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HighLight Towers - Munich
Two slim, 113- and 126 meter tail towers, connected by three bridges of glass and steel unmistakably take position at Münchner Tor. The façade was designed by technological and ecological aspects in mind an gives the building a smooth, crystalline appearance. The structure looks light and transparent.
Guide:
www.mimoa.eu/projects/Germany/Munich/HighLight Business Towers
A couple of weeks ago, the biggest question around Yosemite was if there was enough water in Horsetail Falls for the traditional winter Firefalls. Unfortunately, there wasn't.
But that being said, the setting sunlight along El Capitan made for plenty of other amazing photo opportunities... Its almost as if someone took a highlighter and made two quick swipes of color on El Capitan.
Blockade der US-Basis Ramstein in Rheinland-Pfalz: Ramstein ist die wichtigste Luftwaffenbasis der USA im Ausland; stationiert sind in diesem Gebiet 57 000 Amerikaner. Es ist die zentrale Drehscheibe für den weltweiten Drohnenkrieg und Luftkrieg der US-Besatzer.
Mit schlagkräftigen Aktionen will das Bündnis „Stopp Air Base Ramstein“ im Juni die Schließung der US-Militärbasis nahe Kaiserslautern vorantreiben. Geplant ist neben einem großen Demonstrationszug auch eine komplette Massenblockade der Ramstein-Basis. Unterstützung gibt es von gleich mehreren prominenten Gegnern der US-Kriegsstrategie: Krone-Schmalz, Wagenknecht, Drewermann.
(von Marcel Joppa, aus de.sputniknews.com/politik/20180530320942350-ramstein-bas...)
Die US Air Base Ramstein nahe Kaiserslautern ist Friedensaktivisten und Gegnern der US-Militärpolitik ein besonderer Dorn im Auge. Deshalb soll auch in diesem Jahr wieder eine Aktionswoche gegen die Militärbasis mobil machen. Doch diesmal ist die Unterstützung besonders groß – auch mit Blick auf drohende Konflikte mit Russland oder dem Iran.
Ende der Hass-Politik
Für das letzte Juni-Wochenende 2018 plant die Initiative „Stopp Air Base Ramstein“ die größte Protestaktion ihrer Art. Dafür konnte sie prominente Unterstützung gewinnen: So findet am 29. Juni in der Versöhnungskirche Kaiserlautern eine Abendveranstaltung mit der ehemaligen ARD-Korrespondentin Gabriele Krone-Schmalz statt. Mitorganisator Reiner Braun, Co-Präsident des Internationalen Friedensbüros, will damit ein Zeichen setzen:
„Eine Konfrontation und Hass-Politik gegen Russland ist das Verkehrteste, was deutschen Interessen entspricht. Wir müssen alles tun, um wieder zu kooperativen Beziehungen zu Russland zu kommen. Und wir müssen da auch unseren Außenminister deutlich in die Schranken weisen.“
Krone-Schmalz hat über Jahrzehnte als Korrespondentin der ARD aus und über Russland berichtet. Schon seit Jahren kritisiert sie nun allerdings die konfrontative Politik des Westens gegenüber Moskau. Die Air Base Ramstein ist dafür der passende Ort: Sie ist auch die Einsatzbefehlszentrale für den US-Raketenabwehrschild.
Prominenter Widerstand
Höhepunkt der Aktionen gegen die US-Basis wird der 30. Juni, ein Datum mit trauriger Geschichte: Vor 30 Jahren stürzten an diesem Tag drei italienische Kampfjets bei der auf der Basis organisierten Flugschau in die Besuchermenge. Das Unglück forderte rund 70 Todesopfer und etwa 1000 Verletzte. Gleich zwei Demonstrationszüge sollen sich deshalb in diesem Jahr vor der Air Base treffen und an die Opfer erinnern, so Reiner Braun:
„Dort werden Sahra Wagenknecht, Eugen Drewermann und die US-Whistleblowerin Ann Wright sprechen. Und wir werden erinnern und deutlich machen: Wenn so etwas nie wieder passieren soll, muss diese Air Base geschlossen werden.“
Neben der Fraktionsvorsitzenden der Partei Die Linke, Sahra Wagenknecht, dem Theologen Eugen Drewermann und der ehemaligen US-Militärangehörigen Ann Wright werden weitere namhaften Redner erwartet. Im Mittelpunkt soll dabei auch das Problem stehen, dass Deutschland bei einem US-Angriff auf den Iran direkt involviert wäre. Denn von der Air Base Ramstein steuert das US-Militär seine Lufteinsätze für die gesamte eurasische Region.
Massenblockade gegen US-Militär
Als ein Highlight der Proteste planen die Organisatoren außerdem eine ganz besondere Aktion, die vor allem der Polizei nicht gefallen dürfte: Die Air Base soll von den Demonstranten komplett abgeriegelt werden. Durch die „Aktion des zivilen Ungehorsams“ sollen die Eingänge zur Basis dichtgemacht werden:
„Das ist unser Ziel: Friedlich, gewaltfrei, aber gewaltig. Wir wollen, dass diese Air Base geschlossen wird. Dafür sind wir, auch mit ganzem Einsatz. Diese Aktion machen wir das erste Mal, wir bereiten sie durch mehrere Aktionstrainings sorgfältig vor. Wir haben eine große Unterstützung für diese Aktion.“
Während das US-Militär bisher noch keine Stellung zu der geplanten Protestaktion nehmen wollte, kündigte die Polizei bereits große Präsenz an. Laut Reiner Braun soll es von Seiten der Demonstranten keine zusätzlichen Provokationen gegenüber den Einsatzkräften geben:
„Wir wollen versuchen, das so friedlich wie möglich zu machen. Wir wollen auch symbolisch Menschen dabeihaben, die eine gewisse Repräsentanz haben: Wir werden eine ganze Reihe von Abgeordneten des deutschen Bundestages und des Europaparlaments dabeihaben, wir werden Pfarrer und Ärzte in ihrer Berufskleidung dabei haben, und auch Hochschullehrer.“
Die Aktionen rund um die US Air Base in Ramstein werden seit 2015 jährlich ausgerichtet. Im vergangenen Jahr waren bei einer Menschenkette über 5000 Demonstranten vor Ort. Es sind die größten Einzelaktionen der Friedensbewegung der letzten Jahre, die auch immer mehr Zulauf aus der Bevölkerung bekommen. Sputnik wird die Protestaktionen am 29. und 30. Juni rund um die Air Base Ramstein auch in diesem Jahr vor Ort begleiten.
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Sie wollen den Krieg
(Georg Rammer in www.ossietzky.net/10-2018&textfile=4365)
Die Verfolgung geostrategischer Machtinteressen schafft keinen Frieden, sondern Krieg. Maßgebliche US-Politiker fordern einen Regime Change im Iran: Wäre die Forderung umkehrbar? Wenn sich der Iran von den USA bedroht fühlt, könnten dann die iranischen Machthaber den Vereinigten Staaten einen Regime Change androhen? Naive Frage, die aber zeigt, dass das internationale Regelwerk zur Vermeidung und Ächtung von Kriegen und zur Sicherung der Menschenrechte Makulatur ist. Es gilt das Recht des Stärkeren.
Die USA treiben die globale Eskalation zum Krieg voran. Ihr verlässlichster Verbündeter im Nahen Osten ist Israel. Als gäbe es kein Völkerrecht und keine UN-Charta, treiben beide die Spirale politischer Drohungen und militärischer Angriffe voran. Man vergleiche die Präambel und die ersten Artikel der Charta der Vereinten Nationen von 1945 mit der Realität im Nahen und Mittleren Osten: Der Gegensatz könnte krasser nicht sein. Stehen US-Präsident Donald Trump und der israelische Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netanjahu zusammen mit ihren Ministern und Sicherheitsberatern Mike Pompeo, John Bolton oder Avigdor Lieberman über dem Völkerrecht? Sind Menschenrechte für sie eine lästige Nebensächlichkeit? Beobachter warnen, diese Extremisten betrieben eine Politik, die ungewollt zum Krieg führen könne. Sie irren: Die Genannten wollen den Krieg.
Der gemeinsame Feind der beiden Mächte im Zusammenwirken mit Saudi Arabien ist der Staat Iran. »Es gibt nur eine Lösung: Wir müssen das Regime (im Iran, G. R.) austauschen. Deshalb werden wir noch vor 2019 zusammen in Teheran feiern!« Der das Mitte 2017 vor versammelter Menge ruft, ist der inzwischen zum Nationalen Sicherheitsberater der USA ernannte John R. Bolton (»Flächenbrand im Mittleren Osten: heute Syrien, morgen Iran?« Monitor, 19.4.2018). Ganz ähnlich nennt der neue Außenminister Mike Pompeo ebenfalls Regime Change als Ziel, ungeachtet des Willens der Bevölkerung oder der Konsequenzen eines Krieges. Seine ersten Auslandsbesuche führten ihn nach Saudi Arabien und Israel. Das israelische Parlament hat kürzlich dem Regierungschef und dem Verteidigungsminister das Recht zugestanden, militärische Operationen zu befehlen und einen Krieg zu erklären – auch ohne Zustimmung des Parlaments und des Kabinetts. Es scheint nur noch darum zu gehen, wie man den Feind so provozieren kann, dass seine Reaktionen als Vorwand für den entscheidenden Schlag dienen können. Israel befindet sich schon im Krieg: Das Militär startet immer wieder Luftangriffe auf iranische Stellungen in Syrien. Wie lange wird und kann sich das die iranische Regierung gefallen lassen?
