Weekly Challenge

Lens-Artists Challenge # 288 – Window Shopping

/ Leya / 65 kommentarer

First, an old favourite of mine from a late walk in Riga, Latvia, hopefully suitable as a warm welcome to Ritva as she hosts for the first time as a Lens-Artist team member! Ritva is a skilled and interesting photographer, so please visit her site for more inspiration!


Like Ritva, I often do window shopping. It is cheaper than shopping, and I like to photograph creative and attractive windows. What’s more, Ritva says that anything goes for this challenge. Even window frames alone permitted – so, here we go!

Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard.

– Paul McCartney

As I take a look at my old photo galleries and archives, I find that I mostly take pictures of art and architecture – and I still do. In fact I had some great opportunities in Nice last week, so all my photos here are from this tiny part of France. Mainly from St-Paul-de-Vence and Eze.

In this first picture, I found complete harmony between the building and the display behind the glass. I love the contrasts in structure inside and outside. And all colours matched – something not so often seen.

I love different styles, even the very elaborate ones. I admire people who can create ”clean” and coherent displays in any style. The French, just like the Italians, are so good at it.

Marrying a man is like buying something you’ve been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn’t always go with everything else in the house.

– Jean Kerr

We must not forget food, and especially cakes, that make such beautiful windows! Sometimes I feel like walking right through the glass to get some… These artworks are often handmade too, which you cannot say about many things nowadays. We all know that we eat with our eyes as well – so this is double window shopping, speaking to at least two of our senses.

I went window shopping today! I bought four windows.

– Tommy Cooper

A post on window shopping would not be complete without clothes in it. Well, I found this display rather interesting – there were similar displays and windows for each range of colours. It took me a minute or two to understand that the small round packages all contained vests like the one in the middle. Easy to carry, easy to wear. And I am there too if you look closely…

Art is clearly my favourite for most city photos, and this post is no exception. The last one to the right is a painting behind a window grid. For a special effect and to confuse you a bit… I did not include the real frame.

Finally, window shopping naturelle! In my eyes, nothing beats the old city walls with nature on display in glassless windows.

A big thank you to Donna for her creative and inspiring post on the topic of sound. I really had to put on my thinking cap there… It was wonderful to see how different everyone interpreted it.

Remember to tag Lens-Artists if you’re taking part and to link back to Ritvas original post. Next week John (Journeys with Johnbo) will host the Lens-Artists Challenge. Be sure to visit his inspirational site for more! And if you want even more information on the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Lens-Artists Challenge #287 – Sound

/ Leya / 49 kommentarer

Donna is our lovely guide this week, and she asks us for pictures that could show, or make you think of – sound. Personally, the sounds I love the most are natural sounds, from the wind in the forest or birds in the trees, the rustling of autumn leaves at my feet. And silence in between.

Listen to the sound of silence.

– Paul Simon


I don’t know about you, but, music is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear or see the word sound.

Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.

– Plato

Imagine how many different sounds of music there are in this world! So many different instruments and traditions, melodies for feast and celebration – for dancing

or jubilation for a winning game, an exam or graduation.

Did you know that at least 70% of all communication is nonverbal and that body language is a major part of this? Surely you can ”hear” what our concierge was saying?

There’s many ways you communicate. With colour, texture, sound… Even words can communicate.

– David Carson

The sound of water is worth more than all the poets’ words.

– Octavio Paz

I guess many of us has a special love for this sound, be it the rough sea or slow waves, a raging river or a trickling, merry brook. Our souls are connected, because life was born in water, and we have all rested softly in our mother’s womb.

Personally, I will be on the road for a week now, but will try to keep up the reading and answering. Please remember to link to Donna’s post and use the Lens – Artists tag so we can all find you. 

A big thank you to Anne for last week’s inspiring theme weather. In fact you showed us there were weather I had never thought or heard of…

Next week, we are excited to announce Ritva. She will host her first official challenge for the Lens-Artists, so don’t miss her inspirational site! Until then – keep warm and be kind.


Lens-Artists Challenge #286 – Weather

/ Leya / 59 kommentarer

Anne is our lovely host this week, and she asks us about the various types of weather conditions in which we photographers go out and shoot.

Well, we all look for nice weather, but what is your favourite weather to photograph in? Sunny, blue skies, white puffy clouds, or…?

I thought I would start with our weather conditions right now, today. Snow storm and rain storm this weekend…so, my camera and I are staying indoors. But some snapshots through the window will show you what it looks like.

The poor birds are sitting close to the walls in trees and bushes, shaking their feathers now and then, and snatching a nut or a sunflower seed when the gusts are not too bad… The feeder is on the top right in the gallery, and there is a blackbird sitting to the left in the same picture.

The ”real” winter is easier to photograph. Some winters are green and some are white – and terribly cold. The above gallery shows all stages of this. My problems with winter shooting starts with the cold – I have very sensitive fingers that will turn white and aching and finally stop working at a few degrees minus – and wind.

