Weekly Challenge

Lens-Artists Challenge #347 – Break the Rules!

/ Leya / 52 kommentarer

Ritva says: ”We work so hard to learn the photography rules, at least I do but now it is time to BREAK them!! The problem is just that in order to break a rule, you must know that there is a rule in the first place!” And, as I used to say to my Swedish language students: You have to learn the rules first – then you can break them with style.

I included a short composition map, but I will also try to break some other ”rules”, (like not having a sharp focus…).

Many of us recognise these, or at least a couple of them. But do we use them? Like Ritva said, I think most of us use our instinct and emotion – and we get it ”right” that way too. So, Ritva, I’m ready to try and break some rules!

Framed – but a blurred object. Who is this? We still recognise the silhouette… so familiar to many of us. A (black)bird.

Tilting the camera for a more interesting and playful photo. I didn’t fill the frame – Empty space?

B&W for contrast – a double rose with focus in the middle.

ICM and irregular repetition, still there is rhythm and balance.

Differently framed, low perspective. No rule of thirds. It works because of the big umbrella leaves with interesting patterns and colours.

Going low with a moving object – not so good! I fell over of course – Milo is a too loving guy. Just seconds before this he was snoozing relaxedly in the grass. Let sleeping dogs lie…a good rule to follow.

For once I photographed letting go of the rule of odds – but there wasn’t any other option – these two were made for each other.

Looking through some photos with objects, I mostly had odd numbers in the pictures. I believe my two most used ”rules” must be the rule of thirds and the rule of odds. But they come intuitively – it just looks best that way! (Or – maybe I have known that for so long that it feels intuitive?)

Last week we enjoyed so many creative and cinematic photos with Sofia’s challenge. So, time to continue on the same track this week! Next week, it’s Egídio’s turn to host on Saturday, May 10th—hope to see you then! In the mean time, stay kind and keep smiling. Make someone’s day a little brighter – I think that is just what you did, Ritva!

Lens-Artists Challenge #346 – Cinematic

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

Sofia leads this week, and we’re exploring the close relationship between photography and cinematography and how we can emulate in a single shot what movies do.

There are a few things that give a photo that cinematic feel: camera angles, bold and high-contrast colours, light, locations, just to name a few. The main objective is to take a shot that is part of a story, there’s mood and a sense of location; our image is but a snapshot of a much wider situation.

I have consentrated mostly on horror and mystery movies…where B&W plays a big part of the feeling. In fact I was surprised how many pictures I have got on that theme… But, there are some other examples too of course.

This first picture is from the Tutanchamon Immersive – loved the feeling in this one – and the colours are familiar.

Maybe not a horror movie – but the bridges and bicycles of Amsterdam is very cinematic. Audrey Hepburn? Greta Garbo? I can feel their prescence.

Did I say horror? This ominous image from some years ago, could have been used in any such movie. The following two were photographed in Whitby, where Bram Stoker lived for a while to write Dracula. The perfect place for inspiration!

This graveyard in Whitby started falling down to the sand (to the left here), with old bones spreading along the beach.

Then steam and mist are also favourites to make a photo more interesting – and cinematic. These are hot springs in New Zealand.


More scary again…this Great Frigatebird, in the Galapagos Islands, is sitting on the roof, waiting for the right moment…to steal food from another bird. Everything about this species makes it a star in any horror story.

Vast landscapes also feel cinematic – this is in Tibet. My son down by the lake – how far away is that? It’s always tricky to decide.

This is an old favourite of mine – a motor cycle gathering in Barcelona. I guess it is the spotlights behind the building that makes it cinematic to me.

What is more cinematic than a romantic dinner in Morocco?

And, of course there must be a blurry train – someone must be coming or going…

Thank you, Sofia for this energizing theme! Last week we visited the most wonderful places with John’s challenge. I’d love to visit as they were unknown to me. Next week it’s Ritva’s turn to lead us, Saturday, May 3. Until then, take care and be kind.

Lens-Artists Challenge #345 – My Go-To Places

/ Leya / 65 kommentarer

This week John asks us to show our Go-To Places – where you go or what you do to help lift those spirits when you are feeling low? So, here are some places close to my heart that helps me rest and reload.

People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable!

The forest fills my heart and soul with everything I need.

Every season it brings harmony and helps me shut out the troubles of the world.

