harmony – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

This week it is Anne´s turn to host us with a great theme, MOVE YOURSELVES. Photography, to me, is about showing what I see and how I compose it. You need a camera, a willingness to really look, and the freedom to move toward your subject to find the right angle, distance, and light. It is as much about quiet observation as it is about action, taking the time to notice small details and relationships in the scene. In the end, it is always a return to the basics: seeing clearly, moving with intention, and framing the moment in a way that feels true. Anne challenge is all about that.

sysksy sävelet-33 — A close-up of three glossy red wild rose hips nestled among vivid green leaves.

Last week here in Finland, we had miserable weather. Rain, drizzle, low clouds – the day never really got bright. Yet with rain come droplets, and I’m known to show a lot of love toward that subject. On days like this, I slow down and simply watch how the droplets gather on leaves, branches, , each one holding a tiny, upside‑down world inside. The light is soft and diffused, wrapping gently around every surface so that even the smallest bead of water catches a quiet glow instead of a harsh reflection. Gloomy weather also simplifies the scene, removing distractions and letting subtle tones, reflections, and shapes guide the composition.

I found these mushrooms on a tree trunk that is on a path to decay. The photo shows many sheathed woodtufts (Kuehneromyces mutabilis), but telling them apart from the highly poisonous funeral bell (Galerina marginata) requires careful examination of the stem, because the caps look very similar.

The grass was covered in tiny droplets, each one catching the light in a slightly different way. I took my time, just looking—tracing the lines of the blades, noticing how the droplets clustered, how they broke into patterns and rhythms that I felt could become a strong photograph. The way the light slid across the surface, the soft reflections, and the contrast between sharp edges and blurred textures all started to suggest a composition. Because I was working with a macro lens that has no zoom, every change in framing meant that I had to move myself, slowly and deliberately, bending closer and adjusting my position by small increments to fine-tune the focus and preserve the delicate balance of light, texture, and form in the scene.

These were easier to take, as the branches were on eye level. Closer and closer I got… Billard’s bridewort had only this one flower left all the others had turned brown.

sysksy sävelet-68 — Delicate water droplets cling to a green leaf, creating a shimmering macro scene against a softly blurred background.

Check out Anne’s original post and link you post to hers. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts so people can find your challenge entries.

Ann-Christine had us thinking about HARMONY last week, and it reminded us just how deeply we need it in our lives. The challenge inspired so many different and creative ways to express harmony—quiet moments in nature, balanced compositions, gentle colors, and heartfelt stories—and the posts I saw were filled with the calm, connection, and beauty we were hoping for. Thank you to everyone who joined in and shared your unique vision; together, you created a rich, soothing tapestry of images and ideas.

Next week, I’ll be introducing a brand-new challenge, which will go live Saturday October 3rd at noon EST in the USA. Mark your calendars and stop by then to discover what I’ve been planning and how you can join in the fun; I can’t wait to see where our lenses take us next.

Until then, let’s keep exploring, broadening our horizons, and maintaining a positive mindset

You can keep up with all of our challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Beth. Ritva,

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

Ann-Christine has us thinking about HARMONY this week, and do we so need in these times. The quote she ended with is so good that I am sharing it and placing it at the top. She gave us a set of beautiful reference images and a lot of freedom to interpret the theme, with just one condition: seven images should be enough to express our idea of harmony. I experience harmony mainly in nature; I’m not religious, yet I still sense a certain harmony in churches, so I included one photograph from there, knowing many people feel it in that space. And I have to confess I broke the rule and slipped in an extra image, because animals are such a comfort and bring so much harmony into our lives.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony
– Mahatma Gandhi

There are all these elements, but I still feel that there is harmony in colors all muted. A wide coastal landscape is captured at sunset, with the sun glowing through layered clouds above a calm, gently rippling sea. Jagged rocky shoreline and small tidal pools stretch across the middle ground, while sandy paths, dense green shrubs, and tall golden grasses frame the foreground. The warm amber and violet sky creates a tranquil, atmospheric mood,

Ocean waves meet the shore in a steady rhythm, their sound carrying a quiet sense of harmony, don’t you think. Turquoise and deep teal water sweep toward the land in several parallel bands of foaming white surf. The textured swells form delicate, shifting patterns across the scene, while a thin strip of rugged, golden-brown coastal vegetation lines the bottom edge. The cool blue-green tones play against the warmth of the shoreline, creating a seascape that feels both dynamic and peacefully calm

harmony-2 — Turquoise ocean waves churn into white foam along a rugged coastal cliff.

