Thursday Thoughts – The Lonely House

Lonely houses have always fascinated me, but maybe you too have noticed, that some people have a downright obsession with them…?

A lonely house can have a very picturesque location…

– maybe not that easily accessible…

And, at a closer look, you might find it is only an old boat shed…

…or maybe a lonely barn. On the other hand – I could live in one of those as well.

Some newer loners enjoy spectacular seascape views…

…while others stand dilapidated, slowly falling apart.

And then, there are the abandoned houses just looking – eerie…

…while others, at the end of the road, see new guests arriving every year.

Where do you stand in this? Do you believe they are lonely, desolate, forlorn, solitary – or what word would you use? Is a house ”alive” in some ways? Could they hide/have memories? Do you ask yourself questions like: I wonder who once lived here? And, what did their lives look like? Why did they leave?

Are you constantly photographing them…or would never dream of doing it?

I find them enigmatic.

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Sculptures, Statues, Carvings

For Cee, a statue of the typical dogs in Fanö, Denmark. They stand high on a pillar in the open place close to where the ferry boats arrive and leave. Small versions of them are to be found in many windows and houses on the island.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #8: Colorful

Tina asks us to be colourful – and that feels good after a summer with no flowers, no natural colours here in Skåne, Sweden, except yellow and brown.

First, I would like to present an ordinary summer’s  typical Swedish summer house…

…and then a sparkling Japanese Camellia. Flowers are inevitable photo objects when it comes to colour!

Two family members are celebrating colourful birthdays during summer.

 

And not that seldom we all go to enjoy Neil’s Yard in London, where walking in colours always makes my spirit jump with joy. Possible even when flowers are out of season…

Finally, I wish you a colourful and inspiring weekend!

 

 

Just a few reminders about the Lens-Artist Photo Challenges:

  • We hope you will join the challenge this week!  When you do, include a link to Tina’s post.
  • Use the tag “Lens-Artists” in order to make other bloggers find your post in the Reader.  so keep in mind that you should use fewer than 15 tags for your post or it won’t appear in the Reader.  For more information on how to tag, click here.
  • The next challenge (#9) will be posted by Patti, on Saturday, September 1.
  • Missed our initial Lens-Artists challenge announcement? Click here for details.

 

CFFC: Men and Instruments

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Week 5 Photo – Music, guitar, instrument, men, coffee, etc.

All men…

 

…and good at what they are doing!  Irish in the header, in Madrid I admired the glass player sitting in a street market, and…

…happy guys playing cards in the streets of Beijing.

All candid shots.

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Patterns

This spring, I visited Bhutan, and met so many fantastic people and a landscape so different from ours in Scandinavia. Harmony – this is the word describing it best.

I eagerly noticed all the patterns in people’s lives – in clothes, buildings, decorations, religious paintings and habits…as well as patterns in Nature herself. Like the pattern in the header – the mules and horses trotting in a row – while the lines of the landscape, the roads, paths and fences, create natural frames.

I often try to find and capture the less obvious patterns, noticing that colours are not that important to make you see the pattern or structure itself.

But in most cases colours make an obvious difference, natural colours as well as man made ones.

Either you can find patterns in a sweeping landscape or cityscape or you can look at the little details. Any way, you will find that almost everything consists of just – patterns. Moreover, in our human society, they often have a ritual or symbolic meaning.

Among the most interesting patterns must be languages. When a language is written in beautiful pictures or letters – their special patterns will give them yet another meaning. Magical, isn’t it?

 

Life is beautiful in so many ways – and patterns are a big part of it. So, for this week’s challenge, share your interpretation of patterns— open your eyes and find new ones! In you own home, outdoors, man made or natural… Use your curiosity and creativity!

  • In your post, include a link to this challenge.
  • Use the tag “Lens-Artists” in your post.  If you use a different tag, other bloggers won’t find your post in the Reader!  Also keep in mind that you should use fewer than 15 tags for your post to appear in the Reader.  For more information on how to tag, click here.
  • Amy will post the next challenge on Saturday, August 18th.
  • Missed our initial Lens-Artists challenge announcement? Click here for details.

 

Have you seen these?

Great diversity, from Abrie Joubert of Abrie Dink Hardop

Henry Lee of Fotoeins Fotografie

Storm coming in from the sea, from Suzanne of Being in Nature

 

Thank you for joining the challenge and have an inspiring week!

CFFC: Week 1 Photo – Window etc.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Week 1 Photo – geometry, bushes, window, brick, etc

Switzerland has much to offer – a little village totally covered in decorations like these. I hope this covers some of the words – at least windows, bushes and geometry!

Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in July Y3

Paula’s Pick a Word is always a treat – but this time…I only managed four of her five words. I will have to look closely at how you all solved it!

splash – Seljalandsfoss, Iceland

feathered – Designer Wallin, Sweden. If this does not count…Galapagos’ swallow tailed in the header!

marine – Switzerland

scenic – Switzerland

CFFC: Piles or Stacks

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Piles or Stack

For Cee this week – one of my favorite stack photos is this one,  with my mother walking between what once was my forest. In the header: boxes of butter!

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Birds

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Birds

This week I thought I had nothing to enter – until I remembered the kite flyers of Fanö, and one of their funny inventions. Here we go – unfortunately there is no wind, but just use your inner eye and imagine the wind catching their bodies,  making all the birds swing to and fro in a delightful dance.

Drakflygningsfestival Fanö 151-Redigera