Friday, August 12, 2011

Memorable Magic Hours, of 2011





 

Shooting photographs of the lake near the cabin was a regular activity.  The half light at dusk lasted a long time.











Thursday, August 11, 2011

Helsinki Airport



It is so great to see a well crafted sculpture.  This laminated plywood and  carved timber wood sculpture is two stories high (8 meters).  It exhibits the Nordic design ethic of natural materials, excellent craftsmanship, rounded forms and warmth. It is titled "Fatmi", which is an air traffic system.  The artist is Martii Aiha.
This wall had beautiful cut out images directing passengers to the next building.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Alta, Norway



The Alta Museum has the most beautiful view of the Alta fjord.  There are long wooden walkways around this World Heritage Site, which allow visitors to view hundreds of 6,000 to 2,000 year old rock art examples.  Red paint was recently added.  The museum, regretfully, did not realize that this could hasten the deterioration of these prehistoric art works.

The person in the boat is holding stylized fish.


An unpainted carving, above, is difficult to see.  Most of the ones at Alta have been painted.





Alta Museum, Winding Paths




Paths lead to the two areas of rock carvings (petroglyphs) on either side of the museum.  The complete walk takes about 2 hours.  The winding fence like image on the rock have been interpreted as a fence for hearding and hunting or as a seperate symbolic cosmic realm where reindeer and spirit gods interact. 





What if a shaman, 6000 years ago, foresaw the winding paths that would be built by the Alta Museum?















Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Norway Border, Sweden Border and Reindeer Pizza

There was no problem driving straight through to Norway from Finland.  We didn't have to show our papers. There was no visible guard!
There were a few gray days.

There's nothing like a little reindeer quiche and a hot slice of reindeer pizza to brighten your day!

Albino Reindeer Sighting on the Drive to Norway


This guy, we named Johny, almost stuck his head in the car window as we stopped to shoot his portrait.




Grass roof on a vacation house high above a fjord.




The salmon fishing is legendary in Norway's fjords.
At a rest stop the water in a stream is crystal clear.

Spectrum Sunsets







These photos were shot in front of the cabin at Pulju. They were not manitpulated in photoshop!  I have never seen such beautiful sunsets.






Juhl's Silver Gallery Showroom, Kautokeino, Norway





We visited a silversmith’s large gallery complex in Norway, https://www.juhls.no/en just over Finland’s northern border. 
 Gail was sure this was the way to go...

A mosaic in progress is of Mr. Juhl's thumb.

Near the entrance is a work in progress. Here is more infornation: