Café on a Bluish Monday

The schools have started today.  That marks, for me - symbolic - the end of the summer holidays. Yet, this year, I am lucky that my summer vacation continues still for this week ....But the feeling of the ending summer, is hovering over me like a dark cloud.

Well, as it happens, my friend is also on vacation this week, so we decided to go for a walk around the nearby lake. Walking is good, as well as talking with a friend ... so towards the end of our walk, the blue feeling of saying goodbye to the summer, was not feeling that heavy. 

Our local, cozy café has opened again (after the summer holidays :)  so on our way home, we dropped in for a cup of coffee. And from there on, my day has been unfolding somewhat naturally ... The daily routines of everyday life do make a frame, even to a blue Monday, that is safe, predictable, and uplifting.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, 

a smile, 
a kind word, a listening ear, 

an honest compliment, 
or the smallest act of caring, 


all of which have the potential to turn a life around.


Dr. Leo Buscaglia

... May there be silver linings for your blue and rainy days as well,

Nina

Summer memories - Texture & preset play

My original photo and my edited photo with textures by French Kiss Studio and 2 Lil Owls

I found some this photo of a daisy from last summer from my memory card - and it inspired my to play with textures and Lightroom presets. 

I started with adding the text to the upper left corner - it is a stamp from French Kiss textures. Thereafter the one texture took the other ... I wanted to create a sort of an old photo, with worn and vintage like feeling. Adding some texture layers with blending modes Saturation and Lumination, created the washed, desaturated look. 

Then I took the texturized photo into the Lightroom, where I created virtuel copies of the photo, and tried out different Lightroom presets on it. The most presets are by 2 Lil Olws, one is from Contrastly and one is mine.

LR Preset At the Vineyard 25 by 2 Lil Owls

Once Upon A Day

Daisies
small perfections,
white lips of nature
each one a star from God,

LR Preset Infrared by Contrastly

Breeze dusts their golden faces
as they search for the sky,
mute as the breath of angels
their voices still travel in beauty
calling to the birds singing to the bees

LR Preset Matte Glam 14 by 2 Lil Owls

they dance with the wind 

till chubby fingers lift their hearts 

entwining them into tiny circles 

each one a study of love 

created to lie in drapes on cherubic arms

 

LR preset At the Vineyard B/W 5 by 2 Lil Owls

Transformed they become much more,
haloes of nature
a childs wish, a parent's hope,
small pockets of sunshine,
so much beauty in such tiny amounts 
on a green day,

My own LR preset TheBirkes


Small links between the grass and play,
visible moments
of golden childhood,
intangible almost
they live on in the heart and memories
of once upon a day.

- Moondamp Roses-

LR Preset Matte Glam 1 by 2 Lil Owls

Yes.. I am looking forward to summer ... 
As well as I am enjoying right now the signs of spring and the days, 
that are getting longer,

Nina

Ballerina

The elegant swan

dances, a waltz on water

a ballerina

Chiamaka Okorie

... Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Nina

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 [Blogging every day in February - Day 26]

Random Acts of Kindness - Challenge

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Italian friend Manu, who hosts a delicious and beautiful blog Cooking Manu in Milan, inspires us all to keep on eye on the possibilities in our daily lives to to Random Acts of Kindness. 
In other words, delight your neighbor, college, relative, friend or a fellowman, with writing a little note or making a phone call to hear how they're doing. Or help an elderly person safely to the other side of the road, or give the missing dollar or two to the person before you paying his / hers groceries, that is just needing the last cents for the shopping. 

Share your experiences each Friday in February with a link to Cooking Manu-blog, and pop by and be inspired by the Random Acts of Kindness, your fellow bloggers share ... And maybe visit Manu already today, to study her delicious recipes and take a look at the beautiful city of Milan,

Nina 

[Blogging every day in February - Day 3]

"Random Act of Kindness" RAK and by the name you should have already understood what it's about.
A RAK is something easy such as sending paper thank you notes, helping with housework...

There are a lot of RAKs as there are a lot of chances...just take it!

All you have to do is:
1) Doing a Kinddess Act, once in a week for four weeks; starting from Friday Feb 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.
2) Post it on your blog including this link.
If you haven't a blog, just describe your RAK, commenting the post I'll write every week.
3) Use the linky tool below each post so I know you have taken part.

