Same place, two strikingly different compositions of this narrow lane, and you find yourself captivated by entirely new aspects. Do you feel the same? The other image irresistibly draws your gaze towards the windows and shutters, despite offering a wealth of intricate details beyond its landscape counterpart. The interplay of light and shadow weaves a dynamic tapestry that elevates the textures of the buildings. Each detail enlightened, allowing us to revel in the artistry of the architecture. Above all, I love the contrast and the play of light here—the very essence of monochrome and black and white photography. It accentuates shapes and forms, urging us to dive deeper into the image, as the absence of color beautifully challenges us to discover elegance in both simplicity and complexity.
A narrow alleyway , featuring charming architecture, vintage windows, and softly illuminated cobblestones. It is just a absolute place for a click.
The modern architecture in Singapore is really fascinating and to some extent they are trying to be environmentally conscious. You can see plenty of parks and trees just about everywhere and many buildings have gardens inside, on rooftops or balconies. Also because of high functioning public transport, they proudly say it’s the best in the world, the traffic wasn’t bad and air quality seemed fine.
We spent the only evening of our visit basically in front of the Marina Bay Sands Shoppes and Expo. However I had enough stamina to walk to The Gardens by the Bay to see the Supertree Grove and take pictures of the beautiful ArtScience Museum, shaped like a flower, and, of course, Marina Bay Sands hotel. Everything seemed to be close by, even the Flyer, even though you would have to walk a bit from destination to another destination.
The Shoppes included every imaginable high end fashion shop and the canal of the casino. Being so huge it was hard to capture good photos from the Shoppes, but hopefully were able to document the essence of the area.
To capture the Water and Light Show in Marina Bay was also hard. The lit skyscrapers as a backdrop were obviously nice but documenting the show proved to be challenging. What was really fun however was that the show was so close to the event area that you got wet by the showers from the fountains. People in the know were prepared with raincoats and umbrellas but I wasn’t wise enough. Fortunately, it was a warm night. It goes without saying that the area was a really popular spot for photographers. We saw wedding and fashion pictures taken by the bay.
No sight of infinity pool or Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck for us because the Deck was reserved for private function. But the hotel offers a magnificent sight itself.
Leanne from Monochrome Madness thought it would be fun to see how images can change if you crop them. She asked for 3 crops. It would be interesting to see how the story of the image could change using these methods.
I’ve been super busy editing my travel photos lately. Because of that, I haven’t jumped into any of the usual challenges I love. It’s kinda made me feel out of the loop with my creative stuff. But hey, I’m all about editing. I love the art of making photos pop. So, I figured, why not give this challenge a shot? Let’s see how my creativity holds up!
I tried with two images. To be honest, I am not all that happy with them. However, they will have to do for now. I can’t shake off the nagging feeling that these images fall short of my own expectations. This is not that serious, or is it? My stories did not change all that much, so much is actually about the original photo, My choices were not spot on 🙂
Let’s take a look at mine. I have done 3 different images to see how each would come up.
Monochrome image of a beach with rock formations and four figures walking along the water’s edge, reflecting on the wet sand. Then to just have the beach walkers. 16:9 is my favorite crop although it came out slightly too dark in the edit-
A small capture of Sydney skyline captured from the ferry on our way to Manly Beach
Unfortunately, our stay in Singapore was hampered by a flu. We managed to experience some of the sights but so much more was left to uncover maybe some other time. The only full day in the city started with a visit to Singapore Flyer which is now only the second highest ferris wheel in the world with 165 meters. Folks in Las Vegas had to have bigger and better one, so they built a wheel that is 168 meters. The day was cloudy and drizzly but the view to the Marina Bay and all over the city was obviously quite breathtaking.
As mentioned above, insult to injury, it was raining most of the day. However, rain always brings more opportunities for photographers – reflections and watery filters. It was easy taking pictures because we got to Flyer early and there was hardly anybody there besides us. We had one cabin for just the two of us. Maybe other people talking would have made the experience more enjoyable because the elevator music in the cabin was so damn annoying. The music loop lasted 15 -30 seconds and it was looping the whole time. Like waiting on the phone for your sales rep, who never answers. Very annoying. Hopefully they do something about it, otherwise we are never going back
Rainy view from the Flyer
Also we were kind of forced to go through “immersive adventure at the Time Capsule that takes you on a thrilling journey through Singapore’s past, present and future.” Might have been thrilling but unfortunately, we were not in the mood due to ill health. This picture captures the only thing that caught our attention.
