Lens-Artists Challenge #412 – Places Shaped by Water

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

John leads this week, with a different kind of theme. Interesting, but it really had me thinking… Places shaped by water – in any form. The Challenge: Share up to six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene. Choose your favorite places, your favorite photos, or a single location that inspires you. Natural or man‑made, peaceful or wild—if water helps tell the story, it’s fair game.

In the header, the Zambesi river forms the Victoria Falls as it cuts through a massive plateau of volcanic basalt. One of the most impressive sights I have ever seen. And the sound! Incredible. Now, let’s go!

Taking the train over to Norway, we reach coastal settlements shaped by the water into silent canals. But the fishermen are now mostly replaced by summer guests…

Even further north, we arrive by plane in Iceland. Iceland’s landscape is shaped by water and its volcanic geology. Basalt and Tholeiite are the most common rock types, forming lava fields, black sand beaches and hexagonal basalt columns. In short, a magical landscape.

Now let’s go south on another route – to beautiful Croatia. Plitvice is shaped by its many waterfalls through the karst. Limestone and dolomite – and gorgeously green water.

In Switzerland we find this enchanting place in Verzasca Valley, with ice cold water and spectacular views.


Finally we will go to the southernmost part in this world I have ever been – New Zealand. Hot springs have shaped these smooth stones. And, they have geisers too, but smaller than the Icelandic giants.

The northernmost part of this world then, Greenland, where my latest trip was, with calving glaciers making the most spectacular shapes. This iceberg, in midnight sun, was among many others lying at the mouth of a glacier river. The birds flying, will give you a hint of the size.

Huge thanks to Sofia for her innovative “What Is It?” challenge, where we sometimes guessed right as well… Next week, Beth will be ready with a new theme. Please follow her here so you don’t miss her challenge on Saturday, September 12, at noon Eastern Time. We look forward to seeing your responses. Be sure to link to John’s original post in the comments section and tag your entry with “Lens-Artists” so we can find it.

Thursday Thoughts – Willi, the Muskox

/ Leya / 9 kommentarer

In 1964, 17 muskox calves were transferred from east Greenland to west Greenland via Copenhagen zoo. One of them was Willi.

Willi got used to people at the zoo, and came to like people more than his fellow muskoxes. One day he decided to stay at the airport, and he became very popular with everyone there – except for the pilots of course.

They tried to scare him away from the airpost, but one American soldier had to be sent to hospital and the airport fire engine got some heavy dents on the car.

Dogs were brought in from Denmark, but they were too scared of the huge animal. Finally an American cowboy from the US Army caught Willi with lasso and transported him to Lake Ferguson, 5km away.

He is still there, at Lake Ferguson – but in stone. Unfortunately his ending was sad, because he returned to the airport, and there he attacked a transit passenger and her little child. By that incident, he signed his own death sentence.

He will be forever remembered though, as a much loved citizen. A country- and western singer, Al Perry, even wrote a ballad about him.

Lens-Artists Challenge #411- What is it?

/ Leya / 23 kommentarer
Lens-Artists Challenge #411 – What is it?

This truly is something we never had before … – and What is it? Sofia is the quiz leader, and now I try to jump in with more…

1.

2.

3.

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5.

I know these are quite easy, but I hope you will have some fun with them anyway!

So, now it is your turn. Think of anything that looks ambiguous, difficult to understand or unusual, look for details instead of the whole thing, conceal what might give away what your subject is, but most of all, have fun! Please remember to link back to Sofia’s original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

Last week Ritva was our host with a looking back challenge focusing on editing. It was a very interesting challenge with different ways of editing our shots and also to see the end results.

Next week is John’s turn to lead us, Saturday 5th September. Until then, take care and be kind.

Here is today’s facit:

  1. ICM at a pond with yellow lilies. Blekinge, Ronneby Brunn.
  2. A close-up of a big Allium ball from Keukenhof, Holland.
  3. My collection of foil balls, given to me by my daughter…A thing she had with that since she was very little. I took care of everything that should not be dropped on the ground. I still do.
  4. Hotel Hvide Falk, Ilulissat, Greenland. The evening lamp inside was reflected through the windows and moving outdoors!
  5. Close-up of a Van Gogh painting. Unfortunately I don’t remember the title.

The header? A male lion vanishing in the high grasses…

Thursday Thoughts – Lost in Arctic Sahara

/ Leya / 11 kommentarer

In 1968, 8th December, three American Lockhead jetplanes flew from Goose bay in Canada heading for Keflavik, Iceland. They were hit by bad weather over Greenland and tried to make an emergency landing at Kangerlussuaq. In those days, there were no roads whatsoever in Greenland, and this area is still called ”Arctic Sahara”.

This ”highway”, or ”Autostrada” as the Greenlanders call it, was built partly during WWII and partly 1995. The river is in low water prone to sandstorms that disturb GPS signals. Tall masts have been built to help out.

Anyway, no road existed where the three planes were lost and finally ran out of fuel. The whole crew of four people, managed to jump out before the planes crashed in no man’s land. In winter the temperatures can fall to -40 degrees C. And this was in December.

Luckily all four of them were saved by helicopters before freezing to death.

The remains of one of the planes were still spread out along the Autostrada, and our bus stopped for us to have a look. There was a sign warning people not to take any souvenirs – but showing respect for the pilots and the remains of the jets. But, there wasn’t much left to see, I guess there were souvenirs brought to many homes as the road made the area accessible.

The driver told us there were many stories about this accident, and he told us one of them – one that he believed was really true:

Since the Autostrada was built, family and relatives of the pilots started visiting the place. Story has it that when the daughter of one of the pilots and her husband was on their way to the site, her father (the pilot) asked them to look in the glovebox for his wallet. And – they found it.