Lens-Artists Challenge # 399 – Stuck in Place

/ Leya / 11 kommentarer

Egidio has a new adventure for us, he wants us to pick a place to stay put for thirty minutes to an hour and take photos of things that catches our interest and curiosity. A good way to spark creativity again! So, please go to his sparkling and creative site for more about how to get started!

I thought I would wait for an opportunity to appear…and not go searching for it. This is what happened two days ago when we went to our summerhouse to clean up and make it ready for Midsummer – a perfect spark for me! Back today – a bit late, but still here!

When we arrived, I (as I always do) went down to the shore with Milo. But the sight that met me was an unusual one this time – there was a stranded sailing boat lying with its sails torn by the winds. This has never happened in all those 50 summers I have spent here. I immediately knew – this was the place to get stuck for Egidio’s challenge. My husband brought Milo back to the house, and I brought my camera from the car. Excited, this would be fun.

At this time of the year, the water is not very warm – maybe 10-15 degrees maximum. But dogs love it, and luckily one of them got stuck in my camera focus…

As I looked around for more photo opportunities, I noticed the magical scent from white cow parsley by the old gate, filling the air with summer joy.

Then I walked a few steps up to Milo – he had returned to me and lay basking in the sun. I guess wondering what I was up to… I could clearly discern the dark strings of colour in his thick coat after the Pit-bull´s attack in October. All his scars have grown darker brown hairs, making him partly look like a Dalmatian. Handsome!

Further up some more steps and I finished my 40 minutes with our table in sun and shadow.

Ritva’s challenge last week got us all looking at single colors. I loved the variety of colorful responses! We hope you will join this challenge too. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your entries.

Next week, Tina will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about it. Until then – stay kind and be well.

Thursday Thoughts – Lars Lerin´s New Gallery, Kabusa

/ Leya / 3 kommentarer

We visited my favourite painter, Lars Lerin’s, newest gallery in our part of Sweden – Kabusa. Situated among meadows and farmland, the view itself through one of his windows, was like a painting of Harmony.

I hope you enjoy – he is one of Europe’s most famous watercolourists.

Thursday Thoughts – Cold Spring, but finally on our way…

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

In Spring, we usually go to the southernmost part of Sweden, for the apple trees and for the charm of the old villages.

And, for the sea – we seldom see the sea and this is a brilliant opportunity to enjoy it. No tourists! This beach is totally closed since some 5 years now because climate change has made the sea sweep away the sand and the banks around the bay. Some houses fall down into the water.

This time we decided to visit an old village that was moved from its original place because of new building plans. The typical houses were placed along a new village road, but kept their charm – and some their thatched roofs as well.

The village is called Knäbäckshusen, and such a name is easily remembered…

We also drove into some neighbouring villages, there are plenty of old fishing villages along this coast. Here I totally fell in love with this pink house. maybe you did too?

We had a lovely outing, and finished it off with Glimmingehus, the best-preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. Never rebuilt.

Built in 1499 by the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand, it worked as a luxurious house as well as an advanced fortification. We went here with my class when I was a child, and I can still recall how cold it was inside those walls…so now we stayed outside.

Some facts: the walls are up to 2,5 m. thick, the building is 30 meters long and 26 meters high. It has details made by the well kown German sculptor Adam van Düren. For more: http://www.glimmingehus.se

On our way home – we loved seeing the typical flat landscape of Österlen, the colouful fields and the blue sky with cotton clouds. Mountains and hills are lovely, but this too is beautiful – in its own way.

Lens-Artists Challenge #398 – Choose a Colour

/ Leya / 48 kommentarer

I want to paint the rest of my days with the best colors.

― Debasish Mridha

Ritva asks us to select one color (excluding black and white), and share a maximum of 6 photos where our chosen color is the prominent hue, or alternatively, you may share one photo featuring each of the following captivating colors in their various shades: red, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow.

I am cheating…I hope Ritva forgives me for choosing my favourite colours only – but in 6 photos!

Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.

– Pedro Calderón de la Barca

There is no doubt that green is my favourite colour. To me, spring brings life back to us, revitalising, we are bathing in Mother Nature’s lush greenery. I am surrounded by green in my garden, in my home, in my daily forest walks.

In fact, I am beginning to wonder how I will survive a move to a place without a garden…Hopefully in the far future.

”How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”

– Vincent van Gogh

Yellow and orange are lively and uplifting colours. If I tweak it a bit, there is a hint of red here as well. This yellow foxtail lily shines intensely in the shadow of a tree.

A certain blue enters your soul

– Henri Matisse

We have blue all around us on this planet Earth…every season has its own shade or tint. Ice on my glass house windows shows spectacular patterns.

All the other colors are just colors, but purple seems to have a soul—when you look at it, it’s looking back at you.

— Uniek Swain

Purple – irresistible Wisteria! Our visit to Japan made me plant four new Wisterias in my garden.

A big thank you to Anne for the Texture challenge last week! The diversity in your posts provided us with both inspiration and awe – I felt like going out with my camera for even more textures… Next week, it will be Egídio’s turn to lead us, so be sure to visit his beautiful site for more creative ideas.

Until then – stay well and be kind.