My dog(s) are a constant source of happiness and energy. They are my best companions, and they never fail in their efforts to make me smile.

My garden is right at my doorstep…and its inhabitants, big or small, are a joy to follow in their daily life. Every morning and evening I walk slowly through the garden to see who’s in, what’s growing and what or who needs me.

Right now, I need to fill the drinking places for birds and hedgehogs twice a day – it is very dry in Skane, and in the whole country.

Summertime, the old cottage lifts me up to manage life when it is too warm outside and I think too much. Early mornings and late evenings bring solace and time for contemplation.

Last week, Anne brought us the “Abandoned” challenge – and we got loads of wonderful responses. Many of us do love abandoned things to photograph! Next week, Sofia will be our host. Be sure to follow her here so you don’t miss her post, which will go live next Saturday at noon Eastern time. If you’d like to join in with your own challenge responses, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Lens-Artists Challenge #344 – Abandoned

/ Leya / 43 kommentarer

“The Abandoned

Did you ever wonder
Why abandoned houses looked so sad
Much like the people
Their exterior was only for the function

We would not feel so sad
If we recognized
That the spirit of the house
Had already moved on

The dream remained”
― Maria Lehtman, The Dreaming Doors: Through the Soul Gateways

Anne has sent us one of my – and many others’ I know – favourite themes, Abandoned things! Personally I love abandoned houses and places, and for some time I joined my son in searching and photographing our finds.

My thoughts on Abandonement? A great theme it is, and an opportunity to dig out precious things from the archives – thank you, Anne! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, with only a short title on each of them. I don’t want to think of abandoned people though…that feels too sad. And, I have never photographed anyone in that kind of situation.

Tjernobyl

The saddest photograph in the gallery is of the Jewish cemetary in Warsaw. Walking in the silence there, knowing what happened to all these people and that there are no relatives left to remember or to tend to the graves… It is hard to fathom all the sadness and tragedy, but somehow there was a comforting feeling in walking alone in the silence, reading on the gravestones. Many of them still so beautiful.

Two homes – one in Norway, Lofoten, and a little bird’s nest in my forest

The stray dogs in Tblisi, Georgia, were many, but in a way they were not totally abandoned. Every dog had a tag in their ear, emitting medicine, so they were all castrated and friendly. They could also find food at a special place built for them in the city centre.

Sweden. A library in the forest – unfortunately an abandoned, unfinished octagon building

Agricultural machinery from an abandoned farm

Two abandoned factories that I visited with my son when he too was into photographing

The challenge is to tell and show our thoughts on abandonment. Please visit Anne’s beautiful site for more inspiration. I enjoy being alone, but that is my own choice – being abandoned does not sound that positive… When you respond, please link back to Anne’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week, I had the pleasure of being your host – thank you for so many fun and original responses of your last outings! I enjoyed seeing the varied places you visited and things you saw. Next week, look for John’s post as he will be leading our challenge.

Until then, stay safe and be kind. To yourself as well.

Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing

/ Leya / 155 kommentarer

Every outing is a learning experience.

– Drew Pomeranz

What happened on Your last outing? Did you meet a friend or did you go shopping? Or maybe you just took a walk in the beautiful weather? What made you take out your camera? We’d love to know!

For a couple of days now, Spring has taken giant steps forward, and we see cranes and starlings – even the little wagtail is here. She used to come punctually on the 4th of April – but nature runs faster and faster… and well – she is already here. And she’s welcome.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

– Rainer Maria Rilke

Spring is of course the main inspirer to take out my camera these days, but little outings can bring new and different things to tempt your lens – even things you did not expect when you left home!

The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.

– Gertrude S. Wister

This time I was looking for the little anemone hepatica – and I know where to find her. These anemonies are the harbingers of Spring, and their colours vary from indigo over light purple to very light blue. I love taking photos of them as they are reaching for the sunlight. In fact I almost take the same photos every year… maybe you recognise doing something like that too?

I feel a physical happiness when spring is coming. – Halldor Laxness

Milo is not that intrigued when I bring my camera, and he is not interested in either posing or the flowers. Rather a roll or two in the leaves – Not on the anemonies, Milo!!!

I also visited a newly found friend. I met her through an old friend of mine, and we have spent a couple of hours painting together. Now we were invited to her home, and the location of her house turned out to be a dream surprise.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.