Netanjahu veranstaltete ein ebenso lächerliches wie abstoßendes Medienspektakel mit angeblichen Massen von Beweisen zum iranischen Atomprogramm. Mit der Schau hat er aber den Bogen überspannt, auch die Verbündeten fanden die Lügen gar zu offensichtlich und peinlich. Von der Internationalen Atomenergie-Organisation (IAEA) über Waffenkontrollexperten und internationale Medien bis zur EU-Außenbeauftragten Federica Mogherini – alle meldeten erhebliche Zweifel an über die »Zirkusnummer« (Waffenkontrollexperte Jeffrey Lewis). Sogar der CDU-Außenpolitiker Norbert Röttgen warf Netanjahu Täuschungsmanöver vor, mit denen die USA zur Kündigung des Atomabkommens mit Iran bewegt werden sollen. Wenn man bedenkt, dass es bei der Lügenshow des Premierministers nicht um eine Lappalie geht, sondern um Anstiftung zum Krieg und um das Leben von Millionen Menschen, erscheint die Reaktion iranischer Offizieller geradezu besonnen.
Die Lage im Nahen Osten ist so brisant, dass jede weitere Eskalationsstufe zu einem Flächenbrand, zu einem Krieg in der ganzen Region führen kann. Der Krieg Saudi Arabiens gegen Jemen, der auch mit »unseren« Waffen geführt wird, die entsetzlichen Schlachten in Syrien, der Einmarsch des NATO-Staates Türkei ins syrische Afrin, der jetzt zusätzlich für Zerstörung sorgt, die taktische Instrumentalisierung islamistischer Kampfgruppen, die mal aufgerüstet, mal bekämpft werden, die Anerkennung Jerusalems als Hauptstadt von Israel, die Bomben der Koalition der Willigen – USA, Großbritannien und Frankreich – auf Ziele in Syrien nach einem angeblichen (und wie Experten inzwischen feststellten gefaketen) syrischen Chemiewaffenangriff – Lügen und Kriege in rascher Folge heizen die angespannte Lage an. Die Großmächte und ihre jeweiligen Verbündeten kennen keine Menschenrechte, längst ist ihnen das Völkerrecht oder die UN-Charta ein lästiges Papier, das man rasch und schmerzlos in die Tonne treten kann. Die Völker werden zu kleinen Schachfiguren auf dem Spielbrett der großen Player. Menschenleben zählen nur insofern, als sie den eigenen Interessen dienen.
In diesem Chaos verbrecherischer Kriegspolitik ohne Menschlichkeit müssen wir keine ohnmächtigen Zuschauer einer zwangsläufigen Eskalation zum Krieg bleiben. Herausforderungen für Engagement gibt es genug. So liefert Deutschland trotz gegenteiliger Bekundungen Waffen in Spannungsgebiete und an Länder, die völkerrechtswidrige Angriffskriege führen: Saudi Arabien, Türkei, Israel oder Ägypten. Es sind gewichtige Gruppen und Institutionen, die jede Schmälerung ihrer Profite und Interessen zu verhindern trachten: vor allem die Bundesregierung mit ihrer Gier nach Rohstoffen und strategischen Einflusszonen einerseits und die hiesigen Rüstungskonzerne andererseits. Jede Hoffnung auf Einsicht und humane Beweggründe dieser Akteure ist vergeblich und schafft nur Illusionen und Enttäuschungen.
Eine Bewegung gegen den Krieg muss von unten kommen, wir können uns dabei nicht auf Regierungen verlassen – ganz im Gegenteil, wie wir erleben. Solange es nicht gelingt, den Druck auf die Profiteure zu erhöhen, wird die Kriegsgefahr wachsen. Die Bellizisten, die Angriffskriege vorbereiten und führen, gehören vor den Internationalen Strafgerichtshof. Da von offiziellen Instanzen eine Anklage nicht zu erwarten ist, sollte wenigstens ein Tribunal zur Untersuchung der Verbrechen veranstaltet werden; es könnte die Weltöffentlichkeit aufrütteln. Afrin, Jemen, Palästina – Themen gibt es leider genug. Darüber hinaus haben alle die Möglichkeit, an Aktionen gegen Kriegsvorbereitungen, Kriege und Atomwaffen teilzunehmen, etwa in Ramstein (vgl. Aktionen Stopp Air Base Ramstein) oder bei der bundesweite Initiative »Frieden geht« (www.frieden-geht.de/). Und nicht zu vergessen: 122 UN-Mitglieder haben sich auf ein Atomwaffenverbot verständigt. Aber die NATO-Staaten sind nicht dabei. Zur US-Kündigung des Atomabkommens mit Iran sagt ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons): »Die Kündigung des Abkommens ist völlig verantwortungslos und erhöht die Gefahr eines Atomkriegs.« Höchste Zeit, dass Deutschland dem UN-Atomwaffenverbot beitritt.
DSC_7865
A couple of yrs ago we spent a super weekend away in London, our hotel was just a stones throw away from Westminster Bridge, two days and nights of taking in the sights, sounds and even a show!
Model: Tania d'Anconia
Photographer: Justin Bonaparte
Sun rays streak through the fog in the redwood forest, highlighting seedlings and other plants on the forest floor. The mix of sunlight and fog was just the right mixture this day in the Redwood National and State Parks. A little too thick and the sun will not shine in rays. Too thin and you loose the sense of atmosphere. I was extremely fortunate to encounter this great mix.
"Evening Highlights:" The last of the sun's rays cast layers of highlight and shadow into the depths of the Grand Canyon.
It has been so much fun to be doing color shots again that I bought some new candy color highlighters! They even have eraseable ink, if you would like to un-highlight something.
Thank you for visiting my stream during this week of bright colors :-)))
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Please!! NO Awards or Large Graphics...Group Buddy Icons are OK. Thank You!
© CPMcGann. All rights reserved. If you are interested in using my images, please contact me first.
Hey guys, check out the first part of my highlight video I just made. Lemme know what you think! It's not perfect lol, but I like it. Some of the best stuff is at the end but it wouldn't upload the whole thing. Thanks peeps! #teamsuperduck CHECK LATEST PIC FOR LINK TO THE ENTIRE VIDEO!
A brief flash of sunlight highlighting new leaves of a tree high up on Gun Hill, Staffordshire Moorlands
Not very often we have this extreme strong colors up here in north sweden...these images are all taken near my summerhouse just the other just before sunset
(One photo from each month, starting top left. You can read more about these photos and each month of my 2020 below.)
What a year this has been, in all ways. Lots of cancellations of everything I looked forward to due to a certain virus, and then health issues for the rest of the year. But all this has made me doing more of some of the things I love, that I normally don’t use that much time on – like enjoying nature and birdlife nearby, learning so much more about it and also getting to know lots of new people because of it, and also buying all the camera gear on my wish list with lots of time getting to know it.
You can read more about each month of my 2020 below if you’d like to:
1. (Top left) Sweetest Dreams
JANUARY: The year started with wind, rain and floods, and my only nature photos are from one nice sunset in the middle of the month. We never got the nice winter weather we usually hope for to set a nice mood at the start of a new year, and we never went on our traditional January bonfire and night photography trip to Eigerøy lighthouse. The fact that we also didn’t have a dog anymore that needed to go out every day, made me spend less time outside.
But I filled the days with work and several spare time assignments – like singing in a jubilee, photographing several adorable newborn babies (one of them on this month's photo), having a concert with my choir and the Norwegian singer Solveig Leithaug who I’ve listened to since I was little, and photographing lots of rabbits and cats for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals.
My boyfriend Richard and I also started attending several of the meetings of the local club for The Norwegian Ornithological Society (NOF - the bird protection society of Norway.) It’s inspiring to see all the nice bird photos that people use so much time on getting, and nice to get to know more people with that interest. It made us both getting even more interested in bird photography as well, and during the year both of us would buy better telephoto lenses for bird photography.
I celebrated my birthday in the first part of the month by going to the town where I used to live, to by a flash for my new Sony camera (after recently starting the process of replacing all my Nikon gear with Sony). Then I also bought my second Sony camera (a9) and the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 Art lens. It feels necessary to have two cameras – both for portrait assignments and travels where I need several lenses.
