In my monochrome photographs, I strive to capture the essence of icy water tumbling over rocks during winter. There’s a certain vibrancy in the flow of the partially frozen water that contrasts beautifully with the serene stillness of the surrounding landscape. This juxtaposition between the rushing water and the frigid scene creates a captivating portrayal of nature’s elegance in the chilly air, allowing me to highlight the delicate features of both the water and its environment.
This morning I started to look for photos of doors, Now it’s 5 PM, and I found myself completely immersed in editing photos from years back, particularly from my visits to the Espoo Cathedral, which is currently closed for renovations but is expected to be back in use by 2027. The intricate architecture and historical significance of this beautiful structure captivate me, making the editing process both a nostalgic experience. I will post those sorted photos soon.
These are not from there. These are from the interior of Hvitträsk, just a small detail from a children’s room that truly captures the essence of early 20th-century design. I love the design of this child’s bed made of wood, crafted in 1905 by the renowned designer Eliel Saarinen. The bed showcases a thoughtful blend of functionality and artistry, ensuring comfort for the child while also serving as a beautiful piece of furniture.
Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors
The numerous mills in the rapids of the lakes on the northern side of the Salpausselkä in Nastola have been significant since the 16th century, and the current building stock forms cohesive and temporally as well as functionally layered entities in picturesque locations. The mills in the rapids represent early industrial buildings, to which the residences of the millers have also been connected.
The Kumian mills are located by the shore of Lake Salajärvi at a place where a river divides the narrow isthmus between Lake Salajärvi and Isokukkanen. The older wooden mill building dates back to the 1890s, while the tall flour mill building is from the 1930s.
The Kumian flour mill was designed in 1933 at the East Häme agricultural society. Later, similar tall flour mills were built, either as electric or steam mills. The mill became the most popular in Nastola and the nearby municipalities, significantly contributing to the spread of wheat cultivation in the area. A groats mill and a shaving planing machine operated in connection with the mill. Milling activities ceased in 1964.
This week’s theme, “Markets” in Monochrome Madness comes to us from Sarah and her blog, Travel With Me.
I haven’t been to markets recently, and so I am relieved to say the colorful Goa market provided me with loads of images to work with. The vibrant atmosphere, filled with vendors and chatter, made the experience memorable. As the people in India dress colorfully and the fruits and flowers at the marketplace offer many different colors, just converting to B/W was not an option. Each photograph presented a unique palette, with bright fabrics and eye-catching arrangements that seemed to come alive under the warm sun so to be able to bring them all present in the images, well, it required a bit of editing to get the results I am happy enough to be able to share them with you.
The array of bright fabrics, fruits, and flowers necessitated careful editing to preserve the essence of the original colors. I hope the monochrome images of daily life in the bustling market capture this richness despite transitioning to black-and-white photography.
It’s this time of the year here participating in The Flower Hour 13.01.26
The topic for this week’s One Word Sunday is Forward
This week it’s Anne’s turn to host, and for that, I took an outing to Helsinki. Well, that is partially true. We went to buy bed linen; one of our sheets had been used so much that it ripped with a big hole. I have, for an unknown reason, very sensitive skin at the moment, so I wanted very soft linen. I am happy to say I found it: bamboo sheets. Luxury. I am way off the point here, but it might explain some of my photos. I took them all with my iPhone. Anne wrote: Look around, and using your imagination, what do you see? Please keep this to the same walk—that’s the challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing what you find. And have fun! This is where my walk began.
I did take the one below as I did not know if we were going to go out of the store, I mean it was cold.
We strolled around for a bit, and you know how it is in familiar spots—you hardly notice the little things, right? So, I grabbed some shots of Aleksanterinkatu and the folks bustling about. Then I kicked myself for not paying more attention. In the shots below, you’ll see some doors that normally I’d just breeze past, even though I think they’re gorgeous.
To participate in this challenge, I needed to discover something compelling for a photograph. I captured a close-up of the intricate stone carvings at the entrance of the Pohjola Insurance Company’s building in Helsinki. Designed by architect Eliel Saarinen, the building was completed in 1901 and features a façade embellished with grotesques and mythical creatures from Finnish folklore.
The scowling faces in the picture are crafted by sculptor Hilda Flodin. My husband made a joke about it, and just from their expressions, you can tell which ones are women, as he remarked with a smug grin 😂
Window shopping and checking out the displays is fun, but this time I tried to pay more attention to the details and didn’t really nail it. I could’ve done better, but the cold wind had my fingers feeling like ice sticks!
We did find a restaurant to have lunch.
