Some memories from a beautiful city – starting with Chihuly of course!
It was also wonderful to photograph something for my uncle’s wife, Ann-Marie. She and my uncle, Kurt, lived over there for 17 years, mostly in Houston, Texas, but they got married in Seattle. At the World Fair in 1962, Kurt hosted the Swedish section, and met some famous people (like Robert Kennedy…) – I don’t know if he met Elvis, but I saw photos of him too at the inauguration of the Space Needle.
I know the young couple tried the monorail, which is still there today, but I could not find the exact place for the Swedish pavilion.
The more I visit cities with high rise buildings and skyscrapers, the more I use B&W. But Pike Market had to be featured in its own colours!
I loved especially the fish market, where fishes were thrown out to the buyers – from one hand to another. A merry market indeed!
Finally something seen from the Space Needle,
and from above the harbour area with all its piers.
I loved the view of the Seattle Great Wheel (opened in 2012) and its surroundings. In morning haze and B&W it emitted the atmoshere of an old movie.
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
– Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Sofia challenges us with primary colours. I realise that I seldom – or never – use these colours. Not in my home, not in my clothes or presents. Not much in my paintings, but in photos!
My first associations with primary colours are grounded in their old meanings. I know there is a whole science about this, but my grandmother taught me: Red for roses and love,…
…Yellow for the sun and for Autumn to come.
Blue for the blue hour, the blue sky and sea.
A perfect combo for me would be a picture like this – in muted, soft primary colours. Because My greatest love lies in the seconday colours: orange, green and violet. A ”mixed” person? Maybe. And – who are you in colours?
In daily life, red and golden yellow is also significant for Christmas…
…and for old time fairs and celebrations.
In some countries red is the colour to get married in…
…come rain come shine.
In Prague I found this colourful and patterned couple. Not on their way to church…I think.
In China, yellow was only for the emperor, and still yellow, blue and red seem to be the preferably used colours in their art works. Yayoi Kusama, Japan, is an avid user of primary colours as well – but with dots.
Swedish summer means much of the colour blue – but not this year…rain and wind were the primary ”colours” for our three summer months, June, July and August.
And soon, the cold, blue winter nights are awaiting.
Finally, Ukraine and Sweden have the same colours in their flags. A fact we are reminded of every day. Freedom is the difference. May it come to all of us – to stay.
This week Sofia invites us to play with primary colours. Red, Yellow, Blue. You can pick one colour or show us examples of all 3, separately or together. Looking forward to seeing your replies! Please link back to Sofias original post and tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.
Last week it was all about Faces in the Crowd with John’s challenge. So many fun expressions and creative approaches for this theme. Next week, Anne will be our host with Black & White and Monochrome. Please visit her lovely site and be inspired to join us, Saturday 2nd of September. Until then, be nice and take care.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
These four – two girls and two boys…were my teenage idols. So, when in Stockholm we had to visit the ABBA museum.
I don’t think they need any further presentation…
Of course the fanatic fans get their oxygen from here, but we ordinary admirers found it both interesting and fun. This is only a very small piece of what the museum has on display.
Their usual brand was also imprinted in the museum – well organized to the tiniest item.
My dear friend Viveka (of Myguiltypleasures) and I went to Wanås Castle – we usually do once a year. And we enjoy the art and our delicious meal, chatting along together.
If you like outdoor exhibitions – and surpises – let’s go!
Carola Grahn is the new artist this year, and she deals with Sami art and beliefs.
The giant boxes with logs at the entrance were impressive, but then the glassed wall was our first stop – at the sight of the blue mountain.
This is a rather impressive size of art work for the little pond, but we liked it. You can read about the artist’s idea below in the gallery.
The natural theme as well as the Sami connections were ever present. The ”building” made of birches shows a free interpretation of a sign on a Sami sacred drum.
Thank you for being our lovely company here at Wanås, and hopefully you want a new tour next year!
The Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul is a neo-Gothic church in Vyšehrad fortress in Prague. It was founded in 1070–1080, and in 2003 the church was elevated to basilica by Pope John Paul II. Behind the church is located a large park and Vyšehrad cemetery, which is the final resting place of more than 600 distinguished Czechs, including the composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.
I love walking in cemeteries, and today I want to walk this beautiful cemetery again, with you. I found some very special statues and monuments that really caught my attention. Some serene, some rough and some more strange than others. In fact, so strange that I could hardly believe I was in a cemetery.
It is not a big cemetery, but on some stones there were familiar names of famous people. Kaja Saudek was one of the most influential cartoonists in the Czech republic and was called the ”King of Czech comic books”. Dvořák and Smetana both had beautifully. ornamented headstones.
