Lens-Artists Challenge #308 – Perfect Pairs

23 juli, 202422 juli, 2024 / Leya / 38 kommentarer

This week Elizabeth of Albatz Travels is our guest host – and she has got an exciting task for us! Please visit her site for excellent guiding to diptychs:

A diptych is two images placed in proximity to one another, forming a pair. To make a successful pairing there should be several things in common, and something very different, contrasting.

How about using mirrors?

My natural(!) choice is flowers and trees. And flowers from English gardens this time.

And throughout the paths of flowery fireworks, there were Castles interspersed…

So, we will move over to totally manmade art, where wonderful wallpapers in the castles created indoor gardens as well, and a different dimension through mirrors.

Artworks are interesting, for pairings too. In Japan our visit to the teamLabs exhibition with mirroring ”eggs” was fascinating.

And finally, people. The Golden Week in Japan gives you endless opportunities to enjoy beautiful people and clothes. This lovely young couple is not the same as the couple in the carriage – but their outfits go so well together. In my eyes, they make the perfect pair – and pairs.

Thank you, Elizabeth for a great learning challenge!

Last week, Leanne lead us through wonderful and different “Tourist Attractions”, capturing the essence of a place. Next week, PR will explore “Balconies,” so be sure to visit Flights of the Soul next Saturday.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #18: Blending In – or Standing Out?

3 november, 20184 november, 2018 / Leya / 175 kommentarer

As I walk in the forest every day, I notice that the tracks and paths are slowly disappearing with the falling leaves. In the thick carpet of autumn brown, yellow and red, I lose my dogs more easily because of their blending in, and today I could not find the main path ahead at all…

Blending in – essential when you are a child, and in Nature it might be of crucial importance. A matter of Life or Death. How important is it to us humans today?

Blending in is of less importance in this shot, though. A domesticated animal in the first frosty days in the forest. But here blending in brings harmony and beauty to the eye.

Somewhere in Spain, I came upon these cats – and as cats still are hunters, and often wild in these areas, I guess they take advantage of their good camouflage colours.

In the Galapagos Islands the animals don’t have many enemies, but here are two fine examples of perfect blending in:

The Galápagos Dove, like many other animals on the islands, is endemic, and has developed perfect colours and behaviour to blend in.

The Yellow-crowned Night-heron was standing perfectly still, and spotted only when the panga came very close to the rocks.

Standing out, then – is also of great importance. In the world of animals, the female often has to blend in to survive and to protect her young, while the males often must stand out in order to attract the best females.

When it comes to us humans, some hundred years ago I guess it was mostly women who strove to stand out – for the men to pick and choose. At least in the western world. (Read Ovid and his advice for women on how to get/please/keep a man…) Today, men too put make up on, and wear fancy and colourful clothes (- and powder and body painting exists since long in some societies.) Moreover, for our young it has become important to define themselves early in life.

Somehow, everybody must learn how to play the game…when to blend in and when to stand out. And be prepared for swift changes…

A people who do stand out beautifully, is the Sweden living Sámi people. Their colourful culture shows off mostly strong blue, red and yellow clothes for festivities – and here the men are most spectacular. The different colours are used to show heritage and kin.

So, what is most important to you – blending in or standing out? This week’s challenge is to show us your thoughts in a photo!

Last week we all had some very entertaining posts to enjoy, have you seen these from Patti’s challenge Just For Fun?

Scillagrace was a happy wedding photographer…

Pauline takes us to a strange hotel…

And at Journeys with Johnbo, something really cool popped up…

The next challenge (#19) will be hosted by Amy on Saturday, November 10 at noon. Welcome to join in! For more information on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenges, click here. Most importantly, remember to TAG your post ” Lens-Artists ” so it appears in the Reader.

And finally, have an outstandingly(!) inspiring week!

Paro Tsechu

11 april, 201817 april, 2018 / Leya / 17 kommentarer

We arrived in Bhutan during Paro Tsechu – one of the many colourful dance festivals in honour of Guru Rinpoche, one of Bhutan’s most important historical and religious figures. He visited Bumthang in AD 746, and is said to then have introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. Read more about Tsechus here.

Rinpung Dzong is beautifully situated in the valley. It was built in 1644 to defend the Paro valley from invasions by Tibet. Like most dzongs, it houses the monastic body, district government offices and the local courts.

During the Tsechu festivals, people come from near and far, all wearing their most beautiful kira (women) and gho (men). It is compulsory for all Bhutanese to wear national dress in schools, government offices and on formal occasions.

Often shy…

Maybe one of her first beautiful kiras

Flags flying the whole way up to the dzong

Some took the faster lane…

Families everywhere, sitting together eating – the leftovers went to the dogs

When asked, the children told us they loved the festivals – because they could run around playing all the time!

The cloth is made from cotton or silk and the patterns are very colourful. The only patterns forbidden are flowered ones, but solid reds and yellow colours are also avoided, because these are colours worn by monks.

The red figure to the right is an atsara (clown), who also contribute in keeping up the order and occationally gives a blessing with his wooden phallus!

When we arrived, there was not much room for sitting close to the dancers…but some shots are acceptable. I spent most of the time helping little old ladies and children to a better view. And taking in the atmosphere!

There are many kinds of mask dances, but I remember clearest the one preparing you for the meeting with fearful creatures the first 49 days after you die. This dance will help you facing them without fear.

There are many pieces included in the dress code, but a very significant part is the scarf: Ordinary male citizens wear a kabney of unbleached white silk, but there are different colours for different ranks. The king, for example, wears saffron. The women wear a cloth sash called a rachu over their left shoulder.