– Loren Eiseley

As a child I always dreamt of having water running through my garden. It doesn’t have to be a river, a brook or creek would have been perfect. The pure harmony of the sound is soothing to every human ear – and I guess to nature itself.

Cats rule the world. – Jim Davis

Yes – I fell in love with her cat, Morris.

A real beauty – but a fast and cunning hunter as well, I learned. Cats are, of course, but he must have held some kind of record…

When my friend told me that Morris had caught five squirrels in a few days, and killed her garden robin and a wren… I was happy to have taken my photos before I knew about that. He was good at posing though –

Talking about posing nicely – the hectic love affairs going on in the pond made me sit down for a while to watch the multitude of frogs – I guess there where more than a hundred in that single spot. I caught this one smiling, while guarding its offspring… Who knows, one of them might be a prince? I can easily resort to fairy tales these days to forget about the craziness of this world.

So, what did I learn from my outing then? Good friends are priceless, Spring glory makes me happy and alive, I still love cats – and I agree with Cameron Diaz:

I’d kiss a frog even if there was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs.

Last week we had Egidio guiding us through Wild Life – thank you for all your exciting wild wonders, a treat every one of them!

Now I am looking forward to seeing your outings and what they brought! Link to my post and don’t forget the Lens-Artists tag. Next week Anne will be your host – please go to her site and get inspired!

Lens-Artists Challenge # 342 – It’s a Wild Life

/ Leya / 40 kommentarer

The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.

– Charles Darwin

Egidio’s challenge this week is all about wildlife. My choices have to be mostly wild landscapes, and Iceland is one of them. Today I read about a new volcanic eruption near Grindavik – again. But people are used to it – being rather ”wild” themselves.

Another wild landscape is the jungle – in the Amazon there are still a multitude of creatures – even if human intrusions and atrocities are escalating. We should be very very anxious to keep these forests alive – if we want this planet to survive.

The Amazon was one of my greatest adventures. And the night walks were spectacular. The big spiders are not for me…to love, but it was a fantastic experience to see them too in real life. Clearly going by canoe is the perfect way to get close to the wildlife here.

The landscapes of the Galapagos islands are wild in another sense, there is almost no vegetation, but a multitude of animal species. Many of them are endemic, and if your read Darwin’s works you will realise that this is a veritable Paradise, where the animals have few enemies and you can come very close to many of them. I found the iguanas very interesting, both land iguanas and marine iguanas.

The land iguanas love the Opuntia cactus ( known as the prickly pear cactus), and eat it with relish. In the Galapagos islands it can grow up to 12 meters and the iguanas up to 1.30 meters length.

In Sweden, and in the other Nordic countries, the wildlife is of course different from that of a jungle…the biodiversity is not as big, but we do have big predators like bears, wolves and wolverines. The nearest wolf habitat is a forest only a kilometer away from my home.

I guess Sweden’s nature is most famous for Carl von Linne’ and his categorizing of it. So, here is his own wild flower – the tiny, delicate Linnaea borealis.

I would say one of the things carachterizing the wild life, is its resiliense and adaptability. But surely there is a limit… This bee sat frozen on a flower in my garden – representing my closest ”wild life”. It came alive again and started foraging with the warming sunlight.

It’s a wild life, Egidio says…and with dogs, at least my dogs – it really is!

The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

– Mahatma Gandhi

This past week, Tina’s challenge brought out many personal favorites. So beautiful responses! For this week, we’ll look forward to seeing what your wild imagination will focus on. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag for your post so we can easily find it in the Reader.

The first challenge for April will come from me, Leya/Ann-Christine. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.

Lens-Artists Challenge #341 – Personal Favourites

/ Leya / 58 kommentarer

You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.
– Joan Miro

Tina has set the most difficult challenge ever… at least if you are a nature lover like me. Which five to choose from more than 100 000 pictures in Lightroom? Now I have chosen five pictures I often come back to – so I guess they are personal favourites. I was inspired by Tina to pick most of them from my own surroundings at home. That way I was automatically limited too.

So, this week our challenge is to choose no more than 5 images as our all-time personal favorites!

Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory. — Unknown

My favourite dog breed is Lagotto, and these two guys were my first ones. Always together, always playing or sleeping or eating together. This photo shows their different characters perfectly well. Mille is the brown and wild one, while Totti is the ”monitor” and supervisor. He was very laid back too.

