Here are three distinct photographs: a rain-soaked road scene captured with an iPhone showcasing obscured visibility, a decorative ball surrounded by autumn leaves taken with a SONY a7, and frost-covered flora photographed with a SONY SLT-A65V macro lens. The final images in October 2025.
Still showing the beauty of frosty mornings, where nature unveils its delicate artistry. This time, the details of frost on ferns create a mesmerizing sight, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary with intricate patterns that glisten under the soft light. I even did a small poem to enhance the post. The crystalline frost, like nature’s jewelry, adorns each leaf, reminding us of the beauty that often goes unnoticed in the chilly embrace of dawn.
Ferns donning deep brown tones,
Glistening under the gentle morning glow,
An intricate display of fall colors,
Their fragile fronds, a transient charm,
Echoing the waning heat of the season,
Frost veiled, sparkling in the sun,
Nature’s shift, a serene moment of elegance.
This is ruska. (n the Finnish language, this stunning phenomenon that paints northern landscapes in deep and soft tones is called ‘ruska’.
What is ruska?
Ruska comes from the Sami word “ruškat”, and close to the Finnish word ruskea which means brown. This refers to the time of the year when the spectacular natural phenomena of the autumn foliage happen, or when leaves change colors and the trees get ready for winter.
There are two different types of ruska; puuruska and maaruska. In Finnish language, puu means tree, therefore puuruska refers to the leaves of the trees changing to different colors. Maa means land, ground, or soil; so maaruska, when translated to English, means bushes and plants of the ground changing their colors. The maaruska is especially beautiful to see in blueberry bushes at the forest. The colors are very bright and intense, creating the perfect spot for that perfect shot, or most of the time, simply an immeasurable and breathtaking view that a photo can’t even justify.
Typically, ruska starts in the north of Finland in early September and gradually moves southward. By late September to early October, the southern parts of the country, including Helsinki, will be in the full throes of this colorful season.
Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, offers some of the most stunning ruska views. The fells and vast wilderness areas, interspersed with crystal-clear lakes and rivers, provide a perfect backdrop for the red and gold leaves.
I took these last weekend, and since then, this week the colors have intensified spectacularly. Hopefully, the rain and winds of the autumn storm pass swiftly, allowing the beauty of nature to remain mainly undisturbed. I hope for a chance to photograph the stunning fall leaves again in the coming days, capturing the fleeting beauty of the season.
During the past weekend I have been trying to do presentable graphic art, monotype. I have to admit that I did not actually manage to do that. They fall in the category of not good not bad.
Saturday was bleak and grey, No inspiration coming from the weather then, but Sunny Sunday was cold but bright. I took these photos with my cellphone, mobile phone as I would say.
I have posted these for Cellpic Sunday , and One Word Sunday – I was Bright enough to post these together 🙂
it is really hard to be inspired by October today, really, today being a good sample of weather i don’t enjoy. The colors are lovely, but this is the beginning of the time of year that I do not like at all, shorter day, less light, It is what it is.
Time to start cleaning the summer house for winter.
The positive thoughts about it 🙂
October, with its crisp air and vibrant hues, signifies the arrival of autumn in all its splendor. This bewitching month holds a special place in the hearts of many, casting a spell of warmth and nostalgia.
As the days grow shorter and the leaves turn from green to shades of gold, he gentle rustling of fallen leaves underfoot.
Nature, at its finest, paints breathtaking landscapes during this time of year. The forests transform into a picturesque mosaic of fiery reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows. T
October serves as a transition from the vibrancy of summer to the serenity of winter. It beckons us to embrace change, to welcome the cozy comforts that colder days bring. It reminds us to pause, take a deep breath, and appreciate the fleeting beauty that surrounds us.
So, as October unfolds its enchanting charm, let us immerse ourselves in its wonders. Let us revel in the simple joys it bestows and find solace in the gentle embrace of autumn’s embrace.
Since I do post editing on my art, and my photos, I also do several variations of them, so this is great challenge for me to participate in LAPC #220 One Subject Three Ways. These are very similar, but slightly different –by zooming in on the details or stepping back for a wider view. Sorry, there is four images and a header. 🙂
Summer season ended, we closed our summer house for winter on this beautiful October day. The autumn colors are so lovely.