Let me know if you are interested in and I'll keep you updated.

NB: You don't have to take part every week just one RAK is ok...the choice is yours. - See more at: http://cookingmanu.blogspot.dk/#sthash.VEs7rwY5.dpuf

"Random Act of Kindness" RAK and by the name you should have already understood what it's about.
A RAK is something easy such as sending paper thank you notes, helping with housework...

There are a lot of RAKs as there are a lot of chances...just take it!

All you have to do is:
1) Doing a Kinddess Act, once in a week for four weeks; starting from Friday Feb 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.
2) Post it on your blog including this link.
If you haven't a blog, just describe your RAK, commenting the post I'll write every week.
3) Use the linky tool below each post so I know you have taken part.

Let me know if you are interested in and I'll keep you updated.

NB: You don't have to take part every week just one RAK is ok...the choice is yours. - See more at: http://cookingmanu.blogspot.dk/#sthash.VEs7rwY5.dpuf

Snowdrops rising & Daily posts in February

Sings of new life is visible here and there ... beside the stones, under the hedges and peeking among the leaves. I spotted these snowdrops the other day ... Bravely rising, reaching up towards the light:

 The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts 

well out of proportion to their size.
  Gertrude S. Wister

I enjoyed reading Kim Klassen's and Barb Brookbank's daily blog posts in December - inspired by them, I try posting something every day in February. Let's see how it goes ... 
Maybe there will be days with just a photo and a greeting - My motivation for daily posts is to catch up with the habit of picking up my camera each day.

... Wishing days with sunshine and smiles to your February,

Nina

[Blogging every day in February - Day 1]

Stray Thoughts and Snapshots

iPhone 5S: Camera+, VSCOcam, Mextures, Stackables, PicFx, DistressedFx

Joy does not simply happen to us.

We must choose joy and

keep choosing it every day.

Henri J.M. Nouwen

iPhone 5S: Camera+, Snapseed, VSCOcam, RhonnaDesigns - Textures by FrenchKiss & Coppercurls Designs

Goodwill is reciprocal.

The good thoughts you send out to others

will return to you multiplied.

Grenville Kleiser

A dear and inspiring friend, Amanda from the Wildly Simple -blog, wrote about her 10 Goals for 2015. One of her goals is to send a handwritten note so someone each week -  Ins't it right that one of the best surprises is to open your mailbox and see a handwritten card or an envelope from a friend! I was inspired by Amanda's goal and will also be sending a weekly card or a note ... In the good, old fashioned way: Handwritten and in an envelope. 

iPhone 5S: Camera+, Snapseed, ClassicVintagePhotoApp, ImageBlender

This sweet fellow above keeps me company at my office. I found this furry buddy in the bottom of a box in flee market - and I was sold that very moment!

iPhone 5S: Snapseed, Glaze, Stackables, DistressedFx - Textures by FrenchKiss & Coppercurls Designs

A dream, strayed into daylight.

C.S.Lewis

The weather has been sunny, cloudy, rainy ... It's been windy and still, and we've gotten a few snow flakes as well. 

It is lovely to notice that the days are getting longer - it is not completely dark anymore, when I'm biking to work in the mornings...

Waking up this morning, I smile. 

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. 

I vow to live fully in each moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh

... Weekend greetings,

Nina

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Silence speaks

Silence speaks when words can't.

:   :   :

This peaceful sunset made me stop by the city lakes, as I was biking home from work. I sat down and enjoyed the setting sun...

It is already time to say farewell to October ... The 10th month in my Photo A Day-year! Little did I know how well my word Unhurried would be connected to my daily photos ... 

These quiet moments outside have really ment a lot to me, given some space that has been good:

Space to think - and not to think, space to let my feet lead the way, space to feel the wind in my hair and mist on my cheek ... space to receive and give a smile ... space for joy and space for sorrow ...

I intend to keep on walking and taking these daily snapshots. A photo a day ... 

Here's my daily photos from October: 

Photo A Day - October 2014 from Nina Jensen on Vimeo.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Nina

PS. Remember I told you about a photo shoot I did at the pretty home of my dear friend? You can see my pictures and get a glimpse of her Scandinavian homedecorating style here.