The strange woman statue leaning forward was made by the reputable Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek. The fallen eagle was spectacular – but who would want it on a grave? I found out that Josef Suk was the grandson of Antonín Dvořák. I loved his beautiful broken violin.
I so enjoyed strolling here again, I hope you did too. This is a very special place indeed, and the church door in the header belongs to this basilica.
I do think the most ”normal” in this cemetery was this lovely lady tending to a grave.
This week we are honoured to have Siobhan from Bend Branches as our host, and she invites us to share those special, glowing moments in our lives.
Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for other’s good, and melt at other’s woe.
– Homer
Now I will share some of my glowing moments with you. Some are literally glowing…some of them yearly glowing, and some are for once in a lifetime.
The glowing reeds on a warm summer’s night – a treat every year at our summer house. The warm wind and the soft sound of the waves, the mosquito bites and Milo taking the last swim of the day.
Another way of glowing is the wine in my garden – a treat to the eye.
Spring! A glowing moment every year, and without it, life would be rather miserable.
When you have light in your mind, you shine. When you have light in your heart, you glow. When you have light in your soul, you rise.
― Matshona Dhliwayo
Some people stay with you forever…especially old people who have been through the ups and downs of life, and then share their wisdom with us. They make their golden years a gift to others as well. This is Stig, the father of my childhood friend. He was always funny and clever, wise and sweet…and I bet you can see it in his eyes as he is smiling over the reading table.
Another golden moment was when Milo moved in with us – who could resist those eyes? I still can’t…
Te Matua Ngahere
New Zealand was full of glowing moments, but maybe the most spectacular one was the first time we met one of the endemic Kauri trees in their North Island forest. We could not even see the top of the tree in the dense forest – only the gigantic trunk. Majestic, and holy to the Maori.
When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things – not the great occasions – that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.
– Bob Hope
Late evening in the orchid meadow. I visit every Spring, and lying down on the sun warmed boardwalk, looking up at the sky – are moments to treasure.
The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase.
– Hugh Walpole
There was a special glow that day, when this little lady made her entrance into this world – and the contact between her and her father was instant and loving. Every moment with her is golden. But I guess it is the same for every grandmother!
So, now we are looking forward to seeing your own glowing moments! Be sure to link your contributions to this post and include the Lens-Artists tag.
Special thanks also to Donna of Wind Kisses for her “It’s Tricky” prompt last week. So many fun and “tricky” photos, including reflections, artistic effects, and different perspectives. It’s great to practice thinking outside the box!
Next week, Tina of Travels and Trifles will be our host, so be sure to visit her site and enjoy her amazing photography.
Every day there are new experiences, but some days there are fantastic new experiences. Looking forward to that experience can create overwhelming feelings, and even more so when the experience is something you wished for but thought would never happen.
Anne went to Australia and had a long wished for photographic tour with Leanne Cole. An amazing adventure! I too have chosen a dream come true – The Amazon Forest and the Galapagos Islands. In 2016 we left Sweden for the great adventure. Here – some memories from the Amazon.
Arriving at the lodge!
We went to Ecuador, lived in the jungle for a week and then sailed the Galapagos Islands. Every day was an adventure, something I had dreamed of since I was a child. To fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle, to walk high above the gigantic canopy of trees… fighting mosquitos in the morning, but wow, these are unforgettable memories.
Trees are a passion with me, and at Sacha Lodge on the Napo River, I lived my dream in every moment. The birds, the flowers, the hilarious monkeys shouting through the jungle while jumping over our canoe. And, watching the sunset over the Amazon from a Kapok tree, to all the sounds of the jungle – is hard to beat.
From the canopy down to the forest floor, everything was fascinating. The night walk was intense…no light, only sounds. Our excellent guide knew where to look, and he spotted Tarantulas, lizards, snakes and frogs – effortlessly. We were so impressed, but of course – he grew up in the jungle and was well acquainted with every creature there.
Every day we spent many hours in the canoe, ”looking for anacondas”, but we felt (rather…) safe. Immersed in the dense jungle and its many sounds, I just wanted to stay forever.
When we returned home in the evenings we always felt we’d been blessed with new, exciting experiences. I wished we could have stopped the time there for a while.
But today, your challenge is to show and tell us about a new experience You had. It could be a trip, the birth of a child or grandchild, a road trip to a new place, the possibilities are endless. Please link to Anne’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
We all enjoyed your responses to Sofia’s challenge of Spring. Your beautiful images made us all long for spring wherever in the world we live. Next week, April 1, Donna Holland will be challenging you so …Be ready for anything! Go to her lovely site for more inspiration.
