Category: Fotoutmaning

Anything to Do with Boats

Published on by Anita20 Comments

This week’s CFFC topic is “Anything to do with boats” and since I’ve been to Marsaxlokk recently I show some pictures from this small, traditional fishing village located in the South Eastern Region of Malta.For the sake of the colors and for Horus’ eye which is said to protect the fishermen when they are at sea.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.“There are a lot of mysterious things about boats, such as why anyone would get on one voluntarily.”
–P. J. O’Rourke“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.”
– Ernest Hemingway.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge.

Flowers, Quotes & Thoughts

Published on by Anita42 Comments

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
– Audrey Hepburn”
“Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”
— Peter Adams
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.
When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
— Ansel Adams“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.”
— Gilles Peress

That I like quotes is obviously no secret. I often use them when I myself cannot find the words. I don’t want to be anonymous but my blog isn’t intended as a diary, although I sometimes create posts about my everyday life. Still, publishing pictures without a single word reveals a certain personality of the person who took them.
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Light as a Feather

Published on by Anita28 Comments

This may not be a flower but definitely some kind of plant that over time has become fragile and elusive.Whatever it is, these are abundantly seen in nature now here in Malta.It’s not visible in my images here but these grow on large bushes where the “flower” is light as a feather. The one seen here has loosened from its plant and been stuck in a spider’s web while others fly freely in the wind.
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Trees on Tuesdays

Published on by Anita31 Comments

An ordinary tree full of cones. It is obvious from where the wind usually blows.A tree seen from Victoria Lines where the views of Malta are amazing, especially when the weather is clear.

Some dry leaves and a very thorny tree trunk.Last week, I showed a similar home-made wood construction and there are many of these in nature, too many. Can you guess what they are used for?Compare with this little wooden house that I would love to see more of and it does more benefit than harm.

Susan’s Trees on Tuesdays

Mimosa or What?

Published on by Anita26 Comments

It’s getting hot here in Malta now and most flowers fades away and thus all its colors, except this one.

The mimosa trees bloomed here in Malta in April and these really look like mimosa but…

…I really can’t recognize their long sharp thorns.Whatever it is, they give a lovely splash of color in nature, but you have to watch out for the razor-sharp thorns.

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Trees, Wood & Thoughts

Published on by Anita19 Comments

The tree on the top is from San Anton Gardens in Attard while the one above was taken when I was walking with Fanny in Victoria Lines And yes, if you look closely you can see my dog sniffing on the ground.

Cones are an important part of many trees.

Figs on the fig tree are soon ready to be picked.
It will take a while but in a few years, an almond tree will grow here.
Here someone planted a tree in Ta Qali in 2007.

Here you can see Figs on fig tree, a tree planted in 2007 and an indication of an upcoming almond tree.
Click on an image to enlarge.I love trees and the wood from which you can create so much. In Sweden, wooden houses are common but here in Malta it seems like they have not realized how useful the material actually is.
But as seen here, we are well on our way.

Susan’s Trees on Tuesdays 

Welcome to The Forest

Published on by Anita31 Comments

Welcome to the one and only forest. There are very few forests here in Malta but one that I often visit is il-Miżieb. It takes about 20 minutes by car via the coast road and of course, Fanny always comes alongThe woodland was planted in the early 1970’s and stretches for some two km between Xemxija and Manikata. Here you will find Aleppo pines and a generous sprinkling of the slower growing carob and olive trees.

There are plenty of walkways and narrow paths to choose from and the scenery often changes. Fanny and I usually try to explore new trails and there is no risk of getting lost as we are on a high ridge.

Blue markings like these arrows are often seen but I have no idea where we would end up if we followed them. But, when we see this magical being, we know that we are close to where we started.

Flowers of The Day

Published on by Anita33 Comments

When I look at above images, I realize that they would probably fit better in a theme called “Today’s insect”.

So here I show some wildflowers that are found here in Malta, without any visible insect.Finally, Fanny, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a stunningly flourishing scenery.

Susan’s Flower on Fridays 
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Spiny Caper – Wildflowers in Malta

Published on by Anita37 Comments

I have shown this flower before, its very common here in Malta and I like it a lot because it’s so special.

The plant is actually a bush and each flower lasts only for one day and one night which means you can see a lot of flowers in different stages on the same plant. The flowers bloom from April to mid July. Spiny Caper or Kappar tax-xewk as it’s called in Maltese, grows abundantly here in our Mediterranean climate and even in arid deserts. For me it is a beauty at all stages and it has a lovely scent.I have many favorites when it comes to flowers here in Malta and this is undoubtedly one of them.
And yes, the flower buds, capers, can be used as a taste in different dishes and sauces.
Click on an image if you like to see them enlarged.

Susan’s Flower on Fridays  (a day late)
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

 

Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita11 Comments

Now the cactus is blooming and within a few months we can pick tasty and sweet Prickly pears for free. When you see them like this it feels hard to believe that they will be edible.