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Snapshots Along My Way

Do you know the feeling, when the words just doesn't match to what you wish to express ... Or maybe it's hard to find the words to express yourself with?

Well, this wordless feeling is hovering over me at the moment ...

Therefore, I let these of snapshots along my way to speak for themselves, with the quotes below:

There's so much grey to every story -

nothing is so black and white.

Lisa Ling

A single dream is more powerful

than a thousand realities.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Weekend greetings,

Nina

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Five Things 

Photos: iPhone 5, Snapseed, Hipstamatic, VSCOcam Apps

Gathering Reds and Browns [Be Still 52]

Textured with Mudding by Kim Klassen - blendmode overlay 25%.

I took a basket with me to the park Sunday afternoon - and I came back home with all the colors and scents of fall! Two candles are waiting to be set to the tin dish together with these finds from my walk ... To lighten up the dark evenings.

Inspired by Kim Klassens Still Life 52-course, I took a close look on the leaves, berries and branches, laid them on the table and tried to make a collage. Yet, it was only the red and brown colors, that captured my attention. 

As I found these browny, curly leaves under the bush, I took some photos of them already in the park, as they were swirling around the thin branches - these leaves have such a delightful form! 

Kim Klassen is teaching us in the classroom how to make a triptych template in Lightroom - her tutorial videos are guiding us smoothly through the different options ... And above you see my first template made in Lightroom - Thank you Kim!

I have used Kim's Moodswing Lightroom preset on the photos above - I like the contrast and the vintage-like feeling they give to the photos.

We're having Fall Break this week - It's funny how the Fall Break arrives each autumn exactly at the right time ... When we most need it. I am welcoming the slow mornings and late breakfasts with the family... And what is even better - My mom is coming over to visit us later this week! 

The less good news is that our eldest son has had an aggressive viral infection in his eye over a week now: His right eye is very sensitive to light, and the infection is causing pain in and around the eye. As the new medicine has not caused any positive change, we need to see the doctor again tomorrow... I hope he will be getting better soon!

Life is like the river,

sometimes it sweeps you gently along and 

sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.

Emma Smith

:  :  :

 ... I hope your week is filled with

smiles and sunshine,

Nina

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Be Still 52   

In the Shade of Green Trees

Sit still with me in the shade of these green trees, 

which have no weightier thought than 

the withering of their leaves when autumn arrives, 

or the stretching of their many stiff fingers 

into the cold sky of the passing winter. 

Fernando Pessoa 

... Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Nina


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Photos with iPhone5: Camera+, Snapseed & VSCOcam Apps -
Upper Photo: Privet photo veil from the Botanical Collection by Love That Shot, Faded Crinkle 2 texture by Lil' 2 Owls
Lower Photo: Sepia & B&W Twist preset by Cole's Classroom, Privet photo veil from the Botanical Collection by Love That Shot

Walk views - Hipstamatic Way

Hipstamatic App: G2-lens & Ina's 1935 film

Walking works always - also as a ritual of closing up a week at work and moving towards the weekend.

I was drawn to the lakes, as the mild wind blew softly, scattering the clouds every now and then, releasing spots of sunlight along my way.

Hipstamatic App: G2-lens & Ina's 1935 film

It's the small things ... 

• A smile and a friendly nod from a jogger, that passed me by

• Hearing a father encourage his son to make another cast in the lake; "Maybe you'll get a bite this time" - and seeing the hope being renewed in the eyes of the little fellow with the fishing rod

• Witnessing the patience of the owner of a puppy, who was learning to walk in a lead - that is, wanting to walk consistently to the opposite direction 

... Even when the news has been filled with reports on intolerance and terror, there is caring, love and forbearance to be found among us.

Let us be attentive and notice one another ... Your smile can brighten up someone's day today.

Hipstamatic App: Lowy-lens & Robusta-film

Until you spread your wings you'll have no idea how far you can fly.

