Do you have an eye for colour in your photography?
Using colour helps to create mood and feelings in photographs and may result in a photo that is more pleasing to the eye.
baklandet buildings
Photographers can create a heightened level of visual interest and enhance photos by seeking out particular colour harmonies in the environment.
Such colour combinations may be
analogous
complementary
monochromatic
Capturing Reds, Yellows and Orange tones is an example of an Analogous colour scheme.
Seeking out or deliberately combining the following colours may complement and enhance each other.
Oranges and Blues
Reds with Greens
Yellows with Purple
Keep in mind the saturation and the value of colours will alter the way they go together.
A split complementary colour scheme might include shades of Red, Orange and Blueish-green. Josef Alber’s images are an example.
Using a certain background colour in our photographs can also influence how our subject appears. There is more of an explanation here relating to using colour to enhance food photography.
This week’s prompt for Friendly Friday is for you to find or create
Colour Harmonies
Create a Friendly Friday Challenge Post
Simply add a pingback and tag ‘Friendly Friday – Colour Harmonies‘ to your own post, then return here, leave a comment below adding your published link, so we can find your post.
Sandy’s prompt for Friendly Friday reminded me of a visit to the Skansen Museum in Stockholm,where I felt the presence of old world shadows.
In the midst of a Swedish winter, the shadowy silhouette of the bell tower in Stockholm’s Skansen Museum was an imposing and slightly daunting sight set against the crepuscular morning light.
Swedish farm houses were dark and the winters bitterly cold. Many families lived in the same house for generations and the darkest corners of the room echoed with imagined shadows of the past.
Skansen’s Farm labourers cottage
Taking refuge inside, farmers and their labourers would enjoy consuming a hearty meal, particularly at Christmas.
For those who have Swedish heritage, visiting Skansen is a way to bring history alive and feel more of a connection with the past.
“Photographers are writers- Writers are photographers: we catch a glimpse of something beautiful – a flower, a glance, a window – and catch it into our camera or writing lens: add a bit of glimmer, a ghost of a shadow, allowing the background to sink into fuzziness while focusing on the sharp beauty; thus, we highlight the romance of life.”
What beautiful words from Pam – inspirational words that inspire us to become better photographers, whether we are amateur or professional. We strive to become photographers that capture the emotion in a scene, or evoke a feeling from the viewer.
It is my photographs that tell me that four years ago I was leaving Poland on a flight to Denmark. I was overjoyed to be in Denmark, but so sad to leave Poland behind.
Five years ago, I took photos of our newest family member.
While six years ago, I was driving overland across the mountains and fjords of Norway.
Poland to Denmark
Two Schnauzers
Norway
Ten years ago, the following photo reminds me of the serenity I felt the day I was punting on the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was just two weeks before the first of two devastating earthquakes to hit that city.
The Avon River, Christchurch
More than 40 years ago, I was about to fall in love. Not with a boy, but with the snow. I was leaving for my first skiing holiday with friends.
Without photographs, these memories and feelings might be lost in the passage of time.
Memories are made of moments.
Life is a collection of such moments fused into an ever-changing continuum.
The transient nature of life’s experiences are one reason why we take photographs. Like time travelling, photographs are a way to give life to the past, so we can imagine again that moment in time, in all its visual richness.
Looking at photos might evoke a feeling of NOSTALGIA.
Feeling Nostalgic
Join the Weekly Friendly Friday Challenge Theme
To join in with this week’s challenge theme, simply create a post, including a pingback, using the theme Nostalgia, and tag it:
“Friendly Friday – Nostalgia”
Be sure to leave a comment below,as well as the pingback, so others can read your post.
Write a Little More for Friendly Friday
As this is the first Friendly Friday post for the month, we would love you to write a little bit more about your chosen photo/s. It’s far more interesting to hear the narrative in addition to the photos that you post. [This does not have to be a lengthy]. Here are some ideas if you are stuck on what to write:
What is its significance or history of the photo/s?
Where and when were they taken?
Why was it taken?
Post a recipe/ re-tell an old story that relates to the topic
Monthly Guest Blogger – A Mindful Traveller
Each month, Sandy and I publish a Friendly Friday post from a guest blogger. This month the wonderful Lorelle from Melbourne, Australia, who blogs at A Mindful Traveller will be our guest blogger and will take about an old family recipe that evokes Nostalgia for her. The post will be published here at StPA tomorrow.
