editing – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Lens-artists challenge#385 – unusual crop

What an Unusual Crop! No, I cannot do this; it’s too hard. No, it’s not. Give it a try, be bold, be creative. You can do it. Exceed yourself, like they say in the Olympics.

Cropping stands as one of the most potent yet frequently underutilized compositional elements in photography. This week, we encourage you to deliberately defy traditional framing conventions. Consider slicing off parts of your subject or positioning it at the far edge of your shot. You might even depict only a hint of an object or an intriguing shadow or reflection. Unconventional crop photography often employs tight, asymmetrical framing techniques—like truncating limbs, using extreme close-ups, or positioning subjects right at the frame’s border—to evoke mystery, abstraction, and artistic tension. Approaches include using a 1:1 aspect ratio to hone in on specific details, employing diagonal lines in your compositions, or leveraging negative space to highlight elements such as the intricate surface of a leaf.

A vibrant market scene showcasing women in traditional attire amidst goods, highlighting the rich cultural tapestry of local life.

In-Camera Versus Editing: Although many unique crops are achieved through post-processing, capturing these moments in-camera encourages more intentional and artistically satisfying results. When deploying these techniques, be mindful to avoid cropping at joints, as this can give the impression of amputation. Instead, aim for narrower points like mid-thigh or forearm for a flattering yet bold appearance.

Experiment with framing as a narrative device by illustrating the story of what’s absent; consider capturing a hand reaching into the frame or a smiling mouth peeking from the corner, or even a bicycle wheel without the bike itself. Crop closely for an intimate feel or employ an off-center approach for added intrigue. Think like a graphic designer—make your images striking, graphic, and unexpected.

A close-up view of a window frame reflecting green foliage, illustrating unconventional cropping and negative space in photography.

Notable techniques for unconventional cropping involve:

Disrupting the Subject: Intentionally cutting through heads, hands, or limbs in portraits creates a dynamic composition rather than a conventional one.

A close-up of a person in deep thought, with hands framing their face, illustrating the emotional intensity of unconventional cropping.

Detail-Oriented Macro Shots: Extreme cropping can accentuate textures, lines, and shapes, transforming everyday objects into pieces of abstract art.

Overriding the “Rule of Thirds”: Position subjects at the frame’s extremes or allow them to extend beyond the edges entirely.

Close-up of a weaving loom showcasing intricate details and textures, emphasizing the artistry of craftsmanship.

Utilizing Negative Space: Generating significant areas of emptiness can convey minimalism or create striking tension.

Silhouetted figures walking along a stone wall against a vibrant pastel sky, embodying the essence of unconventional cropping in photography.

TIPS: Frame With Purpose: Make deliberate cuts through heads, hands, or objects; a bold crop can ignite curiosity. Strategic Use of Space: Marry tight framing with negative space to establish either tension or tranquility based on your subject matter.

Instill Mystery: Leave out enough to provoke viewers’ imaginations about what lies beyond the visible.

Emphasize Textures or Shapes: Get close to highlight features like contours, lines, or surfaces that might typically go unnoticed.

An artistic arrangement of colorful glass candle holders with a blurred festive background.

Imply Wholeness: Showcase just part of your subject, encouraging viewers to engage their imaginations.

Use the Frame Purposefully: Position your subject near the edge or let it extend beyond the frame to create dynamic imagery.

A close-up portrait of a young girl smiling, captured in a black and white aesthetic to emphasize her natural beauty and using the framing to the edge.

Disrupt Visual Norms: Surprise audiences by presenting familiar subjects in unusual manners—making them appear strange or abstract.

Consider the Crop During Shooting: Approach cropping not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of your initial composition strategy.

Close-up shot highlighting the intricate lines and curves of overlapping metallic objects, evoking a sense of abstract art.

Last week, Beth introduced us to a theme that truly astonished us. The world brims with wonders, whether they’re grand or subtle, close by or distant, and this was vividly showcased in the photos we all shared.

I hope you will join in for this week’s challenge. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to my post. And Happy Valentines day to you all! Hope you have a lovely day. ❤️💙💚💛🧡💜💞❣️

Make sure to return on Saturday, February 21, at noon Eastern Time for an exciting new challenge from Patti at Pilotfishblog. I hope you’ll be there to join us! In the meantime, let’s keep exploring, broadening our horizons, and maintaining a positive mindset ❤️

We are the Lens-Artists: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Beth, and myself Ritva.

