LENS-ARTISTS

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #23: Celebration

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer
This week it is Amy hosting our challenge, and of course she takes us to colourful and festive Peru! The festivities now in Sweden is for celebrating Christmas, and it looks a bit different to colourful Peru…but as my family attended a julbord today, I thought you might want to tag along!

No Swedish-style Christmas is complete without a julbord buffet. If you didn’t grow up with the julbord tradition it may appear to simply be a buffet of everyday foods, but the julbord (literally ”Christmas table”) is dear to many a Swede’s heart.

 

 

Normally, what appears on the julbord are several standard dishes, divided into three courses.

The first generally includes a variety of pickled herring and cured salmon, the second is bread, ham, liver pâté, red beet salad, and cheese, and the final course is comprised of the warm dishes with Janssons frestelse, dopp i grytan, meatballs, sausages, pork ribs, and cabbage.

Pork is a significant element here – the julskinka, or Christmas ham, plays a starring role despite the fact it didn’t become common on the julbord until the end of the 1800s.

The Janssons frestelse is a more modern addition too – because of the late arrival of the potato. The recipe wasn’t published until 1940 but the casserole made-up of julienned potatoes, sliced onions, anchovy fillets and cream is a well-loved favorite at Christmas as well as other festive occasions throughout the year.  When our children grew up though, I had to use salmon instead. Today they both enjoy anchovy fillets.

Meatballs are another standard dish and everyone has their own family recipe. Swedish meatballs have become well-known with the world-wide phenomenon of Ikea. But generally speaking – nothing beats my grandmother’s recipe…

 

Another well loved tradition down here in southern Sweden, is to visit Copenhagen or Elsinore for the Christmas markets. We go every year – for the lights, the fun, the food. Next week – Copenhagen here we come!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #22: Happiness is…

/ Leya / 165 kommentarer

True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

 

In March this year, we traveled to a long dreamed of country, Bhutan. I had read some books in advance, and knew the Bhutanese values and their use of GNH (Gross National Happiness) instead of GNP to measure prosperity. Values that went straight to my heart.

– But then, what Is Happiness?

Let’s start off with something really tangible – according to John Gunther, All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast. And, I might agree…because what makes my mornings happy is a quiet room, a good newspaper (made of real paper…) and a cup of strong coffee with some warm scones.

So, this week’s Lens – Artists’ challenge is: Happiness is...and it is up to you to fill out that sentence! What is Happiness to you? It could be anything from a big ice-cream on a hot day to spending a glorious sunset with your loved one – or running barefoot in the rain.

If I try to pin down what Happiness really is to me –  what makes me warm inside and my eyes shine… it might look something like this:

Happiness is…photographing of course, but also…

c3b6ppet-hus-och-v-44-2011-089.jpg

…enjoying the little wonders in our world

…traveling with my family – meeting other cultures and exciting new people

….forest walks with my dogs

…playful (or mischievous…), smiling young faces – and the sound of their laughter!

…writing with my smooth fountain pen (I am a pen-freak…)

…the coming of spring

 

I am really looking forward to your interpretations of what Happiness is… to You!  The next challenge (#23) will be hosted by Amy – just returned from Peru – on Saturday, December 8.  Welcome to join us!

DID YOU SEE THESE? Here are some interesting posts you don’t want to miss from Patti’s Splash challenge :

  • Anvica’s Gallery, where she is playing with a single drop of water.
  • Visit Janet for some beautifully lit splashes!
  • Visit an interesting garden with some very colourful splashes, with Manja

For more information on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenges, click here. Most importantly, remember to TAG your post ” Lens-Artists ” so it appears in the Reader.

And finally, thank you for participating in the fun – and I wish you all an inspiring and happy week!

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #21: Splash!

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

 

This week, Patti is hosting our challenge – and she has chosen an interesting subject –  ”Splash!” for us to illustrate, and relate to. The essential Water. And in order to survive and live on this beautiful planet, we rely on water. (And oxygen…and…)

In the header, the photo shows the bathroom at Casa Battló in Barcelona. (Fake water…)

Memories from the Spanish west coast – a warm and glorious evening!

The sound of a River in Iceland, making its way to the cold winter sea.

Lofoten, Norway, is something otherworldly…

And down to the tiniest spot, we rely on water. To catch fish, drink, but also to play with – and in…Bring your mum if it looks too dangerous!

My students always had to go through several ”tests” when they first started college. One of them meant filling a tube with water, and to cooperate to stop the water from splashing through the holes in it. Using yourself only! And there were several holes drilled in it…. They almost always threw themselves into the game – After some minutes the leftover water was measured, and the winners were…:-D

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #20: Open Sesame – Doors and Doorways

/ Leya / 38 kommentarer

Tina’s challenge this week is for us to find doors – and maybe to open them…or at least making you want to find out what is hidden behind them.

“Doors can lead you to other worlds, or to what is behind what is in front of you.”

Stephanie Torbert

I like that quote from Tina’s post, because I like word play, and my doors are simply a diverse gallery of some favorites from my travels. All of them works of art – natural or man made. In the header, the enigmatic doorway to Rila monastery in Bulgaria.

Bhutan

Tibet

The Moroccan desert – where the doors are the woven, striped and checked ”carpets” on the left hand side.

Spain

Latvia

Sweden

Sweden

 

Please remember the Lens-Artists tag to be seen in our Reader section. For more information about our challenge click here. And don’t forget to join Patti for her challenge next week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #19: Magical Light

/ Leya / 51 kommentarer

Magical Light – thank you, Amy, for a magical challenge! Hear a photographer’s voice:

I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary into the magical.
Trent Parke

 

Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.

William Wordsworth

A gray day provides the best light

Leonardo da Vinci

Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light

Theodore Roethke

While we are alive we should sit among colored lights and taste good wines, and discuss our adventures in far places; when we are dead, the opportunity is past.

Jack Vance

Be a light unto yourself

Gautama Buddha

Every moment of light and dark is a miracle

Walt Whitman

There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

Leonard Cohen

To love beauty is to see light

Victor Hugo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #18: Blending In – or Standing Out?

/ Leya / 175 kommentarer

As I walk in the forest every day, I notice that the tracks and paths are slowly disappearing with the falling leaves. In the thick carpet of autumn brown, yellow and red, I lose my dogs more easily because of their blending in, and today I could not find the main path ahead at all…

Blending in – essential when you are a child, and in Nature it might be of crucial importance. A matter of Life or Death. How important is it to us humans today?

Blending in is of less importance in this shot, though. A domesticated animal in the first frosty days in the forest. But here blending in brings harmony and beauty to the eye.

 

Somewhere in Spain, I came upon these cats – and as cats still are hunters, and often wild in these areas, I guess they take advantage of their good camouflage colours.

In the Galapagos Islands the animals don’t have many enemies, but here are two fine examples of perfect blending in:

The Galápagos Dove, like many other animals on the islands, is endemic, and has developed perfect colours and behaviour to blend in.

The Yellow-crowned Night-heron was standing perfectly still, and spotted only when the panga came very close to the rocks.

Standing out, then – is also of great importance. In the world of animals, the female often has to blend in to survive and to protect her young, while the males often must stand out in order to attract the best females.

When it comes to us humans, some hundred years ago I guess it was mostly women who strove to stand out – for the men to pick and choose. At least in the western world. (Read Ovid and his advice for women on how to get/please/keep a man…) Today, men too put make up on, and wear fancy and colourful clothes (- and powder and body painting exists since long in some societies.) Moreover, for our young it has become important to define themselves early in life.

Somehow, everybody must learn how to play the game…when to blend in and when to stand out. And be prepared for swift changes…

A people who do stand out beautifully, is the Sweden living Sámi people. Their colourful culture shows off mostly strong blue, red and yellow clothes for festivities – and here the men are most spectacular. The different colours are used to show heritage and kin.

 

So, what is most important to you – blending in or standing out? This week’s challenge is to show us your thoughts in a photo!

 

Last week we all had some very entertaining posts to enjoy, have you seen these from Patti’s challenge Just For Fun?

Scillagrace was a happy wedding photographer…

Pauline takes us to a strange hotel…

And at Journeys with Johnbo, something really cool popped up…

 

The next challenge (#19) will be hosted by Amy on Saturday, November 10 at noon.  Welcome to join in! For more information on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenges, click here. Most importantly, remember to TAG your post ” Lens-Artists ” so it appears in the Reader.

