Lens Artists Challenge #236: SouthMeets North


Amy’s topic for this weeks Lens Artists Challenge #236: East Meets West, This week we are exploring the different cardinal points East – West or South – North

I thought about this, as I live in North, in Finland. Arctic Circle is about 850 km from my home – so I live in the south of Finland.That could be one way to look at this challenge, or even more extreme could be Finland versus Australia down under. Or I could think about it as just the directions seen from my summer house as I sit in the yard and watch the sun move around it. … still thinking about about this:-)

First is the difference between light in the north and south of Finland during winter and well also in the summer.

There are four distinctly different seasons as far up north . However, locals think the conditions are in a constant state of change and say there are up to eight seasons in the year: midwinter, snowy spring, spring, summer, harvest season, autumn leaf colour, first snowfall, and Christmas. The photo is from Santa’s village.

The blue twilight of the Polar Nights last from mid November to Mid January. the light is this blue hues. Not black. This is Midwinter. This period takes place in January-February and is also known as the heart of winter. With only a few hours of daylight, a rather mysterious air of silence and peacefulness shrouds the natural surroundings.

The Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that takes place on and above the Arctic Circle in the summer months. On the Arctic Circle, the sun officially stays above the horizon for a full 24 hours on summer solstice, 21st or 22nd June. However, the Midnight Sun period in Rovaniemi lasts for a month, from 6th June to 7th July; this is due to the Earth’s slightly tilted axis and refraction of sunlight. The nights are white throughout the summer from late May until early August

So below you can see the blues of the day on North of Finland during the day. Also the landscape of southern Lapland is quite flat. There are few lakes, but forests, swamps, rivers and streams form diverse ecosystems. In Western Lapland, the flat and same level coast changes as you go further north: there are more and moreforested hills, the highest or northernmost exceed the tree line, and are therefore already actic hills.

Water reflections – obviously easiest to do.

In terms of topography, Southern Finland is a low plain. On top of the bedrock there are fine-grained soils. The climate is favorable for cultivation, so agriculture is productive, especially in the areas of the clay fields in Eastern Uusimaa.


Considering the large population, nature can be close to people even in Southern Finland. The most difficult and rugged areas can have natural areas.

There are rocks and small lakes in the Nuuksio National Park. There is a forest area of several thousand hectares in Sipoonkorpi, with rocks, groves, natural streams and traditional meadows. The Repove National Park has steep rock cliffs and the Valkmusa National Park has an oasis nature. Porkkala, which I have written about before. Porkkalanniemi is in Kirkkonummi, that is where I live.. The area consists of rocky shores, pine forest, and beautiful outlooks onto the sea. The Porkkala cape stretches far out to the sea and is one of the best places to watch arctic birds migrating. Seabirds thrive in the area due to its rich and diverse habitat. Porkkala has a considerable population of common eiders and is also an important resting area for long-tailed ducks. Lucky visitors may even spot moose or white-tailed deer in Porkkala.

The light is different in south, the sunrises here in the winter even if for a short time. Less snow for sure. In the Summer, the sun sets even if for a short time, but it does not get really dark. More humidity as we are closer to the sea.

Porkkalanniemi – Kirkkonummi in Southern Finland

As I’ve stated before I am not a very technical photographer, more into composition, mood. I do my magic on the edit table mostly, if you can call it magic, more like my interpretation of places and people. I am also not one to write all that much, let the photos speack for themselves.

I have two cameras an old reliable SONY SLT-A65V, and I have two lences I use with it one for Macro Sony Macro 2.8/50 and portraits. The other for nearly everything a Sony 18-200mm.

The Sony has been in less use since I bought a new lighter one to carry around, its a Olympus E-M10 Mark II with a 14-150mm lense and I have a OM-D M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8 for street and portrait photography

LAPC #235: Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome


LAPC #235: Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome, Patti’s looking for shadows a/o reflections but in monochrome. 

Patti from P.A. Moed CREATIVE EXPLORATION IN WORDS AND PICTURES Wrote;

This week, we’re challenging you to show us photos with reflections and/or shadows captured or processed in monochrome. Feel free to process your image in different shades of blue, green, brown, or gray. You can also shoot your image in a setting that’s predominantly one color–like a blue sea and sky, for example. I’ve checked quite a few experts who agree that black and white photos are not two colors, but varying shades of one color–gray. Purists will refer to black and white images as grayscale. So, for our challenge, black and white images fall under the category of monochrome.

The photos below are from our recent trip to the southern states, South Carolina and Georgia.

Water reflections – obviously easiest to do.

Birds and reflection from Florida, and lake reflection from Nastola, Finland

Under the bridge in Kivenlahti, Finland on a February afternoon. Below also one from a pier in Savannah.

As I’ve stated before I am not a very technical photographer, more into composition, mood. I do my magic on the edit table mostly, if you can call it magic, more like my interpretation of places and people. I am also not one to write all that much, let the photos speack for themselves.