Singapore has a long history, but the present dominates the skyline. Fortunately, some of the old world still remains standing and you are able to see it even from the Flyer. What the buildings actually were, remains a mystery to us. The modern architecture really stands out, like the flower of ArtScience Museum, Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay and everything in the Gardens by the Bay. Skyscrapers are just skyscrapers and can be seen in every big city.
What can I say about the Gardens by the Bay! Not much besides us both seeing the Supertree Grove, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest in the distance. We were planning on seeing the Gardens by the Bay Light Show from the Observation Deck of Marina Bay Sands but somebody with some extra pocket money had reserved the deck for a private function and spoiled the evening for us common people. So, we can only imagine what the Supertree Grove, pictured below, would have looked like all lit up.
This is the first of my Singapore posts! The text is written by my husband, Mara, who has a knack for capturing the little details and telling them in a way that makes our adventures come alive. I’ve been trying to nudge him into start his own blog because he’d be really good at it—his friends and family love how he paints pictures with his words. It is where he can let his creativity run wild and connect with more people who dig his take on and life. By getting him involved in this project, I’m hoping he’ll feel inspired to spill his thoughts and experiences more often.
I have often expressed that I enjoy editing photos, even though I tend to post mainly realistic images, having them look like I saw them. On that note, all of my images have been edited, mostly I adjust the light and contrast—highlights and shadows—to enhance the overall feel of the photograph. Contrast plays a crucial role in making certain elements stand out and giving depth to the image. I do it so that it reflects the image I saw in my mind’s eye—hence the title; the world as I see it. Photography, for me, is not just about capturing moments but also about expressing my unique perspective and interpretation of the scenes before me, allowing viewers to experience the beauty and intricacies that I wished to convey. Through careful editing, I strive to invite others into my vision, ensuring that they appreciate the subtleties that might go unnoticed in a more straightforward representation.
Original image without the edits other that cropping it.
I am going to start editing cityscapes, buildings, and industrial places in a more creative way. For a long time, I have wanted to venture towards this direction, and now I am excited to explore various artistic approaches that can bring a fresh perspective to my work. I plan to experiment with techniques such as dramatic lighting, unique angles, and vibrant color palettes to enhance the visual appeal of my photographs. By prioritizing these innovative methods in my editing process, I hope to creatively showcase buildings and cityscapes, transforming my photographs into something more artsy and captivating.
Converted to an black and white
I am going to explore various angles to highlight architectural details. Finding unique vantage points can elevate the way buildings are presented in your images. Adjusting contrast can enhance the structural elements of buildings, making them stand out.
Vintage or black-and-white filters can transform standard images into stunning artistic representations.
Blue and gray tones –
Use color grading to enrich urban atmospheres.. Pay attention to the distinct textures found in urban environments, such as brickwork or glass in post-processing to create depth and interest in your cityscape photos. Play with the color tones in the image.
Fishing dock, placing the interest in the subject matter and bright colors
Use filters to create effects that align with the character of buildings and cityscapes.
Fishing Dock in warm tone and still focusing on the bright subjects
I think these are suitable for this week. Ympyrätalo “Circle House”) is a circle-shaped office building located in the Hakaniemi district of Helsinki, Finland. The building is a local landmark. The building’s architecture has been seen as a high point in 1960s Finnish office building architecture.
Patti from P.A. Moed – CREATIVE EXPLORATION IN WORDS AND PICTURES wrote: Show us buildings, skylines, the streets, the people, and life in public spaces. Or, if you want, focus on two cities, and compare their features. This is an interesting challenge, I am sure to come across to many places I have never visited and have an urge to visit – add them to my bucket list of unseen destinations.
I don’t have that huge amount of city shots from many cities, when we travel we mostly visit nature locations. When we visited Australia, my cousin was the best host and travel guide to Brisbane. He drove us around and showed us places we wouldn’t have thought about or, to be truthful, known about. It was a truly eye-opening experience, discovering hidden gems and local secrets that only a native would be privy to. It’s amazing how much richer a travel experience can be when guided by someone with a deep connection to the place. Our trip to Australia remains a cherished memory, and it’s all thanks to the unique perspectives and insider knowledge provided by my wonderful cousin.
Brisbane buildings
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on the image.