We were fortunate to have them in our lives for 12 years each, and they will always stay close to my heart.

Only photograph what you love. – Tim Walker

The land of my dreams is Iceland, and we have visited several times – never disappointed in our favourite destination. Some years ago we went in winter instead of summer – the hot spring baths are at their best when there is snow and ice. One evening we went to the black beach in the south of Iceland to see the sunset. And like everything else in Iceland – it was magical.

Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like. — David Alan Harvey

In 2020 we went to an art exhibition some 20 kilometers from my home – which ended in me mostly taking photos of the entrance windows instead of the art…The window was overgrown with vines and an enigmatic golden light shining through.

I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place could be photographed. – Annie Leibovitz

I think many of you know how much I love winter and snow, and how climate change has deprived us of this in later years. Some days still have the old glory, and this photo was taken on such a day, when the light was perfect and the air crisp and clear. Bitter sweet memories.

Photography is a love affair with life. — Burk Uzzle

This aster I photographed in my garden, an autumn some years ago. I woke up to frost and a clear sky, and as I looked out of my bedroom window, I knew there would be a short photo option not to be missed.

The best images are the ones that retain their strength and impact over the years, regardless of the number of times they are viewed.
– Anne Geddes

Thank you, Tina, for another challenging challenge!

So now it’s your turn. Share with us your five favorite images making sure to link them to Tina’s post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag. We so look forward to seeing your choices! Last week Ritva challenged us to focus on portraiture. As usual your responses were terrific. Many of us wondered how to manage such a challenge, but ended up more satisfied than expected! Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week at noon EST when Egidio once again leads us on his Through Brazilian Eyes post. Until then, be kind and enjoy the adventure.

Lens-Artists Challenge #340 – Portraits

/ Leya / 53 kommentarer

Ritva really makes us work hard this week – Portraits! I don’t do portraits, I’m not comfortable with it… but after scrolling for half an hour to find something to post, I remembered my old students. I used to make portraits of them their last term. So, I’m using a couple of those taken so many years ago that they hardly will recognize themselves should they happen to read my blog. (I know they don’t…)

The art of freezing moments…and yes, I was so proud over my students that day!

There should be a selfie too I guess, Ritva sent one – but as I don’t do selfies either, this photo was taken by one of my students. And it’s a side portrait! The real side portraits though, all reside in ancient Egypt. (Last immersive visit in the header)


Knobbed hornbill – indeed an interesting side portrait!

In fact, my first thought reading the challenge was to use some of the bird portraits I have, or maybe my dogs? Ritva is the master of portraits, so I really had to try. Fortunately I found some more people, and in B&W, as I believe portraits are best made there.

This elderly man was sitting at the other end of my coffee table, (I remember him, but I no longer remember where it was…) reading about a Welcome into this world. I believe we all need more of this every day since this world is becoming less welcoming by the minute.

So, here comes some students I know wouldn’t mind me posting. They belonged to two of my most lovely classes from the science program. Then the distinguished, but very humourous, father of an old friend of mine when he turned 90. And, the last one – a colourful lady I met in Lodz – I have posted this photo a couple of times before.

Some years ago, I attended a gathering at a restaurant where I met this old biker that I totally loved! His white beard and expressive face just convinced me to ask for a photo – which he gladly let me take. The other biker posing with his vehicle was a happy guy, so for his portrait the bike itself was essential. These bikers were very easily approached and I felt at ease asking them – a big step forward for a shy person like me.

Every portrait tells a story...

The only person I really have some portraits of is my daughter. She always let me take her photo and loves posing for me. The left three of these were taken at Stora Hotellet in Umeå, when she graduated as a dentist. The first one through a very special mirror which made the portrait almost look broken. The right one was taken in my garden when Emma was going to one of the many masquerades she attended in her late teens.

Turning moments into eternal memories...

I am so glad I found more portraits than I knew I had, but I am afraid I haven’t followed one of Ritva’s main tips – concentrating on the eyes. I will better myself as soon as I get another opportunity! Thank you again for a great and challenging challenge!

Thank you also to Anne for Life’s Changes, that really let us know a great deal more about each other. Next week, Tina is back to host with a new inspiration. Go to her beautiful site to find another exciting challenge.