If you are interested in submitting a guest post for Friendly Friday, please contact me or Sandy, via the Contact pages or our WordPress Profiles.
Weekly Photo Challenge Next Week
Next week, Sandy will have a new topic for Friendly Friday. Follow our blogs to receive new themes each week.
When I was researching the topic for this week’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge, I realized that all my relevant photos were located in Europe. Except for one! I hope that you can show me some more balconies, or patios, or verandahs from all over the world.
The oldest balconies I spotted were in Germany – in Berlin and Frankfurt and in Italy.
Pergammon
Offenbach
Schloss
Juliet’s balcony was a popular tourist attraction in Verona.
Where for art thou
Malcezine
I noticed the fashionable balconies, in Italy, have window boxes that are more often filled with greenery or Geraniums.
Mezzegra
And I couldn’t possibly exclude balconies found in Scandinavia from this montage, seeing as that region is my first love.
Sweden has a very famous indoor balcony.
Do you know what special purpose it serves?
I haven’t seen Norwegians use a balcony but they like them
Ceremonial Balcony – Stockholm
Norway has some spectacular balconies in Dragon Style
Scroll down to more instructions on creating pingbacks/joining in.
Publish a new ‘Friendly Friday – ‘Balcony,’ post including a URL link to this post, tagging the post, ‘Friendly Friday.’ Add the Photo Challenge logo, if you wish.
Copy the published url into the comments below, so other readers can visit your blog.
Visit other Friendly Friday entries by following the links. It’s fun!
Follow the host blogs to see future prompts.
Please note there are no deadlines for any Friendly Friday challenge.
This challenge is alternately hosted, each Friday, by the following bloggers: Amanda from Something to Ponder About , Snow from The Snow Melts Somewhere, and Manja from Manja Mexi Moving who is currently filling in for Snow, because she is somewhat “snowed under,” with work at the moment. Thanks so much, Manja.
Scroll down to find full Instructions on joining in with this challenge.
This week’s prompt, for you to interpret with your photographic genius, is:
‘Abandoned‘
What does ‘Abandoned,’ mean for you?
An abandoned shed or farm building, an old church or closed down mine shaft?
What windows!
It might mean a disused industrial facility or closed hotel
You might perhaps, interpret this theme in a more abstract way.
Abandoned but never forgotten
It is up to you.
Pretty as a painting
One can still find beauty in things that are ‘Abandoned”
Instructions for Joining in on Friendly Friday:
Publish a ‘Friendly Friday – ‘Abandoned,’ post and include a URL link to this post, tagging the post, ‘Friendly Friday’.
Once the post is published, copy an dpaste the URL for your Friendly Friday ‘Abandoned’ post, in the comment box here, so everyone can find you and visit your blog.
You can also include the Friendly Friday logo found below, if you wish.
Be a part of the Friendly Friday Community by visiting the links in the comments section. It’s fun to see how others interpreted the prompt.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating in any Friendly Friday challenge.
Follow the Friendly Friday blogs to catch the weekly prompts.
This Friday’s prompt for you to interpret with your photography is:
Between the Lines
Immediately the lines in a book might come to mind, but actually, I was inspired to come up with the prompt , when I saw this sunrise.
But it may not mean a sunrise or a book for you.
It might mean a bridge, architecture, or railway lines.
Plenty of Lines to find here and what goes on between them?
Or something else you find between the lines.
One of my favourite photos
You might perhaps, interpret this theme in an abstract way.
It is up to you.
Between the Lines
I find beauty in ‘Between the Lines“
Instructions for Joining:
Publish a ‘Friendly Friday – ‘Between the Lines,’ post and please include a URL link to this post, and a ‘Friendly Friday’ Tag, as well.
Once the post is published, paste the URL for your Friendly Friday ‘Between the Lines’ post, in the comments here, so everyone can find you and visit your blog.
You can also include the Friendly Friday logo, found below, if you wish.
Be a part of the Friendly Friday Community by visiting the links in the comments section. It’s fun to see how others interpreted the prompt.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating.
Follow the Friendly Friday blogs to catch the weekly prompts.
I hear you say that you don’t have a photo with a cool ‘Shadow’ in it?
Then create one, like I did above! Add a frame or border with a photo app if you like.
I am really curious to see what you come up with this week!
Spread the word and gets your blog community to join in on the fun.