Brisbane, port, capital of Queensland, Australia, and the country’s third largest city. It lies astride the Brisbane River on the southern slopes of the Taylor Range, 12 miles (19 km) above the river’s mouth at Moreton Bay. You can see my photos of Brisbane CBD , Wheel of Brisbane, and Story Bridge just naming few.
We also visited Streets Beach at South Bank Australia’s only inner-city, man-made beach boasts a sparkling blue lagoon surrounded by white, sandy beaches and sub-tropical plants. It is an oasis in the middle of Brisbane City.
Brisbane from another angle.
I enjoyed Ann-Christine’s circular challenge last week, who would have thought of how many circular things there are around us. Next week Tinafrom TRAVELS AND TRIFLES will once again bring us a new topic to challenge ourselves with. Until then, keep on smiling ☺.
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.
And if you want even more information on the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
Amy’s challenge this week is on contrasts. She wrote: There are many ways to express contrasts in photography, e.g. tone, colors, subjects, lights/shadows, and more.
Big – small and red and white + old and new
In photography, mastering the interplay between shadow and light is vital. The art of capturing light and manipulating shadows allows photographers to create captivating images that elicit a range of emotions. From dramatic silhouettes to intimate chiaroscuro portraits, the use of shadow and light can transform a simple photograph into a masterpiece.
Size, shape, colors
Contrast between the old and the new can evoke a variety of thoughts and emotions. The juxtaposition of these two elements can highlight the passage of time. It can elicit a sense of nostalgia for the past while simultaneously showcasing the advancements of the present.
When capturing the contrast between the old and the new in photography, you have the opportunity to tell a compelling visual story. The weathered textures and architectural details of old buildings can stand in stark contrast to the sleek lines and modern design of new structures.
Exploring the contrast between the old and the new in your photography can lead to stunning and thought-provoking images, this theme offers a wealth of artistic possibilities.
I know…It’s Tricky! Enjoy the chance to think outside-the-box for this challenge. What tricks do you use to get the shot you want? I don’t know if I really have any…. editing, that is my main trick.
One thing I often do to get great nice bokeh shots is have a flower in my hand outstretched towards the sun coming throughout the trees and taking a macro shot that way… easier on my knees 🙂 mostly I like to take close ups so that the object is back-lit.
somethimes you just have use thte natural settings, bend down and get the shot.
Water , droplets splash… usually I need assistance, often from my husband, or the water dripping down from the spout to the water barrel below. Or like my here my husband dropping Ice into the the glass
Drops in a barrel
Trick, well I think the most impostant trick is to be observant and have patience especially when photographing nature, animals, bugs. Well anything really, many times getting a a good shot is due to a good luck. Right time at the right place. How you place the camera. Mostly that you pay attention. That’s my trick really.
People photography is a art of its own, you have to find the essence of the person, and the right angle to bring the best of the peole features, expressions to shine in the the photo. Once again, be alert.
Composition, framing the photo is essential for a great shot depending what you want to enhance and showcase in the photo. Below some shots from Amalfi coast.
This week Anne invites us to share experiences . Experiencing something for the first time can be exhilarating, exhausting, and engaging.
Seeing something new in nature, visiting a new city. Listening to music, sounds of nature, art in all forms. I thing I get most from seeing, experiencing natures wonders.
I have also got great joy visiting the Great ocean road in Australia. I have done several posts from that trip. I still have lots of shots not share. Awesome place. Waterfall, rolling hills, animals in the wild… I could go on and on..
I love the rugged coastline there and in Northern California
and Oregon also, memorable and beautiful experiences.
Seeing the red woods in California Sequoia National Park, the magnificent trees.
Seeing the desert and it rough beauty of Valley of fire In Nevada
Thailand, Sri Lanka, India the different type of nature, culture. European countries with the long history and beautiful architecture, Italy, The Amalfi coast, Venice. France, Paris, Nice´ on and on I could go here too
You need not go far, you can experience a misty morning or evening. Sunset or sunrise that amaze you in your own yard. It is a new experience everytime, if not, would we not try to capture when ever it is possible.
Experience – is seeing the same old as something new everytime -living the moment. It can be as mundane as experiencing your morning coffee everyday. Maybe today with toast, tomorrow with pancakes… I don’t know, we must not forget the little everyday moments.
This week Sofia invites us to show you what Spring means to us. Is it about new beginnings, Nature reborn or a new chance to go and enjoy the outdoors?
