paws

A close-up image captures a cat’s paws gently placed on a wooden surface, highlighting their delicate features and fur texture. The photograph emphasizes the serene and relaxed demeanor of the cat, the beauty in simple, everyday moments.

Close-up of a cat’s paws resting on a wooden surface.

Lens-Artists Challenge #351 – Books

It is often said that a great book has the power to resonate with the human spirit, transport us to new realms, ignite our imagination, and shift our viewpoints in an instant… but are we discussing literature or photography here?! For Challenge 351, I invite you to embrace your inner book lover and share your most creative photographic interpretation of anything related to books. What significance do books hold for you? Can you inventively capture an image of one of the most timeless themes in existence?

I saw this elderly man engrossed in reading a book while seated on a bench, capturing the joy of reading in a serene setting.

I am looking for photos of books, any kind of books that inspire a love for reading. This could include someone deeply engaged in the act of reading a book, perhaps captured in a cozy nook, lost in a world of imagination. A shot of your favorite bookstore, with its enchanting display of titles and welcoming atmosphere, would also be wonderful to see. Alternatively, simply showcasing a book, whether it’s an old cherished classic or a trendy new release, can evoke a strong connection to the written word. I am not looking for book reviews, as they present another challenge altogether, but rather visual representations that highlight the beauty and allure of books, reflecting the passion of those who are truly bookworms amongst us.

An open book with glasses resting on it, symbolizing a love for reading?


It can be older books, these books were in the Library of Hvitträsk’s Museum


These newer books can be found in my own bookshelves. No rhyme or reason for the books in this shelve.


The Bookshelf is from our Library Fyyri in Kirkkonummi, a beautiful, modern architecture and welcoming atmosphere, where community members gather to enjoy books, attend events, and connect with one another. Meanwhile, the three men reading are in Oodi, the innovative central library in Helsinki, which serves as a vibrant hub for culture and creativity.


An open bible and a decorative bookmark, in Amalfi Church

A detailed page from a historical ledger, showcasing handwritten notes and financial records, I hope to create a sense of nostalgia and connection to the past.

I took these photos of a book about Vintage bags, it is a gift from a friend of mine – I do love handbags 🙂


In conclusion, zooming this way was fun and, to many of us, a new experience. Anne’s challenge last week was an excellent reminder of the joy of experiencing and learning something new. Her post was, as always, a source of inspiration with amazing photos. I hope you have fun joining us again this week. Remember to tag Lens-Artists; also, please link back to my original post.

Next week is Sofia’s turn to host, Saturday 7th June. Until then keep on smiling ☺

If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.


Let me end this post with book of vintage sheet music . “While strolling through the park one day, in the merry merry month of May….

it’s in the details #2

Well I took several shots for this week’s Lens-Artists challenge, but as the limited images were six, I could only post that. I think the limited amount of images is a good thing actually, I really should do it more often.

A single wither’d leaf is left
Upon the forest tree,
By angry winds and storms bereft
Of other company:
And though its friends have long since gone,
The wither’d leaf still clingeth on!

– Richard Coe
The One Hope

I chose a slightly different angles and came a little closer – and what I liked about this is that – can you guess what I liked ?

it’s in the details

Well I took several shots for this week’s Lens-Artists challenge, but as the limited images were six, I could only post that. I think the limited amount of images is a good thing actually, I really should do it more often.

I really like this shot; the background is the thing that makes this photo stand out for me. The light was just at the right level, softly illuminating the berries and highlighting foliage colors. The autumn colors left, with shades of amber, gold, and deep red blending beautifully, creating a warm and inviting backdrop adds depth to the composition.

I chose a slightly different angle a tad closer – and what I liked about this is that there is a sign of frost in the droplet. The one below the focus is on the berry.

Lens-Artists Challenge #324: In the Details

Patti from P.A. Moed Creative Exploration in Words and Pictures challenges us with this theme In the Details

I was really inspired by this, I often do nothing much, but not doing much being still gives you time to look at details. So obviously my first thought was macro photography. Something you can do in your own backyard or home. Then I say Patti’s approach and found it inspiring – that’s not how I first envisioned it in my head, should I also try that ?

These tiny hardly noticeable fungus grow by my front door, but that day I went out to capture the first frosty morning and these were the last ones I took on my quest for details.



My other set is from Hailuoto, – Finland and the lighthouse there I took so many photos of it so I am able to share some new ones too.

From the distance it looked like this

Different angel and I am closer

Close-up, now you can see the structure and details and the colors so much better.

