Macro Monday – From Soil to Ice

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My son found this little one when walking the path up to my door. Surely he is a bit too early on his way – the snail? February only.

Macro snigel i snö 051-3

He was so tiny, only about 3 millimeters, and still venturing out in this big world…on icy paths with an unwashed house. He ”looked” at me…

but, when I came too close with the camera, he silently steered away.

My son decided to pick him up and hide him under the garden bushes – out of sight from hungry little birds. Maybe we will meet again, on our way towards summer?

Lens-Artists Challenge #32 – Shadows

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In the header, the grand Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain. A picture where you cannot ignore the importance of shadows. For Tina’s challenge this week – Shadows.

Shadow owes its birth to light.
John Gay

Even the tiniest creature/ thing displays a delicate shadow when there is light enough

And as you move, your shadow moves with you…

In the late evening… the shadows make us a delightful pair – the cherry tree and me

The fence, in Riga, Latvia – one of my favorite pictures ever

Some flowers look their best in the shadows of other flowers in my garden

The golden browns of the dunes become enhanced by the shadows

…and the trees provide soothing shadow while they thrive and reach for the light

Thank you to Tina for a lovely challenge, and a homage to the importance of shadows.

 

Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides.

Junichiro Tanizaki

 

 

 

 

Friendly Friday – Comfort Zone

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The Snow Melts Somewhere

This week the prompt is about staying in your comfort zone – or not. The easiest thing is of course to stay there, but…nowadays we often hear we have to come out of it – because it is good for us. But is it… always?

My comfort zone is nature: in the forest, among meadows of flowers, in the mountains – and preferably alone. Or with my dogs.

Stepping out of my comfort zone is to ask people for a photo, a close-up – but I very seldom do. I am still not good at it – and do I really want to become good at it? I admire people who do street photography and get people to pose for them. But…maybe that is not for me.

I do like people who look cool though…

And, I never do selfies – that is to leave my comfort zone completely. This is not a selfie – my husband and his camera were sitting opposite me and Totti in the boat…

Only once have I asked someone to take a photo with me and another person. That was last year, when I met the world’s oldest blogger, Dagny (106 years old).

Finally – the biggest step out of my natural comfort zone, was when I decided to become a teacher. Everyday standing in front of hundreds of students and colleagues, speaking, writing, communicating. That really went against all my intuition and common sense. But I came to love it. So, I came out of my comfort zone to grow, test my capability and learn for life. But please let me escape selfies…

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Winter Fun!

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A glorious morning! Mum said, and I could just hear the promise in her silvery voice!

And off we went as soon as breakfast was finished – and she was right…

Out of the car and into the snow! Yes, yes, I know… she told me to look at her for the photo, but I heard another, more interesting sound – and with the soft ”click” of the camera, I threw myself off the stone again!

I tried my best to jump up on the trunk here, as usual, but failed twice – simply too slippery today – so I gave up.

– Had to really, as she called me…

Well, I know I will get a treat when I run up to her…And then, maybe a quick bath – with a drink on top!

But, I nailed trunk number two! You notice I know what is coming??? Another treat!

Thank you for joining us this snowy morning! Love, Milo.

Macro Monday

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The winter is still a feast in my garden – some mornings offer a shimmering, microcosmic world of crystals. Nature’s wonders are always the best wonders.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #31: Landscapes

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The challenge from Amy this week is Landscapes. And I must agree with her, searching the archives for landscapes I have traveled through brought back many fond memories. I also got reminded of my love for two English painters, namely John Constable and William Turner. Constable a naturalistic painter and Turner a Romantic – they merge into the kind of art I love the most. So, let me start with a photographic painting from the winter where I live in the southern part of Sweden. And then, some different Swedish landscapes.

”The landscape you grow up in speaks to you in a way that nowhere else does.”

Molly Parker

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If we go abroad, the landscapes of course change for every country. Here are some of my favorites, starting with the Alps of Switzerland.

Endless, lonely beaches in Latvia

…and in Iceland. More Icelandic landscapes are here and here. More? Here and here!

Early morning dunes in Morocco – so different from the warm yellows of the evening sun!

This view from a kapok tree in the Amazon basin is one of my loveliest memories ever

The unforgettable, strange landscapes of the Galapagos Islands. The impressive, 5-40 ft, endemic Opuntia cactus is common, but

– every island is different…

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers of New Zealand display extremely impressive landscapes

Back in Europe again, and the lush, rural landscapes of Bastán, Spain

A spectacular landscape hidden somewhere in the Pyrenees, Spain

And finally, China, along the Yangtze river…

… and the vast landscape of the Tibetan Plateau – shot through a train window. We traveled on the highest built railroad in the world, and the only train running on the permafrost.

 

Thank you, Amy, for this opportunity to revisit some favorite landscapes! I quote Charles Lindbergh: ”Life is like a landscape. You live in the midst of it but can describe it only from the vantage point of distance.”

Thank you for visiting, and welcome to join in the challenge! Also, be sure to tune in for Tina’s challenge next week, February 9!