I have two cameras an old reliable SONY SLT-A65V, and I have two lences I use with it one for Macro Sony Macro 2.8/50 and portraits. The other for nearly everything a Sony 18-200mm.

The Sony has been in less use since I bought a new lighter one to carry around, its a Olympus E-M10 Mark II with a 14-150mm lense and I have a OM-D M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8 for street and portrait photography

52 Frames: Week 42:  Black and White Minimalism!

This week we’re combining two distinct genres to form Black and White Minimalism. Black and White photos, inherently feel a little minimalistic. Using a composition that’s minimalistic, like having negative space, really adds to this unique shooting style.

Simply doors, as interestingly as I could
Negative space

Black and White minimalism usually yields a very clean and clutter-free aesthetic. A strong subject will draw the viewer’s eye, and a lot of negative space around your subject will support the main “star” of your frame. 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

You can create minimalism with negative space, and you can also use light and shadow by only lighting your main subject and leaving the rest of the frame in shadow (low key) or by lighting your background bright as well to create a high-key look.

But, in particular for this challenge, do remember that: Less Is More 🙂

October landscape
  • Be Direct: Simple does not mean boring. try to tell a story and convey emotion with as little clutter as possible.
  • Negative Space: Take advantage of negative space. The “empty” space in your photo will draw the attention of the viewer towards the main subject, without being distracted by other items in the photo.
  • Leading Lines: Use concepts like leading lines to guide your viewer’s eye to the image.
  • Shoot in B/W: Many cameras have a black and white mode – use that to help make things simpler when previewing the shot you’ve just taken rather than having to post-process later.
  • Tones and Contrast: There are a multitude of shades and tonal ranges that can be adjusted to bring out depth and textures, especially in a Black And White shot. Consider adjusting those for different looks for your image.

Fishnet
Winter ribbon

Sweet little Tinka

My cat Tinka captured in black and white. She is so pretty!

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

– Charles Dickens

“There is something about the presence of a cat… that seems to take the bite out of being alone.” – Louis J. Camuti

Apples

I have played with my apple images.

Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Shadow and light. Color and black and white.

Pink Tulips

I did this thing I edit a photo then, obviously, I try it in monochrome. Here is the outcome of these tulip shots.

Looking out the window

Sitting in the cafe and watching people in the street

CB&W~clouds

I went to look for clouds outside, but lately it has been just gray sky or like to today wonderful blue sky with no clouds. So I searched my archives. For these black and white shots/ edits of clouds.

Martins Beach in California

MM 4-9: Monochrome Madness

Here is my post for  MM 4-9: Monochrome Madness  a detail from a boat and spiderweb

HEL 170617-3

MM 4-1 – Alone

It is amazing how quickly time goes, three years has passed. Now the Forth year  will begin. I will try to learn more ways to express myself in my monochrome pictures.  Here is my entry Alone – my entry to Monochrome Madness 4-1Alone - Ritva Sillanmäki (2 of 2)

MM-3-49 – Hydrangea

My entry to  for this weeks Monochrome Madness is a photo from my back-yard .This wiltered flower of hydrangea was my pick for this week as I tooks photos for an other challange. It turned out so nicely into a black and white photograph.  #monochromemadness #Leannecole

Details - Ritva Sillanmäki (5 of 8)

MM-3-48 -Miami South Beach

My entry to  for this weeks Monochrome Madness is a photo from my trip to south Beach Miami. I have been very slow in going through my photographs from my trip but here are several  of  Night lights  in Monochrome -check the link to see which I chose to send to Leanne.#monochromemadness #LeannecoleMiami South Beach- BW (2 of 7)

Miami South Beach- BW (3 of 7)Miami South Beach- BW (4 of 7)Miami South Beach- BW (6 of 7)

Art Deco south Miami Beach. night-30

Study of a Gerbera in Monochrome

weekend bouquet (4)-2

I find gerbera to be a stylish and simple flower, I spent few moments taking photos from different angles and them trying to edit them into “Artistic”monochrome pictures.

mm-3-36-Trees

This is my this weeks entry to MM 3- 36 -trees

misty-morning-by-thye-sea-ritva-sillanmaki

MM 3-31

I have been very, very lazy in participating  in Monochrome Madness and as the photos there are always so gorgeous, I am also very disappointed of my laziness. This week , well, here is my post for the challenge. I visited French Riviera early October and this is taken at there. This Original version can be found in color in by previous post Villefranche sur mer -rue Obscureritva-sillanmaki-rue-obscure

Corridor

Goa India, Panjim -corridor

Smiling

Maposa , Goa (80)-6

Tired girl

This little girl got tired at shopping and fell a sleep on her mothers shoulder. So adorable. I did two version of this. I prefer the first, softer one…sleep – soft?
Maposa , Goa (85)-1Maposa , Goa (85)-3