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.

I hope you all had some Happy Holidays and are now ready for posting your favourites of 2024! As has become our custom, we are asking our followers to select their favorite images of the last year – whether they’ve been included in previous posts or not. This week, no single host will present the challenge. The entire team will share the challenge topic.

Here are mine – difficult to choose, so, of course I could have chosen other ones… but some of these just had to be in this gallery. I guess you know which ones I am thinking of…

Sometimes you find a door in the place you least expect. In a garden along the road, a short glimpse to the left, and I had to stop – to look, love and take a photo.

Somehow these two are look alikes – at least I think so. Take pride in yourself and let it shine! The Nice Festival was a feast to remember.

A walk in the forest close to my old school always brings many memories. Although I retired many years ago, I still love this place. It’s peaceful, and as always the forest is my temple.

The most wonderful moments of 2024 were captured in Japan. A serene and beautiful country where they highly treasure beauty and create beauty in everything.

My love for Wisteria did not fade in Japan – it reached unknown heights in the gardens we visited.

Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu was the most impressive one. I left a piece of my heart and soul there in its unprecedented beauty.

We also went to Holland again this year – but now for the Dahlia Festival in the Autumn. Holland is the Mecka of flowers, mostly bulbs like tulips – but wild poppies too.

To savour even more flowers and nature – an English garden tour came true in July. The beauty of an English garden is hard to beat.

And, in one of the castle gardens I fell in love with The Stumpery. It made my creative nerves tingle… and I have already started on my own project!

Swedish Autumn around my well known waters – is a must every year. I passed here every day on the way to my job, and enjoyed these waters and forests in every season. This truly is Autumn at its best.

Walking the cobbled streets of Saint-Paul de Vence in Alpes Maritimes can surprise and mezmerise you in many ways…

This lady unexpectedly showed up on my right side – she looked so relaxed. I secretely wished I could rest like that myself…

Lastly, I love the modern version of ”The Thinker” by Joseph Klibansky. It sits opposite to Rembrandt in Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam. It has got something to tell us, make us think about our ”modern” times, what, where and why…

We thank all of our followers for continued support and look forward to seeing the images you choose as YOUR favorites of 2024. Please remember to link your post to any or all of the Lens-Artists team members. Also, remember to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.

We offer our best wishes for a New Year filled with peace, happiness, love and friendship. Anne will lead us next week on her lovely Slow Shutter Speed post. Until then, stay safe, be kind and and find joy in the simple things.