To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge in February

Photography

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge in February

I do get carried away when I do these edits; I am sorry about that. Your option is to look at only three 😁, but I just happened to create six versions because I had so many ideas swirling in my head. I was also thinking of posting them as a gallery, as at least on my computer when I look at galleries, I find that I see more details as they open up, allowing me to appreciate the nuances in each piece more thoroughly. The way the images transition really captures my attention and draws me in. So, I did both to give you a variety of choices; how do you see them, and which style do you prefer? I would love to hear your thoughts, as your feedback is invaluable to me.

A serene view of a bay with colorful fishing boats and a quiet shoreline, framed by lush greenery. **The original image.**

Orange and turquoise tones as a painting

More towards greys and muted tones more event texture

Painting -brush splatters, slightly blue tones

Wll muted orange, turquoise and more contrast

A moody black and white photograph of boats docked at a waterfront, surrounded by lush trees and a cloudy sky.

Floral Photography- One-to-Three Challenge

Flowers, Photography

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge: September 2025

What can I say, I am not good at following orders and tend to over share photos quite often, which reflects my creative side and love for editing. So, instead of limiting myself to just three, I chose to do five, as I was having so much fun while processing them. Each photo has different colors or at least tones. I wanted to express my artistic vision through a greater number of images. The beauty of flower bouquet that can give everyday life a bit of joy. All adjustments were done in Lightroom

Close-up of delicate purple flowers against a softly blurred background – original , no edits

Click on the images to check them out up close and really soak in the details. I had some fun playing with colors and cropping the pics to make them look more appealing, making certain elements pop while keeping everything looking good together. Each tweak is all about grabbing your attention and getting you to take a closer look at the photo’s little details, making sure every shade and curve stands out just right. Did I succeed?

The editing – One-to-Three

Flowers

Shooting in Raw allows you to play with the editing and colors as far as your imagination lets you, which opens up a world of creative possibilities. In this process, I decided to not push it too far, as I wanted to maintain a balance between enhancing the images and keeping them hopefully stylish and in the mood to the original scene. That said, I did have a lot of fun experimenting with different adjustments and settings. All but the last image were edited in Lightroom, where I utilized its tools to refine the tones and improve the overall look. For the final piece, I opted to use Photoshop, which provided me with greater control over fine details and allowed for more intricate manipulation to achieve the idea I had in mind.

A bouquet of flowers showcasing vibrant colors alongside black and white elements.

One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge: August 2025

Lens-Artists Challenge #358 – Live and Learn

Landscapes, lens-artists, Nature, Traveling British Columbia, CA

Many thanks to Tina for this challenge Lens-Artists #358 – Live and Learn. The first quote she posted was “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Ben Franklin . I can relate to that. I was a lazy student in school, I hardly never read for homework at home, I quickly did it by memory of what i heard in the class. I was a student who told other to shut up, so I could listen what the teacher taught. I did OK with this technique of study.

Capilano Suspension Bridge 2013 and 2025 versions

Well, photography – I looked at other photographers’ images and learned from paintings about composition, as art was my first love. Composition is the key to my images. For years, I didn’t edit any of my photos. I started blogging in 2011, but it was only in 2013 when I started to edit with free editing programs. Mostly, I did cropping and exposure and contrast adjustments. I got my first version of Lightroom in 2016, and I bought some presets – I opened them to see what they kept in them, and that is how I started to learn how to use the program. I never was a guidebook reader. Trial and error, that is the way to go.

Different styles I picked up on the way, bokeh, macro, close-ups, black and white edits… You get the idea.

At this point, I had learned a few more things about the camera settings, and I started following a few photographers, watching them showcase all the new improvements that Lightroom offered.

A monochrome close-up of various flowers, illustrating the beauty of floral composition in photography.

