These are typical photos we take with our mobiles. I enjoyed a Saturday lunch at a restaurant called Taivaanranta,in the center of Lahti. The meal was delicious; I savored the delicate flavors of the carefully prepared dishes, from the appetizing salad bar to the delectable main course and the tempting dessert. A charming decor, with its cozy ambiance makes the occasion more delightful. A big plus was the impeccable service – the staff was not only attentive but also incredibly friendly, making the lunch a delightful treat on a rainy September day.
My last photos are from the concert Hall where the Orchestra played a part of Sibelius Karelia Suite.
Most of the photos in this series are in Monochrome, capturing the essence and mood of the scene in a timeless black and white aesthetic. As you scroll through the collection, you’ll notice that amidst the artistic monochrome compositions, there is a solitary color photo strategically placed. This serves as a captivating contrast, a glimpse of vivid reality in an otherwise grayscale narrative. The deliberate inclusion of this color photograph is a nod to the diverse and multi-faceted nature of the experience I’m sharing. Reflecting on the captivating imagery, I found that the music shots particularly stood out in Monochrome. There’s a grandeur and timelessness to them, evoking a sense of history and significance. Do you share this perspective?
Additionally, I’ve complemented the visual story with two brief yet impactful videos capturing the music in motion. These videos serve as an immersive extension, bringing the rhythmic melodies and vibrant energy to life, inviting you to experience the music in a new dimension. They can be found at the conclusion of this post, inviting you to immerse yourself further in the ambiance and emotion of the moment.
SevenforSeptember. One of my fillings had come off, but I was fortunate enough to secure an appointment at the dentist for the same evening. It relieved me to know that the issue would be resolved promptly. Someone else was waiting behind the dentist’s door when I came out – the cleaning lady, who was diligently preparing the office for the following day. I had been the last patient of the day,. When I left the office at 19:35, the vibrant hues of the setting sun painted the sky.
As I was aiming for 7, the waiting area was empty. I leisurely took a seat and took these photos, at 19;01 hoping to distract myself from the impending dental appointment. . To my surprise, the dental team efficiently attended to the task on time, alleviating my worries. Despite my deep-seated fear of dental visits, I was happy with the prompt and efficient treatment. Childhood traumas and fears of the dentist always cloud my visits, but I am the only one facing these anxieties.
I posted these beautiful garden cosmos flowers yesterday on Instagram, but I realized I haven’t shared them here yet, so here we are. The garden cosmos, also known as Mexican aster or cosmea, belongs to the species Cosmos bipinnatus, and it never fails to captivate with its delicate charm. Each petal of this dainty flower reflects a pure, pristine white, and simplicity. Its slender stems and feathery foliage gracefully complement the blooms.
SevenforSeptember. I took this yesterday evening at 18:51, just before seven, but what can you do, it was not staged 🙂 after having coffee with our neighbour. The sun light was soft golden hues. Their 7 year old first grader caught my eye as she climbed a tree, her vibrant energy filling the air. To my surprise, her curious cat followed suit, making for a charming sight – a pretty girl and her feline friend perched in the branches, the embodiment of childhood adventure and companionship.
SevenforSeptember. I have been looking at posts for this challenge, but time has set limits past week. So I am now posting something I took yesterday on the 7th, after enjoying the warmth of the sauna, I was cooling down on the patio. The sun coming down on a low angle at 19:19. The soft glow of the setting sun cast a warm hue over the view I was watching. As the gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves, I couldn’t help but appreciate the tranquility of the moment.
Common Object. That is the challenge. Taking the mundane and shining a different light on it. Highlighting an object or scene that we normally pass by without notice, and making it something special. This process allows us to appreciate the beauty and significance of everyday things that often go overlooked. By giving attention to these ordinary elements, we can find inspiration and joy in the simple moments of life.
Laundry hanger – inspiring? I thought so.
Think about all the common objects you can see around you right this moment – a bottle, socks, a pen, eggs, coffee mugs, perfume vapor, cell phone – the list of subjects you have this week are endless.
Now the challenge is to simply make the ordinary look extraordinary, or at least photographed well. I am concentrating on the latter. You could try focusing on a particular detail or texture. For example, zoom in on the intricacies of a old locker , the rough texture of an old tool, or the delicate patterns in a piece of fabric. Alternatively, you could show how you integrate the ordinary object into your daily routine, providing a glimpse into its significance and relevance in your life.
