photography – Page 34 – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Lens Artists Challenge#256: Inspiration Found in the Kitchen

I am hosting this week’s Lens Artists Challenge with a theme of Inspiration found in the kitchen. That is often a place I find something to photograph in an hour of need. It can be a view from the kitchen window or an interior shot of the kitchen. As we know, kitchens may vary from an alley kitchen to an open plan or kitchen-diner. More importantly, the kitchen hides a huge number of small details. Here are some ideas: cultery, glasses, pots and pans. I have done my share of these shots. Food photography, recipe ingredients, as well as a cooked meal can also be found in your kitchen. The possibilities for all kinds of variations are an endless source of inspiration. Let your creativity flow.

I am lucky to have two kitchens. The following items have found their way to my summer house. As you can see from some dust and spiderwebs, these are not in use, but make for nice photos.

Now I have one request and hope you play along. Please share a photo of your favorite cup. No explanations are necessary but hoped for. My cup is old and used to belong to my husband’s grandmother. It is pretty and vintage. I like it. Most importantly, you can have a nice cup of coffee in it.

I cannot make a post about kitchen inspiration without a shot of food. Pizza, with air dried ham, mozzarella and rucola. So good.

I hope you found inspiration and share your kitchen discoveries with us.

Remember to link to this post and use the Lens-Artists tag in the reader section. Next week Philo of Philosophy Through Photography will be presenting a wonderful challenge so look for her post.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.

Nature- Cacti

Flowers, Photography

Not the typical plant to Finland, so obviously these are not from here, the locations were i took these are Red Rock area in Nevada and Nice in France. The last set is from Crete with yellow flowers.

Cacti, the so important part of nature in the desert. I found these as I went through my archive for this challenge Cacti

I found these as I went through my archive for Denzil’s NPC #18 Cacti

Friends

People, Photography

My grandson made a new friend and is so proud that he can walk without adults back and forth between the two houses here at the country house.

Summer 2023-9

Flowers, Photography

For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

watching the clouds go by

Captures from Finland, Photography

Would you like to come cloud watching with me?
We can while away the afternoon
Just to step out of time is all we need
Looking out for the other rule

Cos there’s no place
I’d rather be
There’s no one
I’d rather see

Would you like to come cloud watching with me?
We can watch the world roll on by
Dreaming up all the endless possibilities
Staring into the open sky

Song by Abigail Dobson

Happy bee , be Happy

Flowers, Photography

Summer holiday and at the summer house, so I am a bit slow in replies as the days are filled with three active grandchildren screaming and playing around. I had forgotten how much food boys consume…. 🙂 But this is a post about bees 🐝 and butterflies 🦋

Midnight

Captures from Finland, Photography

Midnight at my house in the countryside, love the summer light and yesterday we had some rain so the mist created a lovely atmosphere

The trees framed the scene beautifully

Lens Artists Challenge #255: Telling a story

lens-artists

This week, Patti is encouraging us to show one to five photographs that tell a story.

I am going to be bold and leave the story untold in words, well the photos are supposed to tell the story. What story’s do you see in these photos, if any. Do this work as a Narrative photography ?

Below story two – the two photos below

SO Sorry, I could not resist, Still five photos and a header … yikes, I’m bad 🙂

For inspiration check out the other participants in this challenge you can find them with the Lens-Artists tag. lens-artist tag

summer 2023 – 8

animals, Photography

June, summer is here even though the temperatures are not that high. Nature is giving us its best that’s for sure. Midsummer is here and we are enjoying the light.

Bees, the so important part of nature. I found these as I went through my archive for this challenge Bees

I found these as I went through my archive for Denzil’s NPC #17 Bees

Sequoia – 1

Photography, Traveling US

Huge mountains, rugged foothills. Gorgeous views in my opinion. Worth taking a photo in my mind.

I looked at my old photos and noticed many that I have not given too much thought to, these are two of them. In these photos from Sequoia- ( more to come)I am returning to my past style. Let the photos speak for themselves. As it what I am better at than writing 🙂

Stunning views

summer 2023 – 7

Flowers, Photography

🌼 of the day! That’s it .