Please keep it to the same walk—that was the challenge, I did that. My intention was to keep the post shorter, but this is what I found. And I did have fun! It turned out that my photos are not award-winning photos or all that attractive to my photographic eye; but, I did take the risk and found something worth the time.
Thanks Anne for this one, it made go out to the cold and have walk in the city. Next week, Saturday, January 17, at noon EST is my turn to host, hope to see you then.
Please remember to link your post Anne’s original post. Also, remember to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.
We are Lens-Artists: Tina , Patti , Ann-Christine, John, Sofia , Anne , Egidio, Beth , and me Ritva,
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
Posted as part of The Weekend in Black and White {9/1/2026}
Winters teeth are digging in, as the chill of the season settles relentlessly over the landscape, transforming vibrant colors into muted gray tones and whites and blanketing the world in a suffocating hush. The once warm air is now sharp and biting, reminding all living creatures of the harsh realities that winter brings. As frost etches intricate patterns on windows, the biting cold seeps into every corner, prompting people to bundle up in layers and seek solace indoors, where the glow of a fire offers comfort against the relentless advance of winter’s grip.
Participating in Six Word Saturday
For This weeks Saturday Classics – Carly Simon song. At some point in my life, it was easy to relate to this song. Relationships can have they moments. And I listened to it quite often. I found Carly Simon through my sister, she introduced me to her records.
In this song, Jesse, an ex-lovers, is coming back to town, and she’s getting prepared. He broke her heart, and she knows he’ll do it again if she lets him. Simon enlists her friends and family for support, and prepares a speech to let him know where he stands. That’s the chorus of the song, which contains Simon’s trademark imagery, letting Jesse know all the things she won’t be doing for him:
Cut fresh flowers
Chill the wine
Change the sheets
Put on cologne
Sit by the phone
But midway through the song, the plan goes out the window; she just can’t resist his charms. “Jesse, I’ll always cut fresh flowers for you,” Simon tells him.
“Jesse” was the lead single from Carly Simon’s ninth album, Come Upstairs. It became one of her best-known songs and one she would usually play in her rare concert appearances.
A river whispers, half asleep,
Framed by snow, secrets it keeps.
Clouds hang low, a muted gray,
In winter’s grasp, the world at bay.
Nature holds a still embrace.
The building depicted in the picture is Lundquist’s commercial building, located in Helsinki. It is one of the most beautiful and representative buildings in Finland and a landmark in Helsinki’s city center. It has been renovated in recent years.
The building was completed in 1900 and designed by architect Selim A. Lindqvist. At the time of completion, it was Finland’s first pure commercial building, which contained no residential apartments. The façade is adorned with statues inspired by mythological goddesses, such as Artemis and Athena, reflecting the building’s original purpose as a shopping center.
Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors
Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Let’s kick of the year 2026 for The Flower Hour with a beautiful rose from my archives, showcasing its lively petals. Flowers, they offer us beauty and joy. Particularly during this season when they are so often found only in bouquets, so expect posts of past summer photos,
During my trip to Helsinki, I finally got to check out the Stockmann fairytale window before they shut it down at Epiphany, and I made it just in time! I’d walked by it earlier this year, but it was so packed with people of all ages staring at it that I didn’t even bother getting close.
One of the coolest Christmas traditions in the city center is the Stockmann fairytale window, which always gets people smiling on Aleksanterinkatu during the holiday season. The display window creates a cozy Christmas vibe and brings joy to kids hanging out at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu. This year, the window takes everyone into an enchanted fairytale forest to celebrate Stockmann’s 160th birthday. The centerpiece features characters from Moomin. The Moomin world feels like one giant hug, at least in the cartoons.
Since 1949, the Stockmann fairy tale window in downtown Helsinki has been bringing holiday joy to Christmas lovers of all ages. Over the years, this window has let folks step into all kinds of magical Christmas stories and whimsical worlds.
Monday Window {5/1/2026}
Time keeps on ticking away, the fleeting nature of moments, as each second slips through our fingers like grains of sand, urging us to cherish our experiences and make the most of every day. We often find ourselves caught in the rhythm of our routines, yet it is vital to pause, to appreciate our surroundings. Or is the better way to say it; watch time go by, taking the moments that matter into our hearts, creating memories that linger long after the clock has moved on? Or how about Time is fleeting.
I seemed to have more than six words to share, but the title is spot on for Six Word Saturday
A cozy café scene with customers relaxing on a plush couch, enjoying glögi and joulutorttu. In winter, it is customary to sip glögi, a warm mulled wine traditionally served in crystal glasses. Accompanying the drink is a plate of freshly baked joulutorttu, which are Finnish Christmas tarts filled with plum marmalade.
