Winter – One single day…

23 november, 2015 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

So, Winter decided to pay us a visit – for one day. 40 cm snow yesterday night – rain again tomorrow…I keep an eye on the weather report at least three times a day, so I knew. Clear sky today and about 5-15 degrees below zero.

Starting out early for the sunrise – very cold. 15.5 degrees below zero.

I was alone up at Hovdala, and nobody had walked the path since the snow – so I got warmed up…

I was lucky to get white frost as well, and no wind.

On walking back I decided to take the road further on instead of the untrodden path. Now the soft, pink light arrived in full splendour.

After two hours, I was heading back to my car, even if I could have stayed longer, I was getting hungry…and my plan was to stop at the wetlands at Magle as well. It took me some 15 minutes and finally some help from a kind man (whatever he did driving out here in absolutely nowhere) to open the frozen door. Unfortunately I had locked it – which was a bad idea in this cold weather. (How unused to this am I…? No snow at all last year)

I went to Magle as well – and saw the fog rising from the water, the swans and ducks slowly floating in the shimmering water, and the frosty herons flying low.

This was a magnificent day, made possible by weather gods and my year off. I’ll save the shining Magle post for a rainy day…

#242 Reseminnen – Travel Memories (349/365)

22 november, 201523 november, 2015 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Från min senaste resa till Kina och flodfärden på Yangtsekiang, kommer jag för alltid att bära med mig minnena från Water Village. En resa in i det gamla Kina, sinnebilden av kinesisk tradition, konst och måleri, ja även poesi. En oförglömlig vandring i en gången tid. Om du är intresserad kan du gå till hela inlägget. Klicka på länken under bilden.

From my latest trip to China and the Yangtze River, there is one memory that will never be erased – the day we visited Water Village. This day was a hike into the heart of Old China. The essence of every art form, be it painting, writing, marriage traditions… Unforgettable, true beauty.

If you want to know more, click here for the full post.

If you want to know more, click here for the full post.

The Colours of China

5 november, 20157 november, 2015 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

I am very grateful that this was my fourth time in Beijing – the weather made the Great Wall almost invisible. The autumn colours – that’s what I had been waiting for, and they were there…somewhere in the fog and drizzle.

My last visit was an early morning some years ago, and the Great Wall emerged in all its splendour in the morning haze.

…this time

the most colourful things were all the umbrellas. It takes some imagination to see the colourful surroundings here, but on our way down, the fog decided to reveal some of its secrets.

A small glimpse of jewellery …

…before settling again.

This drizzle followed us and haunted us for many days – but I found other things than landscapes to shoot…and the one day on the Yangtse River with the most spectacular views…the sun came through. And not a wind.

CFFC: Sense of Smell

30 september, 201530 september, 2015 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

For Cee’s Sense of Smell, coffee would have been my first choice, then flowers and soft rain on leaves…but all of them nicely taken! So…another favourite of mine is this – biking home in late evening through fields full of delicious rolls.

Travel theme: Move

19 september, 201519 september, 2015 / Leya / 13 kommentarer

For Ailsa’s Travel theme this week – move – here.

Right now it’s harvesting time and the farmers are on the move – and so are many migrating birds and birds of prey. (On the photo a great kite) So…

…animals are my first thought when I hear ”move”… horses, yes, and…

…a newcomer like this little puppy is full of life and joy!

Or this newcomer, making me absolutely nervous…trotting away in the middle of all traffic. Didn’t move away from the cars…just kept walking…straight on…determined…

WPC: Monochromatic

12 september, 201512 september, 2015 / Leya / 23 kommentarer

Monochromatic for this week’s challenge – The Kelpies, Scotland.

More monochrome? Click here.

Frosty window, my home, Sweden

Hornborgasjön – and the cranes flying in the early morning

Duthie Gardens, Scotland

Mosquitos in the sunset, Sweden

After sunset, Blekinge, Sweden

Another Challenge

30 augusti, 201513 september, 2015 / Leya / Lämna en kommentar

A challenge from Otto vM…the idea is to break as many of these ”rules” as possible. Here’s mine for the try! Conclusion: It seems impossible to break them all in one photo…but many are possible.

1) Focus on the centre of interest.
2) Fill the frame with the subject.
3) Do not shoot between 10 am and 3 pm (the light is too harsh).
4) Don’t shoot against the light.
5) Hold the camera steady.
6) Follow the rule of third, e.g. 1/3 sky and 2/3 land or vice versa.
7) Obey the light meter.
8) Photograph children (or pets) at their own eye level.
9) Avoid lens flare when shooting against the sun.
10) Keep the camera level with the horizon.

Before I get to the challenge, I need to tell a saying we have in Scandinavia about the differences between the countries when it comes to rules. Do you know what separates Swedes, Danes and Norwegian from one another? The Swedes follow the rules, the Danes don’t give a damn about rules, and the Norwegians break the rules.

As the good Norwegian I am the challenge will be in accordance with my inherent being: How many of those previous mentioned rules can you break in one picture? Like last time, post a link to the photo here in a comment, and I will pick up the photo and showcase it in a later post.