FOTD – June 20 – Bearded Iris

summer 2023 – 6

Flowers, Photography

It is few daisy’s 🌼 , no need to say more.

For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

Lens Artists Challenge #254: Spiritual Sites

lens-artists

This week the Lens-Artists challenge is focused on Spiritual Sites. While many associate spirituality with religion, the Oxford dictionary defines it as “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things”, a much wider interpretation. Visit her site for inspiration Tina’s Lens-Artists Challenge

Nature is the very heart of our spirituality, “Nature is my god.” This beautiful Planet Earth is our mother and our home.

When I am in nature I feel whole and connected and larger than life, but also insignificant & part of something bigger than myself. Isn’t that the sense of religion at its core?

Historically, nature, mountains, rivers, trees, the sun, the moon have always been honored in ancient cultures.

Ancient wisdom describes human beings as having five layers of experience: the environment, the physical body, the mind, the intuition and our self or spirit.

Spiritual life in Churches, Temples, Cathedrals, around the world

For inspiration check out the other participants in this challenge you can find them with the Lens-Artists tag. lens-artist tag

summer 2023 – 5

Flowers, Photography

This morning when I saw the title of Leanne Cole’s blog post Losing a blogging friend and remembering Bren. Leanne wrote: When you look at Bren’s blog you can see a lot of flowers, she loved them too. I have put together some of my flowers in memory of her and hope you can do the same.

I got to know Bren for a short time, but she came across as caring, and encouraging person. Flowers for her memory.

I am also posting this For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

Lens Artists Challenge #253: Fragments

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Brian of Bushboy’s World is our guest host this week with the challenge: Fragments:

He wrote: We always have been made up of pieces. What I would like to see is some of your fragments.

Life is made of fragments, memories are just that. A fragment from here and there. Having had the same experience, my husband and I, often remember different things and oftentimes slightly differently.

I have three boys, all adult’s, but I have fragments of the everyday life memories, remembered when looking at old photos.

Time a fragment history – old newspaper from 1914. Ink bottle discovered from the ground. Well walked boots, so many kilometers. Memories written down. Old chairs

Art – the creations I do, they are fragments of my mind and imagination.

I found this actually a challenge to find photos for this, then I improvised, driftwood, broken branches, it is stretching it a little. My husband told me we are not going to break anything for this… 😀

For inspiration check out the other participants in this challenge you can find them with the Lens-Artists tag. lens-artist tag

summer 2023 -4

Flowers, Photography

June, summer is here even though the temperatures are not that high. Nature is giving us its best that’s for sure.

One of my favorite flowers. White lilac

The scent is so lovely

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

summer 2023 – 3

Flowers, Photography

June, summer is here even though the temperatures are not that high. Nature is giving us its best that’s for sure.

One of my favorite flowers. Peony.

For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

summer 2023 – 2

animals, Photography

June, summer is here even though the temperatures are not that high. Nature is giving us its best that’s for sure.

Snails, those slimy little things that eat my plants.., . I found these as I went through my archive for this challenge Snail’s

I found these as I went through my archive NPC #16 Snails

summer 2023 – 1

animals, Photography

June, summer is here even though the temperatures are not that high. Nature is giving us its best that’s for sure.

Birds, not my expertise at all, sometimes I get a nice shot, but sometimes is the thing as I do not have the equipment to get the spot on shots. I found these as I went through my archive for this challenge Birds feeding and drinking

I found these as I went through my archive NPC #15: Birds feeding and drinking

Floral joy~ 9

Flowers, Photography

Flowers from my archive’s and camera roll.

Something different, shaken and stirred .

Lilac time

Posted for Cee’s Flower of the Day

Lens Artists Challenge #252: What’s Bugging You?

lens-artists

Lens-Artist Challenge with a focus on, What’s Bugging You? by Donna of Wind Kisses

I am slowly recovering from my flu and participating on this weeks challenge, and will also be replying on comments I’ve received. what is bugging me is this flu, if I am being totally honest. I do have a stronger word in mind, but I will spare you.

