colors – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Lens-Artists Challenge #294 – Before and After

I will go straight to what John wrote” One of my favorite things is to take the images I captured from my camera and put them in a workflow through two or three different photo editing applications”. I love doing this too. He asks us to feature three or four images in your gallery that you tweaked for whatever reason and the original image out of the camera. Here are my Before and After

I was going through some old photos, and this corner in an old building with light coming in from above, the texture of the walls set my creativity to flow and edited it for this challenge. With this first photo I am giving you more details to explain the edits I did.

This is the one I added light and contrast, texture, and clarity. I also added some vibrancy but used less saturation. I toned down highlights, lessened blacks and shadows. I did not change the composition.

This is the one I added light and much more contrast, texture, and clarity. I also added some vibrancy towards yellows and added orange to the shadows. I toned down highlights but not as much as in previous version, used more blacks and shadows. I did not change the composition.

For this image I converted the original image to black and white. I did not touch the exposure or contrast. I turned down the blacks, added dehaze and texture. I turned the colors all down except purple and magenta that I added a bit

This shot I took while running to the seaside to capture the sunset at Páfos in 2011. The original is very bland, but with my newfound editing skills I was able to bring the warm tones of the moment into the photo.

I adjusted the exposure and contrast down as well as the highlights and blacks. I toned down the texture, but added clarity and dehaze. Touch of added vibrance and saturation. Added touch of orange to highlight and midtones. Then inspired by John I changed the sky and did lots of little fixes and had an enhanced version, that I then converted to black and white. I have very rarely changed skies, because I try mostly keep it real – well the way I see it – or in this case remember seeing it.

This is a street view from Vancouver that I converted to monochrome – I am a big fan of B&W images. The last one is trying to replicate the style lots of movies and TV shows now use, with teal and orange colors. In both edits I have also edited the exposure, contrast and shadows and light.

Last week we enjoyed the inspiration from Sofia – Water motions , it was a theme I really enjoyed. I saw so many wonderful posts about it. Next week Donna is bringing us a new challenge, looking forward to seeing what she comes up with. Until then, keep 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.

yellow

Flowers

Debbie’s One Word Sunday Yellow is this weeks theme. I bought myself flowers and just by luck there was some yellow flowers in the bouquet. What is the chance of that?

What I want to bring you with yellow flowers is the brightness of the sun, the cheerfulness of a new day, and the promise of positivity. If you are seeking to be inspired by warmth, enthusiasm, and joy, yellow flowers is an impeccable choice. Yellow flowers have been cherished for centuries for their ability to convey a message of happiness and friendship.

Sunlit moss creates enchanting forest ambiance.

Nature

Sunlit moss creates enchanting forest ambiance.

For Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Lake Mead

Landscapes, Traveling US

Possible topics for this weeks CMMC: reservoir, lake, landscape, brown, blue, teal, green, water, green, layers, etc. I think I got most of these covered in this post from Lake Mead, Nevada.

Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River in the Southwestern United States. . It is the largest reservoir in the US in terms of water capacity.

This week for CMMC .

Flower of the day – Pink powderpuff

Photography

Calliandra haematocephala (Pink powderpuff)

For Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Love

Cities, Photography

One Word Sunday: love

Lens-Artists Challenge #286 – Weather

Photography

Last week, Egidio had us looking at Warm colors. And I , for one enjoyed them, all the beautiful sunsets that came up in the posts. If you missed it, here is a link to the challenge of Warm Colors.

This week Anne from Slow Shutter Speed has us thinking and showcasing our weather shots. It is one of the favorite topics of discussion among us Finns. As the saying goes, the climate is what we expect, and the weather is what we get. Finland has four unique seasons. The temperature in Finland varies greatly by season and by region as the country is long and has differing coastal and inland climates. The Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Eurasian continent to the east together create the actively changing climate of Finland. Due to our country’s location, the weather can also change quickly, which makes predicting a bit tricky . One moment the sun might be shining, and the next rain is pouring down – such is life up North.

Winter The coldest day of the season is usually at the end of January in most regions. I So you are protected from that cool winter breeze, especially in the coast.

February is a snowy and chilly winter month in all of Finland. The slower cooling of the Baltic Sea typically delays the coldest period on the Coast and the Archipelago until the beginning of February. The days are still relatively short but they are getting longer , the sun stays up for nine hours in Helsinki.

March, spring is starting to be on its way. After the spring equinox (March 21st) the days get increasingly longer. Warm clothes are still a must, as the month is likely to be cold with the deepest snow cover, especially in the north.

Spring After the long winter nature wakes up again in April. Spring begins early in the month in the coastal areas, and later in April elsewhere, In April, there’s an increasing amount of daylight and the snow starts to melt, yet it is still not summer.