I found myself fascinated by the way they meticulously adjusted each setting to create stunning visuals that spoke to their unique vision. How they used these tools effectively inspired me deeply, and I copied them, adjusting their techniques to suit my own style. With each photo I took, I experimented with different approaches, trying to find that sweet spot where technical skill met personal expression. I was very taken when someone told me they could recognize my photos from their style. It was a moment of pride for me because it meant I was starting to carve out my own niche in the photography world. I was so flattered and encouraged to keep pursuing this passion.

I chose these photos I searched for photos from the earlier years. I redid the post as It was a disaster in so many levels to start with and reposted it. The photos weren’t the worst, but I realized I could show much more depth and tones by revisiting the editing process with these three new versions. Each edit allowed me to experiment with different filters and adjustments, bringing out the vibrant colors and intricate details in a way that truly showcases the beauty I initially hoped to express. As for the flowers photo I took this week, i soft petals and rich colors that evoke warmth and happiness, reminding me of the fleeting essence of summer and the joy it brings. Even in monochrome, yes?, No?

Last week Egidio took us Into the Woods for some Forest Bathing. It is obvious that Forest are great inspiration to many of us. Be sure to check back on Saturday, August 2 at noon Eastern Time when John will be hosting our next challenge.

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Exploring Artistic Variations of a South Australian Landscape

Landscapes, Nature, Photography, Traveling Australia

I played with this image of a gnarled tree on the hills in South Australia, capturing the rugged beauty and unique character of the landscape. The first photo is the edited original, which tell a story of resilience against the elements. Following this are three distinct color variations; one is a monochrome that emphasizes the stark contrasts and shadows, allowing the viewer to focus on the shape and form of the tree, while the others offer vibrant hues that breathe life into the scene, both highlighting different aspects of the surrounding environment. Or just having fun with artistic liberties 🙂

This is my contrubution for One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge: April 2025

Minimalist take on Birds and Trees

animals, Captures from Finland, Photography

I was watching birds flying around on a cold day, and they kept returning to this tree, which stood majestically against the winter sky. The branches were covered with snow, creating a beautiful contrast with the winter colors of the birds as they flittered about. The tree was so far away that I was not able to get a good shot, which left me feeling a bit frustrated. Despite the distance, I did my best to capture the colors and clarity to a presentable level, but the quality was not quite on par with the stunning visuals I had hoped for.

Then I started playing with the Lightroom editing, experimenting with various effects, I did not use filters, and I ended up with these unexpected results that brought new life to my photos. I rather like them, as they reflect not just the scene but also the mood of that chilly day and the serene beauty of nature in a very minimalist way and monotone colors.

I see light in the tunnel

Captures from Finland, Cities

Found this old photo of us driving in the tunnel, it was not a great shot , but I liked something about it, decided to, do some editing and after that I thought it looked rather nice. So here it is, for no other reason than that.

5 Ways to Reimagine One Photo

Landscapes, Photography, Travel

One Image 4 Ways – I saw this topic in one of Leanne’s posts and I love editing, as it allows for endless creativity and expression. For this particular challenge, I thought I would do more than just a few little tweaks to the image, aiming to truly explore the depth and versatility of a single photograph. But hey, I got carried away, so I ended up creating more than five variations, even though I ultimately decided to just post five . (click to enlarge images)

Each edit showcases a different approach, demonstrating how even minor adjustments can dramatically alter the mood and impact of the original image.

A version with changes sky and darker tone, and one with limited color palette and more intense sky.

It is incredibly fun to see what you can do with an image, and I hope my interpretations inspire others to experiment with their own photographs in creative ways.

Original sky and three color versions

Lens-Artists Challenge #294 – Before and After

lens-artists, Photography

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.

Hydrangea Edits

Flowers, Nature

The delicate beauty of hydrangea petals as they slowly deteriorate during the winter months is truly captivating. The intricate lace-like patterns that emerge from this natural process are a testament to the mesmerizing transformation that nature undergoes throughout the seasons. It’s truly remarkable how something as fleeting as the delicate decay of flower petals can create such a stunning visual display.

I love trying to bring it out details in my edits. If you are not familiar me as a photographer, I love the editing process. The framing of the subject and capturing the mood and details. Mostly, I do my best to stay true to the subject, just to enhance it a bit. Sometimes, well quite often I take artistic liberty when editing. I often convert the images to black and white as I find it it brings the essential part to focus. Or I play with the tone of the photos. Both styles shown in this post.