Last week, Egidio hosted his “Silence” challenge, which was a beautiful exploration of places that are filled with quiet. Each submission capturing serene landscapes and peaceful environments. I love how the silence settled around me just from looking at all your lovely photos. The silence and stillness, encouraging us to pause and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

Next week, it’s Tina’s turn to lead us, so be sure to stop by her gorgeous Travels and Trifles site next Saturday at noon EST for an engaging and inspiring challenge. Tina has always has a unique perspective, sharing her thoughtful insights and delightful stories that transport us to new places. I can hardly wait to see what she has in store for us this time!

Monochrome – the new yost type writer

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

52 Frames: Week 43: Details!

Take a moment. Look at something, anything around you – what do you see? What do you notice? That’s right – our eyes take in the big picture, but then move in closer to see the Details. That’s just how we humans work – we instinctively want to look at things and then parts of those things.

Frost on leaf pedal

I am often post details, one of my favorite ways to show you how I see the world around me. So much beauty can found near and far in small or sometimes big details.

I have taken macro shots of nature this week and it fits this topic ever so well. The others are from my archives.

The wrinkles, special features and texture of our faces in portrait. Capturing fine, rarely seen details in a macro shot – maybe abstract, or in Nature. Maybe it’s that detail on the building you pass every day, but rarely take a moment to notice.

wrinkes around the eys
rough life?

Craft an image that shows off the details of your choice of subject. Focus, contrast and composition will play a key role , so it’s both a creative and technical challenge

By capturing an image and looking for the picture within a picture, you’ll be able to capture exquisite details that you’d probably normally overlook. When you start noticing the details, a world of new and possible images opens up to you.

I love taking photos of machinery, rust the photographic details there are to be found

Hands at work

Hairdo

Leaves

I found this nature’s artwork in my backyard, fern and a some other plants made a beautiful contrast. You just have to look for it closely to find it. . Sunday greetings to you all!

52 Frames: Week 18: Flat Lay !

Time for a genre that’s rather popular on social media in recent times – Flat Lay photography has simple rules – take a shot of items or objects laid out on a flat surface from immediately above. Basically, a bird’s-eye view of a set of objects that make up a cohesive whole.

I thought that I would share a little bit about myself for those who are new to my blog. I have painted with different mediums since I was a teenager, and still continue with various art hobbies. Acrylic- and oil painting, pastels drawings, oil inks, aquarelles etc. I also do sculpture. As I am not a great cook, or my art is not setting the table beautiful. I took out some of my brushes and color tubes. I even tried do a self portrait, but I did it with an old photo of me.

Think of it like setting up a mood board or if you’re into food photography, setting up a dinner table with dishes, accessories and food. You could show off things that speak to you in your hobby – like a set of gardening tools or knitting yarn and needles. How about a top-down view of your desk – are you a neat freak or a proponent of organized chaos? Go for understated minimalism or bold maximalism – the choice is yours.

Perhaps you could include a bit of portraiture by putting yourself in the shot along with some outfits and hats that you adore and take a self-portrait. Take things a step further with knolling – laying everything out at perpendicular, straight angles to each other. Don’t be restricted to indoor shots either. You can grab some cool shots with organic, natural ground as your flat-lay background.

52 Frames: Week 17: Leading Lines!

Time for a compositional challenge, this week – it’s Leading Lines.

I was walking in a flea market and came across this old calculator covered with dust, but as I was not able to clean it, it shows old dust, dirt, but he lines leading to the name are clearly to be seen. I took it as a black and white as an a period piece I thought it would be appropriate and well the dirt is less visible this way.

The other choice was an old typewriter, but as you can guess I chose to post the calculator, did I make a right choice?

Leading lines are lines that guide the viewer from the edge of your frame towards your subject, usually coming from a corner (s).

Look for things in your scene that effortlessly takes your viewer’s eye straight to your intended subject. We’re trying to direct the viewer to a part of our image that is most important in the composition. Think staircase railings, paths and roads in a landscape, bridges and jetties leading off into the distance all make for excellent ways to incorporate leading lines in your shot.

Feel free to think out of the box… Remember leading lines don’t need to be straight. Curving streams, rice paddies and long-exposure car taillight streaks can all look very cool in a shot. Patterns and textures can also form leading lines to take your viewer straight to the action. Just be alive to your surroundings and you’re sure to see leading lines for your next epic shot!

 

52 Frames: Week 16: Lamp!

While we like to focus on the lighting used in photos, we want to include a lamp this week! That means including a lamp IN your photo, not just the suggestion through lighting.

 This simple little device has so many forms – Perhaps you could share a story of your own little reading nook where you enjoy some solitude or showcase a scene where the lamp is the hero of the image.

I had an idea, but in the end I was too lazy to do it. I have done nothing this week, well related to photography that is, I did manage to do this.