Perhaps you can capture the moment when a mundane item takes on an unexpected, almost magical quality. Share a story about how something seemingly ordinary has become an indispensable and valuable part of your day, illustrating its significance through personal anecdotes and experiences. When it comes to composition, consider the placement and arrangement of elements in the frame to convey depth, emotion, and meaning. Play with lighting, angles, and perspective to create a visually compelling narrative that captivates the viewer’s imagination. The creative possibilities are endless, and I am eagerly anticipating to be amazed and to gain a new perspective on the everyday through your unique lens.
Start at the very beginning – pick an object that speaks to you – whether it’s your car keys that you pick up everyday, or the chef’s knife you use to prep dinner. Pick something that you’d like to share with the rest of us.
These I chose are from my summer house kitchen- not used anymore but inspired me enough to take the time to arrange a still life.
Arrange things how you want them – the great thing about common objects is that you can arrange them as you see fit; you’re not restricted by an inability to pick things up and move them around.
The overall look and feel of the colors in an image evoke different senses and emotions – do pay attention to the composition of colors and overall tones in your image, in terms of being complementary or adding contrast.
This is all about the visual weight that you’re assigning to things in your composed shot – obviously, larger objects that fill the frame are meant to hold the viewer’s attention the most. Certain items can add nuance and help balance a frame without taking away from the main subject.
Shadow play with everyday objects, sitting on a sofa you can be inspired by the blinds. In a restaurant I found the lampshade interesting. Or a stack of glasses on a table.
Shapes and reflections
My heartfelt thanks to Anne for her outstanding curation of last week’s Shorelines challenge. The sheer diversity and enchanting beauty of the shorelines showcased truly resonated with me, reaffirming the eternal allure of these natural wonders. I hope you eagerly anticipate the upcoming week, when Egídio will have the distinct pleasure of guiding our focus towards a new subject matter. I encourage you to join us for another new challenge. Until then, let your spirits soar and embrace the week with an abundance of smiles!
For those seeking additional details on how to participate in our engaging challenges, please click here.
This is such a challenge – well no challenge at all. I have so many shorelines from this summer that I am having trouble deciding what to post. Do I limit to one days worth of photos or from several ??? My week has been a roller-coaster of emotions to birthdays and a funeral and work on top of it. I started this post a week ago, and here I am next Saturday, still working on it. I wanted to post some of my new photos from Hailuoto, but me being me, well I do need to edit them first, but with all the all the things happening this week, here I am. Anne, I did get it done, I love this theme.
I am going to share some photos from our lake cruise through the three lakes, between the cities of Lahti – Heinola in Finland. We have for several year thought about doing this, but never got around to doing, but this summer we did.
Here are some shorelines of these three lakes; Vesijärvi is a lake of 111 square kilometres (43 sq mi) near Lahti in southern Finland. The city of Lahti is connected to Päijänne through Lake Vesijärvi and Vääksy canal. Lake Päijänne is the second largest lake in Finland (1,080 km2 (266,874 acres)). The lake drains into the Gulf of Finland via the Kymi River. And through lake Päijänne you reach Lake Ruotsalainen which is medium-sized lake in the Kymijoki main catchment area. it is located in Päijät-Häme, near the town Heinola.
I also love the seaside as you might know. Last weekend I visited Hailuoto for the second time.
Just to give a little information; Hailuoto is an island in Northern Ostrobothnia. It is the third largest island in Finland, known for its beautiful nature, sandy beaches and bird watching opportunities.
A small, close-knit community of about 1,000 inhabitants lives on the island, and you can get there by ferry from Oulu. We drove there with my. son and two grandsons. The day was gray, windless. We were lucky no rain
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Lighthouse
The Marjaniemi lighthouse reaches majestically into the sky. Its pale brick walls reflect bright sunlight. When I touch a building, I feel its strong foundation. Historical stories whisper in my ears.
This lighthouse has been seen as a symbol of Hailuoto since the end of the 19th century. The design of Finland’s leading architect Axel Hampus Dahlström was built and finally put into use in 1872. Since then, it has been an unusual aid to shipping.
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“From the appearance of the lighthouse, you can immediately see where Dahlström has taken his impressions,” guide points out. ” Italian architecture has had a great influence.” I would have not known this immediately 🙂
The lighthouse happens to have a so-called “Italy window”, which has been used to send signals to the sea through colors. The fact that the colors are the same as the Italian flag is just a funny coincidence. The real Italian atmosphere is created by the architecture.