The last two images are true to what I saw. The last image is the original RAW shot, no edits. Above it is a a cropped and slightly edited version and on the top you see how I played with the image.

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

What a square ⬜ Solitude Amidst Urban Greenery

Cities, Photography

I don’t often crop my photos to square, but since I did one, why not try few more just for the fun of it. It does sometimes bring different things to the main focus.

From an aerial vantage point, we peer down onto a nondescript sidewalk. The pavement, a patchwork of square tiles, stretches ahead like a monochromatic ribbon. But it’s not the pavement that captures our attention; it’s the lone figure treading upon it. A person walks, the posture suggests introspection—a deliberate escape from the cacophony of urban life or just maybe she is lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to the world around her .

On either side of the sidewalk, lush trees stand sentinel. Their leaves form a natural canopy, filtering sunlight into dappled patterns. Their branches reach out, as if urging the wanderer to pause, to breathe, to listen. Adjacent to the trees, empty bicycle racks stand in orderly rows. They wait patiently, like forgotten companions, for riders who haven’t arrived. Numbers—cryptic symbols—adorn the road. “20” and “20.” Are they parking spots? Coordinates? We can only speculate. Yet, these markings lend an air of mystery, inviting us to unravel their meaning.

Have a I captured this fleeting moment, preserving it for eternity, a glimpse of quietude.

In this shot you are invited to step into the wanderer’s shoes. To feel the coolness of the pavement, the rustle of leaves, and the weight of our own thoughts. It’s a reminder that amidst the hustle, we can find stillness; in the ordinary, we discover the extraordinary.

So, take a breath. Walk alongside the solitary figure. Let the greenery envelop you. And in this urban reverie, find your own moment of reflection.

Remember: Sometimes, it’s in the spaces between footsteps that life speaks loudest.

The scene unfolds like a forgotten interlude—a pause in the symphony of urban life. The buildings, stoic and weathered, stand shoulder to shoulder, their walls bearing the marks of time. The beige structure, unassuming yet dignified, seems to lean slightly, as if sharing a secret with its crimson neighbor. And there, nestled between them, lies the narrow street—a silent conduit for wheels and footsteps.

The cars, like obedient sentinels, rest in neat rows. Their colors—pearl white, midnight black—mirror the monochrome palette of the pavement.

And then, the trees. Ah, the trees! their branches stretch upward, defiant against the rigid geometry of man-made structures. Leaves flutter in the breeze, casting fleeting shadows on the asphalt. No bustling crowds disturb this tableau. Only one’s hurried footsteps echo off the walls.

Amidst the beige and the red, the cars and the trees, we glimpse the poetry of stillness.

What a square ⬜ Need A drink?

Cities, Photography

I don’t often crop my photos to square, but since I did one, why not try few more just for the fun of it. It does sometimes bring different things to the main focus.

For some reason I have lots of window shots newly edited, due to having gone through the archives lately looking for forgotten gems . This looked good as a square, a view to a bar. As I played with it I did two edits and I prefer the one on the top with the faded colors and haze finnish.

I do like editing and see if can capture mood I was in when I took the shot. Mellow maybe?

Green Leaves

Flowers, Photography

This is the original with added contrast and clarity

below you see the ones I used stronger editing to create different mood and colors. I find this fun and a learning experience. More “Art Photography” like.

I am cultivating my editing skills, trying to create different atmospheres with one photo.

The first one is the original with slight edits in contrast, clarity and vibrancy and exposure. This was already a macro so did not need to crop it.

Photo of a photo

Photography

I took this photo of a photo at SkyPoint (formerly Q1 Observation Deck and QDeck) at the top of the Q1 on the Gold Coast, Australia. I liked the photo and now I’ve played with it, practicing my editing skills, as I think is a great shot.

Firefighters

People

I saw these firefighters practice in full gear, running up stairs, climbing ladders, ans carrying the victim those stairs. It looked exhausting in the +35 Celsius heat. And the situation in real situation…

I had it easier I took a photos. I edited them all slightly differently, any thoughts?

I have been following the fires in Australia as two of my cousins have been effected by them very closely. So these are relevant in that sense that you have to be prepared at all time.Keep up the skills and fitness.