I agree with Anne – a favourite weather is fog or mist. I love the mood it creates, especially in early mornings, and I also love going out right after a summer shower has sprayed the leaves. Whenever there is morning dew – I rush to get my camera!

When storm or thunder is approaching, the clouds can be dramatical and calling for a camera, but I avoid going out in the rain. Even if my cameras nowadays are water sealed, I still avoid it – unless I can stand with some kind of roof over my head.

Finally, an anomaly in Sweden, but I went out to see it – a sandstorm from Sahara –

– in October 2017. Sand covered the sun and made the sky and everything else orange.

Do you enjoy taking your camera out in all types of weather? Whether or not you do, I’m sure you have some enjoyable images to show us. I did not have any pictures of Anne’s Wethers, but maybe you do! When you respond to this challenge, please link to Anne’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you in the reader.

Last week Egidio asked us to show how warm colors can affect our images and feelings. I really enjoyed seeing all your amazing responses. So much warmth there is in this world, despite everything! But that is one of our main purposes in blogging, isn’t it – to share some warmth. Now, try to enjoy your weather whatever it is like! Embrace the differences and seasons if you have them. 

Next week Donna will be challenging us, so be sure to visit her inspiring site for more.

Lens-Artists Challenge #285 – Warm Colours

/ Leya / 57 kommentarer

I am surrounded by colours, especially warm colours, and that is the way I want it. It keeps me going and makes me warm at heart as well.

Colors are the smiles of nature.

– Leigh Hunt

In my garden, there are many colours, and I love to stick my head (and lens) in the multitude of blooms during summer. That is just what I did in the header photo…

This week Egidio starts by inviting us to look at our photos or capture new images showing how warm colors appear in our world and their emotional significance to us.

Down to the tiniest plant and fruit, their colours make me smile. This sensual spindle fruit makes me think of Love.

And, talking about love, my furry dogs have all been wearing warm colours. I constantly need to touch their softness and feel their warm breath in my face. Here’s Milo – unconditional love in warm chocolate brown.

What more do we need? Well, food is mostly wearing warm colours – have you ever thought about that? And how we love to have dinner at warm candle light. It makes us relax and enjoy both food, drink and company.

Autumn might not be the warmest season, but by far its colours are, so the last fiery goodbye to summer is – a warm hug. And at least here in the Scandinavian countries, this is much needed to make us stronger when winter darkness holds us in a tight grip.

To me, buildings feel more inviting in yellow and red than in any other colours. If you visit Denmark, for example, you will find many yellow and red houses, and that goes for Spain too. I think they emanate warm and welcoming vibes.

What about whole countries? Morocco is a hot country in warm colours – in their interior design as well. This furniture and these saturated colours might be a bit too much for us in an ordinary Swedish room, but in their ”right” place they are perfect.

Finally, a heavenly sunrise and a display a soft, fluffy, warm and lovely scenery outside the plane window – (even if we know how cold it is out there…)

But for my very last choice, we will return to Mother Earth and an unforgettable sunset on sand and sea. Love was in the air and in the golden waves…

Sofia challenged us to think about day and night for last week’s challenge. You responded with so many wonderful interpretations with great variety and creativity! Please join us next week too when Anne introduces a new challenge.

So, a big thank you to Egidio for this week’s wonderful theme! If you join us, please use the hashtag “lens-artists” in your post and link it to Egidio’s original post. That helps all viewers to easily find you in the reader. This page has more information about the Lens-Artists Challenges.

Lens-Artists Challenge #284 – Day and Night

/ Leya / 55 kommentarer

Sofia says that having passed the Winter Equinox, it’s time for the days to grow longer, and to leave the never-ending nights behind us. But before we do that, she invites us to celebrate this Yin/Yang of our everyday life. Please visit her inspirational site for more!

I will concentrate on some special aspects of this, that interest me. Night and day can be so different… not only opposites. I agree with Walt Whitman:

To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.

Let’s start with a winter’s morning at home –

– it can be both colourful and cold. And the coldest time is at sunrise. That is when I go out to feed the birds so they can better withstand the cold and survive another day.

Then I walk my dog at noon while the winter sun can barely be seen above the trees.

But only a month later, the daylight is more soft and golden – and it’s a joy to stroll along the river.

When we reach summer, the nights are soft and golden too – The light! How we constantly long for it to come back to us…

There are also big differences in days and nights depending for example on which country you are in. Where on the planet and in what season. Daylight can be extremely clear and transparent – in the fresh air of Iceland.


While nights can be almost totally dark, in the wilderness or in countries where electric light is not that much used. It is sad that we humans often want to lighten up our nights (unless it would be too dangerous not to…). Try not to! The eyes will adjust to the darkness, and it is no longer that dark…instead a new world opens up.

