Freezing cold – oh joy! And to finally see the sun is glorious. To be alone, walking and marveling about our glorious nature. How the birds can survive this cold and sleep gently on the ice. How the frosty grass meets the eye with its glittering diamonds.
Yesterday morning came without a wind. 11 degrees C and this photo is from a frosty walk about 9 a.m.
For more of minimalist, visit Where’s My Backpack?
I have been sitting in the darkness by the Christmas tree. It’s raining. Some days ago I went to see The Hobbit – the last movie on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. I enjoyed it even if there was too much war and fighting. A sad ending – of course. I was reflecting upon it, there, in the darkness.
I remember when I was young and read all his stories…just How Much I loved them. I think I still do. Black and white – not much grey. And, sometimes I still wish for a Magician to come and put everything right in this world…even if I know things will go wrong again – it’s human nature.
In order to restore my happy mood, I persuaded my children to watch The Intouchables (2011) with me. I love that movie, and I knew they would love it as well. It’s based on a true story, and its positive views and humour concerning the grim life we lead here on Earth cannot be overestimated.
From a dark and rainy Skane, Sweden, I wish you all a
To my help, I’ve had a little Magician of my own – Totti. Maybe that’s why you perhaps do not recognize him in this picture…
Yellow is a very strong and happy colour, life giving and stands for intellect. In some countries in the West, it’s representing cowardice, but in Old China it was the Emperor’s colour, the most beautiful and prestigious colour of all.
According to Wikipedia, the word ”yellow” comes from the Old English geolu, geolwe (oblique case), meaning ”yellow, yellowish”, from the Indo-European base, gʰel-, as the word yell; gʰel- means both bright and gleaming, and to cry out.
Wearing yellow though, is not easily done for everybody – but looks stunning on people with dark or tanned skin, and preferably, dark hair. Lucky you who can shine in this beautiful colour!
To me, yellow means sun, spring and autumn. And, of course, the yellow houses in Denmark! For more of Yellow, click here.
This is an interesting picture. I am intrigued by the pond. Is it man-made or is natural? And what secrets or enigmas does it hold deep down there under the surface? There is something intangible about that deep blue pond and its surface without any ripples. Of course, the blue colour is a reflection of the sky above, which only adds a dimension to the photo. The pond feels very deep, mostly because of the steep walls or rocks leading down into the pond. The palette of the photo is mostly blue and green, which creates a cool atmosphere. To me the photo is a little bit overexposed, which is particularly noticeable in the rocks. If you had darkened the photo a bit, it would have increased the feeling of mystery by making the blues of the pond go even darker. In addition, the rocks would have gotten a more correct gray tone. I like the way you have omitted most of the sky above the pond. It’s not important, most notably because without clouds it would have been quite boring. On the other hand, I am not so sure about the open space the positioning of the pond in the lower two thirds of the left side do for the composition. It feels not quite there and somewhat off balance. At the same time this open space emphasizes the mystery of the pond because it feels like it could drop down to unlimited depths. I wonder if some silhouetted branches sticking up from the lower left corner would have help the composition without destroying the mysterious feeling. Another thought: Since this picture is all about the mystery and the pulling of a deep pond – at least for me – I might have gone back and tried to shoot the same picture at dusk or during twilight. I think that would have enhanced that feeling of ambiguity.
Very good advice – of course, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity too. There were (unfortunately) no branches to bring into the photo, but I will certainly follow your advice about everything else. I’m glad you describe the mystery of the blue, deep water, and ways to enhance that feeling, because I was rather entranced by it.
Thank you for letting me in!
Freedom…a magical word. To those who live in countries with dictators, to those who live under dictators at home, to those who are chained to their jobs, to those who…
The word freedom I think belongs to those words that never will be worn out. Partly because there are so many ways of enterpreting its inner meaning.
When I think of freedom, in my life, I would say it means freedom of thought and freedom to live some days without any ”musts”. Those days are so precious…and without doubt, they are often connected to being alone, hiking and travelling. Travelling in a mindblowing book or travelling over geographic land and sea.
I will try to picture my Freedom, and I’m grateful to Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack, for being allowed and able to. I looked through pictures I thought would give me that feeling, and my final choices were these:
Lastly, hard to admit it, but…
I love seeing things from above, and the first picture is from my neighbourhood, Hovdala. The little toy tractor in the autumn harvest.
Rome and the view of the bridge leading to Castel Angelo.
In an aeroplane the view is of course even more impressive. The Alps make me long for snow this winter.
But, my all time favourite for this theme is of course this photo: https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/weekly-photo-challenge-the-golden-hour/
For more of the theme Above, click here.
Ailsa´s travel theme is Colourful, and this is exactly what we need at this time of the year – thank you! Here we go!
November. How dark can it get? The sadest month of the year up here – grey, foggy, drizzling, cold. Every day is a mental struggle. And I do. Struggle to cope with it.
In younger days I used to love Autumn. To snuggle up with a cup of tea and candle light. As the years go by, I find it harder every time to enjoy this season. And November is a month I would love to see wiped out of the calender.
I need light in my life. Tonight there must be some remedies…
Walking Totti in the drizzle – on the look out for some LIGHT and colour …Here we go!
A glimpse of bright green and yellow between the dark trunks lead me up to these beacons. The last months have been extremely warm in Sweden. Flowers are not totally lost and some trees are still wearing some green and yellow finery.
Mushrooms are always a joy, and these pretty ones grow en masse, sitting close to each other on the fallen trunk. Keeping warm. Snuggling up.
Looking closer, they are all little wonders. Like fancy fans or the soft ears of a cat.
Back home again I compare a golden leaf from Ginko Biloba to the mushrooms – they are very much…the same structure. When you come close.
I send you all some sunny Cheers – for you who are lucky to live in the light, and for the light that’s coming back to us next year!
Belonging could mean many things…For Ailsa, I had to think…
I guess you know by now that I love plants and flowers, trees and – Nature itself. Ferns are some of the very special species on earth and come in many different shapes. I love spring when they peek their curled heads up from solid ground, and I love to see them slowly unfolding their fascinating faces – always hidden in the shadows.
I grow ferns as pot plants to be able to love them through winter as well. And two winters ago I had one of my old dreams come true – I went with my whole family to New Zealand, the land of the silver fern. The koru (Maori for ”loop”) is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Maori art, and naturally I bought a koru pendant in jade for myself. I wear it with love, joy and pride. New Zealand will always have a special place in my heart.
So, my son, who works with graphic design, made this picture for me – I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Leya 
Hej! En fin möjlighet att få hjälp – tack på förhand! Jag önskar hjälp med hur man tar en sådan här bild. Det här är ett stenbrott i Blekinge, med underbart blått vatten och vackert formad “bassän”g. Jag kan inte förstå hur jag ska ta bilden för att bli nöjd. Hoppas på dina proffstips!
Ha en fin helg önskar
Ann-Christine
https://faialflores.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/the-old-quarry-iii/