Exotic

OK whats exotic?? Here in the far cold north we find countries in Asia very exotic because they are very different from what we are used to. Exotic really means something different. I have to say that the most exotic place I've ever been is a small German island situated in the North sea. Germany, the North sea?? How can that be exotic you may wonder. 

I bet you've heard of the White Cliffs of Dover, but have you heard about the Red Cliffs of Helgoland?? I suppose not. But here they are, the flag of Helgoland is green, red and white, not to wonder when you look at the above photo. Or as the say in Helgoland: Grün ist das Land, Rot ist die Kant, Weiss ist der sand, das ist die farben von Helgoland.  Translated it means; The land is green,  the edge is red,  the sand is white, this is the colors of Helgoland.

Here is Die Lange Anna or tall Anna as we can call it in English, she is about to crumble away, so they are trying to protect her against the power of the sea. 

The main island is divided into two, underland where the shops are and overland where most of the about 1400 inhabitates of Helgoland lives. Between underland and overland there is an elevator bringing people up and down. The funny thing is this elevator closes at 23 so if you've not left the pub in time you have to walk up the stairs. We mostly walked the stairs that week we spent in there. Helgoland is mostly known as a tax free island, hordes of German pensioners are invading the island every day, they shop for 4-5 hours before they leave, for them Helgoland is just shops, for me the shops are the least interesting part of this wonderful island, or these islands because it's two small islands.

The other island is called Düne, it consist of mostly sand and has lovely beaches both for the seals.

and for us.

Helgoland is virtually free of cars, it's such a small island only 1,0km2 (04 sq mil,  the few cars is electric and transport goods around (take a look at the licence plate) There is a couple of ambulances on gasolin, I was brought to the hopital in one after spraining my foot in the stairs between overland and underland (no it was not after a visit to the pub) I wish I'd taken the elevator. 

 I think maybe you understand now why I find Helgoland the most exotic place I've been to. This small island has also a very big history. You can read more about Helgoland HERE

More exotic photos you can find HERE at Helenes place

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Himmelsk 58/Heavenly

Petunia has her weekly challenge again, we are never going to get tired of taken pictures of or watch the sky. The sky changes continually not two shots is exactly the same.

The other day when I was looking for something else I came across this photo in my drawer, I guess it is about 10 years old and was taken long before I got a digital camera. It was taken in Stratford upon Avon, England, the place where Shakespeare came from. I scanned it today and played a little around in photoscape.Reflection is the effect I've used above.

This is the original. 

Newspaper

Illusion

 Final version of this photo, I have removed the second lantern. I think it looks even more out of this world now.
Walk into the light.

You can find more heavenly photos HERE

This is also my contribution to Skywatch Friday

My place in B/W

Fotoringen has it's first challenge, the monochrome of the month. 

 

 My contribution is a photo of my place. Actually I think it looks better in B/W, maybe I should suggest this for the board. 

 

Here it is from another angle and in negative, I think it looks even cooler in reverse. Definately a suggestion for the board. 

Langt borte/Far away

Våren er langt borte.

Spring is far away.

Mer som er langt borte finner du hos Alt som er vakkert

Other things that is far away you can find HERE

Enjoy.

Autumn leaf

My contribution to WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

Mysterious

For some reason I really like this photo, a new experience for me to take pictures on a rainy day.

Motion pictures

Here is my first motion pictures. Not to bad for beeing my first attempt I suppose. 

 We can see the car is moving.

 and that the boy is walking home from school.

and that the little dog is sniffing around

One day I would like to take photos of a waterfall with this tecnique.

Playing around with the sunset

Sunset at Oia, Santorini. Oia is the sunset town on the Greek islands, around sunset this town is crowded by tourists. For the first time in my life I've heard people applaud after the sun went down in the sea.Well done sun, can you do a dacapo?? 

This is the original, or not quite, I had some dust (or whatever) on my lence so I had to crop it a little. 

I used Photoscape to brighten it, now you can see the windmill clearer.

After advice from Tor Aa I also made a couple of details from the original.

Have a nice weekend.