2. A weekend of nice nature experiences
FEBRUARY: Started with a really nice reunion for my choir’s trip to Israel, together with friends and family of the choir, four months earlier. As usual, I got the fun job of making a slide show of photos from the trip.
The wind, rain and floods continued, and the few days with nice weather I didn’t have the time to go outside. I photographed a beautiful kitten for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals and a wedding on Valentine’s day. I also photographed my adorable neighbor on her christening day, and when she turned 4 months. It’s nice that her parents let me test my new cameras and lenses on her and use them for advertising. My choir also had a concert together with the awesome American gospel singer Jason Nelson this month.
We finally had some nice weather during the last part of the month, and we finally went on several hikes along the coast of Jæren and at home. But the wind was still present, and for the first time we experienced that the foam coming from the sea due to the wind, prevented us from walking on the only possible trail above the sea where we live. It made us get some unusual photos though.
I only had one day off during the winter break since we had one student with special needs left at school. But my friday off luckily was the only one with lovely weather and that night also brought the year’s first snow. We had a nice road trip photographing nature, reflections and snow that day, and I also photographed the year’s first lovely spring flowers. The rest of that leap year weekend was bad weathered again, so I’m glad I had that one lovely day off to remember for a long time.
3. Angry Bird ッ
MARCH: On the first day of the month and spring, I went outside between the showers of rain for the year’s first bird photos - of some of the numerous seabirds where we live. Little did I know that this was the activity that I would spend the most of my time on and learn so much more about during both the rest of the month and the whole year. (It really made up for spending much less time in nature that I would like to during the year’s first two months.)
The big change came when covid-19 arrived, the country shut down and I realized that my spare time wouldn’t be filled with the normal, busy and fun activities of singing, photography assignments and traveling for a long time. I had lots of singing and photography assignments during spring and summer that got cancelled or moved – most of them to the next year.
It made me buy the Sony 200-600mm lens earlier than planned, to have an exciting spare time ahead anyway. It would be so much better than the one I used for Nikon, and so much faster together with the perfect partner which I already had bought - the Sony a9 camera with 20 photos per second and a fabulous autofocus tracking. I was lucky doing so, since all photography equipment became even more expensive after shutdown.
Even though most of my colleagues and students spent the next months at home, a few of us had some students with special needs at work. From the shutdown, the weather stayed nice every day for a really long time, and I started cycling the long way back and forth to work on my electrical bicycle every day, with the new lens and the a9 on my back. I cycle by the sea all the way, and also have some nice forests for bird and spring flower photography close to work.
I actually found it that exciting to get so much better bird photos than before, that I woke up one or two hours before I had to, to have lots of time to stop on the way when I saw or heard interesting birds. On still mornings I also brought the Sony a7III and 24-70mm lens with me to finally capture the nice morning and boathouse reflections that I’ve only dreamed of while passing by by bus on early mornings. But I found it most exciting to get my first nice photos of so many familiar small birds that I hadn’t been able to photograph before, and to also find and get to know so many birds that I even didn’t know existed.
I also photographed charming seals several times, that enjoyed themselves on the skerries close to our home. But one of the absolutely best nature experiences this month was the day that the largest number of oystercatchers I’ve ever seen returned to our neighborhood (tjeld in Norwegian - my favourite sign of spring). There were nearly 400 of them around me and out on the skerries during one lovely afternoon, making the loveliest long-awaited sound.
I also had a fun dog photography assignment on the beach where we live, and photographed a newborn girl in our neighborhood this month. My choir was supposed to go on a Norway tour the last weekend, but of course we had to cancel that due to covid.
4. (Top right) ٠ Reminiscing Spring ٠
APRIL: Started with Easter from the first weekend, and I had the whole week off. Our original plan was to go on a Norway road trip, hiking and photographing landscapes like we normally do – but due to travel restrictions we stayed home. Luckily the weather was nice almost every day, and we spent much time on garden work - planting a dozen fruit trees and setting up new bird feeders, insect hotels and bird boxes. We also had several nice hikes in neighboring municipalities and made good food.
I also photographed and had fun with some neighbor’s dogs – still longing for a new dog myself (but there were really many wanting the same this year, so we never found one that we wanted who wasn’t taken yet). I was supposed to photograph a wedding and several confirmands this month, but all of them were moved to late summer and autumn
The weather got even better and warmer during the last part of the month, and I continued cycling to work, with the camera(s) in my backpack – continuing bird, reflection and flower photography. There are also lots of lambs in my neighborhood during spring, as seen on this month’s photo.
I bought the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM lens that I needed for portrait assignments (and sold the Sony 85mm I bought last year). This also made me able to sell all my remaining Nikon equipment, since I now had the most important lenses for Sony. I tested the new portrait lens on two adorable small dogs in a forest filled with spring flowers and was really satisfied. I love its bokeh, sharpness and even a little bokeh swirl with the right circumstances.
I also went home ordering a Helios 44M-6 58mm f/2 vintage lens that day, for amazing flower photos with even more and impressive bokeh swirl - after seeing all the nice spring flowers, and experiencing that the 70-200mm had too long focal distance for flower photography. I actually hadn’t heard of these vintage lenses before. If I had, I would have bought one a long time ago. They cost nothing, and give the loveliest photos and bokeh (it’s a photo from this lens on the June photo).
5. (Middle left) ~ Peaceful Pentecost ~
MAY: The lovely spring weather continued (not at all guaranteed in this country), only interrupted by a few days of cold temperatures and a little snow (!) There were still more amazing bird experiences waiting for me and my camera both on our island and in town. Like sitting for an hour on a rock on the shore, watching a tern couple where the male were fishing and trying to impress the lady with it. I also saw and photographed a couple of grey wagtails for the first time, up close with their young ones by a river in the middle of town (vintererler in Norwegian). It was also nice to finally get some really good photos of the adorable ducklings.
I used my Helios a lot for flower photography and also tried it on a dog among lots of dandelions – which made great photos. We drove for several hours the first weekend, just to photograph the stunning blue kidneyworts (blåveis in Norwegian). I had only seen them once before, and I had wanted to find them again for a long time. It was a little late, but luckily they still were in bloom. There were also so many lovely pink and white blossoms both in town and in parks that we drove to this month. I even bought another Helios (44-2) in hope of another variation of lovely bokeh – but since I didn’t see any difference from my other one, I sold it to Richard. It was fun to photograph flowers together for the first time. I also bought the Sony 90mm f/2.8 macro lens for close ups and insect photography ツ
After two months of lockdown, the schools opened partly with lots of restrictions – two months after closing. The National day the 17th couldn’t be celebrated as normal with children’s parades, marching bands and entertainment, and it was my first time not going out wearing my national costume that day. But Norwegians are creative, and there were boat parades in all coastal towns and villages instead, and it was nice to watch all the boats with flags and even bands on them. I think it would be a nice tradition for the future as well.
We also finally went on two road trips the two last and beautiful long weekends of the month. On the first one, we finally visited my parents for the first time this year, due to covid. Then we drove all the way to our favourite place Stryn and rented a house above the Olden lake with the stunning view towards the mountains and glaciers. We also drove on day trips to other favourite places nearby. I brought my national costume “bunad” to pose in the stunning nature, since I didn’t wear it on the National day.
The next weekend we went to beautiful Hardanger, where we lived on a nice fruit farm by the fjord. We photographed nesting birds and blossoms by the apartment, went on a hike to one of our favourite lakes by the mountains and glacier (on the photo for this month), and met several friends.
6. In summer, the song sings itself • ♫ ♪
JUNE: A warm and really nice month, where we actually felt a little good about finally getting a little rain for all our new fruit trees in the end of it. I went on some nice hikes and trips both together with Richard and with colleagues and students who were finishing their three years at our school.
I continued cycling around photographing birds and flowers almost every day, and some dogs and lots of cats in between (both indoors for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals, and a colleague’s beautiful purebred cats in their nice garden). I also took some summer photos of my adorable neighbor at eight months. Finally I also could meet my choir for a summer party together, after only meeting them online since lockdown.
But one sad thing this month was my left foot unexpectedly starting aching one day after a long hike at work (with no accidents). It never stopped, and got worse when I went on long walks and walked a lot at work. I had to use crutches most of the time until the summer holiday. We first thought it was a strain injury, but sadly it only worsened and spread for the rest of the year, and we still don’t know what’s wrong. I never thought that it would last for that long. I thought that a quiet summer vacation would do the work.