This is a no brainer, I mean, obviously it is about light. Me and so many other when the spring begins to show first signs of more light the constant marvel of it… we do, every year as if this was something unexpected. The joy of it is so awesome, it wakes us up from the winter hibernation, we slowly come put of houses.
When does spring start? In 2023, the official first day of spring is Monday, March 20. This date marks the “spring equinox” in the Northern Hemisphere. That is today!
( Is the spring equinox the same as spring solstice? Equinox vs Solstice An equinox occurs at the start of the spring and fall. The solstice occurs during the summer and the winter. Occurs on March 21 (Vernal equinox) and on September 23 (Autumnal equinox).
No matter where you are on Earth, the equinox brings us a number of seasonal effects, noticeable to nature lovers around the globe. At the equinox, Earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally. Night and day are often said to be equal in length.
The fastest sunsets and sunrises of the year happen at this time. We’re talking here about the length of time it takes for the whole sun to sink below the horizon. Sunset or sunrise you have to be quick to act, if you wait long enough you will only see tail end of it.
First you notice is the snow and ice melting.The fields with the soil coming visible and mornings of mist. Everything is brown. Only moss glows green. The lakes and sea is been freed from under the ice.
Everywhere! Forget about the weather for a moment, and think only about daylight. In terms of daylight, the knowledge that spring is here – and summer is coming – permeates all of nature on the northern half of Earth’s globe.
Notice the arc of the sun across the sky each day. You’ll find that it’s shifting toward the north. Responding to the change in daylight, birds and butterflies are migrating back northward, too, along with the path of the sun.
The longer days do bring with them warmer weather. People are leaving their winter coats at home. eople are raking the leaves from their yards. Trees are budding, and plants are beginning a new cycle of growth. In many places, spring flowers are beginning to bloom.
new fresh green – not visible here yet, but it is a sign of the glorious days of spring finaly here.
Spring is full of hope, l ight, beauty and blooming of nature. One of the best of season’s
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #240 – The Road (most often) Taken.
John from Journeys with Johnbo is hosting this week, this week’s theme is metaphoric–and not about a physical road. For this week’s challenge, I want you to think of your favorite type or style of photography as the road you’ve chosen to take most often.
I got my first own camera in my late teens. I took photos of friends and family and photos when traveling. Safe to say there are not that many photos from back then, film was expensive as was the development, and you never knew how they turned out until you got the envelope back.
When I got my kids, well I took tons of pictures of them, here I found few from the archives that I have scanned. So safe to say, I am a people photographer from the beginning. I must say, I have improved a lot, even if I say so myself over the years. I love taking photos of people trying to capture something real, and try to find the beauty we all have in ourselves, fing the best angle to get a the essence of what I see. Now I photograph my grandkids and my husband is often in my photos if I need to get a heasshot for some challenge.
Eventually when I got my first good camera I started taking photos of nature, photos from our travels. Then I got a new macro lens – then details. I learned to edit my photos and that made my photos get better, me being able to highlight more what I what to showcase in the photo.
I have mixed some of my early on photos with some newest ones. Basically I take photos of what ever I fancy, anything that catches my eye, that I find intersting I take photos of.
I have to say that hiking to place that are far and through difficult tracks is not my thing. Even though I admire the beautiful photos other have captured from these place. I look for topic near me 🙂
Talking about Belles, in the afternoon we rode the free Savannah Belles ferry on the Savannah River. The ferries sail a triangle between the Waving Girl Statue, the City Hall and Convention Center. The view wasn’t that great but at least we can say we were on the Savannah River. Also, we met a very nice Polish American couple from New Jersey on the ferry. I guessed their origins from his accent. However, it was the lady who did most of the talking and boy could she talk. After we parted, she walked back to us and gave us their email address in case we ever need a place to stay in New Jersey. Nice!
After the ferry we walked along the River Street enjoying its old warehouses with their shop, restaurants and bars. We had drinks at the Warehouse Bar & Grillissä and then we had to hurry back to the hotel for the complimentary cocktail hour. The evening was spent on the River Street again having dinner at the Vic’s By The River, where we had the pleasure of tasting Shrimp and Grits.
Couple extra facts: If you paint the front door of your home or business red in Savannah, Georgia, it means you have paid it off and are the 100% owner.
Comgrats, paid it off and are the 100% owner.
