it was too far to walk and railway wasn’t running. However, we managed to do some shopping for clothes. I bought a fabulous Billabong bucket hat and Ritva bought few summer clothes. While I was waiting for Ritva, I managed to buy 6-pack of Coopers Pale Ale and some McLaren white wine from the bottle shop.
Victor Harbor really did not inspire us as we had hardly any photos from there.
Second Valley at day time
On the road again.
In the evening, we had drinks outside our room and the animals came out. First the magpies. One of them was eating from my hand. Then the kangaroos came. First couple and then a whole horde on them. Even though they were used to people they didn’t let you closer than 5-10 meters. I know the locals don’t care for them that much but for us tourists they are so cute. The rest of the evening was spent washing laundry. I pushed wrong buttons, and the dyer just wouldn’t stop for some reason, and I ended up spending a big portion of the evening in the laundry room.
The day will continue on another post as there are so many photos to share, but this was the last of sunset when we got back to the at the hotel.
I have had an opportunity to travel and see new places for a month, what a trip it has been! Every day was filled with new sights as we explored destinations that I had wanted to visit. I truly got to see some wonderful places. Each had its own unique charm and beauty. I also met family and friends that I have not seen in years. This made the experience even more special. I am ever so happy I got to do this trip . My mind is filled with unforgettable memories. My husband is going to help me word these memories as he kept daily notes on what we saw did in the following posts
The trip back home felt like it took forever, and I was seriously sleep-deprived; it took me a whole week to feel normal again. Even after such a tiring adventure, I am still feeling the aftermath. Honestly, the pressure to catch up on everything is a bit overwhelming. Then I went through my photos, it was a new reason to stress out. I realized I had snapped thousands of pics on my journey. Each one needs a good look; did it really capture what I had in mind? Now, I’ve got to sort through them all. I need to wrap my head around what I shot. Only then can I tackle the job of editing each one. Since I shoot in RAW, the editing is super important and pretty time-consuming. Normally, I love this creative process, and I’m set on enjoying it this time too. I’m ready to dive in, and I’ve already started with our first stop. Now I can bring them to life through editing and figure out which ones are worth keeping.
These I took with my iPhone as we approached our first destination Singapore from above. I am amazed how good photos the phones take these days. We we also rather amazed how many container ships there were.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 