Warning – I do and always have…So, the night light carnival was absolutely mezmerising. Ever since I first read about dragons, I have loved them. My daughter played with dragons and built dragons instead of dolls or cars. I still love animated movies with dragons in them. Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki on Japanese myths of old) and How to Train your Dragon (charming and clever), both have much to teach us. Fun, inspiration and wisdom in one. I hope to see them again with little Myra.
Time for the Light festival then. Promenade des Anglais looked wonderful in the sunset. But now – let’s get started!
The Carnival King arrived in confetti showers. At least 10-15 meters tall. Impressive.
Then another king came along – you all know who he is!
This car was obviously every year in the parade. I don’t recognise the animals or drivers. Do you?
Now – my dragons! Some skilled building here and I don’t want to know how many hours’ work. Look at the details. He walked, moved his body parts separately, sent flames and smoke, and juggled artists from his neck and head.
We climbed down the stairs to see him from ground level too. What a treat! My little grandchild looked at the movie clip I sent, and was at first a bit scared, then fascinated. I hope she will love dragons too. My fascination still burns. It is good to keep the child in you even as a grown up.
For the first time we were there – and we went four different carnival days. All thanks to Viveka of Myguiltypleasures, who is a true ambassador of this carnival. If you want to see more from Nice – please visit her fantastic blog.
Enjoy a gallery from the Opening Parade, with the theme: Roi de la Pop Culture. Starting and ending with some great stars!
I too will enjoy a couple of holiday weeks, and celebrate Christmas with my family. Thank you for your lovely company and support throughout this year, 2023, and I wish, from the depths of my heart, that 2024 will be a more peaceful and loving New Year for our world.
John asks for faces in a crowd – not too easily done for a shy person like me. But, there are many alternatives for us too!
John points out that we might include examples from nature photography, pets, street photography, headshots, portraiture, fashion, sports, or wedding photography. And more.
To my surprise I found both old and new ones for this post. Here we go:
On Emma’s high school graduation day we finally spotted each other in the crowd!
Stockholm – at the market hall I spotted a happy young man running around with his sea creatures…
Jousting always gathers crowds of spectators, handsome horses and handsome men.
Good looking male lions…
Art… with legs, in Vilnius.
Mural art in Lodz, Poland.
Art in China – theatre and music along the Yangtse river.
Flower faces in Lund.
Animal faces – my Totti.
Strays in Thimpu, just outside our hotel. Very sweet and well behaved.
Lovely Bhutanese faces from the street, a famous traffic conductor and a family on pilgrimage.
– On their way to Tiger’s Nest.
Hungarian dolls in Budapest – faces in a crowd!
Your challenge this week is to share images featuring faces, in a crowd or standing alone, human or animal. Selfies are approved. We are looking forward to seeing your take on “Faces in the Crowd”. Don’t forget to link to John’s original post and be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists.
Sincere thanks to Amy for her challenge last week, “Frame your Photos.” Next week, Sofia will be our host. If you’d like to participate but aren’t sure how to get started, click here.
This week, we’re focusing on telling a story with photos. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can convey a story in one image; other times we need several. For this challenge, there is a limit of 5 photos per story.
My two stories are both from last weekend. Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day.
I believe they speak for themselves – without pictures of the young couple. Of all the games we played that day, the most precious one is catching the bridal bouquet. I don’t know about the custom in other countries, but in Sweden, catching it means you are the next one to get married!
Dancing around the maypole and playing games is always a treat for both young and old.
These pictures show Björnen sover, a singing game, used both as a round dance and a children’s song. The tune is a simplified version of the one used for Gubben Noak, published by Carl Michael Bellman, published in Songs of Fredman in 1792. According to Wikipedia, still today research hasn’t proved if Bellman wrote the tune or not. Since it became famous, the tune has been used for several different lyrics in the centuries since Bellman, including many children’s songs.
The game
One person is appointed bear, taking cover and pretending to sleep (in the middle).
Other participants walk around the ”bear” in a ring, singing Björnen sover (”the bear is sleeping”).
At the end of the song, the bear ”wakes up”, and begins to chase the other participants.