I took a drive on this grey and misty day to barn shop about 40 km away from our house, just to buy some clothes I wanted, not needed. I don’t need anything, that is for sure, but sometimes, something new , warm and soft to lift my spirits is needed. That is what I try to convince myself. I tend to be cold very easily I often have woolen sock on in the summer, well not during a heat wave, but on those normal days.
Update on my purchase, I bought a BIG light beige cardigan and woolen top which was a mixture of a poncho and sweater in light brown. Poncho with sleeves, that what is is. No photos of them, but instead I offer you some road views from the drive.
Time flies and older you get, the quicker it goes in my growing experience. Just now it was September and well month has passed. The days are getting shorter, darkness is slowly beginning to unfold around us ( is that correct way to say it? ) Well anyways, these are the colors of early October at my backyard.
I am going to post these post about two edits so I can try to find out what people like, I might go over the top with some, but as I am trying to learn a new artsy take on some photographs by giving your opinion you are greatly helping me learn a new skill. Please comment I truly appreciate it. I am going to post the favorite one on my FB account.
I went slightly overboard with this one. SORRY!! there are two sets of choices. I could not make up my mind which two to pick 🙂
This is an old country road in Kirkkonummi, I love this old oak tree next to the road. The entryway to the property next door is also inviting. I always admire this view which ever season maybe.
This dock is at Pilvijärvi, a small lake in Kirkkonummi. It looked so nice in the low autumn light on this sunny morning at the end of October.
Lake Pilvijärvi is near where I live, thought I just found it as I was searching for the last signs of Autumn colors. It is a tiny lake with many small dock surrounding it. As I was there I saw one person jogging by so very peaceful. The end of October is so low and soft. Here is my photos of this picturesque place.
An autumn forest is such a place that once entered you never look for the exit!
~ Mehmet Murat ildan
Now Autumn’s fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.
~William Allingham
I had to get out of the house, it felt like the walls are falling on top of me. Covid has so messed up our lives, so many restrictions to what, where and when you can do it. So I have mainly stayed at home as the weather has not been the greatest the past weeks. Now as it is already dark a 5 PM well … need I say more.
Well anyways I got out of the house and we even got few moments of sunshine today and it was warm at this time of the year 14C. I took the car and went for a drive. My first stop was at lake Syväjärvi as I noticed a nice rainbow. What I saw on the front of the rainbow you can see in the next post, stay tuned 🙂
How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.
~ John Burroughs
November’s sky is chill and drear, / November’s leaf is red and sear.
~Sir Walter Scott
it is few days a way from November, the dreariest month of all, dark, wet and cold. So Even the quote is about November and we are still in October, I will take an exception on posting it as is goes with the photos.
These are some of the colors we still have in our backyard at home, orange, yellow, brown and green. In this post it is about Oriental Bittersweet that grows on our fence. What is left on it at the moment is orange color in the form of berries. Earlier in the autumn it was vivid yellow with yellow berries that now at the end of October have turned orange.
I have so many shots from this lake at nearly all hours. I am rather happy how I captured the October colors and hues.
The clear light that belongs to October was making the landscape radiant.
~Florence Bone
O suns and skies and clouds of June, And flowers of June together, Ye cannot rival for one hour October’s bright blue weather.
~Helen Hunt Jackson
As we arrived we had to walk through old woods, and rocky paths. As the wind mostly blows from the sea nearly all the trees lean towards inland. The first part of the walk is rather dark and this area has lots of fallen down spruce trees. They are left in the woods to decay as nature intended so the nature will continue to be as diverse as possible.
On our way to Porkkalanniemi we saw a flock of swans on a field, a local man saw me taking photos and stopped to tell me that they had been there for a week. On our way there we saw three deer’s on the field, but as we drove home there was at least ten of them.
Yesterday was a beautiful day and I visited Porkkalanniemi in Southern Finland and took some photos of the beautiful landscapes we have we have there. So in the coming days I will be posting photos I took there,I hope you enjoy them.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 