A little late for PhotoFriday perhaps, but here’s my entry for this weeks challenge, “Blur.” I thought July would be a good time to visit Norway and see the sights, but the the weather had other plans…

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “Curvy.” I’m entry number 66.

The “Climate” — this weeks PhotoFriday theme — in Oslo, Norway is typically cold and wet. Even the statues have large jackets on.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “My life.” I’m entry number 46.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is “Pattern” and here is my entry, taken in the new Oslo Opera House last year. Can’t say I’m a big fan of opera, but the building was amazing!

One of the great things about Norway is that you’re never very far from the country-side. Even in Oslo you’re only twenty minutes on the t-bane from Nordmarka. I couldn’t find a picture of that that I was happy with, though, so I went for the above image taken overlooking Bergen (the fjord capital of Norway).

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “Human Form.” I’m entry number 165.

I’m slightly cheating for this weeks PhotoFriday challenge, “Human Form.” This image is technically not human but it’s confused a few people in the past so I figure it qualifies.

(My main hesitation in using this picture is that I’ve used it twice before. But I like it so I’m sticking with it!)

Please also vote on my entry in last weeks challenge, “Suburbia.” I’m entry number 146.

I thought that this image was suitable for the “Monochrome” theme for a number of reasons. It was taken on black and white film (Ilford XP2) and, even on colour film it would have been pretty monochromatic. It was taken in Vigland Park, Oslo.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks challenge, “Metal.” I’m entry number 27.

My entry for this weeks PhotoFriday challenge, “Shiny,” was taken at the changing of the guard ceremony in Stockholm. I was very impressed with their smart and shiny uniforms and astonished when they started playing the Indiana Jones theme music shortly afterwards.


I was confused by these signs. Surely “Ej upp” is a greeting? And if so, why is it in red with a “no entry” icon?

At the risk of detracting from what it supposed to be humour, some northern English dialect is actually descended from Scandinavia. Though whenever I see most of these comparison charts I don’t recognise half the words!

This is another image taken on my recent trip to Stockholm. I have a fascination for doors and windows, especially when they contrast with the sky. In Sweden we were lucky to have bright, blue skies most of the time (don’t get too jealous, it was below ten degrees mostly). Combine this with a polarising filter and the right time of day and you get this really neat contrast between the roof and the sky.

There are a few pictures that I took when I was in Stockholm that I didn’t include in that blog because they’re not really of Sweden even though that’s exactly where they were taken. This is the first of, well, a few. I think it nicely conjures up thoughts of spring and the coming of summer.