travel-blog – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

I am still going through the Crete photos; it seems that I have a tendency to edit bits and pieces at a time. In a world where everything is expected to be posted and documented immediately, I’ve stepped or more like fallen back from that pressure—I’m never ready to share them that quickly. By the time I consider posting, the moment has already passed. Do you understand what I mean?

Social media has made it too quick for me to keep up with the constant flow of information and updates. As a result, I’ve mostly stopped posting there, feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace of engagement that doesn’t allow for thoughtful reflection. I often find that I am never truly in the moment, as the pressure to share experiences instantly detracts from actually enjoying them.

the Fortezza Fortress-1 — A large domed roof of The Sultan Ibrahim Mosque, and a small bell tower of The Church of Saint Catherine, surrounded by trees and grass under a cloudy sky

Now after that rant, for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness: here are black and white, monochrome images from the Fortezza Fortress in Crete. This historical site, with its impressive architecture, offers a unique perspective on the rich history of the region. In my post from yesterday, I was below looking up, trying to capture the grandeur of the fortress that towers above the surrounding landscape. This time, however, these images are actually taken from within the fortress itself, allowing you to explore the intricate details. The timeless grandeur and the enduring strength of this magnificent structure of Crete’s ancient heritage.

the Fortezza Fortress-2 — The Church of Saint Catherine (Agia Ekaterini),in the historic area of the Fortress. This charming Orthodox chapel, built of rugged limestone, dates back to the 19th century.

The picture depicts the Church of Saint Catherine (Agia Ekaterini), located in the historic area of the Fortress .This charming Orthodox chapel, built of rugged limestone, dates back to the 19th century.

The Sultan Ibrahim Mosque is located within the Fortezza Fortress and was constructed in 1583, initially functioning as a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas during the era of Venetian control. Following the Ottomans’ conquest of Réthymno in 1646, the church was transformed into a mosque, at which point an 11-meter diameter dome was added, along with a minaret that has since been demolished.

The fortress is primarily built from rough limestone, and its walls can be up to 5 meters thick. The limestone arches looked interesting

With this last photo, I did two monochrome edits. As you can see, the other is in the same gray shades as all the photos above, while I tried more blue tones in the one. I still lean towards the more traditional black and white – gray shades. Don’t you think the mood changes in these two, even if it’s the same shot? Any thoughts about this?

Yesterday we visited the Tuomaan markkinat – Helsinki Chrismas Market little bit too early if we had waited for the sunset the lights would have been more brighter, but even thought we were a bit early it was crowded hard to get to the the vendor booths. It was rather windy and cold, but it is winter 🙂

Providing a more responsible alternative to mass-produced gifts and decorations, Helsinki Christmas Market brings to Senate Square a significant number of artisans and small producers from all over Finland. The market’s atmospheric core consists of the Deliyard and Restaurant Yard, which also serves alcoholic beverages, where one can enjoy seasonal treats and festive holiday spirit.