The weather in May goes from warm to cool, so be ready for all kinds of weather. One thing for sure is that there will be more daylight.

In June, the Finnish summer kicks off. You can expect sunny and pleasant days, but there might be some rain, especially after midsummer. In June, you can experience the amazing midnight sun around the summer solstice.

July is peak summer and generally the hottest month of the year. Most Finns take their annual leave during this time. July is all about heat waves and sometimes even thundershowers, but overall, it’s the best of summer in Finland.

August is the second warmest month in Finland. Though it’s the rainiest in some areas, August usually brings many lovely summer days. The warm but darkening August nights are magical as summer comes to an end.

The autumn season may start pleasantly crisp and cool, but September can also get quite wet. You can expect cloudy skies and rain some of the time but also charming and cool sunny days. In northernmost Finland, the first snow often falls in September. Overall, it’s time to start dressing up warm again.

Autumn foliage makes October a beautiful month, yet the weather can be brisk, and the temperature is likely to drop from mild to frosty. November, the northern parts of the country usually have lasting snow cover already. Wind, rain, and slush are regular delights of the month. The grayest month of all. The month is quite cold, so adding warm layers underneath your winter gear is a must. December is dark, cold and mostly snowy.

I think I did all the months, but as a last note. I love taking misty photos. Droplets after rain, or a misty night. Frost is beautiful after a cold night. Clouds enhance the sunset photos. Rain, or snowing can be a great opportunity for a good shot. Hope you now have an ideal month in mind as when to visit Finland 😂

Next week Donna leads us to the topic of sound, that should be an interesting one to tackle, I am already trying to come up with some ideas,

Lens-Artists Challenge #285 – Warm Colors

Photography

Last week, Sofia asked us to think about day and night for our weekly challenge. I found it fun to go through my archives to find matching photos.

This week, Egidio of, Through Brazilian Eyes, joins us for his first, official challenge with the Lens-Artists. Visit his site for inspiration and guidance on today’s challenge: Warm Colors.

This week Egídio asked; have you ever thought about your images’ impact on viewers based on your photos’ color schemes? Yes I have :-) He invites us to look at own photo catalog or capture new images showing how warm colors appear in our world and their emotional significance to us, also to share how your images made you feel when you captured them.

the warmth of the fire – in colors and feelings

Now to my thoughts on colors – warm colors – we all know them. BUT, to me me the yellow of the first flowers of spring it is not warm, it blends more to the blue. I know it is but – it is bright and refreshing against the new green that delights us. The coltsfoot ad dandelion are first ones to pop up you look for these pops of yellows, Globeflower blooms also in May, a brightfull joy of spring.

Towards the end of the summer the yellow deepens and to me that is a warm yellow, it blends more to red, I know I am splitting hairs here.

Warm reds and brown take over in the fall and a sense of lost comes with it. It does not demise the beauty of the warm colors of autumn is the festive season for warm colors. I joy for a photographer.

Browns – the end of autumn. Soft muted tones, that slowly shows the way to hibernation. Gets us ready for winter,

Now to the question, about how your images made you feel when you captured them. When I take a photo, I mainly focus on and pay attention to the composition, how to best show of what I see, . My main thoughts are did I get on the”film” what I saw. I want to bring beauty to a shot, no matter what the topic even if the topic itself is not that pleasant. I want to see the beauty around me, even a glimpse of it. Positivity… that’s what I want to see 🙂 and I have very warm thoughts about this little boy :-9

Flower of the day – Peach leaved bellflower

Flowers

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.

Sunset behind the hilltop

Captures from Finland, Landscapes, Photography

Today I caught a beautiful sunset from my patio, we had huge rise in temperature in the past two days and the snow covered trees are now gone. The trees still gave a beautiful contrast against the colorful sky

Frosty window view

Photography

Yesterday, the last tail of the sunset seen through the slightly frosty window.

John’s Cellpic Sunday

where to focus

Captures from Finland

I took two shots from the same spot, first one I focused on the vine in the front, and in the second on the pine tree on the hill.

Posted for John’s Cellpic Sunday

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.

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

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

the falling leaves cover the ground

Photography

Linked to Six Word Saturday at Debbie’s here

flower of the day – 20/10

Flowers

October colors from this morning. It was once again a bit nippy as the temperatures had gone down to minus side last night.

Here are Hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as smooth hydrangea, wild hydrangea, sevenbark, or in some cases, sheep flower, after the frost had melted and left the pedals moist and shining in the cool but sunny morning air. Most of the pedals are now brown , but few are left white and green.

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

Nature – Autumn Foliage

Captures from Finland, Landscapes

This time we focus on Autumn Colours, Autumn Leaves, Fall Foliage .. I think you get the message.

