still busy transferring photos from Flickr......

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I love Japan...

I get lots of comments, tweets and emails from people letting me know how much they love Japan. I love Japan as well. I have made it my home and built a family and life here. The events of the March Earthquake, Tsunami and ensuing Nuclear Disaster were devastating to many parts of Japan. I am not sure why but I have been thinking about those days lately.

It is a bit sad to see that the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts have fallen from the mainstream media, although it did resurface a bit with this week's typhoon. I guess this is to be expected. It has only been 6 months and recovery will be going on for years. Seeing how many people have pulled together from all over the world to help Japan has been pretty inspiring...

Let's take the power of the community we have all built here on Google+ and give Japan a little much needed love after what so far has been a pretty rough year. If your not sure how rough the year has been feel free to watch this....http://www.japanquakemap.com/

If you would like to join me, feel free to make a donation to one of the organizations below...and then feel free to leave a comment letting everyone know you did.

One organization I have followed and supported is Second Harvest Japan. They have been driving almost daily trucks of supplies they collect from major companies, local businesses and residents of Tokyo to help communities in need. I have been honored to be able to help them and volunteer my time photographing some of their efforts.

http://www.2hj.org/index.php/get_involved/donate_money

You can also donate to the Red Cross who have been working tirelessly to help Tohoku.

https://gienkin.jrc.or.jp/paypal

Let's see what we can do together...now I am off to donate.

This greedy bee couldn't decide which flower tasted better :)

I love Finland and the days I have spent there this summer will always be in my heart!

A few shots from our trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in 2009

These two lovely and a bit sad teddy bears are found on the Philosopher's path in Kyoto. I was wondering if any of you here on Google+ has seen and captured them?

I have been uploading here my flickr stuff for two days now thanks to my "lazy" internet connection :)

Strawberry (fields) forever

Pretty in purple.

Messy bee :)

I'd love to have your C&C about this photo.

Walking alone along the ancient and narrow streets of Erice this old man caught my attention.....

From Disneyland Paris.

I love Finland and its people. This is my favourite spot every time we go there!

This male fieldfare was lost in his bokeh-thoughts. Taken in Finland this summer.

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Since last Wednesday my first eBook has had over 1600 downloads... I am really delighted with the feedback. I am re-sharing this link in the hope that there are many more people out there who may enjoy a quick Introduction to Night Photography...

Oh yeah, and it's free.... :)

Thanks for sharing...

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Hey guys!!! Just a reminder to join +Melanie Kintz, +Kerry Murphy and I in kicking off +MacroMonday+ tomorrow!! I invite EVERYONE reading this to participate! Can't wait to see what you come up with!


Also, +Siddharth Pandit is heading up +MonochromeMonday+ starting tomorrow as well!! FUN!! Check out his post for more information:

https://plus.google.com/107788883146545236198/posts/87hyfrhVkRP

You can get a full listing of all the various daily photo topics on +Eric Leslie's blog:

My first post for #MacroMonday.
And have a great week ahead everyone!!

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My first post for #MonochromeMonday.
Even with all the defects that this photo has (missing legs, face away from the camera, composition etc.), I still love it.

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Walking alone along the ancient and narrow streets of Erice this old man caught my attention.....

This rose is for all the wonderful photographers here in Google+. Have a great day!

A second entry for #MacroMonday.
This was the first time in my life that I saw a spider drinking. The temperature outside was around 40 degrees Celsius and as soon as one of the sprinklers of my garden started to spill water on this guy's web he started drinking desperately.....
In fact it was quite difficult to take a decent shot without the flash and high ISO and thin DOF were a must.

From Lake Pajianne, Finland.
Have a good afternoon/evening!

A sunset (around midnight) view from a small island in lake Pajianne (Finland).
I love the beauty and calm serenity of this place.

Sulking tit.

not of great IQ but I love its atmosphere nonetheless.

Desolation......

This is my entry for Tree Tuesday.
Have a great day everyone!!
#TreeTuesday

HELP please!
Since my G+ started being flooded (like everyone else) with thousands of new followers from the shared circles, I cannot manage anymore my circles, I can only delete people from a circle but I cannot add new people or move the existing ones in other circles.......Bit frustrating! Is anyone else having the same problems?
Not a happy bunny me at the moment........

Midnight sun in Finland. I love Finnish birches bathed in the midsummer sun.

The tree...

Not one of my best photos IQ-wise but one that I love for its particular atmosphere.
Have a nice day everyone!

Piercing the sky.....

From Marina di Modica, Sicily.

