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Reflections of Narnia

A beautifully-sited mirror sculpture on Austvågøy in the Lofoten Islands, Norway.  Created by American artist Dan Graham in 1996

“It is as hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia as it would be to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps you will get some idea of it if you think like this. You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among mountains. And in the wall of that room opposite to the window there may have been a looking-glass. And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of that sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass. And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones: yet at the same time they were somehow different - deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story: in a story you have never heard but very much want to know. The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more.”   

C S Lewis 

Farm #6

 

 I have driven past this farm nearly every day for the last five years.  Finally, I stopped the car, stepped out, and took the lens cap off.  I have always found the colours of the house and its barn so pleasing against a blue sky.

Sverd i Fjell #24

 

One last photo of Stavanger's favourite monument before we leave forever.  This time the tide is out so the rocks are visible, and a calm windless night produces the perfect reflection.  They really are all different ....... honestly.

Yellow flowers

The Maple Tree

Buttercups

Printze Valley #2

 

From Plan de Fou

Tracouet #2

Alpine flowers

Mountains #13

Ørnabukta #3

Beach #11

Stavanger by night

Stavanger Harbour #7

Mackerel sky

Balcony

Boat #7

Donkey

Hålandsvatnet

Reflection #38

Equinox

 

The equinox is today at 0229 GMT

Stormy sky #5

Blossom #7

Tananger Harbour #38

Ørnabukta #2

Toadstools

Shadow #2

Aurora watching

This photo was taken three nights ago at Randaberg

Flatholmen #5

Floating leaf

Stormy sky #4

Tananger Harbour #37

Sunspot 2158

 

(image from Spaceweather.com)

As I photographed the hazy sunset this evening, I was annoyed by a speck of dust on my lens. No amount of effort would remove it, and I eventually concluded that it must be a sunspot. Imagery from www.spaceweather.com confirms that it was sunspot 2158.  More excitingly, I realized that I took my photo just minutes after this sunspot had unleashed an X1 class solar flare.

 Let's hope I'll have some aurora pictures to post in the coming days!

Nothingness #3

 

"Meditation is all about the pursuit of nothingness.

 It's like the ultimate rest.

 It's better than the best sleep you've ever had.

 It's a quieting of the mind.

 It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings.

 It keeps life fresh."

 

Hugh Jackman

Docks

Sunset #54

Summer's end

Seagull #11

Beach #10

Bakery

 

Skagen Bageri, one of the oldest buildings in Stavanger, which used to be a consulate, and where you can now get good coffee and cakes.

Cruiseship #6

 

Stavanger Harbour

Sverd i Fjell #23

Aurora #88

Yet another shot from a few nights ago.

Reflection #37

Aurora #87

 

Another view from two nights ago here in Tananger

Nothingness #2

 

“Emptiness

which is conceptually liable to be mistaken for sheer nothingness

 is in fact the reservoir of infinite possibilities.”

 

D.T.Suzuki

Aurora #86

 

Tananger, first aurora of the season, and a pretty one too!

Boat #6

Preikestolen #7