Category: Photo

Windblown

Published on by Anita15 Comments

Några bilder från en av många promenader i “skogen” tillsammans med fina Fanny.Menar du att vi ska gå hela den där långa vägen tillbaka till bilen? Det är faktiskt 30+!Ja, men vi går i skuggan, mellan träden så känns det inte så varmt.
Fast den där bilden är ju faktiskt från en annan skog.…och vi kan ta en och annan paus, ser kanske lite snårigt ut.Titta, matte lyckades fotografera en fågel!

(S)kottår.Kanske inte den bästa skogen om man vill hugga sig en gran till Julhelgen.Nu är vi framme, nästan, tror jag.
Äntligen! Vi har ju gått i flera timmar, nu vill jag hem.. …fast det verkar som att vi gått lite vilse. Ser du var bilen är?Åhh nej!!Kanske ska vi prova att gå åt det där hållet istället.
Äntligen hemma!
Tror matte blev lite snurrig, kanske fick hon en släng av värmeslag. Det här inlägget passar ju jättebra till Susan’s Trees on Tuesdays
…fast att tisdagen redan passerat verkar hon inte ha insett ännu.

Picture of The Day

Published on by Anita20 Comments

An image from my valuable memory archive. When I look at the picture today, I clearly remember the moment when I took it. I was in the restroom at a simple restaurant where the food was spicy and absolutely delicious. The little boy knew he was not tall enough to wash his hands with his feet on the floor.
Thailand, Koh Lanta 2014

Greenery

Published on by Anita39 Comments

“Green is a label for a certain attitude to life, a certain kind of respect
that one might have for the very source of things that we take for granted.”
– Annie LennoxVespa crabro, a Hornet attracted by some green leafs on our Hibiscus.

“Greenery is the best scenery”
– Arti Sharma“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider,
every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”
–Martin Luther

The lines seen in the last image are the human impact on nature, but it’s usually worse than that.
It’s a sad fact that more than half of Earth’s rainforests have already been destroyed.
The photo was taken in Sarawak, last year, where there’s still plenty of greenery.

Happy Birthday Fanny!

Published on by Anita29 Comments

💖Den 13:e juli 2020 fyllde min fina Fanny tre år!!💖
Fick dessvärre inte ihop något inlägg igår och gör därför ett nytt försök. Bilden ovanför har varit med förr men jag valde den för att den känns som en av de bästa bilderna jag tagit på henne, och jag har tagit väldigt många bilder sedan vi hämtade hem henne från Sverige oktober 2017.

Christina Acar målade av fotografiet på en mugg som jag idag använder som pennställ på mitt skrivbord.Basenji’s är inte så vanliga här på  Malta och jag får ofta frågan vad det är för ras.
Basenji är en av världens äldsta raser och härstammar från Afrika. Karaktäristiskt är rynkorna i pannan och den hårt rullade svansen. De har ett kattlikt beteende och tvättar sig själva. Deras främsta särdrag är oförmågan att skälla vilket beror på att deras struphuvud är annorlunda konstruerat. Varför vet man inte men vargen, som ju är hundens urfader, skäller inte heller. Fast tysta är de inte utan har sitt eget speciella sätt att utrycka sig på. Igår kväll hade vi pick nick i Ta Qali park där hon sprungit nästan varje dag sedan hon var valp.
Det var också där hon för första gången fick prova att springa utan koppel.

Nyss hemkommen till Malta i november 2017
Liten och vilsen.
På trappan till hennes första hem i Tibro hos Marianne Gustavsson.

Att titta på gamla bilder från när Fanny var valp är det nog bara jag själv som tycker är kul. Roligare kanske är att Fanny nu blivit så pass gammal att vi planerar valpar. ❤❤  Basenji’s löper bara en gång per år och en basenji kavaljer har vi redan hittat. Om allt går som jag hoppas på får hon möta Ricky till hösten.

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

Dragonfly part 2

Published on by Anita50 Comments

This is just another attempt to capture one of all amazing and valuable insects found in nature. Some appreciate them while others ignore or see them as a matter of course, they just exist. I myself am no exception, it was not until I started photographing that I realized the value of our nature and its inhabitants.

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

White Beauty

Published on by Anita35 Comments

“White has it all, its beauty is absolute, it’s the perfect harmony”
– Coco Chanel“For those colours you which to be beautiful, always first prepare a pure white ground”
-Leonardo da Vinci“If peace of mind considered as pure as white colour then I know why it’s my favorite color”
– Rubeena Khan. “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do”
– Rumi

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 

Marsaxlokk

Published on by Anita27 Comments

Last Sunday we went to the small and picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk. The village is famous for its Sunday fish market and its many decorative painted boats.The traditional Maltese fishing boat, luzzu, is usually painted in bright colors, while the bow has a pair of eyes. The eyes are referred to as the Eye of Horus or of Osiris and said to protect the fishermen while at sea.

If you are hungry and like seafood, this is the place to go. Here you’ll find a selection of the finest fish restaurants on the island. Or just sit down and relax with a cold drink after a peaceful stroll in the area.

It’s well worth spending a few hours in this colorful charming village. More to come…
Marsaxlokk, Malta 21 June 2020

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

 

Dragonflies

Published on by Anita35 Comments

Often when I’m lucky enough to find a dragonfly that doesn’t fly, I have noticed that they put their wings forward towards the head, as if they were trying to protect themselves, or maybe they sleep.Regardless, it is an amazing insect that is usually seen flying by very quickly. Some are really big and shine in different shades of color. Maybe, I’ll succeed to capture at least one of them this summer. Never give up!