JULY: When I started my long summer vacation, the long-lasting nice weather typically turned to cold and rainy weather. We went back to beautiful Stryn, where we had ordered a house for a week. Sadly we had rain most of the time, but since my foot was still aching I couldn’t do much anyway. During some hours of sunshine, we went out by car to get some nice landscape photos. This month’s photo is from a day trip to Geiranger. We also spent some nights in beautiful Sogn before going home. On the way home I also took some newborn photos for a former colleague ツ
While we were on holiday, my kind parents stayed at our place to change the wooden boards on our house. I went back home with them, to stay there for the last two weeks of the month. It’s the first time in many years I’ve been there so long, and I loved to do so. My sister, niece and nephew also came for one week. I didn’t go outside that much due to still some aching in my foot, but I got some bird photos nearby, and went by boat a couple of times to feed and photograph the sea eagles.
At this time, I started reporting all the birds that I’d photographed during spring and summer in a national registry, and will continue doing so for a long time. I’ve learned so much both there and after getting to know other bird photographers and registrators.
AUGUST: Started with photographing a wedding, and later going on a fun cabin holiday together with my sister and her family (this month’s photo is of my niece fishing close to the cabin). The month was really nice and warm. We cancelled our planned trip back to Stryn both due to my health and since there were too many Norwegians there, since no one could go abroad this summer.
Later I had several photography assignments - including another wedding, several families, dogs and cats, and the year’s two first confirmands (girls in their national costumes, which I love to photograph. One of them even together with her horse). I also sang in a confirmation.
After a week at work, my aching foot got worse again, and now it spread to both feet and higher up in the body. It isn’t easy with crutches and keeping up with busy students when the pain is in both feet, so after only one week together with my new 8th graders, I went on sick leave for the rest of the year. I didn’t know that then since we took four weeks at a time, and I was hopeful of it getting better soon. But since it didn’t change for the better, and the doctor and therapists still works on finding what’s wrong or how to make it better, that was how it turned out.
One nice thing was getting to know that I’m getting a new niece in the spring (my brother’s first one)! ツ And since I couldn’t walk that much, it was nice to spend some time in our boat on nice evenings, and to have my electrical bike when I needed some air. In the end of the month, the raw autumn air came to stay.
9. (Bottom left) ♤ Embracing Autumn ♤
SEPTEMBER: Luckily I had lots of photos to edit, from assignments and from the summer holiday, since I was at home every day. My physiotherapist encouraged me for some activity on good days, so I went out with my bike and camera sometimes. Just watching and photographing birds and forgetting everything else have really been my medicine during autumn. I loved to capture my first photos of small birds in colourful autumn trees due to my new equipment, and to enjoy all the migrating birds that I hadn’t seen before both on our island and on beautiful Jæren.
Going by our boat to the lighthouse nearby, making dinner outside is also a good memory from this month. I also had some long time scheduled confirmand, newborn and animal photography assignments during the month. A nice way of getting out of the house for a little while. I also joined my choir on a nice rehearsal weekend, while staying at my sister’s place nearby. There’s nothing like waking up by my nephew or niece coming into my bed ツ
In the end of the month, my kind parents came again to replace our kitchen with the new one we had ordered. They love working, and suddenly the floor and walls were new as well 😉 On the last day of the month, I visited the local center of The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals for cuddles and photos. I love being there, meeting all the rescued animals and getting nice photos to help them getting new homes.
10. The Little One
OCTOBER: My bird watching by sea continued on some of the good days. I got even closer to several birds that I hadn’t seen up close or at all before. On some really nice days, I sat for hours enjoying hundreds of shorebirds up close on the coast of Jæren (and also spent some fun time together with my sister-in-law who lives there), and had seabirds resting or fishing really close to me, while just sitting by the sea over some time at home.
Other days I only sat right outside the house or in the bathroom window, watching all the birds on our bird feeders and taking some photos on nice days. One day two of all the roe deer living around our house and in our neighborhood came right outside the window as well, just when I was photographing – as seen on the photo for this month.
Originally we had planned on going back to Stryn for the autumn break, for hiking and photographing. But when that got cancelled due to my health, I went home to my parents instead together with my sister and the kids. I loved that my niece at four years old liked to join me attracting the birds I grew up having around me, with bird sounds from my phone. She made the birds come really close, and I photographed them 😉 I also spent some time together with other bird photographers there, and met several species for the first time.
Back home again, a friend came to visit us to photograph all the birds on our island together with me. We got lucky both with the weather and with all the exciting bird meetings we had up close. Some of them were even new to me as well. Then my dad and uncle visited us too – finishing the last things on our kitchen and showing uncle our island for the first time. On his birthday, we went by boat to the lighthouse watching the waves. He loves it just as much as we do ツ
I also photographed a newborn baby, two one year olds (including my adorable neighbor) and some cats, and did like I did the month before – visited the local center of The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals for cuddles and photos on the last day of the month.
NOVEMBER: I spent less time outside due to the autumn weather, but got some nice photos of the guests on our birdfeeders. It was especially fun having the beautiful goldfinches visiting us one week (stillits in Norwegian). And the one day a bird photographer from my home island and his wife visited us, we were lucky to have some nice hours outside where I showed them our neighborhood and we came close to some rare migrating geese.
Even in grey weather, I had a couple of unforgettable seabird experiences just sitting by the shore in our neighborhood. Suddenly birds I’d never seen that close came diving for fish right in front of me, on several occasions. One day a black guillemot (teist in Norwegian) was fishing in front of me for more than one hour, and it posed with every fish it found (like on this month’s photo).
I also sang in a funeral, and photographed a rescued kitten that sadly didn’t make it after all. I ended the month by photographing an adorable newborn baby, together with the family dog for their Christmas cards.
DECEMBER: The first day was a lovely one, cycling in the cold but sunny weather, photographing birds for the first time in a while. The rest of the month was mostly made for editing photos and listening to podcasts inside.
All the Christmas concerts that I normally attend from late November on, were cancelled this year (but I couldn’t have attended them anyway due to my feet). So to get an early Christmas mood like I’m used to from the concerts – I started decorating earlier than usual. We also bought our own Christmas tree for the first time ツ
We didn’t go to the island I’m from at all this Christmas time. My parents came for one night during early December, bringing and picking up gifts. We also made an early Christmas dinner together, since it was our only time together this month. I also got to meet Richard’s relatives’ new puppy on the beach, and photographed it with a little Christmas outfit on her ツ
The day before Christmas Eve, on what we call Little Christmas Eve, we drove to an arboretum where I knew we could find bullfinches (dompap in Norwegian). They are typical on Norwegian Christmas cards, and I’ve always wanted nice photos of them. On this month’s photo you can see that we found them ツ Christmas Eve and Christmas day were some beautiful days (normally it use to rain these days), and we spent some time out in the sun and on a boat ride to the lighthouse.
We spent Christmas Eve together with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and a friend of hers. We spent the rest of Christmas and New Year’s Eve by ourselves, not to meet too many people since the virus is spreading again in our part of the country. My health isn’t made for long car rides either these days. But we find it just as cozy being by ourselves.
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From last year’s goals for 2020 – I only fulfilled the one about replacing the rest of my Nikon gear with Sony, and bought everything that I wanted due to the extra spare time.
No trip to Paris with a friend, no trip to Northern Norway with Richard neither during summer or winter, no new dog, not more time together with family and friends, not a lot of wedding assignments and not that many exciting concerts and assignments with my choir.
But this only means that 2021 has lots of potential, doing all that I didn’t this year ツ
And I really look forward to getting a new niece this March ♡
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Thanks to all who wanted to read about my year, and to all my photography followers!
I hope that 2021 will be so much better for all of us! Enjoy it!!
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To watch and read my Highlights of 2013, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2014, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2015, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2016, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2017, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2018, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2019, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2021, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2022, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2023, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2024, take a look here.
A favorite of mine during the drive up to Jasper. The mountains with the color of the trees and the winding road...
This was another of those image rotations I have on my Mac desktop from past trips where I decided to see what I could do with some post-processing knowledge I have with Capture NX2 and Color Efex Pro. With some adjustments with adjustments to exposure to bring back some lost highlights, some use of color control points and a Low Key and Polarizing filter, I was able to bring this out as a final image...and definitely a place I really need to visit again one year soon!
Webb has revealed an exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before!
The telescope has revisited gas giant WASP-39 b to give us the first molecular and chemical profile of an exoplanet’s atmosphere, revealing the presence of water, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, sodium and potassium, as well as signs of clouds. This builds on Webb’s initial look at the planet back in August, which showed the first clear evidence of carbon dioxide in a planet outside our solar system. The latest findings bode well for Webb’s capability to investigate all types of exoplanets, including the atmospheres of smaller, rocky planets like those in the TRAPPIST-1 system.
We learn about exoplanet atmospheres by breaking their light into components and creating spectra. Think of a spectrum as a barcode. Elements and molecules have characteristic signatures in that “barcode” we can read.
This planet is what is known as a “hot Saturn” — a planet about as massive as Saturn but eight times closer in orbit around its star than Mercury is around the Sun. The data shown here is taken from 3 of Webb’s science instruments. Together, they mark a series of firsts in science, including the first detection of sulfur dioxide in an exoplanet atmosphere. This, in turn, is the first concrete evidence of photochemistry — chemical reactions initiated by high-energy light, which are fundamental to life on Earth — on an exoplanet. Understanding the ratio of different elements in relation to each other also offers clues as to how the planet was formed.
