Travel

Lens -Artists Challenge #281 – Favourite Images of 2023

/ Leya / 102 kommentarer

As we enter the New Year we are excited to announce the Lens-Artists team will be expanding with the addition of two new members. Ritva of Ritva Sillanmaki Photography and Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes will be joining us. We know they will bring their marvelous photography, extensive travel experiences, and fresh insight to our weekly challenges. We are very much looking forward to having them on our team. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to them. Click on the links to Ritva and Egídio’s blogs at the end of today’s post to follow them and receive all of our upcoming Lens Artists challenges. 

Favourites can be favourites for different reasons. Some of mine are for their thought provoking aspect, some for loving memories and some for beauty and/or my admiration for the art created. And for Hope.

We went for some winter Exhibitions – Banksy among others. Shattered – maybe there is some hope still, for love and innocense…as the ripped artwork to the left becomes whole again. I like the way they are hung – in that order.

Prague in Spring, romantic places and romantic flowers bring hopes of yet another Spring to come.

Then summer arrives at home, with forest walks during soft nights. And, we had a wedding in June – bringing joy and laughter, hopes and dreams for the future.

Then, Autumn is coming …

with fruits and berries in our gardens. And before winter arrived, we travelled the Inside Passage to Alaska, starting in Seattle.

I liked Seattle – here some of Frank Gehry’s architecture and the train from the World Fair in 1963. Yes, it actually went in there…between the buildings.

Glaciers, forests, mountains, and beautiful mornings and evenings at sea – Alaska for me.

I will end my year with some beautiful and unforgettable gardens – Sofiero, Chihuly Glass and Butchart (in the opener/header). And books, and Milo, and a tiny clearing in the forest, with just enough room for a golden beech sapling.

I hope your new year has started out well, and that we’ll see you next Saturday when Patti leads!

Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com

Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com

Ann-Christine aka Leya of https://lagottocattleya.com 

John of https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com

Anne of https://annegeephoto.com (aka Slow Shutter Speed)

Sofia of https://photographias.wordpress.com 

Donna of https://windkisses.com 

Egídio of https://egidio.photography (aka Through Brazilian Eyes)

Ritva of https://sillarit.com (aka Ritva Sillanmaki Photography)

Lens-Artists Challenge #280 – Last Chance

/ Leya / 63 kommentarer

Tina is hosting this last challenge of 2023. In 2022 the Lens-Artists team introduced a ”Last-Chance” challenge. The idea was to post some images that never quite fit any of our 2022 subjects. Here are some favourites of mine that will get a second chance.

I must have flowers, always, and always.
― Claude Monet

In Rome the statues, in Paris the paintings, and in Prague the buildings suggest that pleasure can be an education.
― Caleb Crain

I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift.

– Dodinsky

The breath of winter holds a hushed enchantment, a captivating stillness.

– Anna Islington

The soul is healed by being with children.
― Fyodor Dostoevsky

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.
― Albert Einstein

Special thanks to all of you who helped us feel the Magical season is here – as your responses clearly showed! For me, that was a truly magical week!

And now, as we approach the close of 2023, the Lens-Artists team has an important change to announce. After having been an integral part of our team since its inception in June of 2018, Amy of Share and Connect will be leaving the team to begin an exciting new adventure. She and her husband will be traveling more extensively and making some happily-anticipated visits with family. We wish her all the best and look forward to her posts as she continues to respond to our challenges whenever possible.  Often – we hope!

We are also announcing that this will be the final Lens-Artists challenge of 2023. We will return on January 6 to begin the New Year with our traditional Favorite Photos of 2023. We look forward to seeing you all again then. In the meanwhile we wish all who celebrate the happiest of holidays as well as a peaceful and joy-filled 2024. 

Thursday Thoughts – The Butchart Gardens II

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

Of course I have some more memories from this beautiful garden. I hope you enjoy them too!

So, we are leaving the Sunken Garden and heading for the Japanese Garden. Often those gardens are my favourites because of their total harmony, and the impact that makes.

I also must post a piece of the Rose Garden and some glorious flower arrangements. We only got two hours in Butchart, so unfortunately I did not get all the time needed to take everything in and to photograph everything I wanted.

This tunnel was lovely, with roses on both sides and hanging flower baskets between every arch.

I love to see different flower arrangements, they are both eye candy and inspiration for any lover of gardens and flowers.

They excelled in using only one colour as well – 50 shades of green?

It was hard to leave this amazing place, but we were grateful to have got this opportunity. Before we went, I was afraid it might be the wrong season to visit – now I know it wasn’t!

The colour combinations were stunningly perfect. As were the different matching of shapes. Even the colour of the window fits in.

I know many of you have visited these gardens, and finally I did too. This must be one of, if not The, most beautiful garden I have ever visited. The Sunken Garden was an outstanding experience. We could not have had a more lovely finale for this cruising adventure. Thank you for joining me!

Thursday Thoughts – Back to Seattle

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

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.

So, Thank you, Seattle, for having us!

Thursday Thoughts – Icy Strait Point

/ Leya / 49 kommentarer

We had booked the world’s largest ziprider, but only my husband went for it – I read that my neck injury would not benefit from it. So, I enjoyed the landscape and environment instead – and took some photos of him coming down.

Amazing views from the top had me photograph a lot, and for once the weather was clear and sunny. The air fresh and cool.

For the ”bear walk” we were adviced to stay together in groups of ten, and to talk loudly. There was a ranger or two watching as well. The introduction though, was held by a Native Tlingit, and all profit went to their Hoonah community.

