In Nice we also found the most beautiful olive grove, with the old old trees standing silent and impressive.
The Olive tree is one of the most beloved, sacred trees and its place is firmly rooted in Ancient Greek tradition and mythology.
Traditionally, the Olive tree is a symbol of peace and friendship, this association began in ancient Greece, as early as the fifth century.
We constantly hope for peace in this world. During this silent walk, some rays of sun hit a friend (a palm tree?) in one of the trunks in quite a spectacular way – and it felt almost like a sign. May peace come to us all – soon.
John leads us this week, and wants us to share three or four favourite photos before and after editing. It is amazing what we can do with everything from cropping to AI! Maybe editing is not my favourite thing, but in order to be happy with our photos, I think most of us do something – like increasing light or cropping.
John’s challenge was just in time for my biggest photo project ever – scanning and editing our old slides. Trying to bring back the feeling I and my husband had when we took the shot is not easy. I have started with Greenland from 1982. I guess there are software better for this task than what I have, but I will use the tools I have available. Which also tells that these photos are not favourites, but works in progress…
I always start in LR. Here I raised the exposure and added a mask for brightening of some shadows, then I reduced noise and haze. I always reduce highlight and raise the white. Then it is time to remove spots – and the slides have MANY spots. So, I will not repeat this sentence for the rest of them. Unfortunately the sky could not be altered smoothly, so I left it the way it was.
LR again, exposure up and shadows. Then masking to adjust the darkest parts, and after that, some noise reduction. I also raised the texture a bit for the beauty of the mountains. The sky was not a happy one, nor was the greenish snow on top, so I tried a new sky to match the ground colours, and reducing the saturation of green.
Some of the slides – quite many in fact, has got a thin blue line somewhere in the picture. Raising the exposure also revealed how hopeless the look of little me is here. So I removed myself as well. (That would be a useful possibility in real life too…) Photoshop is better than Lightroom to remove things you don’t want in the picture. Then back to LR and a reduction of noise and saturation (or sometimes an increased saturation) of yellow, green, blue and orange.
This looked a rather gloomy valley, but was one of the pictures I was quite happy with after editing. Maybe because there was no need to do much. Highlights and shadows adjusted, I reduced the haze a bit and calibration of the colour blue to deepen the overall colours. In PS I changed the sky, which I think lifted the whole landscape.
Finally – I would be grateful for any tips and tricks from anyone who has edited old slides!
John asks us to feature three or four images in our gallery that we tweaked for whatever reason as well as the original image straight out of the camera.
Last week, Sofia challenged us with Water in Motion – a delightful theme for all of us, with varied and creative answers! Next week, Donna of https://windkisses.com/ will host the challenge. Please visit her lovely site for inspiration, and you can find more information here if you want to join the fun.
We finally decided to get a DigitDia to be able to see our many travels from the 1980’s and onward on the computer. We started yesterday with Greenland, of 1982. Here are some of the first photos from that trip, taken with a Konica and Kodachrome 64. And yes, it is a young Ann-Christine sitting there, 42 years ago.
We went to Narsarsuaq and expected a beautiful country with untouched nature. The viking, Erik Röde, arrived here in the year 982, so 1982 was the year of celebrating 1000 years of ”discovery”. The Inuits had been here for long, but as usual – the white man ”discovers”… Erik called it ”Greenland” to get followers to settle here. And yes – it was more green than I had thought.
I know I have written these words before – but I never wanted to leave and go back home. The air was extremely clear and fresh to breathe, the nature was amazingly beautiful and the water – was the most fantastic of all. I brought back two big bottles from the glacier streams. I drank one of them, the other one was saved for a long time… It felt like the water of Life.
I am happy. I will be able to easily relive our old travels. Egypt, Nepal, Peru…I hope to post some of them this year.
Sofia gives us a beautiful challenge this week – Water in Motion. Please visit her inspirational site for more information. I will borrow Sofia’s quote to start with… because it went straight to my heart.
There’s something about the water – that solitary kind of peaceful feeling. You’re on Earth but not quite. – John C. Reilly
Water is essential to life on Earth. I wish everybody would understand that, and work together to save it from the ongoing pollution and destruction. A simple thing like never throwing anything into the water that does not belong there, would help.
Water in Motion – yes, in many ways – and most of us find it intriguing to watch it and to listen to it – let’s start slowly the natural way…
The gentle murmuring of the levada water along the paths in Madeira. Natural Mindfulness.
And water invites birds and insects to dance, eat and thrive – which leads us humans to thrive as well. I miss the walks in Madeira, a favourite place for many years when we were younger.
The waves rolling in from the sea – a soothing and mindful sound too, even if I am not a real sea person. I believe you cannot be unless you were born or have spent much time close to the sea.
Water is of course moved by the sea living creatures too. In Alaska the seals and sea lions came up real close, catching their daily meal while stirring up water swirls.