Want to see the data in more detail and learn more? Head to the feature here: www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-reveals-an-...
Download different versions of this graphic (and individual spectra) here: webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/060/01GJ3Q66...
Image credit: Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Olmsted (STScI)
Image description:
Graphic of the atmospheric composition of exoplanet WASP-39 b, showing 2 graphs and a background illustration of the planet and its star.
(Left side)
The top graph shows data from Webb’s NIRISS instrument, the bottom graph data from NIRSpec. Both graphs show the amount of light blocked on the y axis versus wavelength of light on the x axis. The y axes range from 2.00 percent (less light blocked) to 2.35 percent (more light blocked). The x axes range from less than 0.1 microns to 5.5 microns. Data points are plotted as white circles with gray error bars. A curvy blue line represents a best-fit model. The NIRISS data covers a range of about 0.5 to 3.0 microns and highlights the signatures of potassium, water and carbon monoxide in semi-transparent bars of varying colors. Potassium is gray, water is blue, and carbon monoxide is red. The NIRSpec data covers a range of about 2.5 to 5.25 microns. It highlights water and carbon monoxide in addition to sulfur dioxide in green and carbon dioxide in yellow.
(Right side)
The top graph shows data from Webb’s NIRCam instrument, the bottom graph data from NIRSpec. Both graphs show the amount of light blocked on the y axis versus wavelength of light on the x axis. The y axes range from 2.00 percent (less light blocked) to 2.35 percent (more light blocked). The x axes range from less than 0.1 microns to 5.5 microns. Data points are plotted as white circles with gray error bars. A curvy blue line represents a best-fit model. The NIRCam data covers a wavelength range of about 2.5 to 4.0 microns and highlights the signatures of water in a blue semi-transparent bar. The NIRSpec data covers a range of about 0.5 to 5.25 microns and highlights multiple signatures of water, in addition to sodium in a dark blue bar, carbon monoxide in red, carbon dioxide in light green, sulfur dioxide in dark green, and carbon dioxide in yellow.
More fun with highlighter caps. This time I did used a buzz filter to make the background less distracting
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Street candid taken in Glasgow, Scotland. Loved the backlit red dyed hair and the busy street life going on behind.
Abrirla a "Tamaño Original" sobre fondo negro.
farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/16339909102_b2a4806b56_o.jpg
Fuensalida (Toledo)
Rider : ------ "Pedro Moreno"
(One photo from each month, starting top left. You can read more about these photos and each month of my 2021 below.)
Who would have thought that the whole of 2021 as well would be filled with constant covid news, and restrictions on and off. But luckily it has been filled with lots of nice experiences after all, lots of good weather for nice nature experiences and photography, and I’m finally back at work and have participated in more activities on my spare time than I could last year. I also got a new niece, even though I haven’t been able to see her that many times.
You can read more about each month of my 2021 below if you’d like to:
1. (Top left) Winter's Gold
JANUARY: January this year was filled with really nice and cold weather, and periods of a little snow here by the coast as well. Even though we had some days with rain and heavy storms in the middle of the month, it ended up being the nicest and coldest January we've had by the coast in years.
I photographed a lovely young couple on the local beach in one of the first nice sunsets of the year, and some kittens for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals later on. The schools were closed due to covid in the start of the year, so I couldn’t visit work as much as I had planned on, and I could only meet my colleagues and my choir through video. Luckily, I had nature and the nice weather to enjoy.
I was still on sick leave due to problems with my feet since last year, so I didn’t join my fiance Richard on longer trips like photographing the local lighthouse on nice cold evenings as we normally do in the start of a new year. But we had some nice road trips for both sunset- and bird photography on more easily accessible places in the Jæren district. Here we met and photographed the beautiful bluethroat, snow bunting and some pine buntings for the first time, and also got photos that I had dreamed of of bullfinches and yellowhammers (Norway's Bird of the year 2021). I also spent some of the first nice and cold January mornings outside in the neighborhood- sitting down to watch and photograph the lovely little birds in the frosty surroundings.
Due to the frost, we had more birds on our feeders than normal- which was nice to watch when I was home all day. One day the rare water rail also came running by! Sadly lots of rails and woodcocks died due to lack of food in this cold period. It was also sad to see our old nice bird feeding are right outside our door and largest windows being dug away, due to a new road in the end of the month. We had to move it all to a side of the house with less view, and no easy access for getting photos without disturbing the birds.. In this same period, I joined the national Big Garden Birdwatch to count and report the birds by our feeders. They also held a photo competition, where I won the 3rd prize (a nice bird book) with a cool photo of a blue tit meeting the ornament bird on the bird bath, right before we had to move it.
From my birthday on the 11th it started snowing, which always is nice if the weather is cold for a while. And later the kids could skate on the fields and some lakes in the cold. That doesn’t happen every winter here by the coast. When we had even more snow in the end of the month, I went on some winter photography road trips both with Richard and with his mother (who also loves landscape photography).
FEBRUARY: The first day brought the largest amount of snow I’ve ever seen here by the coast since moving here. The weather stayed beautiful and really cold for a long time, so the snow didn’t disappear right away like it normally does here by the coast. Actually, we had the longest period of cold weather in our county in 12 years, and there were lots of rare nice patterned sea ice below our house to photograph.
Even though we couldn’t stay out too long both due to the cold weather and my health, we continued going on several little road trips to photograph nice winter landscapes and birds, and to escape the heavy construction work right outside our house. On one trip, we suddenly met our first beautiful kingfisher up close. I also found a way to get some really nice photos of birds in the snow during the construction breaks, both in our own garden and by a neighboring cabin.
I finally got a diagnose at this time, after nearly 8 months of aching feet, hips and lower back. I started physiotherapy again, in hope of getting better and being able to work again.
In the middle of the month, we had a rare close encounter with the stunning eagle-owl, who’s nocturnal and rarely seen or heard. It was found crashing into a pond, weak and hungry in the cold weather. After being fed with lots of dead birds and mice in a barn on our island for two weeks, we were invited to watch it going back to the wild. We also got to touch it and take some stunning close-up photos before they let it go. A great experience!
In the end of the month, spring suddenly arrived with mild weather and many flocks of migratory birds in our neighborhood, already from the 22nd (lapwings and a curlew), the 25th (oystercatchers) and the 26th (mistle thrushes and a large flock of skylarks. I also suddenly met and photographed a beautiful green woodpecker for the first time that day). My favourite days of year!
3. My Man ♥
MARCH: Continued with nice spring weather, and we finally went on the year’s first nice trip to the local lighthouse, together with Richard’s sister who is really good at posing for us in nice landscapes. But I still chose the one of Richard by “his” lighthouse for this month’s photo ツ
Then I had two fun photoshoots with an adorable one year old, one outside on the local beach wearing lots of nice warm clothes, and one inside. I went on many cosy road trips both together with Richard and with his mother to enjoy spring, nice landscapes and good lunches. I also spent much time on testing lots of good and healthy soup and dinner recipes. That’s one thing I miss having the time to plan and do when I’m busier again.
On the 22nd, my brother’s first child was born, and I got a new beautiful niece with the most adorable smiles. (Sadly, due to lockdown we didn’t meet her until she was four months old.)
On that same day, we went on a pre-Easter vacation to one of our favourite accommodations in the southern part of Norway, called Farsund Resort. We love to go there when there are few other guests there. The weather was lovely for both little hikes in the area, and for road trips to Lista for bird watching and sunset photography.
During the start of Easter my legs felt better, and we went on several nice hikes in lovely weather, along the beautiful Jæren coast and beaches. On some of them we also had some nice bird encounters, and a highlight was to photograph a beautiful shag closer than ever, while getting lots of fish and surfing the little waves.
4. (Top right) Out on a nut hunt
APRIL: Easter continued and the weather was still lovely. We went on even more hikes on the coast of Jæren and at home, and continued trying out lots of good recipes. In the end of Easter, we had some unexpected snow again.
On Easter Eve our new adorable neighbor was born, and I took his newborn photos just like I did with his big sister.
After Easter, I started working a few hours a day for the first time in eight months. Even though some days were hard physically, it was nice to be around my colleagues and pupils again. Since the weather still was nice (but cold), I cycled to and from work every day with my bird camera on my back since there are lots of bird photography spots along the way.
In the middle of the month, I replaced my Sony a9 camera with the faster and a little better a9II. I just love its focus tracking for birds! I continued enjoying spring on my spare time, going on several photography road trips and hikes together with Richard and with his mother. It was lovely getting to enjoy and photograph more and more migratory birds, spring flowers and even some beautiful little snakes posing for me in the sunshine (I’ve always dreamed of getting some cool photos of them).