Balanced Symmetry.

For Wildlife Wednesday, curator +Mike Spinak

Not so wild though considering I took it in Animal Kingdom, Florida :)

I don't usually compose my shots like this but in this case I thought it was working fine.
I didn't manage to focus well but we were "travelling" on a huge 4wd truck driven by a madman :)
#WildlifeWednesday

Another one for #WildlifeWednesday curated by +Mike Spinak

Just a share from my blog where you can have a look at how the new "Dynamic views" templates (just released by the Blogger team) work out.

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This re-post is my 1st entry in #SilhouettesOnThursday curated by +Siddharth Pandit

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Piercing the sky.....

From Marina di Modica, Sicily.

Sunset Rye.

Another entry for the #SilhouettesOnThursday series.
Have a great day everyone!

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+Heidi Anne Morris's entry for Silhouettes On Thursday is gorgeous. And have a good look at the other photos on this album 'cause they rock!

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#SilhouettesOnThursday

Ruben ~ Italian Spinone :O) AKA chunky monkey, Rooby doo, Ruben Tuesday Carter (when he's been naughty) & hello lovely ♥

more of my stuff here ... http://www.redbubble.com/people/heidiannemorris/portfolio :O)

Is anyone here able to explain to me why, even though I have around 1700 followers they don't show in my profile page on the left bar like for everyone else? I mean, is it normal?

Going around Sicily with our little/big Volkswagen Westfalia Joker T3.
If you haven't ever woken up watching the sun rising through the little window in the roof, listening to the sound of the waves, in some remote beach, you have been missing something really beautiful :)

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TOOT TOOT Yeah!

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if the van's a-rockin', don't come knockin' ...lol

This one is a humble homage for all the women here in G+ and especially to the ones that have been nice with me so far :D

Beauty from ashes....

This is for #FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner
Today I have seen already so many beautiful contributions to this theme!

Bloomin' Myosotis

Another shot for #FloralFriday.

These two are Cric and Croc, but dont ask me which is which or who is who :)

This is my Tumblr site. I would appreciate some C&C on its design. Thank you :)

Let's play a bit. What do you see in these clouds?

Sweet Decay

it is #FallFriday as well right?
This was taken a few years ago with a crappy P&S from the shore of one of the 234908497230982097 lakes that are in Finland :) I edited it quite a bit to achieve the look I had in mind.
Have a great week end!!

They have pierced the sun...


It was around 10pm and we were flying above Sweden/Denmark when I saw this plane that was rushing towards the sun that was already setting under the clouds. I was quite lucky to have my FZ45 handy and also in that it actually managed to lock focus properly.

Have a good night!

Hi everyone!! One of today's themes is #SepiaSaturday curated by +Renee Stewart Jackson so I am posting this photo taken last winter in Finland. I added some grain to give a retro feeling to the image (and to try and hide the poor focus due to the fact that I took this whilst driving on a icy road.......).

Did I hear right? is today a #Caturday?
This is Lucky.

White Lilies

my entry for #SunsetSaturday.
Also my first ever HDR.

A Finnish sunset

Another post for #SunsetSaturday.
This time is a sunset I took from the shore of lake Pajianne in Finland. Such a quiet, lovely place....I wish I could go back there right now...

Just a quick post to wish you a great Sunday!

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For #SelflessSunday I give you +Heidi Anne Morris
She is one of my favourite photographers here on G+, just have a look at her photos to understand why :)

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and a picture ♥ +Elaine Kelly

Bee in love

I took this shot this year on Valentine's day....:)

Stop staring at my bum

For #MacroMonday

:)

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Thanks to +Johan Peijnenburg for adding me to his awesome list.

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402 Nature & Landscape Photographers on the list now. It has been great to meet all of them here on G+ and I really enjoy seeing so many great images in my stream!

You are still invited to join! Leave a comment or contact me directly, if you feel you meet the criteria: an interesting on-line portfolio with good images + posting nature and landscape work on G+.

Suggestions are also very welcome!!!

Lost at sea...

For #MonochromeMonday

Little big planets

And another entry for #MacroMonday.
Morning dew on a blade of grass taken with a 50mm f1.8 reversed on a 18-55mm.

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This is truly brilliant. And the rest of +Christina Lawrie's shots are awesome too.
Do yourself a favour and check her albums out!
Please comment on the original post.

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#MacroMonday

Water drops can be so much fun to do. When I first saw this one it reminded me of something you would see in a Tim Burton film. ;)

Lost at sea

I am re-submitting this photo that I shared earlier for #MonochromeMonday 'cause it was low-resolution from the mobile.
Enjoy your G+ friends!