A quiet, fog-shrouded woodland framed by a large eucalyptus tree on the right and sweeping, narrow-leaved branches overhead. Dense white mist obscures the distant trees and softens the muted gray-green landscape, creating a serene, dreamlike atmosphere where every tone feels gently in harmony. In the foreground, a dirt and leaf-covered path leads toward a low chain barrier and metal gate, with small garden beds and a faint red sign emerging through the haze, all held together by the same subdued, balanced color palette. This shot has a soft, atmospheric photographic style that feels calm and deeply cohesive.

harmony-5 — A misty woodland path disappears into the fog beneath towering eucalyptus trees.

I find harmony in the once again softened colors. A solitary broad-canopied tree stands on a sunlit, dry golden-grass hillside beneath a hazy blue sky. A rustic wire fence with dark wooden posts runs across the foreground, while softly layered rocky hills appear in the distant background, evoking a quiet, pastoral countryside.

harmony-7 — A lone tree stands atop a sun-baked golden hillside above a rustic fence and distant mountain.

I’ve always felt that churches hold a kind of quiet harmony, and this richly decorated historic chapel is no exception. Seen through the dark, carved wooden doors, it feels almost like stepping into another time. The colors are warm and a little faded, the vaulted ceiling and arches covered in old frescoes, gilded borders, floral motifs, and painted religious or mythological scenes that seem to whisper their own stories. Patterned marble panels line the walls, cool and solid, while a crystal chandelier glows softly above a small altar and framed painting. Rows of modern black chairs sit neatly on the black-and-cream checkered floor, a simple, contemporary counterpoint to all the Renaissance-style ornament. In this contrast between the ornate and the everyday, I find a strange calm, as if the space is quietly holding every voice, every silence, in balance.

harmony-9 — An ornate historic chapel with frescoed arches, patterned walls, a crystal chandelier, and rows of chairs arranged before the altar.

At my summer house I love the misty night, its quiet, the nature and I are in harmony. In this tranquil landscape photograph, a dense mixed forest lines the edge of a mist-covered meadow as dusk settles in. The treetops create a dark, textured band stretching across the lower middle of the frame, while a soft, pale fog glides over the grass in the foreground. Above it all, the sky shifts from deep gray-blue into a warm, glowing gold at the horizon, wrapping the scene in a serene and atmospheric stillness.

harmony-6 — A misty forest meadow glows beneath a warm golden sunset, creating a serene and atmospheric landscape.

I’m no fan of winter, but I have to admit there’s a strange beauty in the details: the way the snow pulls a white blanket over everything and quiets it all down. Here, a single delicate white flower stands in close-up, its tall stem sprinkled with tiny, frost-like blossoms and fine, crystalline textures that look almost unreal. The bloom stays sharp and clear while the background fades into soft grays, whites, and muted greens, and the whole scene feels cool, wintry, and a little otherworldly.

harmony-10 — A delicate wildflower covered in sparkling frost, set against a softly blurred winter landscape.

Veikka and Tinka, our cats, were in such harmony together; it was so lovely to see. This shows them cuddled together in warm sunlight beside a bright window. In the foreground, Tinka, the dark brown tabby, rests with her eyes closed, while Veikka, the white-and-orange one behind her, gently grooms her, eyes softly shut and pink tongue just visible. In this photo, the soft cream, golden, and brown tones create a peaceful, affectionate mood, and the softly blurred indoor background makes their textured fur and intimate little world feel even more tender and precious.

harmony-11 — Two cats cuddle by the window as one sweetly grooms the other in the warm sunlight.

What a show Beth’s bridge challenge generated last week. Great images you all shared, wonderful bridges from around the world. I hope you will join Ann-Christine’s challenge, this week too. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts so people can find your challenge entries.

Next week, Anne will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in then to find out more about the challenge.

Until then, let’s keep exploring, broadening our horizons, and maintaining a positive mindset

You can keep up with all of our challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Beth. Ritva,

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