We ended the month by going to a place where the adorable red squirrels are fed daily and gets pretty close. We got so many adorable photos of them in the morning sun. I’ve dreamed of getting good photos of squirrels for years. I’ve grown up having them around, but haven’t met them up close again after moving and getting more interested in photography.
5. (Middle left) Tiny Tawny Owl
MAY: Started with spotting the American duck called green-winged teal for the first time, and then making the dream of meeting and photographing tawny owls and owlets up close come true. We joined a hobby ornithologist – checking his owl boxes for eggs and reading the mothers' rings. On that same day we also got to see and photograph white storks for the first time, which are rare in Norway.
I joined the hobby ornithologist two more times this month- ringing, holding and photographing the adorable owlets (and other bird species as well). Finally I got the photos I’ve dreamed of for a long time, of owlets sitting on branches! The nice but cold spring weather continued, and I continued spending lots of time in nature on my spare time, enjoying and photographing birds, spring flowers and landscapes.
On our National Day on the 17th we stayed at home yet another year, due to the restrictions. We only drove to buy the traditional ice cream and watched the boat parade along the way. But in the evening I found it a bit sad to not wear my beloved national costume, so I got dressed and we went by boat to the local lighthouse. I love my self portrait with the national costume, flag and lighthouse in the evening light- but I still had to choose the photo of the long-awaited owlet for this month ツ
I also finally sang in a wedding after lots of cancellations and postponements, and had a fun pregnancy photoshoot in beautiful surroundings in the end of the month. On the month’s last day, summer suddenly came- and on a road trip to the mountains we had as much as 30 degrees Celsius.
JUNE: Continued with lovely warm weather, and it was great to finally be physically able to go on longer hikes together with Richard again. After being apart for a long time due to covid restrictions, we finally spent a memorable day together with my family in a park in Sandnes- the town where my sister lives, and where I used to live for many years. I’ve especially missed my adorable niece and nephew a lot during the pandemic.
In addition to spend most of my spare time enjoying and photographing birds, summer flowers and landscapes in the lovely weather, I also had some newborn- and children photography assignments. And I finally met with my dear choir in real life for the first time in a very long time, when we had a big summer party.
The last week of the month, we finally went on a long-awaited road trip vacation along the western coast of Norway. In Stryn we had lots of nice weather to enjoy our favourite landscapes. Then on Sunnmøre we had to wait through some days of gray weather before we finally could go to the bird cliffs of Runde island on our very last day, to photograph the puffins in the evening sun. It was wonderful to see these charming birds once again, and now with better and faster photo equipment than before. It was also fun that a photography friend on Facebook was there at the same time, and joined us that evening.
JULY: I didn’t spend much time on nature photography this month, except for one trip to Jæren, to photograph the colourful and rare polar shorebird called red phalarope.
Instead, I enjoyed myself with visits from my family and some friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time, who visited our island for the first time. The summer weather was great all month, and it was fun that my friends who stayed in a tent on the local beach camping really could enjoy the island at its best, and go swimming every day in the unusually calm and warm sea.
But I had several portrait photography assignments this month. Some for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals, I visited their local center, and had assignments for newborn photography, an adorable puppy, a horse and its owner, and for an adorable one year old on the local beach on the summer’s loveliest day. I had to end the photo session with a cooling bath together with my visiting friendsツ
After winning the daily weather photo competitions on national TV at least 32 times through the years (that only gives those seconds of fame on TV), I finally won the week’s big prize out of the seven daily photos for the first time- with a pond reflection of myself, the mountains and the midninght sun in Northern Norway. I won lovely clothes worth 5000 NOK from my favourite woolen clothing brand WoolLand. Finally- after seeing Richard winning that many timesツ
Later I traveled to my parents, to spend a week together with them, my siblings and their families. It was my first time meeting my four months old niece- an adorable princess! We enjoyed ourselves in my parents’ big garden and by the sea in their new self-built furnished boat house, and celebrated the birthdays of my niece and nephew at five and three. Since my parents love working, they traveled home together with me to help us paint our house, and to go on several beautiful hikes together in our district.
AUGUST: I enjoyed the rest of my summer vacation at home, going on hikes in the nice weather, visiting my niece and nephew, and rehearsing for- and singing on a musical concert in town. When the schools started, I started working nearly full-time of my position for the first time in nearly one year. It felt good to get closer to the pupils and colleagues again. We also started having rehearsals with my choir again. It felt great that life went more back to normal.
A hectic but fun period of lots of photography assignments started as well at this time. Luckily the weather still was good for outdoor photography. The only wedding I photographed this year (due to cancellations of the other ones), was beautiful and fun, and we found several fairytale like surroundings for their photos, as you can see in the collage. Then ¬I photographed five beautiful confirmands on very different and fun locations- in nature among autumn colours, out on the sea and by the lighthouse, on a farm, at a construction company, with tractors and heavy machinery, in a park, with dogs and in an indoor swimming pool. I also photographed one confirmand’s family, all of my colleagues for the school’s new homepage, a beautiful newborn and sibling, my neighbors’ children, a colleague’s adorable purebred kittens, and cats for the Society for Protection of Animals.
9. (Bottom left) Autumn Break ♤
SEPTEMBER: Another warm and nice month (with only a little rain in the middle of it), which is not guaranteed at all in this country- but very appreciated and good for all my outdoor photography assignments. It started with photographing yet another beautiful confirmand and his one year old little brother in a nice park, before going on a fun weekend together with my choir to the village Sauda.
Then I spent every other day during two weeks on a pain management course, in hope of better managing to work full time again and to be active on my spare time as well. Since it was in a town closer to family and friends, I had great fun visiting friends, my sister-in-law, and my sister, niece and nephew, most afternoons after the course. The photo on the collage is from one of these afternoons together with my sister-in-law when we went to lots of nice spots for autumn photography. She is a good outdoor model! It was also fun when a friend’s beautiful granddaughter wanted to be our model one afternoon as well.
Later I photographed four more confirmands- at the beach, by the large amounts of beautiful rowan berries this year, with a dog, horses, a motorcycle and an excavator. I also photographed one confirmands’ family. It’s fun that all the confirmands this autumn wanted to take their photos on so many different places!
On the 25th Norway re-opened and cancelled most of the covid restrictions. It was great to feel everything went back to normal, but as we know it turned out to be a little early for celebrating. But I got to sing more, both on my own and a concert together with my choir. I also photographed cats again for the Society for Protection of Animals, and a show for a theatre group.
10. Tonight's Show
OCTOBER: Should have started with the baptism of my youngest niece, and I really looked forward to see her for the second time, as well as my whole family being together again. But the day before we were about to go, my brother got ill which lasted for a long time, and they had to cancel. (They had to baptize her without a party in November, and we’ll celebrate together when she turns one instead.)
We also cancelled our autumn vacation to our favourite cabin in beautiful Stryn, due to bad weather- just like we did the year before. So I cross my fingers that we’ll experience Stryn during autumn next year. Instead I had lots of wedding and confirmation photos from earlier to edit at home, and had a really fun family and sibling photography assignment for a former colleague on one of the two nice days of the whole autumn break week. On the same day we went to photograph migratory birds in the sunset on Jæren as well (long-awaited!), and even had some dancing northern lights to photograph by our house for the first time this autumn when we got home. We can’t see the northern lights that often as far south as we live, so my photos and a little story came in the local newspaper. Richard and I ended the autumn break by finding a nice spot for autumn leaves photography, and then brought some food outside to enjoy the ocean and sunset. At least a nice ending to a autumn break filled with bad weather and sedentary editing.
The next weekend, I both had a fun concert together with a neighbor for an anniversary, and one together with my choir. The last weekend, I went on a hotel weekend in Stavanger town together with a good friend from my home island (Richard was kind to let me go on his birthday). Actually, we hadn’t spent a weekend together in 10 years- only shorter visits a couple of times a year. We had a great time together, with Christmas shopping, drinks, good food and girl talk ツI must really do that more often!
11. Little Friends
NOVEMBER: I spent most of my spare time inside this month, editing all the previous portrait assignments and rehearsing for six Christmas concerts in the first days of December.
We got a windy autumn weather, which sadly made lots of dead and dying seabirds, mostly guillemots, come ashore on our beaches. This use to happen every winter, also with sea ducks, but I think there were extra many this time. The guillemots are such beautiful birds and interesting to get that close to, even though the reason is sad. I’ve only seen them on a long distance on bird cliffs in their summer plumage until I moved here.
I attended two nature photography presentations this month, with great photos of birds and some animals both in Norway and abroad. It made me go straight home to look at my own photos in the archive, from both Africa and other travels, and made me really want to travel again! When the pandemic is over, I must book an exciting photography travel.
On one of the nice days this month, we filmed a music video for my choir’s new Christmas song- in a nice forest with lots of lights and lamps in the dark. On another nice day, I photographed an adorable one year old and the family dog on our local beach.