When someone is caught, he or she will become the ”bear” the next time. (as you can understand, in the end they will all be bears)
Because Russia and the USSR sometimes have been called the Russian Bear the term björnen sover (”the bear sleeps”) has in Swedish sometimes referred to times in international politics when Russia has attracted less attention, but not everyone is trusting them.
So, now it is your turn to tell a story in 1 to 5 photos. The story you tell is totally up to you. Document for example an event you liked, a meal you enjoyed or a visit to a favorite place. Share a photo that conveys an emotion, and show us a memory of a place, time or person. In your post, be sure to include the Lens-Artists tag and a link to Patti’s original post.
Last week Tina invited us to share photos of Spiritual Places. A special thanks to Tina for her inspiring theme, which generated your marvelous posts. I was especially touched by the images that honored Bren, a wonderful creative artist who recently died from cancer.
Now, a special announcement. We’re very pleased to tell you that once again 5 very talented photographers have accepted our invitation to host our July “Month of Guest Hosts” here at Lens-Artists. Be sure to visit their unique sites each week as they explore the following topics:
July 1 Ritva Sillanmaki asks us to explore INSPIRATION FOUND IN THE KITCHEN.
In August, the Lens-Artists team will be back. I, Ann-Christine, will be your host on Saturday, August 5. Look for my post on Leya at noon ET. And by then, this hectic time will be over and I am free to do some inspired blogging again. In the meantime, I am hoping that your July is relaxing and filled with inspiration for the July topics!
Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.
With the winter solstice, and these festive images, I want to thank you all for another year of sharing thoughts and musings! I am so happy and grateful that we have met and keep meeting here on WP. I hope to see you soon again…keep blogging!
Come join me on a Tivoli walk – and get some Christmas feeling!
They have everything here, theatre, music and dancing…
Play of water to Wiener music…
Nice people, good food and warm drinks…
And some Christmas trees!
I wish you all a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
This year the sun was shining and we spent a fine day together. Biking to a local greenhouse with an amazing bloom of cacti and geraniums. And millions of tadpoles – and a leech. I do love tadpoles, we always let some grow up in a big bowl, and then let them out when all four legs had arrived. A nature’s wonder. Leeches though…naaah. Not one of my favourites…
Thank you All in the blogosphere for helping us stay reasonably sane this year ♥ We made it so far, and I believe there is a light in the tunnel for 2021. Take good care of yourselves and each other – hope to see you soon again! – Ann-Christine
Early this morning, my mother unexpectedly passed away. This is the last photo, from August when we celebrated Emma turning 30. In the header, June this summer, Mother turned 85. Always a beauty, always shining, always funny, always – Always Mum.
Thank you for Everything. You chose such a beautiful day to leave us, warm and sunny, I believe the last day of summer. A day of no wind, of stillness and the yellow garden flowers glowing. But nothing can ever glow like You.
How frail is a life – yours went from laughing and joking on Monday, to gone forever Wednesday morning. Wherever you are now, I know your company is smiling.
Pick a word and illustrate it with a photo! This used to be a favorite challenge of mine when held by Paula of Lost in Translation. Unfortunately she is not running it anymore. So – how about a revival at Lens-Artists? It is easy: Choose one (1) word or more – choose all of them if you like! The words available are the following:
Comfortable
Growing
Tangled
Crowded
Exuberant
In the header – Comfortable? Yes! If you are safe and living in the Galapagos Islands!
Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home. – Michael Phelps
Gunnera
Growing
Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.
– Pearl S. Buck
19800 Cranes at Hornborgasjön, Sweden
Crowded
In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible. – Seth Godin
Double exposure from my windows to make tangled even more tangled…
Tangled
A word garden blooming within the tangled weeds. ― Jazz Feylynn
Holland, flower festival at Keukenhof
Exuberant
Exuberance is beauty.
– William Blake
Thank you for a marvelous response to Patti’s Everyday Objects – you really made us all open our eyes and SEE what we have around us!
A new announcement: We have the pleasure of having Rusha Sams of Oh the Places We See as guest host for September 5, #113. Be sure to visit her! Until then – stay well and safe, and be kind, to yourself as well.
Leya 
Du måste vara inloggad för att kunna skicka en kommentar.