Lens Artists Photo Challenge #43 – Less is More

27 april, 201923 februari, 2020 / Leya / 47 kommentarer

Amy challenges us to think Less is More – and that, is always a challenge… In photography we often talk about simplicity, and a photo standing on its own. No need for words. Often Black and White is helping us to achieve that.

So, let us slow down…because “Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius

Less is More even when the ground is covered in spring flowers below a blue sky,

or when a lonely path strives to reach the mountain lake – because colours matter here –

The history of the phrase Less is More, is that it was adopted in 1947 by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohem. Since then, the aphorism is one of the most used (and abused) in design and architecture.

Originally though, this is a 19th century proverbial phrase, first found in print in Andrea del Sarto, 1855, a poem by Robert Browning. And it still is a phrase very much alive!

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Thank you for all your innovative and creative contributions to my hosted challenge Creativity last week!

Friendly Friday – Looking Up

26 april, 201926 april, 2019 / Leya / 12 kommentarer

Amanda, at ”Something to Ponder About”, asks us for the Friendly Friday Challenge to look up! When visiting my daughter in Umeå this winter, she made me look up to see this tiny Wolkswagen bubble hanging from the ceiling. Frankly, I loved it.

So, you had better be looking up in order not to miss those funny things!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Connections

25 april, 201925 april, 2019 / Leya / 39 kommentarer

Frank goes for Connections this week, and I have a story. Last week I went to The Netherlands for the grand flower festival and the parade – but also to reconnect with a man I met almost exactly 30 years ago when hiking the King’s Trail from Abisko, Sweden.

We have not seen each other for all those years, but we have kept contact by writing letters. A great deal of ones life ”happens” somewhere between 30 and 60. But, we recognized each other immediately. He was still shy, and so tall and thin, though his big bush of hair had turned greyer and a bit less bushy. Like mine.

We spent some hours walking, talking, eating good food and remembering those happy, hiking days in the mountains. 1989. I walked with my dog and he walked alone. I was very impressed by him being a professor in theoretical mathematics and he was impressed by me hiking alone, heavily packed and only accompanied by a big dog.

Where did all those years go? We still connect…Wim and I, and it was not easy to say goodbye again. Life is a strange thing, but so are connections. Just how do they work? What makes us connect, never forget, and still ”know” one another after so many years? Wonderful.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #42 – Creativity

20 april, 20196 mars, 2020 / Leya / 152 kommentarer

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new or somehow valuable – inventiveness. The created item may be an idea, a scientific theory, or even a joke; or a physical object, maybe a new invention, a literary work – or a painting. Being creative is a very valuable asset today – and has always been. That is, when creativity is used in a positive way.

I believe for many of us, being creative is a way to relax from our ordinary jobs (of course your job is creative in its own way too) and also to develop our minds as well as the use of our hands.

Snapshot of my son’s desk – (he is a graphic designer, and the wall quote is by Einstein)

Maybe the creative space most used today is at the computer in our own room? Or maybe not? This week’s challenge is all about Creativity – hobbies, crafts, creative spaces at home or places you have visited – show us your creative post…unlimited!

Last week I was fortunate enough to visit Keukenhof in the Netherlands, and the annual Flower Parade (Bloemencorso in Dutch). This is a glorious feast brimming with beautiful colors and delicious flowers. Twenty huge floats and thirty lavishly decorated cars follow a 42 kilometer route from Noordwijk to Haarlem.

Millions of flowers and the creative work of hundreds of volunteers make this most amazing flower parade possible. And, hundreds of thousands of visitors from Holland and abroad are drawn to the colorful flower spectacle every year. Let’s have a look at something of the brilliant Dutch creativity!

Some floats were so big, that they were divided into two – like this one.

The impressive Phoenix

When we visited Keukenhof in the 90’s we missed out on the parade, so this year, we decided to go to Noordwijk early in the morning to see the flower creations from up close.

It was a very cold morning, with temperatures below zero – So, to save the flowers, all floats and cars had to stay inside before the parade started.

This float was the winning equipage – But there were also very modern themes – creativity unlimited!

And how about driving your car from an Easter egg?

Thank you for joining in the fun, and while we are looking forward to seeing your creativity flow – we wish you all

Happy Easter Holidays !

Thank you, Patti for your simply Delicious challenge last week!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #41 – Delicious

16 april, 2019 / Leya / 41 kommentarer

This week Patti has chosen to challenge us with Delicious, which means having a very pleasant taste or smell, or it can be used to describe a situation or activity that gives you great pleasure.

Few tasty things give me more pleasure than the first semla/fastlagsbulle of the year! These were temptingly standing in a window in Umeå some months ago. I can tell you they did not stand there for long…

Last week I was in The Netherlands, at Keukenhof, for the the biggest flower show in the world. Holland, or The Netherlands, is the magical land of tulips and hyacinths.

The gardens and fields were filled with the most delicious scent, colours and shapes. I was in a state of euforia for 7 hours – the visit was a total dream. I had not been to this flower show since somewhere in the 90’s.

Interested in joining the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge? I guess you too have some delicious experiences to show us! For instructions and more information click here.

Friendly Friday – Photo Walk

9 april, 2019 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Friendly Friday

Last week I enjoyed a stroll with Viveka (Myguiltypleasures) in Copenhagen Botanical Gardens. Here are some treats from a lovely day. And – now I will be off my computer for some days – wishing you all a great week, and see you again next Wednesday!

Lens – Artists Challenge #40 – Something Different

7 april, 20196 mars, 2020 / Leya / 37 kommentarer

Our host this week is Tina. She asks us for… Something Different. I give you – my Magnolia tree in April.

I must have flowers, always, and always.

– Claude Monet

Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

The name Magnolia first appeared in 1703, for a flowering tree from the island of Martinique. Magnolias are native to both Asia and the Americas.

Magnolias symbolized dignity and nobility. In ancient China, magnolias were thought to be the perfect symbols of womanly beauty and gentleness.

Magnolia is a very ancient genus, appearing before bees did. It is believed that the flowers have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles.

The Magnolia flowers last only for a couple of days – but what magnificent days!

Thank you, Tina, for another lovely challenge!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Roll

2 april, 20192 april, 2019 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Roll

Five (!) very different rolls…and I know I have used the photo of the two rainbow girls several times before – but they are so sweet and summery!

Lens-Artists Weekly Challenge #39 – Hello April!

31 mars, 201921 februari, 2020 / Leya / 24 kommentarer

A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew,

a cloud, and a rainbow’s warning,

Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue –

— An April day in the morning.

– Harriet Prescott Spofford

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

William Shakespeare

So, with a young spirit’s illustration of William Wordworth’s lovely daffodils’ poem, I say Hello April from Sweden!

Thank you, Amy, for a lovely April morning!

Friendly Friday Photo Challenge – Feelings of Spring

29 mars, 2019 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

Amanda of Something to Ponder About invites Spring – even if it is not that time of the year down under. It is here now in Scandinavia – it really is. Today we had 15 degrees C, and I think it is far too early for that. But we all know what is happening to planet Earth.

Anyway – Spring is my favorite time of the year, so let’s enjoy!