If you look closely, you will see that it is very often the men who are taking care of the little children, carrying them or holding them. Bhutan is very particular about equality.

The Buthanese believe they will create merit by attending the tsechus and watching the ritualized dances. They share their food, exchange news and are surrounded by Buddhist teachings. The highlight is the unfurling of the thondrol, a giant thangka, before sunrise the last day. It is believed that your sins are washed away upon viewing this.

The monks have their own seats, close to the dancers.

Unfortunately we were not at the festival on its last day – so my sins are still with me…

Varekai – Cirque du Soleil

8 september, 20178 september, 2017 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

Ever since I first saw Cirque du Soleil on TV…I have wanted to see them. And I did, some years ago. And, I was not disappointed.

This year they were back in Malmö, with astonishing Varekai – Tales of the Forest. With that title, I was already mesmerized. And the story of Icaros is a story I read as a child as well as a grown-up. These old stories always teach us about life – and for making the story come alive, I cannot think of a better way than this – Cirque du Soleil!

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/varekai

No flash or filming allowed, so these are the posters, and in the header, the scene before opening. The Forest, dense with trees, and the staircase leading up to a path under the ceiling.

Icaros falls to the ground, in the Forest on top of a volcano. All the creatures living here…can make anything happen…

Founded in 1984 in Canada, they tour the world every year and their success and their prizes are innumerable. If you have not seen them before…I urge you to go. It is the ultimate art performance. The ultimate dresses, make up, music, acrobatic stunts, stories and… Life!

Thursday Thoughts – Jokkmokks Marknad -412 Years Old

16 februari, 201717 februari, 2017 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

”Jokkmokk’s Market has a long history and is considered to have a four hundred-year unbroken tradition. Permanent marketplaces near the Sámi’s winter settlements were established by the Swedish crown at the beginning of the 17th century in all the Sámi Lappish territories on both sides of the Gulf of Bothnia. The purpose was to strengthen the state’s control of the population in the north as well as to collect taxes, hold legal court and spread the Word of God. Planning a market in the Lappish territories during the coldest time of the year had several advantages. The Sámi were gathered in their winter settlements in the forest area with winter grazing for their reindeer and the frozen waterways constituted magnificent roads for the merchants, state officials and men of the church.”

http://www.jokkmokksmarknad.se/visitors/history/

”Renrajden” is every year led by Per Kuhmunen and his family. It takes at least a year to tame the reindeer as much as needed to follow their leaders through the market place and let people touch them. At the Snow Scene in the middle of the market place, they sometimes let themselves be interviewed and photographed in the traditional Gákti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A1kti

His wife makes all the beautiful clothes for the family…

…but now the older children make their own Sámi clothes

Once in a while Per might say a word or two…but must be coaxed into it…

Not many words from his wife either. I guess that is the way of northeners.

The Sámi people have always led a harsh life, and today they also have problems with the global warming that hits hard up north. As the weather wavers between warm and cold, the ground will get icy and the reindeer cannot find food enough. Last year some 30000 reindeer starved to death in northern Russia.

Per Kuhmunen and his family comes back every year to Jokkmokk’s Market. Today they are met by film cameras and ordinary cameras, radio and TV. But they seem to enjoy it.

Between Old and New.

Travel theme: Paper

26 december, 201626 december, 2016 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

For PR – promoting things, like Lars Wallin clothes, we still use paper…

Writing novels, short stories and poetry…

Writing other important, or less important, messages…

Milk Maid Made in Sweden (out of milk packages)

Art and documentation – Photo after Pinatubo’s eruption

Paper craft…

Information and news…

…and for candy bags of course…

So, except for wrapping paper, these were a few more I found in my pockets, for Ailsa!

Camilla Thulin – Wear, If You Dare!

8 juli, 2016 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

This rainy day was made for an outing – with darling Viveka at myguiltypleaures. She can make any day shine… We decided for Dunkers and the famous designer Camilla Thulin.

Dunkers

Camilla Thulin loves luxury ”second hand” and started collecting clothes and accessories at an early age. Today she is a famous fashion designer and her clothes are worn by actors as well as singers and other people in the Swedish world of artists.

She also has her own name in fashion and in the world of classy underwear.

The definition of ”Kaftan”, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a man’s long belted tunic, worn in countries of the Near East. It could also mean a woman’s long loose dress, or a loose shirt or top.

She started collecting folklore when she was 14

Details in a Chinese jacket

Camilla Thulin declares her fascination for this garment, and in the exhibition hall there are kaftans of her design as well as kaftans from her own collection of second hand and folklore clothes from Morocco, Turkey and Palestine, among others.

Details of belt

Kaftans can be worn by both women and men

For the scene, her collection is vast – some examples are ”Piaf”, ”Evita” and ”Amadeus”.

In an earlier post, I mentioned her clothes for Army of Lovers. In this Dunkers’ exhibition there was also a dress made for our Swedish jazz singer, Lisa Nilsson, worn at the Crown Princess’ wedding.

Army of Lovers

Peep inside the studio – what might it look like inside the creative Camilla’s headquarters?

Camilla Thulin shop online here. http://www.camillathulin.se/

Designers and Designs for Swedish Artists

27 juni, 2016 / Leya / 30 kommentarer

Last week I went to a local museum to see a travelling exhibition with some of our famous designers’ clothes made for Swedish artists and singers.

Katarina de Bourg made the clothes for our young Japan export – Yohio. His androgynous style is not as popular here as in Japan, where he is a big star. He is greatly influenced by the Japanese genre visual kei.