Pattering rain against the window – that is a great sound! I can lie on my back in the glasshouse and listen to the rain while looking up at the sky – without getting wet! A privilege to be grateful for. I love to fall asleep to that sound.
When we were hiking in the Azores, 2007, we found this magical valley of nine streams, hidden in the forests of the island of Flores.
From slow streams and soft waves to explosive Geisers – a massive treat of water. This one was found in Iceland.
Another way of moving water is the warm haze rising from the hot Geiser, or from the ground.
More natural water from a singing stream in a Swedish spring forest. Soon we will be there!
Now we are arriving at the manmade waters in motion – irresistible for the little ones. And, in later years of increasing heat, also for grown-ups.
In Denmark we once visited a spectacular art exhibition in the old water tunnels below Copenhagen.
Finally – fountains spreading their Christmas glory.
This week we’re looking for Water in Motion, gentle or powerful, man-made or natural, the choice is yours. When you join us, please remember to link back to Sofia’s post and to tag Lens-Artists. Looking forward to seeing your finds!
Last week we had a wonderful challenge led by Tina, with fantastic photos of people from around the world. A truly inspiring theme!
Next week it is John’s turn to lead. Make sure you visit his site for another remarkable challenge, Saturday 6th April. Until then, take care and be kind.
In Menton we knew there should be an exotic botanical garden hidden down a stone path. After some wrong turns and false directions – we finally found it. The path had a glorious ceiling of big palm trees and bamboo. Follow me down to the garden! You will not regret it.
Indeed it was lush and exotic, and the number of plants and paths were overwhelming. Citrus everywhere, Spanish moss, Tillandsia – and plants I had never heard of – among them Buddhas Hand and a funny plant called Napoleon’s Hat. I hope the pictures will speak exoticly to you!
Leaving was a bit sad. This was a very special place with much positive energy. Recommended!
Tina leads this week, with the theme People Here There and Everywhere. At first, I too was a bit lost…I don’t do portraits or people. But, if I can picture people at work or on festivities, I am OK with it. Sometimes I ask them, but that is only when I meet people of foreign cultures. Very foreign. They don’t get offended and sometimes they even like it.
Since I don’t have many people portraits, I am afraid I have posted all of these before. I hope you will enjoy them anyway.
This lovely man in Thimpu, Bhutan, let me take a couple of photos of him – but when I showed him the results, he did not want to keep the close-ups… Some children where playing by the road, so I asked them what the old man was saying. They told me he thought his nose was too big! In Ecuador, the people were so lovely and smiling. Maybe because it was festival times? These beautiful ladies were singing and dancing in the street in Quito, Ecuador. We also met Miss Quito and her partner, who didn’t mind having their photo taken – we were many tourists with our cameras up in the air. My husband of course photographed the lovely lady…and as you can see, the young man gave me a nice smile.
Our main goals in Ecuador was Galapagos, the Napo River and the Amazon basin – and Fausto was our favourite guide. He was born and raised in the jungle, and knew everything about living here. Hunting, tracking, making fire, cooking food. On instagram I found him with a big anaconda around his neck…
From South America to Morocco and the market in Marrakesh – Djeema el Fna. It is one of the oldest markets in the world. Many people, many faces. An overwhelming and unforgettable experience.
Back in Europe and Lodz, Poland. She came walking down the street, and I immediately loved everything about her. The clothes, the colours, the ring on her left hand – you could see that she once was a beauty. I think she still was. When I looked at the photo afterwards, I saw the shadow in the street on her right side – is it her left, fallen off, piece of the sunglasses?
Knitting ladies in a market in Lhasa, and debating monks at the Sera Monastery. Tibetans doing their daily chores. The ladies were happy to show me their knitting technique and I showed them mine. The monks, I think, debated heavily just to show off for the tourists…
The best thing is when the pictures tell a story – so above I have presented a mixed gallery from some of my China travels. Chinese people seen on an ordinary walk – dancing, posing, playing, eating and getting married. And red is the festive colour. I was greatly impressed by the many outdoor activities, and so many elderly people playing and dancing! Very active and agile. I wish we could be like that in Sweden too. Dancing in the park every day – wouldn’t that be great?
This last gallery tells a multitude of stories – the big story of the pilgrimage and the end of a long, strenous walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Happy and exhausted they rest, alone, but together – each one with his or her own story as a piece of the big puzzle. I loved listening to those stories, and most people willingly shared them with us. I still dream of doing that walk…for peace in mind, body and soul.
Back in Sweden again, a silhouette of one of my best friends, a late summer evening by the lake.
So this week, our challenge is to share images of people we’ve captured along the way. Remember to link your responses to Tina’s original post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag.
Sincere thanks to all of our followers for joining us, and to Patti for last week’s wonderful Cityscape challenge. We all got an amazing world tour through your responses! Next week Sofia leads us once again on her beautiful Photographias site. Until then please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the journey.
Leya 
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