Hide and Seek with a Bumblebee

Published on by Anita33 Comments

    Don’t ask me why but I really love bumblebees and there are many to be found now among the flowers.

    Bumblebees are not as aggressive. Males cannot sting, and females only do so when they feel threatened.
    Bumblebees are excellent pollinators, they are in fact much more efficient pollinators than honeybees

    But they are not always so easy to capture as they usually hide half of themselves deep into a flower.Thanks for not hiding. Sometimes you’re lucky!

    Pomegranate – From Bud to Edible

    Published on by Anita20 Comments

    3. Now things are starting to happen and it continues to grow.
    2. Here it has opened up a little more.
    1. The bud slowly starts to open.

    The healthy and tasty Pomegranate are not yet ripe here in Malta and, like all other fruits, it has to go through different stages before it is ready to pick and eat, as shown above. Click on an image to enlarge.In full bloom.Here the fruit is ripe and ready to harvest. But in Malta we have to wait another few months. This is an image from my archive.Ready to eat!
    Anyone who wants to eat pomegranates year-round can buy imported ones.
    Although I prefer those who grow here on the island.

    Macro Monday

    Published on by Anita33 Comments

    Most of you probably recognize this little insect. Graphosoma lineatum, Strimlus in Swedish, which is part of the family stink bugs, även kallad bärfis. Thanks to Google and Wikipedia for the information.

    They are often seen in pairs, especially on this kind of plant.A pretty special plant itself of the family Umbelliferae which looks completely different when it blooms.
    Here it almost looks like it’s full of lice but I might show some flowering images in another post.

    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

    Macro photography A Colorful Insect

    Published on by Anita32 Comments

    Photographing different kinds of insects is a fun and exciting challenge. Apart from butterflies and dragonflies which are not always easy to capture I’ve realized that there are a lot more in nature to discover.

    I don’t know what kind of beetle this is, there are too many species to choose from. I had some trouble getting sharpness on its head but it shines beautifully in blue-green and has colorful covered wings.An interesting little creature on its way through life.

    Cropping & Mixed Thoughts

    Published on by Anita16 Comments

    We all know that sometimes cropping is a must when you want to highlight the main subject of your image.

    Not cropped at all
    Cropped to just over half
    Very cropped

    Other images may look better if not cropped too much or not at all if it reveals a poorer image quality.
    Feel free to click on an image above to enlarge and compare them to each other.This one couldn’t be cropped because I was so close but in this case there was no need to crop either. I’ve too many images in my archive that easily could have been thrown away but for some reason they are still there. Some images evoke memories even though they can be seen as meaningless to others. Note to self; crop when you think it improves, throw away when you are not happy and sort out your archive when you have time. Enjoy life, and never give up! The key to learning more about the noble art of photography is curiosity and a sense of joy in what you create.

    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

    The Year’s first..

    Published on by Anita27 Comments

    This is the year’s first dragonfly that I managed to capture with my camera a couple of days ago.
    It sat on the stick only for a few seconds before it flew away and disappeared. Bye, bye..I also managed to photograph a few butterflies. This is quite common but rarely sits still.
    Could it be an Green-veined White butterfly? It has green eyes.This is a colorful beauty and surely it gives you a sense of joy that at least now and then succeed in capture these unique little insects that are such an important part of our nature.

    Tired of running very fast in search of rabbits in Majjstral Park.
    Always waiting for me while I shoot.

    Fanny is always my companion. She’s the best, she’s curious, awake and very funny. We have a heat wave here on the island, almost 30 degrees so now we are heading to Il-Majjistral Park where we can take a dip in the sea. Take care! ❤

    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

    Hidden In a Shell

    Published on by Anita24 Comments

    “It seems to me that the Natural World is the greatest source of Excitement; …

    …the greatest source of Natural Beauty;……the greatest source of Intellectual Interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living”
    – Sir David Attenborough –

    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

    Me and my dog

    Published on by Anita21 Comments

    In this post I show some images from my recent walks with my dog in various Nature parks here in Malta. Thanks to Fanny, I’ve discovered amazing sceneries on this tiny island in the Mediterranean.

    The greenery, the narrow paths and the deep slopes of Victoria Lines.The barren landscape along the sea in Pembroke.The steep clay slopes in Ghajn Tuffieha.Together we have made adventurous climbs in Il-Majjistral Nature Park.

    Besides Fanny, I also photograph the variety of wild plants and insects found in our nature, more of that will come in a later post. And don’t worry, Fanny is visible also in the first image, but you have to look closely.

    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

    Life is good…

    Published on by Anita15 Comments

    Life goes on as usual, I can still go out while my husband since three weeks now has to stay indoors. I go to the supermarket when needed and I take long walks with Fanny twice a day, otherwise I stay home as advised. I’m grateful to have my beloved dog as a companion when walking in nature.

    Now in the spring you will find different flowers everywhere and thus a variety of colors while bees are looking for nectar. This flower is as small as my thumb nail.Despite prevailing circumstances, life is good…

    A trip to Għajn Tuffieħa

    Published on by Anita11 Comments

    Għajn Tuffieħa / Riviera Bay is located on the north-west coast of Malta. Here you’ll find clay slopes and high cliffs on either side of the bay, red sand, crystal clear water and lots of narrow footpaths to hike on.Here I go with Fanny as it’s one of the few places where she can run freely. Ta Qali Park which is closer and where we normally go is completely closed and on the rocks along the sea at home dogs must be leashed.This man has chosen a clever way to keep the social distance imposed by the authorities.The scenery here is barren but offers several beautiful views. Singita Miracle Beach – Mgarr Għajn Tuffieħa – Malta / April 2020