Barcelona is a famous city – and many visit every day. Gaudí stands out of course, but there are also modern structures worth a view. Go to Cee for more!
The Night Before Christmas
I have been sitting in the darkness by the Christmas tree. It’s raining. Some days ago I went to see The Hobbit – the last movie on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. I enjoyed it even if there was too much war and fighting. A sad ending – of course. I was reflecting upon it, there, in the darkness.
I remember when I was young and read all his stories…just How Much I loved them. I think I still do. Black and white – not much grey. And, sometimes I still wish for a Magician to come and put everything right in this world…even if I know things will go wrong again – it’s human nature.
In order to restore my happy mood, I persuaded my children to watch The Intouchables (2011) with me. I love that movie, and I knew they would love it as well. It’s based on a true story, and its positive views and humour concerning the grim life we lead here on Earth cannot be overestimated.
From a dark and rainy Skane, Sweden, I wish you all a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
To my help, I’ve had a little Magician of my own – Totti. Maybe that’s why you perhaps do not recognize him in this picture…
Vintersolståndet – Winter Solstice
Finally it’s here – now – Welcome Light!
Natten mellan söndag och måndag inträffar vintersolståndet och detta klockan 00.03 För övrigt är det sista gången det här århundradet som det inträffar 22 december – något som har att göra med skottårscykeln. Från och med år 2018 inträffar vintersolståndet den 21 december även det tredje året i skottårscykeln.
I år är alltså den 21:e och 22:e december i praktiken årets kortaste dagar. Här ser du hur pass många timmar den varar:
Grafiken visar dagens längd, dvs. antal timmar och minuter som solen befinner sig över horisonten. I Sverige är dagen som längst längs Skånes sydkust, där solen står lite drygt 7 timmar över horisonten. Ju längre norrut man kommer, desto kortare är dagen och i landets nordligaste del går solen överhuvudtaget inte upp över horisonten.
Travel Theme: Golden
A late night’s walking close to St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. A thin drizzle made the beauty of it even more golden.
WordPress Photo Challenge: Yellow
Yellow is a very strong and happy colour, life giving and stands for intellect. In some countries in the West, it’s representing cowardice, but in Old China it was the Emperor’s colour, the most beautiful and prestigious colour of all.
According to Wikipedia, the word ”yellow” comes from the Old English geolu, geolwe (oblique case), meaning ”yellow, yellowish”, from the Indo-European base, gʰel-, as the word yell; gʰel- means both bright and gleaming, and to cry out.
Wearing yellow though, is not easily done for everybody – but looks stunning on people with dark or tanned skin, and preferably, dark hair. Lucky you who can shine in this beautiful colour!
To me, yellow means sun, spring and autumn. And, of course, the yellow houses in Denmark! For more of Yellow, click here.
Professional photo guide
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This is an interesting picture. I am intrigued by the pond. Is it man-made or is natural? And what secrets or enigmas does it hold deep down there under the surface? There is something intangible about that deep blue pond and its surface without any ripples. Of course, the blue colour is a reflection of the sky above, which only adds a dimension to the photo. The pond feels very deep, mostly because of the steep walls or rocks leading down into the pond. The palette of the photo is mostly blue and green, which creates a cool atmosphere. To me the photo is a little bit overexposed, which is particularly noticeable in the rocks. If you had darkened the photo a bit, it would have increased the feeling of mystery by making the blues of the pond go even darker. In addition, the rocks would have gotten a more correct gray tone. I like the way you have omitted most of the sky above the pond. It’s not important, most notably because without clouds it would have been quite boring. On the other hand, I am not so sure about the open space the positioning of the pond in the lower two thirds of the left side do for the composition. It feels not quite there and somewhat off balance. At the same time this open space emphasizes the mystery of the pond because it feels like it could drop down to unlimited depths. I wonder if some silhouetted branches sticking up from the lower left corner would have help the composition without destroying the mysterious feeling. Another thought: Since this picture is all about the mystery and the pulling of a deep pond – at least for me – I might have gone back and tried to shoot the same picture at dusk or during twilight. I think that would have enhanced that feeling of ambiguity.
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Very good advice – of course, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity too. There were (unfortunately) no branches to bring into the photo, but I will certainly follow your advice about everything else. I’m glad you describe the mystery of the blue, deep water, and ways to enhance that feeling, because I was rather entranced by it.
Thank you for letting me in!
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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Landscapes or Seascapes
From Ostia Antica we went by train to the sea. I hadn’t expected anything special really, but we had a lovely walk. Here, two afternoon seascapes for Cee’s Challenge.
Oh, joy!
http://feber.se/…/art/316349/hund_kan_springa_igen_tack_var/ Det här klippet är ett måste - av många anledningar. Jag är inte så glad åt rullstolar för hundar till exempel - men det här är fullständigt underbart. Se hur lycklig han är, Derby!
WP Challenge: Twinkle
No stars to be seen, no snow, no nothing…I live up north in the darkness, so the twinkling I must search for – in my old vaults and chambers…This Christmas will be my number four, blogging, so here are some memorable twinklings from 2011-2013!
Travel Theme: Freedom
Freedom…a magical word. To those who live in countries with dictators, to those who live under dictators at home, to those who are chained to their jobs, to those who…
The word freedom I think belongs to those words that never will be worn out. Partly because there are so many ways of enterpreting its inner meaning.
When I think of freedom, in my life, I would say it means freedom of thought and freedom to live some days without any ”musts”. Those days are so precious…and without doubt, they are often connected to being alone, hiking and travelling. Travelling in a mindblowing book or travelling over geographic land and sea.
I will try to picture my Freedom, and I’m grateful to Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack, for being allowed and able to. I looked through pictures I thought would give me that feeling, and my final choices were these:
Lastly, hard to admit it, but…
Leya 
Hej! En fin möjlighet att få hjälp – tack på förhand! Jag önskar hjälp med hur man tar en sådan här bild. Det här är ett stenbrott i Blekinge, med underbart blått vatten och vackert formad “bassän”g. Jag kan inte förstå hur jag ska ta bilden för att bli nöjd. Hoppas på dina proffstips!
Ha en fin helg önskar
Ann-Christine
https://faialflores.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/the-old-quarry-iii/