Lens-Artists Challenge #390 – Colour in B&W

/ Leya / 8 kommentarer

Egidio gives us something to think about this week – examples that come to mind showing the implied presence of color in a black-and-white photo. Please visit his site for excellent examples and inspiration! Sometimes, the color may not be obvious to a general worldwide audience. So, please explain your choices.

My first choice is a fire from Walpurgis night – it will soon be here now – and I am sure we all have vivid pictures of fire in our mind.

In the northern hemisphere we are all waiting for Spring – and cherry flowers are recognizable to most of us.

In my area of Sweden, the southernmost part, Spring and early summer is mostly yellow and blue – rapeseed and blue skies surround our houses and neighbourhoods. And our flag is yellow and blue too.

For my last example – something most of us will recognize – but, what colurs are involved? I am not really sure…are you?

Thank you, Egídio for this cool challenge, I had fun with it. You had such good examples that it brought back memories from our black and white tv days. Hope to see you this week, and please remember to link back to his original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

Last week we relaxed with Anne’s beautiful challenge. It was great to see all sorts of relaxing places and people/animals relaxing. It’s amazing how we every week come up with different ideas for the same challenge.

Next week is Tina’s turn to lead us, Saturday 28th March. Until then, stay safe and take care.

If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Thursday Thoughts – Wildlife Close to our Hotel

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

I love the idea of wild animals being so close to humans all the time. And the animals down here naturally feel more wild than those at home…( I guess the Africans feel the same when they visit us.)

Around Victoria Falls Hotel, there were these electric fences set up,

but before they were there – this sign was even more relevant.

Baboons roamed the streets and the forest, and the hotel had a guard to chase them off.

He told us he had a lot to do every day…

There were also many guenon monkeys around. A bit more slender and agile than the baboons.

Banded Mongoose was a new aquaintance to me. They are 12-18 inches, weight 3-5.5 pounds. They are one of few species that use tools – they throw eggs against rocks to break them.

This one had captured a snake – a fairly long one…

..and feasted on it for a long time. It was interesting to watch them. The mongooses are known for their agility, speed and resistance to venom. They can survive a bite from a cobra.

The Mongooses live in colonies and have a complex social system. They take care of their young together, which is rather unusual – only the banded Mongoose live in colonies though, the others are loners. I liked to watch them eat, play and taking care of their young. Fascinating animals.

Lens-Artists Challenge #389 – Time to Relax

/ Leya / 44 kommentarer

This week, Anne asks us: ”…what relaxes you?”
What gets you away from the stresses of daily life. What’s your passion?

I am fortunate to have many passions…

Don’t make things too complicated. Try to relax, enjoy every moment, get used to everything.

– Angelique Kerber

For me, as for so many of us, Mother Nature offers the greatest remedy, against stress, a troubled world, a troubled mind. Soon Spring will be here too, which adds to the overall well being. Birds are singing every day, but it is still very cold and there are no flowers yet. The nights are freezing, but the forest is beautiful any season.

To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

– William Blake

The Anemone Hepatica is what I am waiting for now – usually coming at the end of March – but no signs yet. We’ve had a very cold winter this year, which is good for getting rid of the less wanted creatures, like ticks and invasive snails.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

– Robert A. Heinlein

Being with my dog, walking, talking, playing, is an endless source of relaxing. We love finding new places and exploring new paths every day.

The main thing to do is relax and let your talent do the work.

– Charles Barkley

I have also found my way back to painting – and I love art in almost any form. When I paint, time doesn’t exist.

If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax.

– Christian Louboutin

Photography has always been relaxing, always will be. It’s enough to pick up my camera and head for the forest, the lake or the open landscape. Some interesting travels every year add to this joy as well.

Reading a good book used to be my favourite source of relaxing, but I have found that today I enjoy more creativity now that I am retired and have much time to myself. The thing is to be able to let go of time and space…to immerse oneself in something that will not let the stressful thoughts in. I am grateful for that gift. My two children have it too, but I don’t know how many young people who have that today. As a parent and grandparent, I believe you have to hand over that gift early in their life…help them to appreciate Nature, and moderate social media and screens before they get forever lost there.

Thank you, Anne, for a great theme that made me evaluate some of my choices in life again. And many thanks to all of you who sent marvelous journeys, big and small, to my challenge last week! I’ve done some interesting reading and thinking about life and how to live it. What we treasure, what we remember and what we decide to pass on.

Tag your post with Lens-Artists and see you there! Next week Egidio will be our host – so please go to his site for inspiration!

Thursday Thoughts – Not a Foodie, but…

/ Leya / 21 kommentarer

– I maybe could have become one on this journey! At the Victoria Falls Hotel I fell in love with the coffee/tea set and plates – but don’t think it would be possible to buy any of this. I guess it was designed for the hotel only.

We had excellent food everywhere and excellent service. On the train everything was so delicious, but unfortunately my stomach didn’t agree with me. I did taste everything though.

Gorgeous soups – I love soups and should indeed cook more of them at home too…

And to accompany every course we always had an excellent South African wine.

Just looking at the menue was a treat before every meal, but unfortunately we were not allowed to keep it – so, I only remember a few of the courses. This was a tender springbok.

To my husband’s great pleasure we had plenty of dreamy desserts…

One of the sweet girls from the Diner cars – I wonder how many times a day she had to walk down that narrow corridor with her hands full?

With the train moving, at least we, the passengers, got many bruises from the railings trying not to fall over.

I never forgot to praise the chef and the brilliant service staff working in this tiny kitchen. Always good humoured and a smile ready for everyone.

Adventures, big or small, are treats to everyone. We learn from them, we treasure them…but in the end, the best thing is to come back home again. Or, what do you think?