Nature is depending on day and night, light and darkness – for food, for security and for reproduction, among other things. This is a spring cherry tree in daylight, waiting for pollinators, and a night blooming cactus in my room. So, if we didn’t have daylight, there would be no cherries…and if we didn’t have our dark nights, this flower would never unfold. (Or, be pollinated by nocturnal insects.)

We also know, that our artificial lights are bad for many of the night living animals. It can mean the difference between life and death. Newborn turtles for example, head for the light, but that could mean into the city instead of out to the sea.

Thank you, Sofia, for the brilliant opportunity to look at different aspects of night and day! Please link your post to her original post and don’t forget to tag it with Lens-Artists.

I want to thank you for all your lovely poems and quotes last week – beautifully illustrated by You alone! They told us much more about you, and maybe more than you knew about yourself too… I loved every one of your thoughtful posts and learned to appreciate more poets and famous quotes than I had heard of too.

Next week, Egidio will be your host with ”Warm colours” Be sure to visit his spectacular site for inspiration! Until then, stay well and be kind.

Lens-Artists Challenge #283 – Illustrate a Favourite Quote or Poem

/ Leya / 181 kommentarer

If you were to illustrate a favourite quote or poem, what would be your pick? Now you have the opportunity to do just that, and to use 1-4 pictures to make us ”feel” the poem or quote chosen. We will save lyrics for another challenge!

I have chosen some stanzas from the Indian Bengali poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, and his poem The Same Stream of Life.

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

Thank you to Patti for last week’s Dramatic challenge! It brought us so many interesting posts and diverse ways to look upon drama. In fact many pictures I hadn’t thought of for the challenge, suddenly seemed very dramatic and fitting…

Now I hope you are going to have some fun with this challenge too. Pictures often speak for themselves, but this time your task is to let your images show/illustrate your chosen poetry or quote. Be sure to link to my original post and to use the Lens-Artists tag. We are looking forward to seeing your solutions!

And next week, Sofia will be our host – please visit her inspirational site for more!

Lens-Artists Challenge #282 – Dramatic

/ Leya / 74 kommentarer

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.

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. 

Lens-Artists Challenge #279 – Magical

/ Leya / 206 kommentarer

Magical – I wonder…what is magical to you? According to Wikipedia, Magical can mean: ”…beautiful or delightful in a way that seems removed from everyday life. ” I think that is the most common use. At least for us grown-ups. But there are of course other meanings too.

First of all, I guess we all need some magic in our lives, don’t we? Especially in difficult times like these. I try to find magical moments every day, and one of them is acorns sprouting new life, new little oak trees – in my kitchen. I enjoy looking at them growing every day.

Being alive and observing the living things on this blue planet gives my life all the magic I need. Nature has it all. I just have to walk out the door and open my senses.

Nature’s seasons are magical to me. This image shows fading Autumn by the river – and Mother Nature spreading her fairy dust in the most extraordinary ways. I cannot imagine living in a world without seasons, but unfortunately climate change is working on reducing our four seasons into two.

Often in fairytales and fantasy literature we find magical things in another sense – like roads, bridges and doors that open up to new landscapes, other worlds. We don’t really know what it will feel like or look like, or what will happen to us when we have passed the entrance. But we love that feeling of uncertainty and excitement.

Even if we know the facts, how ice is built and why – it is still magical every time the ”feathers” appear on my glasshouse or on the car.

And Spanish moss – it is fascinating to hide inside living curtains. And what child does not love to build a simple cabin in the forest? Or under the kitchen table! I still remember that magic – and I am now fully allowed to experience it again with my grandchild… We have great fun together.

Some of us feel that mystical, or maybe supernatural, is what we think of when we hear ”magical”. A dark tree with one natural lantern and one manmade. Magical, mystical, or even a bit scary?

Clearly light and darkness are strongly connected to what we consider ”magical”. But, that doesn’t mean it has to be dark – it can be soft and misty, with dew drops and colours too.

If natural magic is not enough for you, or if you like to play around with your images – Lightroom and Photoshop, Topaz, or other software programs, can turn your photo into a painting, soften it into a dream or use presets for different colour combinations. There are an abundance of possibilities. And it is fun! Magical transformations in one single click – or two. Not many years ago this was only imagination.

My final example is from this festive time of the year – the Holiday Season. Many magical wonders in the world of my little granddaughter. I believe we should try to keep that feeling alive. Let them be fascinated and filled with awe. Let their eyes glow. Let them be children. They will grow up soon enough. And we who have grown up into this tough world, would feel better with something of that magic lingering in our eyes.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

– Albert Einstein

Now, Magical might mean so many different things to us, so – What is Magical to you? Special people, places, things; nature, adventures, childhood memories… – what are the ingredients you want there to make it magical? This week we are looking forward to seeing some of Your magic! Please link to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you in the reader.

A big thank you to Amy for last week’s Unique – an intriguing challenge that brought us fantastic and unique experiences! Much to ponder and much to learn.

Keep well until next Saturday, when Tina will be our host again. Be sure to visit her beautiful site for more inspiration!