Please link your post to Ritva’s original post, and add the “lens-artists” hashtag so we can easily find you in the Reader. Until then – stay kind and creative.

Lens-Artists Challenge #…Life’s Changes

/ Leya / 47 kommentarer

Anne is our lovely guide this week, and she really made me think…a long time before deciding.

Let’s begin with the beginning…My grandmother is the person I owe maybe most of my interests to, and I loved her dearly. She worked hard on the land all her life, and she taught me everything about making things grow, and how to handle geraniums to make them thrive. I still have all her geraniums in my house, since 1988 when she left us. She loved everything living and loved to see me loving it too. I still miss her.

Anne made me think about the many things that have enriched my life. Nature, students, children, travel, art, painting, dogs and cats – and of course photography. Photography and blogging that have brought me so many friends from all over the world. You.

I could have picked any of these… but, what is here with me every day, making my life shine, making me useful? My plants!

Many of them comes from cuttings and seeds taken home and abroad, plants from faraway countries, from friends – living or long since gone. That is an important thing to me. Every time I water them or prune them or just look at them – I remember the friend who gave that plant to me. My plants are living memories keeping their former owner alive.

They are also my ”children” and I love watching them grow. It is about the same feeling with real children and students – making them thrive and grow makes me feel good. And whole.

My garden project is to make it a haven for flowers (especially wild flowers), plants, pollinators and birds. And my little hedgehog… Never is my smile bigger than when I see him walking around at dusk, drinking some water or poking his nose in the ground for a caterpillar or two.

These garden pictures are of course from another season, but I decided to take all the indoor photos yesterday – which means there are none of grandmothers’ geraniums as they are not flowering until April, May. But there are many others. (Text in the photos.)

Indoors I have more than 200 plants, and it takes a week every year to repot them. I usually do that in February – so they will make a good start when the sun goes higher in the sky.

I used to grow a lot of orchids, but have turned more into other species of interest, like Begonias, Hoya, Hibiscus and cacti. The ”bubbly” Begonia (begonia masoniana river) below the white Camellia is my newest and most rare one. Keeping flowers for their patterns is fun, dried flowers too. Of course I love to grow edible sprouts for the winter as well! And my granddaughter loves to see them grow that fast…

Upstairs is crammed with plants during winter when they have to reside indoors. I use special lamps to give them more hours of daylight, but I haven´t always used any extra light. I was surprised to see the difference though, and from now on my plants will have a better start the next Spring.

What has enriched and/or changed your life? That is your challenge this week. Please share with us your joys and passion of a hobby or life experience that helped you find your life’s passion! Remember to tag with Lens-Artists at Anne’s original post.

We really enjoyed your posts in response to John’s Pick A Word challenge last week. What a variety! Next week Ritva will present the challenge, so look for her post.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Lens Artists Challenge #338 – Pick a Word

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

John‘s challenge this week is called “Pick a Word.” You must choose a word that fits your topic and select three or four appropriate photos to share. Please visit his interesting site for more inspiration!

I have chosen ”Double-Exposures” But if John doesn’t accept it (two words…) I will go for ”Double”.

During the pandemic years, I developed a love for double exposures. And swirls. But today I will pick only double exposures. I guess it became interesting because we could not travel very far and had to be very careful where and how we went. Doubles could easily be done at home or in the garden, with interesting results.

I tried many combinations, and these are some of those I found worked best. Flowers of course,

and flowers and text together.

Why not a library… we can never get enough of books!

Buildings make excellent photos – like these wooden houses in different colours.

Finally Stockholm railway station and City Hall – where the outcome is an old favourite of mine. In fact I think I want to try some new subjects for double exposures again!

So, John says the word you pick could be for example from photographic techniques like ”Backlit, Landscape, Portrait, Minimalist” or subject descriptions like “Mountain, River, Architecture, Wildlife.”

We are looking forward to seeing what word you pick to share in your challenge response! Be sure to tag your post with “Lens-Artists” and add a link to John’s original post.

Last week, Sofia challenged us to be BOLD, and we really were! Extraordinary answers to that one. Next week it’s Anne’s turn. To be sure you get a notice of her challenge when it goes live, follow her site here. If you’d like to join the challenge each week, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Hope to see you soon – and until then, stay safe and be kind.