By definition atmosphere is always what the individual objects that occupy places are not. Light, air, materials and sound.

– Stefan Vujić

Atmospheric is the character, feeling, or mood of a place or situation. It might be the mood of the mist, the collusion of clouds, or just a stunning structure. Ambience is another word for the mood a place or setting has.

The kind of music I like depends very much on my mood. – Frida Lyngstad

Let’s start with the ”natural” mood settings. A summer sunset by the sea settles your mind. It doesn’t have to be blue colours – grey is perfect too. And the sound of the waves plays an important part. Somehow I believe we search for the surroundings that lifts or matches our own mood.

Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow. – John Lennon

Love is in the air. Maybe your man or your lady brings you flowers, sets the table and lights the candles to welcome you… Although I believe atmosphere is not as pragmatic as it is poetic.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. – Aristotle

Yesterday’s late Autumn walk with silent friends. Mist is mostly an autumnal fenomenon, created by the warmth of the day and the chill of the night. But, we’ll stick to the poetic mood. The soft light and the quietly munching sheep set my mood right for the end of the day.

I like the muted sounds, the shroud of grey, and the silence that comes with fog. – Om Malik

By the sea, Autumn brings many days of fog rolling in. In me it creates both a tension and a feeling of being hidden from the outside, troubled world. It is an inward looking mood.

Don’t tell me how good you make it; tell me how good it makes me when I use it. – Leo Burnett

Advertising is good at creating perfect atmospheres for us to take the bait…We visited a big beer company in Amsterdam – I don’t have to say which one… Instead of showing the process (which we got a professional presentation of in Ireland with another company), we were presented with a full show with party light and music. And beer. I guess it was all for engaging the younger generation.

While we still are in the mood for a party – let’s add a carnival mood too!

Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood. – Michael Franti

In September we went to Amstedam for the Dahlia Festival, where every piece of the pageant was made of dahlias (except the carriages). A fiest for both eyes and ears. Happy people makes happy spectators! (Find some mischievous happiness in the header/opener, where some boys enjoyed shooting water at us from a bridge.)

I have lived with several Zen masters—all of them cats. – Eckhart Tolle

For atmosphere and mood – this was a perfect setting at the Cat museum in Amsterdam. A combination of light, art, furniture and details. And if you know some cat lovers, cats on the table is not unfamiliar. Real cats too… I guess you have noticed there is a special atmosphere where there is a pet in the house? The first thing you will see (except for Milo) when you visit My home, is a sign saying: ”A home without a dog is just a house.” But, I assure you he is not allowed on the table…

Perhaps I am old-fashioned, but black and white films still hold an affectionate place in my heart; they have an incomparable mystique and mood. – Ginger Rogers

As a photographer, you might also use the possibility of setting the mood you want in your pictures – either with the natural environment, lamps, software or other means. An easy way is just converting a photo into B&W or sepia tones to set another mood, like this theater photo. I could almost see Greta Garbo and Clark Gable passing by in the lobby…

I love kids. I just love kids. They put you in a good mood and they are so full of life. – Carmen Electra

Very little changes can make a difference too. A park in Amsterdam housed some rabbits for the children. I smiled as I saw this little girl, who so gently patted her friend. An animal lover with the right feeling. I could easily see myself at her age.

By desaturating the colours a bit, I felt the photo fitted both my own nostalgic mood and the warmth between these two friends.

I hope you will be in the mood to join this challenge (pun intended) – as we search for special atmospheres you have met or created. A big thank you to Patti for making us see beauty everywhere – and somehow I feel this week’s challenge is a natural way to follow up. Mood and atmosphere are very individually seen, but so is beauty. I am looking forward to seeing your posts! Be sure to link to my original post and to include the “lens-artists” tag so we can find your images.

Next week Sofia will lead us, please go to her lovely blog for more inspiration! Until then, stay calm and kind.