Savannah has the McDonalds with walk-through window. There is a restaurant where you can get deep-fired peanut butter and chocolate chicken wings,
After breakfast we took the Old Time Trolley Tours Hop-on Hop-off busses. We were able to use our hard-earned vouchers from Hilton Head Island ��. The tickets were $51/person, so I felt like a winner. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for the Ghosts & Graves Tour. There was so much to take it during the tour – old historic buildings, squares and parks and the bus drivers/tour guides were such a wealth on information. We rode with three different guides, and some parts of the tour were the same, but the stories were a little bit different according to the guide. The most entertaining driver was an African American woman named Red . She was a barrel of laughs. All her stories were in a told tongue-in-cheek style, but I have no doubt they were all true, all the same.
First hop-off at the Forsyth Park were we also had lunch in the café. The park had plenty of artists and Jehova’s Witnesses. Luckily the JW people don’t bother you anymore on the street. I guess they have different approach nowadays or they save the push tactics to home visits. There was a filming of another tv-program or movie on the way in one city block.
Didn’t see any famous actors. Quite a few movies have been made in Savannah and guides pointed out, for example, where the bus-stop for Forrest Gump was situated and renowned Six Pence Pub on Bull Street is where Julia Roberts’ character and her on-screen husband play out a significant film scene in Something to Talk About.
Can’t forget the Mercer House, the home of songwriter Johnny Mercer, where the events for the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt and the movie by the same name by Clint Eastwood, happened. I’m not going to list all the historical buildings or places where we stopped but needless to say Savannah is a true Southern Belle.
Needles to say these are just some of the beautiful old buildings in the city.
We were invited to join this week to explore diagonals as a way to add visual interest and depth to our photos, as well as a sense of action. What diagonals can you find was asked?
Lets have a look at what I can find in a form of leading lines, I try to use them often to lead your way to something. Cityscapes are easy place to find them. They can lead your eye, frame the scene.
Did I find them, I had to stop lookng for them as I once again have an overload of them. Sorry…and as this is mainly a photography blog I will not go into details of the locations, I would not remember even if I tried. Diagonals you will find 🙂 Sit down and enjoy the scene’s as the header suggests.
On the top collage – Photos from Florida, California and Nevada
The second set is from Brisbane – Australia and the last one has bridges from Vancouver BC, first image, Brisbane AUS and the last one is from Sydney AUS
We went and visited Helsinki this afternoon, it was a bright, warm, very spring like day with temperature of +9C , but even with that taken to consideration, there were not many people walking about. We just had to get out of the house. We even had the restaurant all to ourselves, we spent lots of time looking at the cityscape opening to us behind the window. I do feel for the businesses. it is not easy to survive wit all the restrictions in place.
On a windy Monday evening I went to take photos of the city by night. First I visited Töölö. After that we drove to the center, I was going to try different locations but the wind was so strong that I decided that it isn’t the best of weathers to be taking photos.
Considering that I have to tripod, I think these night photos turned out OK.
On a windy Monday evening I went to take photos of the city by night. First I visited Töölö. The park between two streets, Hesperia Esplanade, was my main topic, while I waited for my husband to finish his business there.
The name Hesperia is connected to the romantic trend in the early 1800s. Hesperia was the poetic name used by the ancient Greeks to describe the mythical lands far off to the west. Hesperos refers to the evening star, and in Greek mythology the Hesperides were nymphs who tend a blissful garden in a far western corner of the world. Hercules is said to have collected golden apples from their garden. (text from vihreatsylit.fi)
Considering how few leaves we have at home I was surprised how many there were at this esplanade.
From my archive i found these street photography shots and I’ve edited them to block and white. I think it gives them a more timeless, classic look. I also have color edits, o you have an opinion as to which works better in your opinion?
These were taken in Nicè France, hope you enjoy them. I like the children’s joy in them.
It was in December that I visited Hong Kong and only now I went throught the photos, so they are new in that sense. I have been in a slump as I’ve stated before, now I am on the way up. My aim was to post the photos in a time line, but no, I will post them as I feel like. I will go back to my minimalist approach, few words and hopefully the picture will deliver what I want to convey; The world as I see it.
These are first impressions of the city after our arrival in the evening.
When walking in the city, this being in Helsinki there was only some dirty snow around. Cold wind, but sunny skies, here it looks like spring. Don’t be deceived, it on looks like it.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 