 

And finally, have an outstandingly(!) inspiring week!

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #17: Just For FUN!

/ Leya / 43 kommentarer

Just for fun – is Patti’s challenge for this week. Well,  I cannot promise any fantastic shots from me …but I promise I had fun taking these photos!

In the header, four of my students, in Madrid, on their last trip together before graduating. Can you figure out how they did this ”thing”? I still cannot…

 

For many years the whole family traveled through Europe by car every summer. Sometimes we had to wait for hours in long queues, especially on Autobahn in Germany – so, here’s my daughter trying to cheer things up…

A favorite photo I have shared on WordPress before… from Figueres, 2011.

My children are a great source of fun…always…

A photo I had to take, since we all are great Lotr fans, and my daughter found a Uruk Hai warrior (he really was one of the actors in the movies!) at Matamata, NZ…

I guess his son was a bit surprised…This young dad in Rome jumped up on a fountain lion himself…

And finally, I caught the biggest fish in Gore, NZ…

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #16: Big Can Be Beautiful Too!

/ Leya / 23 kommentarer

When Tina asks us to think Big, my first thoughts go to the Galapagos islands, Lonesome George and the beautiful Iguanas. Because I think they are beautiful creatures, I really do. So here are some of my favorites!

Colourful and pensive – or not –

Lazy or not –

In the header, Scotland’s impressive, 30 m high Kelpies, and lastly the lovely little terrier of Bilbao – size XXXXXL.

 

 

Thank you, Tina, for the Big opportunity this week to think Big!

For more information about our challenges click here.

 

 

 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #15: Change and/or Changeable

/ Leya / 43 kommentarer

There is nothing permanent except change

Heraclitus

This week Amy is hosting our challenge, and she lets us all have the opportunity to change the world…or the world in photos at least!

As summer is changing into autumn, so the colours here in Sweden change our perception of nature. I love autumn for its earthy scent and for its colours – only lasting for a few days, but what beautiful days!

My walks in the foggy mornings at Hammarmölledamm (a pond in our forest) this week, showed the area in a new mood every day. Fog and mist too are great changers.

Changing the original picture into something like a painting is easily done with different software, and great fun. Here is a water colour…

…and here is an abstract version. For both pictures I have used FotoSketcher. Which one do you like most? And how much does the framing mean to the picture – and to you?

Thank you, Amy, for the opportunity to Change!

 

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #14: Windows +

/ Leya / 202 kommentarer

I guess you might be… one of those lovers of windows and doors? So many of us bloggers are fascinated by – doors and windows. But, not only the window itself is special and worthy of acknowledgement, I think also what/who is standing or sitting by or at the window is important. Maybe you find an interesting something standing or hanging in the window…or perhaps seen through the window!

For this week – Find a favorite window and show us your special choice!

 

For some years now, I have been fascinated by Poland, and I have found many interesting windows there – I guess they all have…that little story I am looking for:

We are all prisoners, but some of us are in cells with windows and some without.

Khalil Gibran

A breeze, a forgotten summer, a smile, all can fit into a storefront window.

Dejan Stojanovic

There is a window from one heart to another heart.     

Rumi

The windows of the houses, even if the house is ramshackle, are always beautiful because windows represent light!

Mehmet Murat ildan

It is not possible for a house to own a spirit without owning windows with flowers!

Mehmet Murat ildan

You have the nicest window, you know? None of the others can even compete. It´s not flashy like the others, or bleary, your window gives of this nice, quiet light.

Banana Yoshimoto

Enlarge your windows till you get a window where you can see the whole universe with one look!

Mehmet Murat ildan

 

And – HAVE YOU SEEN THESE?

There were many interesting responses to Patti’s challenge last week.  Thanks to all who participated!

Debbie of Travel with Intent shows us an interesting juxtaposition.

Ken of anevolvinscientist sent us a rare and giant flower, for which we really have to look up!

 Click This TAPG shares a dizzying shot making you definitely look up!

Amy will post the next challenge on Saturday, October 13th at noon.  For more information on how to join the Lens-Artists Photo Challenges, click here for details. Most importantly, remember to TAG your post “Lens-Artists ” so it appears in the Reader.

Wishing you all an inspiring week!