Thank you to this week’s host, Anne, for encouraging us to share our New Experiences. Visit her site to see photos from her travel to Australia. Amazing!
Interesting in joining the Lens-Artists Challenge? Click here for for information.
I was happy to see that my cheering up post made more than me happier! So, my Thursday Thoughts will be all for cheering us up in gloomy January. Here we go!
And More!
This gallery was made up by pictures from 2011-2015, June and July. I just flicked through them, and picked those that went straight to my heart. Enjoy! Maybe you want to try the same remedy?
Amy is our host this week, and she hopes we will share our joy and pleasure of visiting/climbing mountains. I know many of us are mountain lovers, so we are looking forward to seeing your responses! Be sure to link to Amy’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
In the mountains, there you feel free.
– T. S. Eliot
Let’s start close to home, in Scandinavia, with green summer mountains…
…blue glaciers and
mocca coloured, volcanic Iceland. They are calling to me with their special light and fresh air.
The Canary Islands offer more than beaches, we usually hike the mountain areas. Pico de las Nieves in the faraway clouds, and the pinnacle in the middle is called Roque del Fraile (monk)
On top of the world is the Himalayas, an impressive mountain range. Here seen from northern Bhutan.
More from the Himalayas, now seen from the Tibetan Plateau, where we went by train to Lhasa.
A holy lake in Tibet. The landscape is vast and it took some time for my son to walk down to the water. Lower mountains here, but still impressive. The clouds seemed to hang right above us, almost touchable, and the contrasts were bright in the thin air. This is about 3000-4000 meters above sea level.
The mountain meadows of Switzerland are a haven of summer flowers in July. I think this image shows the essense of this week’s challenge – “The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir
Hiking mountains is so much more than the spectacular views – it is meeting other hikers, photographing flowers, animals, and different landscapes.
Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.
― Jeffrey Rasley
Many of us seek the mountains to be alone. To shut out the world and just BE. Silence is rare in this world.
Go where you feel most alive.
– Unknown
So, mountains are calling me because of their beauty, for peace of mind and soul…for moving my body at a pace that suits me, for spending time in the glory of nature. And for photography.
I will finish with other ways of loving mountains… bungyjumping, kiteflying, skiing, rafting, aso…today there are endless activities to try in the mountains if hiking is not your thing. In New Zealand you can get it all.
I cannot thank you enough for last week’s explosion in flowers! You sent us just what I had hoped for – an abundance of glorious flowers! For once, you could indulge in lovely flower images without regret (!), and many of you pointed out the impossibility in chosing favourites – because we love them all! ♥
Next week, John will host LAPC #223. Be sure to visit his site for loads of inspiration. Until then, stay safe and be kind.
Do you love walking in bazaars or flee markets, or just window shopping? Something found in your grandmother’s closet? Second hand is very popular in the Nordic countries right now. Do you find museums intriguing? Or, maybe like me, you love special, surprising finds in nature? I am sure you have something hidden in your archives that once surprised you or filled you with awe…
We will be happy to enjoy your finds this week! And, maybe there is a story too…?
In the header my image shows some lovely hats found at Tjolöholm Castle. I love hats…unfortunately I don’t look that good in them – but I still buy one now and then.
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. – Hubert H. Humphrey
A shopping window in Gdansk. Too many things…but one of my best friends had pugs. Many pugs. I’d like to think she would have loved this one. Had she still been here, I might have bought it for her.Of all possessions a friend is the most precious. – Herodotus
A mobile made of 9 porcelain birds…not easily washed or handled, but it is still in one piece – or many pieces in one piece. It was given to me from my friend with the pugs – so you understand she is still with me, even if she has been gone for almost 8 years.If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. – Rachel Carson
This is a remarkable find. A moth that is disguised as a twig. Look at the little feet and you will find him – the other one is…a twig.
There is also a possibility that someone finds Me…
This beauty was a find in our summerhouse, last year I believe, or the year before. Look at the size and the intricate patterns woven. Nature’s masterpiece made by industrious wasps.A window on a backstreet in Rome made me stop and look, then the bird made me take out the camera! I still love this window…and I wonder who once lived there. Old Rome always fascinates.
A precious find was the statue of Gaudí, because I finally got the chance to ask him about his art and why he stepped out in the road and was hit by a tram. Why? We would have loved him to stay and finish so many other architectural pieces…
Special thanks to Amy for last week’s happy sunshine! A bright and positive theme with many beautiful images.
Now we are looking forward to your favourite finds! Be sure to link your post here and don’t forget the tag, so we can find you in the reader.
For next week, September 3, John will be our host, and his theme will be: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…and the places they take us to visit.
Leya 
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