Now to the topic on had bugs, slugs ( is it a bug?) probably not. I wholeheartedly agree with the Donna I think the true challenge here, is that encounters are rarely purposeful, and bugs are never willing participants.

So I am going to spare words, just post photos of bugs 🙂

For inspiration check out, What’s Bugging You? by Donna of Wind Kisses

Remember to link to this challenge when you post and use the Lens-Artists tag. lens-artist tag

Spring 2023 – 8

Flowers, Photography

I have had the flu now for two weeks and no end in sight. I’m so tired of coughing and sneezing 🤧. I have been doing nothing, but today I am going to post few photos. Well of flowers.

Looks promising, we will get some strawberries this summer

For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

Lens Artists Challenge #251: Buildings and Other Structures

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Anne wrote: My challenge for you, this week, is to find your own fascinating structures that capture your attention, tell a story or are just beautiful. You can capture new scenes or take a trip down memory lane in your photo archives. Lens Artists Challenge #251: Buildings and Other Structures

I am going to be brief worded, I have had the flu now for over a week so I am not at my best, it really drains you from all energy. SO I apologize for lack of responses to comments I’ve received. I will get to them.

So many to choose from, and without any reason I went with these. Enjoy.

Urajärvi Manor is one of the oldest manor museums in our country, having bequeathed their home for museum use by Lilly and Hugo von Heideman. The Empire-style mansion is located in Itä-Asikkala, Urajärvi.

The current main building was completed in 1810, the earlier one burned down and its exact location is unknown. The main building was initially a one-story building with a mansard roof. It was extended and raised into a two-story empire-style building in 1839-40 when the new manor owner Axel von Heideman moved into the house with his wife Sofia. The second floor was built only for grandeur and the fashion of the time. There are living rooms only at the ends.

The English-style park of Urajärvi Manor Museum with its romantic walkways and viewpoints is an experience worth seeing and experiencing

A quick stop to old town int Nice in France, I am drawn to the old architecture, the colors and rooftops .

the colorful and slightly dilapidated houses of Cape Verde attracted me and almost asked me to photograph them. Some had been nicely renovated.

These two modern high-rise building’s are from San Francisco, they are impressive, but they lack warmth and soul

These are from Brisbane in Australia, similar high rise buildings as above, but you can see an old building left by the sea front. What difference in style. I was very attracted to the l Queenslander houses.

And if you did not know the header is Sydney Opera house 🙂

Posted for Anne’s Lens-Artists Challlenge

Remember to link to this challenge when you post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Anne wants to see all your artful structures

lens-artist tag

Spring 2023 – 7

Flowers, Photography

I’m at my happy place, I can hear the birdsong, sound of the wind, bee’s buzzing in this so called place of silence. and smell scent of the Lily of the valley.

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is well known for its delicate bells and beautiful sweet scent. You’ll find lily of the valley throughout the northern hemisphere. Signifying the return of happiness, the plant is synonymous with the month of May, and it is indeed the birth flower for May.

Lily of the valley meaning

A symbol of purity, joy, love, sincerity, happiness and luck, lily of the valley . It’s actually the national flower of Finland, and in France, on 1st May for La Fête du Muguet, lily of the valleys are gifted to loved ones. This French custom dates back to the 16th century ) – symbolizing luck and happiness.

For Cee´s Flower of the Day.

Mid-Week Monochrome ~ water

Black and White photos

I have a soft spot for black and white photography, it is expressive and minimalist in and very mood enhancing.

Drinking water is like washing out your insides. The water will cleanse the system, fill you up, decrease your caloric load and improve the function of all your tissues. – Kevin R. Stone

Posted for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Spring 2023 – 6

Flowers

I’m at my happy place, I can hear the birdsong, sound of the wind, bee’s buzzing in this so called place of silence.

Blossoms…

Here are some signs of spring , the joy and the glory of nature. I had made up my mind not to take flower pictures as I have so many of them already, but I did anyways.

Apple tree blossoms are in full bloom at the moment, what a glorious sight