DECEMBER: The five first days started with five Christmas concerts on Jæren and in Stavanger together with my choir, and another one by myself with a pianist in the Christmas town in Egersund where I live. Busy, but so much fun! We were lucky being able to arrange all these concerts as normal. The following week we got new strict covid restrictions, that led to cancellations of many concerts (including one that I should attend in Egersund right before Christmas).
When the Christmas town opened, we got a week of moody snow. Since I walk by on my way to work, I brought my camera and tripod the first morning when it was snowing, and got some atmospheric photos all by myself in the dark among all the Christmas lights. I also took some sibling and Christmas photos of my neighbours’ kids and their cousins, family photos at the local beach on a nice and cold morning, some rabbit photography assignments for the Society for Protection of Animals, and took some Christmas photos of a dog and two cats who live together.
I was also lucky to win the big prize of the weather photo competition on national TV for the second time this year (and ever), with a self portrait by the lighthouse with a santa hat, among snow and stars. I got another 5000 NOK worth of lovely clothes from my favourite woolen clothing brand WoolLand.
Right before Christmas, our school closed again due to the covid rates, but I was at work together with one of the pupils with special needs. It will be like that in the start of the new year as well, and we’ll just have to see how everything turns out when people gather again after the holidays...
I traveled home to my parents for a nine days long Christmas vacation, together with my siblings, nieces and nephew. Finally we were together again, for the first time since summer! The weather was great, and we even got a very little layer of snow for Christmas Eve. We enjoyed ourselves playing with the kids inside, enjoying good food and taking some nice walks outside like on this month's photo. (And since it all went well in the end- we try to forget the things about my sister having to go with the ambulance for a check up, and that crazy goat who really attacked and hurt my parents on a walk, when the kids and I watched and couldn’t do much). At least the rain didn’t come until my siblings and families went back home, some days before me.
Richard and I celebrate New Year’s Eve by ourselves like we did last year, with our traditional pinnekjøtt dinner (lamb ribs, like we always do on Christmas Eve as well), a little good to drink and movies.
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Even though 2021 turned out the same as 2020 in many ways, I still have many experiences to be grateful for- both with my loved ones, in nature and by meeting all the nice people and cute animals that I’ve photographed through the year. I’m also glad that my feet and hips are better, even though I still have to opt out some activities like attending long concerts, hikes and shopping to relieve me of some pain.
But like for 2021 - we must keep the hope that 2022 will be even better for all of us, even though I guess most people like me don’t plan anything long in advance for the new year. But make sure to fill your days with small joys, both for yourself and for the people around you!
If you’d like to see more of all my portraits, nature photos, landscapes and Christmas photos from 2021, you can do so by scrolling down my page here on Flickr, or on Ranveig Marie Photography on Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks to all who wanted to read about my year, and to all my photography followers!
I hope your 2022 will be an unexpectedly good one!
¸.•°*”˜”*°*˛ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ * ˛ ˜”*°•.¸
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║*˚♥˛˚ღ •˚ ˚˚ ✰* ★
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¸.•°*”˜ ”*°*˛ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸.2022.¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ * ˛˜”*°•.¸
To watch and read my Highlights of 2013, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2014, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2015, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2016, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2017, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2018, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2019, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2020, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2022, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2023, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2024, take a look here.
I love the sound and feel of frozen leaves below my feet, not as fragile as autumn leaves, but still crunch just as loud
View over Donawitz and Gai towards Reiting (Eisenerzer Alpen). We had a bit of rain today but it was great for hiking and orchid hunting.
(One photo from each month, starting top left. You can read more about these photos and each month of my 2016 below.)
2016 has been filled with SO many beautiful hikes and road trips in my own country, just like the previous years. This year in the western and mid-eastern part of Norway. It has also been another year of new places to stay and live, and of searching for jobs. Sorrow and joy have also walked side by side in our family.
1. (Top left) .｡☽｡ 15 Days Later ｡☽｡.
JANUARY: I started the new year in the best way – together with my new boyfriend Richard (who I first met on Flickr). The first minutes of the year, we got to photograph the northern lights and the fireworks on a peak close to his house. And on the first night of the new year, we went on a hike to Eigerøy lighthouse on his home island. We brought wood for campfire, sausages, something good to drink and of course our cameras.
Later that month we went on several nice walks and road trips in the immediate area and in the neighboring municipalities. Early January was really cold and I got some nice photographs of ice covered landscapes. Later we even got long lasting snow, which is not that usual here by the ocean - and we finally got to go back to both Eigerøy lighthouse and other beloved places in the area and in the county, to photograph them in the beautiful snowy landscape.
After a really long and fun Christmas holiday together with Richard, I got to stay in a friend’s really cozy apartment by the sea for some months, in the lovely town of Stavanger. I got a temporary employment at my old workplace there (on a high school, with teenagers with special needs) – since I hadn’t got a real job after moving back to my home island the previous summer. Richard was very kind to have my dog this month, since I couldn’t have her in the apartment. Luckily it was easy to visit them by an hour-long train ride in my spare time ツ I also had several fun happenings with my two choirs this month, and finally could spend time with my friends in Stavanger again ツ
-My album of snow here, with many of the photos from January at the top.
FEBRUARY: Continued as January – with work in Stavanger and train to Richard’s homeplace in my spare time. We brought our cameras on several hikes and road trips in both his region called Dalane and in the region of Jæren, where I was working and living.
I also recorded a new version of an old and dear song about the region of Jæren, after the initiative by my friend Anne. She wanted to make a video of this song with photos from Jæren - shot by herself, me, Richard, and other people who live there. We were all satisfied with the result and many have shared the video/song on the Internet.
3. Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter
MARCH: I and Richard went on several nice hikes and photo trips this month too. I got to see new places near where he’s from, and we photographed beautiful sunsets and signs of spring on Jæren and on his homeplace.
I also photographed my first paid full-day-wedding this month. Luckily both I and the bride and groom got really satisfied with the photos ツ
In the end of the month I moved from the nice apartment I had borrowed in Stavanger, to my home island Bømlo (in another county) - where I had got a job on the local high school for three months, and to live in the house I had rented there since the summer.
-A couple of wedding photos and other portraits of mine here.
APRIL: After moving back to my home island Bømlo and the cozy old house I rented in the forest among lambs, sheep, spring flowers, cuckoos and also a couple of eagles, I also finally got my dog Tessi back from my ex-in-laws – who had taken care of her for two months. Even though I missed my boyfriend, friends, choir and colleagues in the Stavanger area, it was really good to be reunited with my dog and to be able to see my family when I wanted to. My new colleagues and job were also great, and only a bike ride away.
It was especially nice to get to visit my grandma every week at the retirement home this period, only a bike ride (or a hike with my dog) away. Each time I brought her self-picked flowers or something good to eat, which she really appreciated. Little did I know that these three months of visiting her would be extra precious since she suddenly died in the end of July ♥
I also went on hikes and bicycle trips with my camera to capture more of my home island this month – photographing the beautilful coastal landscapes, the signs of spring, all the lambs (even lamb births) close to my house, and the beautiful Northern lights (the strongest and most beautiful I’ve ever seen, as late as April!). I also got to show my beautiful homeplace to my dear Richard when he visited me, and I traveled to visit him and to attend happenings with my choir in Stavanger town.
-Photos of the lambs and other domestic animals here.
5. (Middle left) National Day Selfie ٩(-̮̮̃•̃)۶
MAY: I spent lots of time outside this warm and lovely month, both together with my pupils at work, with my dog on the deck outside our home, or out exploring with my camera. The charming lambs were still around my house to photograph, and the photogenic spring flowers covered my and my neighbors' garden.
I had singing assignments in Stavanger, and got to visit Richard and do some photographing on Jæren together with him at the same time. Our friends Camilla and Øystein (who I first met on Flickr) also came to meet us on Jæren, and I was happy to finally get to show them the picturesque and fairytale-like Risa forest – filled with loads of spring flowers, and a bird park with cute chickens (on the same day I picked up my new telephoto lensツ).
The weekend of Norway’s National Day (on the 17th), I and Richard went on an unforgettable road trip to the beautiful Hardanger region, not far from my home island. The region is known for its beautiful fruit blossoms close to the Hardanger fjord on that time of year. We stayed in a lovely and dignified hotel, and got so many nice photos from the area. It was fun to wear my bunad (national costume) while photographing in such beautiful national romantic surroundings.
In the end of the month a friend from town visited me. Fun to finally get to show some of my friends the island I’ve talked so much about ツ I also had my first family reunion photo assignment, which went well.
I also finally managed to sell the apartment me and my ex husband lived in for 8 years in the town of Sandnes on Jæren, after my sister and her husband had rented it after we moved. The market was bad, so we did not get what we hoped for – but we were at least rid of it.
-My album of spring flowers, chickens and lambs here.
6. Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.
JUNE: Another month with many beautiful and warm days spent outside. It started with another visit by Richard, and finally I got to show him my home island from the sea. We went by boat to watch and photograph all the beautiful flora, nests and seagull chicks on the islets. He came back only one week later together with our friend Anne, and I showed and photographed the flora, nests and chicks at sea together with her too ツ
My summer holiday started early, after finishing my job on the local high school, and I started preparing for moving...again ; ) I also photographed in a wedding, which went very well.
I went to visit Richard to celebrate St John's Day/midsummer together with his family, and to go on some nice hikes together. He also showed me a really special island a short boat ride from his home island, with several special and large caves and potholes.
-A photo of one of the special caves here.
7. ♡ Last Flowers for Grandma ♡
JULY: Started with me moving again…to Richard’s home by the sea this time, on his charming home island called Eigerøy - a short drive from the town of Egersund ツ We spent much time this month waiting for long lasting nice weather, to go for a photography road trip with our new car in our beautiful country. While waiting, we packed out my stuff after moving in on the grey days, and spent the nice days in between (and several grey ones too) on beautiful and long hikes in the region I had just moved to. We participated in a a local selection of hikes, that we as participants tried to walk and register during the summer and early autumn season. A brilliant way of seeing and getting to know the municipalities in the region I had just moved to! Several of my friends also visited us this month, which was great fun.
In the mddle of the month my dear grandma and last grandparent suddenly felt more tired and exhausted and didn’t get out of bed any longer. She did always have a healthy mind, but now her age of nearly 96 years didn’t let her stay with us much longer. I and Richard went to visit her for a a little talk and a nice and touching goodbye 9 days before she died. I’m so thankful for that. She seemed to know that it was our last time seeing her, and she said precious and kind things to us. I also got to give her one last bunch of flowers - which she had appreciated getting from me all spring, and loved to smell. (In addition she always showed equal enjoyment when I brought her pizza and kebab, despite her 95 years of age)ツ She died peacefully on the evening of July 27 th. I'm thankful for all the good memories from trips on the sea, moments of playing, the delicious food she made for us, Santa gifts that got just as important in youth as in childhood, and for all the smiles and care ♥
When we were home visiting grandma, we also got to take some really nice summer images on my homeplace. After grandma died, the forecast finally predicted nice and long lasting weather, so we went on a short road trip while waiting for the funeral - starting in the mid-eastern part of Norway.
-My images from my new homeplace Eigerøy island here.
8. Cold Lake
AUGUST: We continued our road trip from the mid-eastern to the western part of Norway, and back to my home island Bømlo further south for grandma’s funeral. After some days filled with hikes and visits back home on Eigerøy, we started on our next photography road trip. The weather forecast was perfect! We went back to the mid-eastern part of the country – but to other places than on the previous road trip. Then we drove further north on the western part than last time. We were really lucky with the weather, and both of us enjoyed showing the other one places we had been before separately. Our memory cards got full of beautiful images and memories!
While we were exploring, my little sister gave birth to her first daughter and my parents’ first grandchild Alexandra, on the 15th - nearly one month before due date. So it was a little shock to get that call while we were away, but luckily all went really well with everyone ♥ ...and we never got to throw the baby shower we were planning =/ ; )
Back home again my dog Tessi also moved to Richard’s place (she had been with my ex-in-laws during the summer). We continued on all the beautiful hikes we participated in walking and registering, and I got temporary employments both on the local highschool in the town of my new homeplace Egersund, and on the higschool where I used to work in the town of Stavanger (with a 1.5 hour commute each way).
-My photos from the road trips, hikes and our home islands in summer here.
9. (Bottom left) My Dear Ones
SEPTEMBER: We went on the last and longest hikes that we wanted to register for the competition on the nice early autumn days. I finally started on a gym again for the first time in over one year (much needed), and got busy with training and luckily more work than in a long time. I also went on a Norway tour with my Gospel choir.
OCTOBER: Started with stunning weather and nice walks on beaches, forests, by the sea, and finally a night walk to Eigerøy lighthouse again - with wood for campfire, sausages, something good to drink and our cameras. The nice weather lasted nearly the whole month (not a guarantee at all where we live). We went to visit my family in the first part of my autumn holiday, got to photograph some stunning landscape reflections on our way home, and enjoyed ourselves and went on some hikes back home. I continued working/commuting and training, and had some singing assignments. We also went to my niece's christening where I was the photographer of the day. She is so adorable – I love taking photos of her ツ
-My album of autumn reflections and landscapes here, with several of the new ones on top.
11. ❀ The best thing to hold onto in life is each other ❀
NOVEMBER: No nature photography this month. I was busy with singing assignments on my spare time, and went to my home island to photograph another full-day-wedding. It’s really fun, but it’s always exhausting photographing and being focused for about 16 hours (!) I also got to photograph my niece for my sister’s Christmas cards. They got really cute ツ
I also got a new job this month, at the primary school on the island where we live! The routines, tasks and challenges are some different than I’m used to from working at highschools, and I miss my good colleagues and pupils in Stavanger – but now I don’t have to commute any longer, get to work more, have secured job a year ahead, and get to learn much.
In the end of November my Gospel choir always starts having our first Christmas performances and concerts together with known Scandinavian artist. These days and concerts always turn out really popular, fun and unforgettable. This year our first concerts were held together with the really talented twin sisters Garness. I’ve listened to them since we all were nine years old, and have been on their concerts every year for a long time. Talented people in my choir writes a new Christmas song for the concerts each year, together with the artist(s) of the year. This December our song “Julens Sang”, about our Savior and Brother was played on the National radio every day ツ You can find it on Spotify, Tidal and iTunes.
-Garness’ performing their beautiful Christmas songs are found here, on YouTube.
12. 4th Sunday of Advent Rising
DECEMBER: I only went out to photograph a few mornings and evenings in the immediate area this month. We enjoyed ourselves at home and on walks with the dog (without cameras) in my spare time. We finished the choir’s Christmas performances in the start of the month and I only had small singing assignments later, so I also had time to go on some Christmas concerts myself – just to listen and enjoy. I also went on two fun colleague Christmas parties – both with my old and my new job.
We celebrated Christmas Eve together with Richard’s family – which was really nice. Sadly he got ill that evening and also got a bad back prolapse, so we had to cancel the rest of our plans for the holiday. I also had to work during the holiday for the first time in 10 years, so we couldn’t do as much as I’m used to during this period. The Christmas weather have been really windy, rainy and mild anyway – so my walks with the dog in the immediate area have been enough. On the 26th the wind even blew in hurricane force on our island. But the most important thing is to be together and enjoy ourselves the best we can at home when we’re together, and for him to get well ♥
On Christmas Eve I reached a goal: I have tried to get rid of the more than 5 extra kilos I gained after getting together with Richard – by having much good food and drink, and little exercising ; ) And two months after I started counting calories (but really didn’t change my habits that much) in addition to the regular training, I was back to normal again this Christmas ツIf I’ll get rid of even more now due to my new habits, it will only be a bonus ツ
We had planned to celebrate New Year on my home island together with my family who I hadn’t seen all Christmas, but now we can’t travel that far – so I’ll make a cozy celebration at home for the two of us instead – just like we did last year ♥
-My album of Christmas images here.
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As you can see, the previous year has again brought many beautiful Norwegian nature experiences and photographs, new jobs with nice colleagues, and yet a new homeplace – where I know few people but have got to know most of its places which are both cozy, idyllic and beautiful. Luckily the even more familiar places, many of my friends and some of my family (including my little niece) are only an our by car or train away. And a fun thing is that two of my friends also have got boyfriends who live in our town.
I’m glad I spent some months on my home island this spring, before moving back to the county where I’ve lived for a long time now, since studying. I’m so thankful for spending so much more time together with my grandma than in many years, during what turned out to be the last months of her life.
An era is over now when all our grandparents and everyone at their age in our family are gone. But a new one started only 2.5 weeks after my grandma passed away – when my niece was born and my parents got their first grandchild ♥
I’m ready for a new year together with all my loved ones, maybe some new acquaintances on my new home place, and of course my camera ツ
Thanks to you who bothered reading this, and to all my Flickr followers!
I hope you'll have a nice New Year’s Eve, and a:
☆¯`★´¯☆ ✿¸.•*¨★*☆*★`*•..¸✿ ☆¯`★´¯☆
★[̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅Y̲̅]★[̲̅̅N̲̅][̲̅̅E̲̅][̲̅̅W̲̅]★[̲̅̅Y̲̅][̲̅̅E̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅R̲̅]★
♪ ღ ♪ •*•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*• ♪ ღ ♪ •*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*• ♪ ღ ♪
...filled with nice days and joy!
To watch and read my Highlights of 2013, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2014, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2015, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2017, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2018, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2019, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2020, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2021, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2022, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2023, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2024, take a look here.