I took an easy route, I took a photo of one of the lamps in my entrance, did not even dust of the lamp before the shot, well it does a tell a story of the owner for one. To be honest, I think it has a story in it, a story of a girl sitting and reading under a lamp. That is why my art statue, is placed there and I am rather happy with this one.

Some of the suggestions to guide me were: Maybe you could do your own take on some classic art with chiaroscuro lighting. You could even try to use wabi-sabi concepts to bring out the beauty of a much used object, go for a low-key style with lots of shadow in the shot, or take an HDR shot with multiple exposures to illuminate your composition thoroughly. Don’t just take a snapshot, take a photograph that tells a story.

Was mine just a snapshot?

52 Frames: Week 15: Extreme Closeup!

this week I have been taking close-up shots. Time to get up close and personal with an Extreme Closeup. If you are thinking this is the MACRO challenge, it is NOT. If you go to the dictionary, you’ll find a closeup is  1. a photograph, movie, or video taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale. “a closeup of her face” or 2. an intimate and detailed description or study.

I did the winter worn hydrangea again, as the date on the picture has to be same as the weeks challenge. I took shots of the dry flower I had in in bouquet I had couple weeks back. I also have shots of my cat Tinka, but I have to look them thought and edit.

What can you tell your viewer by pushing in close? 
What do you want to bring attention to?
Try to find an interesting detail or feature – heck, the most mundane of objects can have something striking if you look closely enough. That’s what this challenge is all about – take a moment to look closer and see those details that are often overlooked.

so simply put, move in and fill your frame with your subject.  The idea is to get right into a subject, and have that subject fill the entire frame. You can zoom in with any lens you have, and your feet also make an excellent zoom feature, just walk close to your subject! 

PS. This week like last has been hoping and praying that the snow would melt, but it is happening so SLOW!!!! The southern facing slops are free of snow, but our backyard, come on this has 0-40 cm snow. So not much to spot of the spring wonders that delights me every year…

Details

As I was taking minimalist photos, I took these of some costume jewelry, I don’t know if these really are minimalist, but I like them enough to post them.

Random July 10

Shooting bubbles in a glass. I think the most trying thing to get right was the mixture of dishwasher and oil and obviously the amount of water. This is my first attempt, you might see more of these in the future.

Bubbles 10-10 (1 of 21)

 

June -The water avens

This is  one of the Wild flowers I spotted last weekend, The water avens / Ojakellukka

wild flowers (27 of 33)

How to survive November 2017 – 20

One more day in November to survive, slush in coming down sideways and for sure I have no desire to be out there. At work I have lit the candles and only gone out to go and have my usual Thursday desert at the restaurant nearby. The shitty weather can look good if you crop it small enough 🙂

how to survive (5 of 7)

Monochrome Madness (25) – Devil’s-bit

This is my next (the first photo) entry to  the  Monochrome Madness Challenge (MM) hosted by Leanne Cole and Laura Macky so happy to be able to be part of this talented group!. I have not done a black and white entry of a flower for them for this week( 25), so here is Succisa pratensis, Devil’s-bit or Devil’s-bit Scabious ,…. I think it looks good  in monochrome.

Purjojuuri_Ritva Sillanmäki  (1 of 1)-2

Purhojuuri rs090814 (23 of 51)

Original photo below.  All details can be seen better by clicking at an image to enlarge them.

rs090814 (14 of 51)

  More beautiful photos at Monochrone Madness Tuesday August 19th.

Monochrome Madness (24) – Young boy

This   is my submission to week 24 to the  Monochrome Madness Challenge hosted by Leanne Cole and Laura Macky. I like the expression caught by the camera, my son had just woken up and was in no mood to be photographed. I think it is captured in this shot. I like that is not a posed shot.

Ritva Sillanmäki-6

Original photo below.  All details can be seen better by clicking at an image to enlarge them.

Ritva Sillanmäki-7

  More beautiful photos at Monochrone Madness Tuesday August 12th.

Monochrome Madness (23) – Point Vicente Lighthouse

The top one of these photos is my submission to week 23 to the  Monochrome Madness Challenge hosted by Leanne Cole and Laura Macky.  This light house is from California,  Point Vicente Lighthouse.  I did various versions of this, the original photo is at the bottom of the post.

Ritva Sillanmäki - CA light house (1 of 2)

Ritva Sillanmäki - CA light house (3 of 3) Ritva Sillanmäki - CA light house (2 of 3)

 

Ritva Sillanmäki - CA light house (1 of 3)

Ritva Sillanmäki - CA light house (1 of 1)

 

 

More beautiful photos at Monochrone Madness Tuesday August 5th.