Sweden

Lens-Artists Challenge #282 – Dramatic

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Patti leads the dramatic week!

”This week, we’re asking the question: what makes a photo dramatic? Maybe it is processed in black and white, or it has vivid colors. Maybe a person, place, or object is captured from a unique perspective or it is a macro shot.”

If you wish, explain why your photo is dramatic and what you did to highlight the drama. Be sure to link to Patti’s original post and include the “lens-artists” tag. 

Dramatic – much depends on light and darkness, some photos can be naturally dramatic, and to some I have added to the touch of drama.

This tree is a natural dramatic one. The human face between the trunks was so obvious, and the light perfect.

Art often shows dramatic scenes, be it in paintings, sculptures or any other art. Beautiful dramatic art can often be found in churches.

Can a picture of a flower feel dramatic? I think so. It is the mood in the picture, darkness and light, and the strong colours. I have darkened it some to enhance the back light even more.

Dramatic waters in Iceland are frequent. Right now there are a couple of eruptions going on as well. In fact the whole country is dramatic, so it is impossible to leave out from a gallery like this. Believe it or not – nothing has been done to this image. It was taken right out of the camera.

The south coast of Iceland, a winter’s day on the black beach.

Houses can also be dramatic. Especially abandoned houses. I guess it is the emptiness and the feeling of everything falling apart that does it. Or maybe all our memories of horror movies? The photo is untouched.

Another house is in the header/opener: the Dancing House in Prague with dramatic clouds, leaning lamp posts and people hurrying by.

If we continue with dramatic skies, and add some B&W – the drama will be complete. Silhouettes of cranes also add to the drama.

Drama in macro photography is not impossible. The light comes from our Christmas tree.

As trees and forests are my favourite subjects, together with flowers, I must post from the Dark Hedges too…maybe the most dramatic beech trees I know of. And so dramatic that I did not find it best to use B&W. As for Game of Thrones – I haven’t seen it.

Last week, the entire team invited you to share your favorites from 2023. What a treat for all of us. Thank you! Next week, it’s my turn, Ann-Christine/Leya, to lead, so be sure to visit my site next Saturday for some inspiration.

Until then, stay healthy, hopeful, and curious.

Thursday Thoughts – By the Sea

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Yesterday we decided to drive to the sea, as the cold has kept us mostly indoors for some days, -20 at home. When we approached the sea, the snow had almost disappeared. But not the cold …

Then the sun came out! Not the warming kind of course – but the cheering up kind.

We went for a short walk in the icy wind. There were not many birds to be seen, a couple of ducks and a lonely swan in the silent seascape.

Cold puffs rising from the water, gratefully breathing in the first rays of sun.

The next morning offered a glorious start of the day. Clear, pink skies and a windless scenery, land and sea in harmony.

We are so fortunate, that winter time we don’t have to rise early for the colours…because the sun will not be up until late. Around 8.30 now. Time well spent.

Thursday Thoughts – More from the Bergian garden, Stockholm

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The Garden was founded through a donation in 1791 by the historian and antiquarian Bengt Bergius and his brother Peter Jonas Bergius, a physician and scientist, for the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Strolling along the well kept paths and exploring the glass house was a great pleasure.

It was a perfect finish for our Stockholm visit this time. I wish I could have one of those gigantic lily pads in my garden…

Thursday Thoughts – ABBA

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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.

Home

And lastly, click the link to see their avatars in concert in London. We don’t plan to go, but we never say never…

Thursday Thoughts – The Royal (National) Library in Stockholm

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The Royal Library is Sweden’s national library and it opened in 1661. Besides being just that, a library, the RL is tasked with preserving and storing everything that is published in Sweden, whether it’s a school book, fashion magazine, a DVD movie, or a news bulletin broadcast on the radio. Its vast collection includes well over 18 million items, of which the oldest are over a thousand years old. The RL has been housed in its current location, in the middle of Humlegården park, since 1877.

We seldom visit Stockholm, but now so many years had passed, that we felt it necessary to go in order to keep up with the city’s changes. And, of course the National Library was on our list.

In fact I had never been to the National Library, so I was very excited to finally go. And even if I have been to more beautiful libraries, this one was serene looking and strict in its design.

The reading hall was spacious and bright, just the way I love reading halls to be, and the scientists’ reading hall had a lower ceiling and more comfortable chairs (of course). They were both inviting.

Walking down to the basement we were in for a surprise …none of us had ever heard of this…As we walked down the last stairs, we were even more excited. Codex Gigas, or the Devil’s Bible, was waiting for us.

Not great that it was taken in a war, but those were the days when such things happened in wars. (In fact, they still seem to do so…) If there are grades in Hell, maybe it was better to take it than to burn it. Anyway, we greatly enjoyed seeing this gigantic Bible and reading about it. It is an impressive book where each page measures 89cmx49cm, and the total amount of parchment leaves are 310. It weighs almost 75 kilos.

Interesting too is that this Bible contains not only the Holy Bible, but also other popular works, like medical works and an Encyclopedia. They were all written in Latin. Fascinating. Click the link on Codex Gigas above if you want to read more about it.