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Flower on Fridays

Published on by Anita16 Comments

This flower has a red-colored visitor with eight legs. It’s almost invisible but you’ll see it if you look closely.This visitor isn’t at all invisible and may take up more space than the flower itself.
But you cannot miss these flowers different shades of the vibrant and lovely purple color.

Susan’s Flower on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Wild White Beauty

Published on by Anita29 Comments

This is one of all the wild flowers found here on the island right now.

Soon the summer heat will come and most plants will dry out while the Mediterranean will be warmer and maybe, wishful thinking, our everyday life will return to being the way it once was, and we’re back to normal. Non-essential shops have opened again this week and cafes and restaurants may open at the end of May. Perhaps…Wishing you a great weekend from sunny Malta!!

Susan’s Flower on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Flowers on Fridays

Published on by Anita17 Comments

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do”
– Rumi –“Remember to look up at the stars, not down at your feet.
Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist.
Be curious.” 
– Stephen Hawking –

Susan’s Flower on Fridays

Friday’s flower

Published on by Anita19 Comments

I’m not very good at wild flowers and tried to find the name of this colorful one via Google “Search by image”. I got the suggestion Carpobrotus rossii, also known as Karkalla. Then I read that that’s a plant native to Australia which is quite far from Malta. Regardless of it’s name, it’s a real splash of color in nature.

Susan’s Flower on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Just a Small Difference

Published on by Anita12 Comments

There’s only a slight difference between these two pictures.
I prefer the last one. The flower itself is very small.

“Small Differences can lead to Big Changes.”

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Flowers on Fridays

Published on by Anita19 Comments

“Love is our true destiny. We don’t find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another”
– Thomas Merton –Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of the day

Black & White Photography – 9

Published on by Anita23 Comments

This is the ninth time I join Susie’s fun photo black and white challenge.
In the past I have mostly photographed people, this time I choose pets, dogs and cats.“When I look into the eyes of an animal I don’t see an animal I see a living being, I see a friend, I feel a soul”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –“ If cats could talk they wouldn’t”
– Nan Porter –“Dogs eat – Cats dine”
– Ann Taylor –“Having a dog or a cat will open your heart. Reading a book will open your mind.
Having both a pet and a book… absolute heaven.
– Mark Rubenstein –“You can keep a dog but it is the Cat how keeps People because Cats find Humans useful domestic Animals”
– George Mikes –“Look at animals kindly, and they will see. Talk to animals gently, and they will listen”
– AD Williams – “All animals are born with innocence, curiosity and love”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –

Below are the images also in color for those who like to compare. And as always when it comes to quotes, we mustn’t take them too seriously, although some may be worth considering.

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Flower(s) of The Day

Published on by Anita20 Comments

Feeling Blue.Red for Love – Red for Fire. Snow WhiteYellow Solar heat. Pink – Passion.

Wherever life plants you…Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.

Black & White Photography – 8

Published on by Anita21 Comments

I just realized that my Swedish driving license needs to be renewed. Since I live in Malta I have applied for a Maltese driver’s license. While I wait for it to be ready, I wonder what it’s like to ride a motorcycle. Lol.. Haha…

This is just for fun, don’t think I’m riding a Harley-Davidson here in Malta in a couple of weeks.
And for the sake of unusualness, there are only two pictures this time. Happily!

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita16 Comments

Yesterday I saw an almond tree that was already blooming, although it was mostly buds.

It’s a lovely flower.It feels like spring though it’s still winter here on the island.“Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the Spring days soon will reach us”
– Edwin Arnold –

Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.

Flowers on Fridays

Published on by Anita13 Comments

This time I choose to show three different types of flowers but with similar shades of color.The flower on top I believe is an anthurium, also called flamingo flower.
The one above is a type of orchid but there are about 28,000 different species so I have no idea about its name.Plumeria flowers. Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.

Black & White Photography – 6

Published on by Anita14 Comments

The above pictures are from the square along Sarawak River in Kuching. Every afternoon, both young and old can be seen playing with each other, many of them blowing soap bubbles, just for fun.This skilled lady I saw in Valletta here in Malta the other day. Guess why she’s looking down.Concentration! She really knew how to handle her little puppet on a string.Back to the square in Kuching. This little girl seems to be looking for someone.

Finally, Fanny and I at home yesterday evening. Fanny did not like to wear a Santa hat, I can understand that. It’s much more fun to try to bite it into small pieces and so she did. It was cheap and it was Christmas Eve.

As usual, I also show my pictures in color. This time, I prefer to see all these images in color, except one. Guess which one..

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita29 Comments

“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better”
– Albert Einstein –“It you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere”
– Vincent Van Gogh “Time spent in nature heals your body, mind & spirit”
– Katrina Mayer –

Sarawak Orchid Garden, Kuching – December 2019.

Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.