Instructions for Joining:
Write a post including a URL link back to this Friendly Fridaypost.
Tag your post ‘Friendly Friday’
Once published, paste the link to your Friendly Friday ‘Shadows’ post, in the comments here, so we can find you and visit your blog.
Include in your post the Friendly Friday logo, found below, if you wish.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating. New prompts are posted each week alternately at the host blogs.
Be a part of the Friendly Friday Community and visit the links in the comments section. It can be quite interesting to see another person’s post on the prompt.
Everyone is welcome to join in with the Friendly Friday Photography challenge.
Sunset
Sunrise
Schnauzer Sunset
For me, illumination means sunsets, sunrises, candlelight, or nights with the moon.
Moonlit nights
A Mackerel sky
The city can be illuminating, especially when there is Fireworks
A little bit of Nepal in Brisbane
You can also see some photos of Tokyo illuminating at night here
Instructions for Joining In:
Write a post including a URL link back to this Friendly Fridaypost.
Tag your post ‘Friendly Friday’
Once published, paste the link to your Friendly Friday ‘Illumination’ post, in the comments here, so we can find you and visit your blog.
Include the Friendly Friday logo, found below, in your post if you wish.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating. New prompts are posted each week alternately at the host blogs.
Be a part of the Friendly Friday Community and visit the links in the comments section. It can be quite interesting to see another interpretation of the prompt.
The ancient Egyptians are believed to be the first to invent a four-legged seat with a back,… The earliest examples have been found in tombs dating as far back as 2680 B.C”
The most common theories are that the chair was an outgrowth of indigenous Chinese furniture, that it evolved from a camp stool imported from Central Asia, that it was introduced to China by Nestorian missionaries in the seventh century, and that the chair came to China from India.
Thanks to Snow for this week’s excellent prompt for Friendly Friday. I’ll be back next week with a new prompt. Be sure to check out all this week’s participants linked in the comments section on Snow ‘s blog.
Everyone is welcome to join in with the Friendly Friday Photography challenge.
Here are some alleys in the lakes district of Italy.
Mussolini’s Mezzegra
Italy
Alleys are found not just in the old world. The ‘New’ world has its alleyways too.
Melbourne’s streets was created in a grid like pattern of both wide streets and narrow alleys, as the authorities couldn’t agree on the sort of town plan they initially wanted, for the city: whether to make it more European like, or with modern wider streets, so they hedged their bets and incorporated both.
Guerilla Territory in Melbourne
Striking Contrasts in this Alley
In Sweden, we have some unique alleys to showcase to visitors.
Both on the West coast and in Stockholm.
A natural form of alley
Just like old times in Gamla Stan
I chuckle to think how Manja Mexi would caption this photo?
Instructions for Joining In:
Write and publish a post and include the URL link back to this Friendly Fridaypost.
Tag the post ‘Friendly Friday’
Include the Friendly Friday logo, found below, in your post if you wish.
Copy the link to your ‘Alleys‘ post, in the comments here, so we can find you.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating. New prompts each week.
Be a part of the Friendly Friday Community and visit the links in the comments section. It can be quite interesting to see another interpretation of the prompt.
My starting point for a walk. Overlooking Shinjuki’s Concrete jungle.
Snow and I co-host a Photo Challenge, Called Friendly Friday, alternately each Friday (Saturday for some time zones). Although I have linked the response to this week’s prompt of a photo walk, to an earlier walk I took through the Gyoen National Park in Shinjuku, Japan, this prompt from Snow was one I couldn’t resist joining in with again.
Hosts are allowed to join their own challenges, aren’t they?
Japanese know their horticulture and how to make it a work of art. The trees perfectly frame the pond and the manicured trees int eh distance. In a week or so, these trees would turn brilliant red. Oh how I would love have seen that.
A row of Japanese mountain Maple trees – more LOTR trees,
A fellow Aussie blogger liked my comparison of these trees to Lord of the Rings.
Sometimes they help us discover something new, sometimes they are curiosities to us, or something to laugh at, occasionally they might even be serendipitous.
Graphic credit: H. Mcl.
Still other times, mistakes might be a real pain.
But with every mistake, we undoubtedly learn something previously unknown.
This week on Friendly Friday Photography Challenge, I am asking you to create a post on the theme of:
“Mistakes”
Write as much or as little as you like to accompany the photo/s you choose to post.