Some unspoiled wilderness was what we hoped for, and that was what we got. It wasn’t a long hike, because recent storms and rains had made fallen trees block the path in places. As there are more brown bears than people here (so they said), it would have been too dangerous to try.

The landscape was mostly open with sunny grasses and trees – but I must admit to not being totally relaxed during the walk. A week ago there had been a bear attack here. We have many brown bears at home too, but I never hike in their areas.

The beauty was overwhelming, and rather similar to our own mountain areas in Sweden. I loved every minute of this walk, and there was no wind, no rain.

Did I mention the zipride? Here we go!

And down at the beach, we strolled back to the ship, enjoying the abundance of wildlife – sea otters, seals, orcas and humpbacks. Even a squirrel. We saw a bald eagle nest too, but no eagle there now.

The sea creatures swam so close to the beach, there was no need for a boat trip to see them.

This was our most beautiful day in Alaska – and not only because of the weather. Thank you for coming along – sorry I couldn’t tell you how much fun it was doing the zipride…my husband was not impressed though. Too windy he said, and not being able to control anything. But he did it!

Thursday Thoughts – Skagway and The White Pass Railway

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

A lovely adventure – but tough taking pictures from the train. I had my camera ready for landscapes, but around one of the first bends – I saw a blackbear roaming the colourful grasses! We who were sitting on the right (right!) side of the train had a brief glimpse, but my camera was not ready for this. So, the black blob over there…is a bear. Believe it or not.

I enjoyed the wilderness and the colours, the fog and the random glimpses of blue sky.

The rivers and small pools of water brightened the views and so did the mountains with newly fallen snow.

Now and then beautiful gorges opened up – you had to have your camera well prepared…

And the old train picked up hikers along the trail too. A great service!

Luckily we were not supposed to cross this one…

…but it made for a couple of nice photos.

So, we arrived back in Skagway in one piece. The guide told us she had never seen a bear on this railroad trip before – so she was just as happy as her passengers were.

An amazingly beautiful and colourful trip, and an insight into the hardships of those times – the old path from the goldrush was still visible in some places.

Thank you for coming along on the train! So grateful for that black bear … it was the only Alaskan bear saw.

Thursday Thoughts – Glacier Bay and the Mendenhall Glacier

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

On the ship again – towards Glacier Bay. Lovely views of the skies and mountains.

It was of course cold close to the glacier, but well dressed it was no problem. It felt just like home.

When we reached the edge of the receding glacier, there was no clear sight, but it was ok. We don’t know, but maybe this was the last time for us coming close to a glacier – they are all receding and many are already lost. I am grateful to have walked quite some glaciers in my younger days. They are beautiful. I cannot bear the thought of my grandchildren never seeing one or walking one. It is unfathomable.

The beauty of snowcapped mountains – is still there though.

The Mendenhall is obviously a famous glacier, and we took the local bus in Juneau and walked the last miles to see it. The landscape is beautiful, but was almost invisible when we reached the glacier. We waited for some 15 minutes, and there it appeared through the fog. That’s the way of glacier areas. But, it is worth the waiting!

I love the bluish ice and the edges like melted chocolate. The exhibition inside the visitor center showed just how much the glacier has receded over the years – and now almost over the months…

The shining Nugget falls were quite spectacular and the stillness in the air was remarkable. Walking back again to catch the last bus, we realised that the Mendenhall maybe looked its best from a distance.

Thank you for joining me on the glacier tour!

Lens-Artists Challenge # 272 – Billboards and Signs

/ Leya / 56 kommentarer

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.

– Albert Einstein

John asks us to look for signs or billboards, they are everywhere. And, if you don’t capture images of physical signs, consider any photographs of metaphorical signs. Thank you, I will try a mix!

Let’s start with the season – not many colours yet, but enough to know autumn is coming..

Then some signs of power: a wall in Split, showing the old city map, and who built the city.

Another sign of power – a jaguar sitting on a Jaguar.

A gallery of different signs from our travels would be a good idea, but I haven’t got that many. Here are some signs I remember well though…

Signs from Madeira, China, Italy, Sweden, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Iceland, Alaska and Canada. Wondering about the toilet? It’s in The Elephant House in Edinburgh – the birthplace of the Harry Potter novels. (Not the toilets…) J. K. Rowling first wrote about him from a table in this café. The signs are from fans all over the world…And here is one of her own:

Hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.

– J. K. Rowling

I cannot leave you without two favourites from Tblisi, Georgia, a city with a warm heart for its stray cats and dogs. The dog house has got a feeding automat where you can put in some money and there will fall down dog food for the strays to munch.

We are looking forward to seeing your challenge response this week. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists so we can find you in the reader, and link to John’s original post.

Many thanks to Amy for hosting last week’s challenge, “Contrasts”, and thanks to you for creative and interesting posts! Next week, it’s Sofia’s turn. If you want to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Thursday Thoughts – Cruising

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

We left a sunny Seattle and sailed north to Ketchikan. A town with only 8000 inhabitants, but

– The Salmon Capital of the World.

And indeed we saw salmon…lots of salmon. The river was teeming with life, but fishing bears were not in sight, in fact that tour was cancelled due to heavy fog.

Instead we watched seals catching salmon when we walked along the charming Creek Streat.

The lovely old bus was a must photo.

And, of course we left the harbour in sunshine – we hadn’t seen a single ray earlier that day.