Ray Bradbury  

:   :   :

... Happy weekend to you,

Nina

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Here Comes the Sun ...

iPhone 5 & Snapseed & Mextures Apps

 

It has been a busy week - Yet, with glimpses of sunshine:

... like the pretty tulips above.

iPhone 5 & VSCOcam App

... a peaceful moment in the library with a book about Gothic Calligraphy.

iPhone 5 & Waterlogue & iColorama Apps

... the delicate scent of the blossoming fruit trees while biking home from work.

iPhone 5, Mextures & Blender Apps, Photo Veil Golden Glow Right
from Love That Shot  Illumination Collection

 "Hold fast to your dreams, for without them

life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly".
 

Langston Hughes

 

March ~ Photo a Day | Here comes the sun from Nina Jensen on Vimeo.

 

 

 

... and looking back to my March -Photo a Day-pictures.

 

... Wishing you an unhurried weekend :-)

 

Nina

 

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Floral Love

Afterglow

After the glow of the noonday sun,
After the day its course has run,
After the glare and bustle and heat,
There comes a peace that is calm and sweet.

The fiery sun sinks low to rest,
Mid flaming clouds, far in the west:
Then softly, gently, stealing slow,
Comes on the golden after glow

               :  :  :

The sunrays enlightened the tulips today,
like they were glowing from inside out ...

I took a close up picture with the external Olloclip-lens with my iPhone.
Adding 3 layers of the photo on top of one another with the Blender App, I acheived the feeling of continuity and depth. I wanted to add a detail in the middle, with another photo layer in the Blender App - that detal was to be the pure, first leaves of spring.

Thereafter I added in PS Kim Klassen's new texture Present, together with Serenpidity & Sunshine from  Photo Veil Collections from Love That Shot, and Kim's Music and Script brush.

                     :   :   :

Farewell to tiresome toil and care.
All nature kneels in silent prayer,
While the soft rays dimmer, dimmer grow
In the mellow, roseate, afterglow.

Gertrude Crumb Harman

 

 

                         ... With peaceful greetings, 

                            

                                            Nina



 

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Unhurried {One Word}

Photo with Nikon D3200, Textures 0212, soft light 43% and 2811magic, screen 31% by Kim Klassen & Rennes, luminosity 18 %  from Olde World Collection by Love That Shot

Instead of New Year's resolutions, I have chosen One Word for this year - or maybe the word has chosen me ... The word is unhurried. I hope that unhurriedness will characterize my existence in 2014. Starting with work - keeping the calender realistic, leaving enough space between appointments ... And at home waking up just a bit earlier - making sure that there is time for a pot of tea and a mindfull moment in silence.

I have joined the lovely ladies from the creative team at Love That Shot in doing the 365; that is, to take one photo every day through 2014. I've decided to use iPhone as my main camera, using the Collect-Application, and tagging the photos with #LTS365. The collect application enables you to add one or more photos each day. You can choose a title for each day, and journalize a bit more under the section "notes". What I like most is that Collect-App sends your pictures either to dropbox or Flickr-account, and that you can post and print "a calender"-view of each month. 

Photo taken with iPhone 4S with an extern Olloclip-lens, Camera+, Snapseed &  HandyPhoto Apps

I have enjoyed the hyacints, that I received from my secret elf before Christmas. Now that they are withering, I watch the color change, and I am amazed by the pretty green-turquoise-blue tones of the flowers! When the last flowers have gotten brown, I'll plant the hyacint-onions outside.

The photo-community in Instagram is a source of inspiration and finding like-minded photo-enthusiasts, alongside the blogging community! Thanks to Sharon ( @mamaducktoo ) I have learned about Shuttercal.com , that prints your monthly photos and provides a pretty wooden box, where you can keep the 365 pictures in a neat order. By the way, Sharon has just written her first blogpost her PhotoGraphic Memory-blog - Let us welcome her by sharing some blog-love and saying hello to her!

 Photo taken with iPhone 4S with an extern Olloclip-lens, Camera+ and Snapseed Apps,
texture 2811magic by Kim Klassen 

I was reminded by the poem above by Luca's (@il-luminare) cheerful and encouraging words. Besides taking beautifully composed pictures, Luca has a way of sharing sunshine both through his photos and through the friendly and authentic greetings. He reminded me today about the power of words ... Words being like seeds, that we sow. Let us sow words of light, hope and peace.

Nina

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