A fisherman's tale

My last submission for #MonochromeMonday hosted by +Siddharth Pandit
Have a good night!

The tree...

I am reposting this for #TreeTuesday (that is hosted by +Christina Lawrie) and for my new G+ friends,
Have a good day everyone!

Almond in bloom
a close-up for the #FloralFriday theme hosted by +Tamara Pruessner

Decay...
My first entry for #FourWheeledFriday hosted by +Matthew Costabile though admittedly there aren't many wheels left in this beauty!
This was taken in Disneyland Paris, hotel Santa Fe.

Feeling Blue...

And another entry, the last one, for today's #FloralFriday theme hosted by +Tamara Pruessner

Flowers

Autumnal Flowers

Flowers

Autumnal Flowers

Autumnal Flowers

So very soft

Alright I am a liar, I said that the previous would have been my last entry for #FloralFriday and instead I am adding another one :)
Have a great weekend everyone, and dont forget to check the other entries in this theme hosted by +Tamara Pruessner (and part of the Daily Themes Project run by +Eric Leslie and +Melanie Kintz. You can read more about it at http://bit.ly/q2zXk4).

Cat on a hot tin roof

my entry for #SunsetSaturday hosted by +TJ Kelly.
Have a great weekend!

Another messy bee

Does this qualify for #SpeedySaturday curated by +Patricia Paton?
Have a great weekend G+!!!

Curious dragonfly

This black-winged dragonfly (I just made up the name) was resting for just a few seconds on a chair in the food court of a very busy shopping center and I only managed to snap a couple of shots. In this one I really like the shadow.

And this is my submission for today's theme #SepiaSaturday hosted by +Renee Stewart Jackson.
Enjoy your weekend G+!!!

For #Caturday night I give you my beloved Stinky lost in his (bokeh)thoughts.

ciao G+

The dying sun...

Agfacolor Neu

Good night G+

Heaven is up there

#SkySunday is upon us......and is curated by +Simone Linke and +Matt Soave.

Have a great Sunday G+

For #SacredSunday hosted by +Charles Lupica

I took this in a Japanese cemetery and according to a chinese friend that translate it for me is a list of people died during some war.

Female Island


The island in the background is famous here in Sicily because it is said that a few centuries ago it was used as a jail for women that had committed all kinds of crimes from adultery to witchcraft. Here in this island they were abandoned until the end of their days......

"Ai bambini passeggiando lungo l'anello del vecchio porto, si racconta la fantastica, orrida storia di una spaventosa prigione di donne, arroccata proprio sul quel brullo isolotto per isolare definitivamente le sciagurate dal resto del mondo."

Feeling blue.....

it must be the weather that makes me feel like this or maybe the end of the weekend and the start of another boring working week :)
Good night G+ and sweet dreams everyone!

Peek-a-boo

for #MacroMonday
Quickly posting this before the thunderstorm hits again and leaves us without internet.....
Have a great start of the week G+

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A great list (and not "only" 'cause I am in there :D ) of wildlife photographers kindly offered by +Adam Kumiszcza :)

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Wildlife photographers v. 5.0

Fifth update. 35 new photographers here.

If you post wildlife photos regularly on G+, please comment here and I'll include you in the next update. And please reshare - more wildlife photographers will be found this way.

Adam Kumiszcza shared a circle with you.

Dreary lane

one for #MonochromeMonday that is curated by +Siddharth Pandit

Nothing special here but I like his reflection and it reminds me of the wonderful summer we spent in Finland this year.
Good night G+!!!
#NatureMonday

+Lana Walker You could have checked my album for ages without finding the snow flake 'cause I hadn't uploaded it yet........:)

Birch in Crimson

Birches are without a doubt my favourite trees.
This is for #TreeTuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie

Sad, sad, sad......

One for #ToyTuesday hosted by +Lars Pixel Clausen.

Today I feel exactly like that.......

Fiery

Good night G+!!!

Leave me alone......

finally it is #WildlifeWednesday hosted by +Mike Spinak

My melancholy blues....

Another one for #WildlifeWednesday and its curator +Mike Spinak.

Have a nice day G+

My melancholy blues...

Sweet dreams G+!!!

Setting away

Good night G+!!!

the new articles in dpreview are quite interesting.

#SilhouettesOnThursday

curated by +Siddharth Pandit

a last one for #SilhouettesOnThursday hosted by +Siddharth Pandit