Outdoors and indoors – Punakha Dzong, Bhutan and the Long Room, Ireland.

CFFC: Things People Play With

9 oktober, 2018 / Leya / 12 kommentarer

For Cee this week – Things People Play With

Notice the difference in toys here…grown-ups and children! Just some years ago…

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: People at Work

13 september, 2018 / Leya / 13 kommentarer

For Cee this week – New Delhi

Cheers Viveka!

10 september, 2018 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

Thursday’s Special: Traces of The Past Y4-07

30 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 23 kommentarer

Paula, at Lost in Translation, asks us again to find traces of the past.

In Lofoten this summer, we experienced what is said to be the oldest and most authentic fishing village (fiskevær) there is – Nusfjord.

Dating back to the 19th century…

the village is still alive with rorbuer and everything.

We spent some hours there just walking – enjoying the past – and the present.

We had our lunch overlooking the charming harbour. Contemplating the difference between our own comparatively easy lives and the every day struggle where the family’s breadwinner might be lost to the sea any day.

CFFC: Teal, Aqua, Turquoise…

28 augusti, 201828 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

For Cee today – these colours lead me to the sea…but also to a Bhutanese farmer’s kitchen!

Mountain lakes almost always have these hues of blue green. There are many minerals co-operating to make it work. A fascinating colour.

CFFC: Men and Instruments

22 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

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

11 augusti, 201814 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 196 kommentarer

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!

Svolvær – Lofoten

3 augusti, 20183 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

Svolvær is the main town in Lofoten, and Northern Atlantic Cod fisheries, particularly during winter months, have remained one of the most important economical foundations for the town. Just west of Svolvær is Vågar – mentioned in the book Heimskringla, and might have been established as early as the year 800 AD.

We arrived rather late, and thunder was in the air the whole evening. This also made for an interesting walk in beautiful light and no winds.

The little town has about 5000 inhabitants, and many people were strolling the streets in the soft evening. The special light made all colours stand out – no need for enhancing anything. Natural beauty only.

The old – and new – little houses are called rorbuer. Rorbu is a traditional type of seasonal house used by fishermen. The buildings are built on land, but with the one end on poles in the water, allowing easy access to vessels. Today they are mostly used for tourist renting.

After sorting by quality, most of the stockfish is exported to Italy, Croatia and Nigeria. In Norway and Iceland, the stockfish is mostly used as a snack and for lutefisk production. In Italy, the fish (called stoccafisso) is soaked and used in various courses, and is viewed as a delicacy. The man working where we parked the car, told us that in Nigeria it has become the national dish!

When the clouds occasionally lifted, or there opened a rift in the skies, we could capture some very picturesque views.

Unfortunately, after this lovely walk, we had to say goodbye to Svolvær – still bathing in that special light that attracts many artists and galleries – and us – to Lofoten.

Thursday Thoughts – From Narvik to Svolvær

2 augusti, 2018 / Leya / 23 kommentarer

Narvik was developed as an all-year ice free port for the Swedish Kiruna and Gällivare iron mines. In my youth I was here once, but did not go further out to Lofoten. This time we also took the train to Riksgränsen and back again. We got an interesting view of the new bridge connecting islands – not finished yet.

Riksgränsen (the border to Sweden) – and as you can see there is no activity during summer – it seems. Abandoned cafées and all lifts still waiting for passengers.

Back in Narvik again I marvelled at the abundance of red clover overlooking the harbour. Flowers everywhere along the roads in Sweden and Norway – a wonder for me used to the brownish yellow burnt landscape at home.