The colors of the lighthouse
On the west side of the island, the low tide revealed a fascinating landscape of rocks and vibrant green grass, creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of a multi-hued sky. The ever-changing sky displayed an array of gray tones, each one offering a unique charm when observed from different directions. Despite the shifting shades, the beauty of the scenery remained constant, providing a moody landscape. As we appreciated the enchanting surroundings, our grandkids gleefully immersed themselves in the cool waters of the Baltic sea, huge enjoying themselves.
The harbour had only few boats there at this time.
On the eastern side of the island, the shore stretched out into a beautiful expanse of grassy knolls and swaying reeds, with fields extending as far as the eye could see. The gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and sea, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere. The old dock was only a pile of rocks, worn down by years of relentless waves and weather. Despite its dilapidated state, it still held a certain charm, a reminder of times long gone . Over time, nature had reclaimed much of the area, with wildflowers blooming between the cracks in the stone, and seagulls nesting in the crevices. It was a place where the past and present intertwined, each telling a story of the island’s rich history.
Leaving the island this was the last photo I took. The wind turbine dominated the scene.
wind turbine at Hailuoto
Last week, John’s Cool Colors inspired us! it was great to see your beautiful interpretations of this theme even if I did not comment on them. Thank you, John, for hosting such a beautiful challenge.
This week Anne has a lovely challenge, that has unfortunately has inspired beutiful posts, but due to lack of time I have just looked at them, but no comments. Sorry for that. But life happens…
What’s up later today? It is my turn to lead us, so please visit my blog later today, Saturday 7th September. Until then, take care and and keep on smiling! I will make sure I comment on all posts linked to my blog no matter what.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
the windows frame the view beautifully. The gentle sway of the trees outside provides a soothing soundtrack, completing the tranquil ambiance that the windows so perfectly capture.
You can sense the changing season in the air, as the days grow shorter and the nights longer. The warmth of the sun feels different somehow, as its angle changes in the sky and its rays become more gentle. The sun is lower, casting long, golden shadows that stretch across the landscape. The earth’s scent is changing too, as the fallen leaves begin to decompose and release a subtle, earthy fragrance. Can you feel it in the crisp breeze that carries the promise of autumn?
Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness flowers are beautiful, captivating in both their natural, colorful state and the elegant monochrome interpretations. As I have immersed myself in the process of searching for photos, I found myself drawn deeper into the intricate details and unique characteristics of various flowers. From vibrant roses to delicate lilies, each bloom tells a story of resilience and beauty. It’s truly fascinating how the monochrome concept brings forth a fresh perspective on these natural wonders, allowing us to appreciate their forms and textures in a new light. So, in keeping with this theme, I am continuing exploring and capturing the timeless allure of flowers through monochrome photography.
Vibrant Summer Flowers, A Delight for the Eyes. The black-eyed Susan, captured for Cee’s Flower of the Day, exude a sense of joy and vibrancy. As we immerse ourselves in the warmth of the summer season, the array of colors and textures found in these blooms invites us to take a moment to appreciate the wonders of flowers.
I’ve always enjoyed a walk in a garden, camera on hand. What’s in a garden ? a state of mind? I have noticed when I visit a garden I tend to focus on details instead of the whole view of the garden.
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. ~Luther Burbank
Now, the photos can speak for themselves – no words needed.
And in my garden I find this to be true: A good garden may have some weeds. ~Thomas Fuller
Vancouver island garden -The Butchart Gardens
Chinese friendship garden in Sydney
Rose gardens in Vancouver and Portland ,Seattle
Thank you, Ann-Christine, for hosting this challenge have a look at her wonderful site and join us. Remember to link back to her original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can find you.
Last week Patti left us cross-eyed in a fantastic challenge of Zigzags. I loved how many ways we could look at this theme.
Next week is Sofia’s to host so I invite you to drop by her blog on Saturday 17th August and see what she is up to. Until then, keep on smiling.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
This week, the Lens-Artists team returns from our July break. A huge thank you to our three very talented guest hosts–Leanne Cole, Elizabeth Jensen and PR–who led the challenges in our absence and provided wonderfully inspiring and creative themes along with their beautiful photos.
This weeks challenge is hosted by P.A. Moed Creative Exploration in Words and Pictures, Patti. has created a challenge that has had me little bit desperate, do I have anything for this week.
ZIGZAG. I had to dive deep into my archives for this one, and came up with hardly nothing related to this topic. It seems that the photos I’m looking for is buried beneath layers of forgotten files. I’ve spent some time sifting through these archives, hoping to unearth some suitable one’s.