Black & White Photography – 5

Published on by Anita19 Comments

Wednesday, and my fifth colorless post, inspired by Susan’s black and white photo challenge.As in my previous black and white post, I choose to show people. People in everyday life that I photographed recently when I visited the city of Kuching in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.Of these five images, there is actually only one that I’m happy with. As always, it’s up to the viewer to decide whether you like what you see or not. Which of these five pictures do you think I am most satisfied with. What’s your opinion of my b/w images?

As usual, I also show them edited in color, for those who want to compare.

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Lens-Artists Challenge – On Display

Published on by Anita33 Comments

Today’s pictures are from Kuching Sunday Market that I visited recently. I’m not so happy to show headless and half people though it’s not easy to avoid when there are so many people moving around.

Here you’ll find a huge variety of different kinds of fresh fruits & vegetables.
Guess it was high season for bananas.

Walking around here is an exciting experience, a colorful symphony with many more or less appealing scents.

Where they sell fish I pass pretty quickly, although the fish are naturally fresh.I’ve promised myself not to show too many pictures in just one post, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid.
Whats your opinion, isn’t it better to show fewer pictures and divide them into different posts? I think so.
This post has seventeen images, it’s too much but the post is done and most important, it was fun.

Lens-Artists Challenge #76 – On Display

 

Signs on Sundays / Skyltsöndag

Published on by Anita23 Comments

It’s Sunday, which means it’s time to share some signs again.
Since I just came back home from Malaysia, my signs are from there.

For some unknown reason, wordpress has restricted the possibilities to create a gallery. That’s why it looks like this, though I didn’t want it to look like this. Feel free to click on an image to see it more clearly.It you look closely, there is a small gecko to the right on the sign.I do…This is my favorite. AisKrim.
The sign reminds me of when I saw a little girl standing by the river in Kuching. She sold homemade ice cream that she marketed with a handwritten sign, AIS-KRIM. Typically I didn’t bring my camera with me.

Alla kan vara med och skylta på söndagar tillsammans med BP som håller i trådarna.
Länk till övriga deltagare.

Flowers on Fridays

Published on by Anita20 Comments

These beautiful flowers were taken when I visited Orchid Garden in Kuching, Sarawak. It’s obviously not some kind of orchid, but it is a beautiful flower that grows on large trees and has a lovely scent.If I’m not mistaken, this is Plumeria flowers which are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. But I could be wrong…

Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.

Black & White Photography – 4

Published on by Anita17 Comments

This is the fourth time I’ve joined Susan’s black/white photo challenge and to me it’s really a challenge, but a fun one. In last week’s b/w post I showed old vehicles but it feels more challenging to edit images of people.

Choosing between these two types of editing felt a bit difficult, they are so different. Which one do you prefer?These people dressed in traditional costumes are from the Iban tribe in Sarawak, Borneo. The Ibans are famous for their head-hunting past, their massive ironwood longhouses, their ornate body tattooing, their wonderful weaving skills, and of course their potent rice wine, tuak.Next Monday I will be traveling to Sarawak again, probably for the last time…

As before, I also show my pictures in color, for those who want to compare.
The one I am least satisfied with is the warrior, he is doing much better in black / white.

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Trees on Tuesdays

Published on by Anita20 Comments

“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop”
– Rumi – “The greatest Threat to Our Planet is the Belief that Someone Else will Save it”
-Robert Swan – Susan’s Photo Challenge Trees on Tuesdays.

Black & White Photography – Part 3

Published on by Anita

This feels almost a bit scary. I’m not good at all when it comes to edit my images to black and white.In September I visited an exhibition of old motorbikes at the Aviation Museum in Ta ‘Qali. The Historical Motorcycles Club exhibited both classic……and military motorbikes.…as well as some old cars.

Engine and a wheel.

As I wrote, I’m not used to this at all, but, as long as it’s fun, I will continue to challenge myself.

As last time, I show my images also in color, for those who like to compare.
Your comment or advice for improvement would as always be greatly appreciated.
For some unknown reason, it’s not possible to comment on this post.
Thanks anyway for visiting my site!

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

Trees on Tuesdays

Published on by Anita9 Comments

Same tree taken from different angle and different seasons. The one in the middle was taken in the beginning of February this year. The others are from last weekend.
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Malta.

Susan’s Photo Challenge Trees on Tuesdays.

Yes, the picture in the middle has been shown here before.
Didn’t have much imagination today.

Spring is in the air

Published on by Anita41 Comments

Yesterday we went to Ta Qali Park. Usually we never go there on the weekends when the summer is over because there are too many people and you can’t have your dog without leash. But we were all alone.I haven’t been here for a while and was really surprised. It felt like spring even though we are in November! This beauty has a very special expression, perhaps it was also surprised that it felt like spring in the air.The sky was blue, the grass was green and there were lots of small yellow flowers.
Fanny was more than happy to run around in the greenery without a leash. At first I didn’t notice that there were two butterflies on the leaf! A spider with its catch of the day.I saw lots of different kinds of butterflies, dragonflies and other kinds of insects. But as usual, they are very active and difficult to capture with the camera. I’m glad I got this one.Ta’ Qali National Park, Malta