New Zealand – an unexplained photo mistake??
The Friendly Friday prompt, this week, is “Mistakes.”
There are two mistakes in the above photo.
Mistake #1 – shows a quirk of mobile photography – I am unsure how I managed this photo, given it was taken with my smartphone, but I think it looks kinda cool. It reminds me of The Day of the Triffids, War of the Worlds, or a sci-fi novel.
Can you guess what the mistake actually is?
Mistake #2: Can you see another mistake?
I feel sure this mistake would not amuse local police.
Here is another kind of mistake:
Did he/she make a mistake?
Create a post sharing your interpretation of the weekly prompt – Mistakes.
Instructions:
Write and publish a post, tagging the postFriendly Friday, and adding a url link back to thisFriendly Friday post.
Include the Friendly Friday logo if you wish
Post a link to your Mistake post, in the comments here, so we can easily find you.
Please note there are no deadlines for participating
Browse the other participants’ posts using the links in the comments section, to see how they’ve interpreted the weekly prompt. It can be quite interesting.
A skinny slip of a girl was studying the Environment at University. She learnt about planet earth and how fragile it was; how global temperature might rise at least 2- 3 degrees, and how this warming might lead to cataclysmic and irreversible ramifications for life, on earth.
Rainbows could be a thing of the past in some parts of Australia
That student also learnt how inland river systems were polluted by effluent from cities and how excessive irrigation for agricultural crops led to saline soils and dying river systems, in this the driest continent, on earth. She learnt how her country would begin to experience more drought, wild weather events, fire and more hardship on the land in coming decades.
Rivers break their banks in extreme weather events
Furthermore, she read how scientists detected die-back and bleaching of coral in the Great Barrier Reef due to run-off of fertilizers draining down from agricultural land into the sea, during rains.
She learnt how everything in the natural world is interconnected.
If one part of the ecosystem breaks down, or disappears, it has a deleterious domino effect on other parts, with potential species extinction and irreversible damage to nature.
She learnt along with rising sea levels, that there is not a single species in the ocean without plastic materials in its gut; that fisheries are disappearing and that the only marine species flourishing in the alkaline marine environment is Jellyfish.
In University classes, she discussed how we as humans, along with other predatory species will feel the concentrated effects of endocrine disrupting petrochemicals and accumulated pesticides. And that we might see evidence of this first in plants, second in animals that feed on those plants, and lastly in us, the carnivores that eat the animals, because we are at the top of the food chain.
Everything is connected.
Plastic washed up on beaches
She learnt that frogs are a good indicator of the health of the environment and that frogs and bee numbers are dwindling.
The student then learnt about the hole in the ozone layer and how the polar ice sheets could melt resulting in a rise in sea levels; meaning some low lying countries will become uninhabitable.
Rising sea levels could threaten low lying coastal communities
For this student, who had grown up in the shadow of potential nuclear extermination in the Cold War era, soon realized an even bigger threat to the planet was, in fact, man himself.
Checkpoint Charlie – a hot spot in the Cold War
What kind of world would her potential future children be gifted with?
She left her work in the environment field as she could not bear to hear it any more.
Looking outwards, not inwards
Now no longer a student, but a Mother, that women began to facilitate and promote environmentally friendly practices in her own circle. She spoke about her concerns with friends, family and her wider community, and slowly changed attitudes of those around her, and increased awareness, in her own microcosm.
That former student learnt that education and knowledge can be a powerful vanguard for change in community thinking and ultimately, in the halls of government. The student, who had read so much gloom and doom in her University years, also learnt that there is HOPE.
Slowly, as temperatures began to rise, folks began to know the world was indeed a finite place and could no longer absorb man’s destructive ways.
Sustainable practices, solar and wind power and recycling became mainstream. Single use plastic bags were banned or minimized. Threatened forests and animals were protected and land clearing practices examined in terms of their biodiversity loss or environmental value. Salinity in rivers and streams began to be addressed and is now understood as both a threat and a challenge.
And the public started to realize that Climate Change is real.
Friendly Friday Photo Challenge will have a new weekly prompt next week here on Something to Ponder About. Thanks ever so much to my co-host TheSnowMeltsSomewhere for her Friendly Friday Climate Change prompt.
Please check the comment section on her post for other entries to this challenge.
This topic is especially dear to my heart and in highlighting this issue through photography, we can also increase awareness. I will pop down from my soap box now.