This road sign – destination as me in always in zigzag.
this road in Valley of Fire, Nevada has the markings of a zigzag.
What a relief, bridge frames 🙂 here to save me. First two from Australia, the other three from USA
A maze in Hua Hin in Thailand, not a great photo, but it is a zigzag.
Be sure your post includes the “Lens-Artists” tag and a link to Patti’s challenge post.
Next week, Ann-Christine will take the lead for LAC #311, so be sure to visit Leya next Saturday at noon EDT. You can be sure to find inspiration photos there.. Until then, keep smiling.
Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenges? Click here for more information…..
Oh, nature sometimes provides surprises.
Lakeshores at Vesijärvi, Lahti The sky and water created lovely patterns resembling zigzag.
Framed view from a Cafe in Mankala, Iitti. The Brita cake alone made the drive there worth it. So delicious. The picturesque surroundings, the warm, inviting atmosphere of the cafe enhanced the visit, making it a delightful escape.
For John’s Cellpic Sunday. I took these with a mobile phone
Recipe ingredients 12 servings The bottom of Brita cake 125 g margarine or butter (80% fat) 1 DL sugar 3 yolk 1 ½ dl wheat flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 DL low-fat milk On top of Britankaku 3 of egg protein 1 ½ dl sugar Brita cake filling 3 dl whipped cream 2 tbsp sugar 2 tsp vanilla sugar 200 g raspberries To decorate Britankaku 3 dl raspberries and blueberries ½ dl lemon balm or mint leaves
Brita cake – instructions: Beat the fat and sugar. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Combine wheat flour and baking powder. Mix them into the dough alternately with the milk. Grease the baking paper. Spread the dough over it in a sheet the size of a baking pan. Wash and dry the beaters. Whip the egg whites until stiff and gradually beat in the sugar. When the mixture is stiff and shiny, spread it over the base dough. (If you want, add almond flakes on top.) Bake the brita cake in the oven at 175 degrees for 20-30 minutes until the meringue is beautifully light brown. Let it cool. Whip the cream until foamy and season with sugar and vanilla sugar. Halve the cooled cake plate. Place the other half on a serving platter. Spread the whipped cream and raspberries on top. Place the second cake plate on top. Decorate the brita cake with raspberries and blueberries and lemon balm or mint leaves. Tips! Britakaku combines a thick cake base and a light meringue. The crunchy base tastes suitably almondy and toasted. Part of the cake’s charm is its carefree appearance. Spread the meringue dough with a clean spatula. If fatty cake batter is mixed with the meringue batter, the foam may settle. A traditional brita is usually made on a baking sheet, cut into two parts and filled with whipped cream and fresh raspberries, strawberries or other summer berries. If you use frozen raspberries, choose Finnish ones and use them plump. Thawed frozen raspberries color the filling and crumble. Vary the brita cake filling according to your taste. As an addition to the whipped cream, you can use cream cheese or curd, you can replace the raspberries with other berries or fruits. You can put, for example, cherries, lingonberries, strawberries or rhubarb between Britakaku. Also try the wonderful apple brita, chocolate brita and charming Christmas brita! You can bake the bottom of Britakaku the day before, but you should only fill the cake right before serving. This keeps the meringue crispy.
Photos taken at Pulkkilanharju by the lake Päijänne.
Pulkkilanharju, which serves as the southeast gateway to the National park, is a truly captivating natural wonder that beckons visitors with its stunning vistas. The highest point on the island offers panoramic views over Lake Päijänne’s largest expanse, Tehinselkä, creating a mesmerizing sight that never fails to leave a lasting impression on all who behold it.
As for Lake Päijänne itself, it is truly a marvel of nature. Spanning an area of approximately 23,204 hectares, or 232 square kilometers, this vast expanse is dotted with around 2,690 picturesque islands, each adding to the lake’s allure. The remarkable expanse of Päijänne forms part of the Kymijoki watershed and ranks as Finland’s deepest lake, with an astounding maximum depth of 95 meters. Furthermore, the lake boasts an extensive coastline that stretches for 2,200 kilometers, showcasing the stunning natural beauty and providing ample opportunities for exploration and recreation.
Päijänne’s status as the second largest lake in Finland only adds to its significance, drawing in locals and tourists alike to marvel at the awe-inspiring splendor of this natural gem. Whether it’s the tranquil shores, the diverse flora and fauna, or the potential for water-based activities, Lake Päijänne stands as a testament to the incomparable beauty of the Finnish landscape.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 