For Nature Photo Challenge #31

Keeping it short and sweet or not… take a guess 🙂

flower of the day – 7/10

Flowers

October colors from this morning. It was a bit nippy as the temperatures had gone down to minus side last night. Here are chokeberry leaves with beautiful colors from my backyard.

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

Purple lights

Interiors, Photography

How hard is it to find purple in your photos that are not flowers, in my case hard. Had to dig deep into memories and archive. I remembered this church concert in Mikael Agricola Church with purple lightning.

Posted for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

Autumn II

Photography

it is the time that time of year again when the magical color show begins, it’s not at it’s best glory as yet. But You can smell , sense the coming autumn.

Autumn: a tapestry of vibrant hues and gentle transitions, where nature bids summer adieu and welcomes the season of reflection and harvest.

tapestry of golden hues

Captures from Finland, Landscapes

Autumn brings a captivating transformation to the fields, as the veil of summer is gently lifted. The once lush and green landscapes now unveil a breathtaking tapestry of golden hues, as the crops sway gracefully in the cool breeze. The rhythmic dance of nature’s palette, with shades of amber, russet, and bronze, creates a picturesque scene that stirs the soul. As the sun bathes the fields in its warm, honeyed light, one can’t help but be enchanted by the serene beauty that autumn bestows upon the cropped fields. Is. Amidst the rustling leaves and the scent of earth, there’s a sense of tranquility that envelops the surroundings, inviting us to pause, breathe, and appreciate the wonders of this season.

Brown and yellow – orange tones in the field

Lens-Artists Challenge #269: On the Edge

lens-artists

Patti wants us to explore “the edges.”

What have you captured “On the Edge” of buildings, cliffs, rivers, beaches, tables, shelves, your finger, or your dinner plate? Feel free to use any kind of edge you can think of. You can also take the theme sideways…veering off into another meaning of “on the edge.” Think of “unconventional” or “edgy” or “avant garde.”

Lets go back and think about this, I was never afraid to be on the edge until recently as I’ve developed some balance problems, I don’t trust myself not to fall. And I have lived on the edge in many of my decisions, like moving to another country on a whim… no more about that.

Patti’s images are are beautiful, check them out be inspired.

This swimmer is certainly On the edge of the cliff

I was looking at Janet’s post and this came to mind. Kid’s, grandkids – there is a difference how treat them, I knew what my kid’s were able to do, I trusted their skills. I certainly was not on the edge with them as I am with my son’s boy’s. I know they are very active and sporty boys, but as my youngest grand kid was on that edge I was so anxious that he would fall down. My son, not so much 🙂

This is from Australia, taken from the twelve apostles. I was more than once on the edge when I took these photos.

This is from last night, I saw Patti’s post and same time I was watching soccer with my husband and enjoying a glass of wine and the players came on the edge of my glass. ( I have to say it took many, many shot to get them right on the edge.) Not much of a picture, but I had fun with it.

I was hanging literally over the edge to get this lizard shots

Often when taking landscape pictures of cliffs, you need to go to the edge to get a nice one, or that is my way of thinking.

Once again reaching out of the edge to get a nice shot, this time of the sphinx on the edge..

Lets relax on the edge of the hill enjoy the view of the valley below.

Or at the edge of the water

Posted for Patti’s Lens-Artists Challenge

Autumn

Photography

it is the time that time of year again when the magical color show begins, it’s not at it’s best glory as yet. But You can smell , sense the coming autumn.

Autumn colors paint a breathtaking masterpiece on nature’s canvas. As the crisp air descends, the foliage transforms into a vibrant symphony of oranges, yellows, and reds. The once lush green leaves now burst with warmth and enchantment. Each tree becomes a glorious work of art, showcasing the beauty of transition. Take a moment to immerse yourself in this kaleidoscope of hues, as nature bids farewell to summer and welcomes the season of harvest and reflection.

Someone left a broken kicksled outside ready for the winter

Darker clouds started to gather to the sky

Posted for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

Flow – river flow 2

Captures from Finland, Landscapes, Photography

Water, the essence of life, flows endlessly through the rocky crevices and gentle streams. It is a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and transformation. Just like water, we too must learn to flow through life’s challenges, gracefully navigating the twists and turns that come our way.

Imagine a babbling brook, its gentle melody soothing your soul. The water, sparkling in the sunlight, dances over pebbles, creating a symphony of nature’s music. It reminds us to embrace the beauty and serenity of the present moment.

As water cascades down a waterfall, it reminds us of the power and strength within us. With every drop that falls, it signifies the potential for change and growth. Just as the water carves its path through solid rock, we too can carve our own destiny, shaping our lives through determination and perseverance.

So let the flowing water be a constant source of inspiration. May it remind you to adapt, to embrace change, to find strength in the face of adversity, and to let your spirit flow freely. Like a river, may you navigate through life with grace and purpose, leaving your mark on the world.