As I was not bold enough to take photos of their servings, I took the liberty to show the glögi I was enjoying with a friend and the tarts I made for my family during the holidays. But all the same you get the picture 😀 . I hope.
This girl knows how to pose; I entered the room and she saw the camera, instantly transforming into a little model. She went to work, looking directly at me and posing; Tinka is a cutie for sure, with her soft fur and bright eyes. Tinka’s charm and character shine through in every snapshot. This post is for cat lovers and those who enjoy a bounty of images, showcasing not just her adorable looks but also her personality, which shines through in every snapshot.
Posted for Brian’s Last on the Card December 2025
I was sifting through a collection of old postcards from many years ago, particularly those from a cherished friend I’ve known for 45 years. Many of them handmade. This reflection made me ponder over friendships—both old and new, as well as those from the past. Each postcard was like a time capsule. Whether time has taken them away due to life’s circumstances or they have sadly passed on, the outcome is the same: they are no longer a part of my life, yet each one has left a significant mark during our time together. The little joys and sorrows we shared, the secrets we confided in one another, and the milestones we celebrated still resonate within me. Reminders of them linger on, intertwined with the fabric of my personal history, and a few of the postcards I moved stirred up memories of friends I had long forgotten…life.
I often reflect on the individuals I’ve encountered in this blogging community. Many have journeyed alongside me throughout my 14 years of blogging. I’ve come to know fragments of their life narratives, sharing in both their joys and sorrows. I empathize with some and find myself moved by others, grasping their highs and lows. Numerous stories have sparked inspiration in me. As a photographer, the images I’ve seen have enriched my photography. I’ve learned about life on other continents, seen places I’ve never visited, and listed them on my bucket list. The artistic influences I’ve gained are invaluable. I consider you all friends, even those I haven’t met in person. Some of you feel like close companions, while others remain acquaintances with whom I exchange occasional greetings.
Wishing everyone a joyful New Year!
Flowers are often a theme on Tuesdays, a ritual I cherish that brings a touch of beauty to my week. My last bouquet needed to be freshened up with some new flowers as some of them had been way too soon withered, their vibrant colors fading into dull reminders of their former glory, so I needed to remove them with care. As I was doing this, I looked at the cutting board I was using and had an opportunity to share with you the pretty cuttings on it, the remnants of petals and leaves that tell a story of their own. Each little piece seemed to reflect both the fragility and resilience of life. This shows you I have time on my hands and nothing grand going on, just mundane everyday life that often gets overlooked. However, when all is said and done, these small moments, like arranging flowers and contemplating their beauty, bring a sense of calm and joy, reminding me that finding pleasure in simplicity is truly a good thing.
Even they can make for a nice photograph. Or not. But for some reason, I saw something pretty here.
Memories to our visit to Luxor – Valley of the Kings Luxor Egypt about 20 years ago. Nostalgia is also in the quality of the photos even though I did little bit of editing to them. History is in the statues photographed.
For Monday Window, our Veikka was such a cute and cuddly big white cat, with fur so soft and eyes the color of caramel brown. I have a special place in my heart for him. I have so many photos of our cats; these also include windows.
While my son was busy with last-minute Christmas shopping at the mall, I took the opportunity to do some people-watching. I was searching for shots that might fit an upcoming challenge and ended up capturing these. Although they didn’t meet the challenge criteria, I felt I should share them now. During the editing process, I aimed to highlight different aspects of the images—after all, John’s Cellpic Sunday provides a wonderful platform to showcase these everyday moments.
I sought to express the reasons behind my choice to take these photos – I really didn’t, but what the heck – I took them, and now I am sharing them with a sense of both no reason and trepidation. Each image captures a fleeting moment as all photos do, even if I can’t pinpoint exactly why. The moment may not be very important or significant as is the case with these.
If you have an opinion on whether I should have or should not have shared them, I am open to your thoughts and can take it whichever way you think about them, knowing that it is subjective. Your perspectives ,understanding of these images may even inspire me 😀
It has been ages since I participated in Saturday Classics, so as it is the last Saturday of the year, I thought I might join with a tune that I like. I happy to share this particular piece, which has always resonated deeply with me. Teddy Swims – Lose Control
This is one of the songs from him that I’ve listened to a lot over the past year; I really like this voice, as it resonates with me on so many levels. His unique tone and expressive delivery captivate my attention every time I listen. I often find myself lost in the melodies, reflecting on my own experiences while his lyrics play in the background. I don’t think I need to explain this any further, as music often speaks for itself through the feelings it instills. I truly hope you enjoy it too; perhaps it will resonate with you.
I don’t know if the photo is a great match to the song, but you tell me :-D. I have to add an image as this is a photography blog.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 