Photo Essay: A Swedish Winter Day from Noon to 4PM

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Feeling crisp cold air rushing through my nostrils, breathing heavily, trying to regulate the draft, mouth closed, all senses focused; I am fully aware of life happening breath by breath. Taking in large blanks of white snow coating the landscape like sweet icing, each house, its own red cherry or yellow raisin atop frosty plots of land, I fully understand just how beautiful, truly beautiful winter can be.

At 12 noon, the sun barely peeks through heavy clouds and by 4pm, it’s done for the day.

So, on one such walk, I decided to take my camera along…

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

Snow, Sweden - Winter Photography by Lola Akinmade

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please send Lola to the North Pole! -> www.lolagoesnorth.com <- Every single vote counts! Please spread the link as well. Thanks!

27 Comments

  1. @Bonnie – Thanks so much. Wishing you your heart’s desires and every good blessing in 2011.

  2. Lola, you have the most awesome adventures. The pictures are fantabulous! Wishing you all the best in 2011. Keep the stories/pics coming. I enjoy your posts and blogs.

  3. @Everyone – Thanks!

    @Kate – I use a Nikon D300.

  4. beautiful pictures! What camera do you use?

  5. I am drooling over these photos in the snow! So beautiful!

  6. Pictures looking really very beautiful, thanks for sharing it with us …………..

  7. I love the bits of crazy bright warm yellow or red in this series. It’s like reminder of the sun.

  8. @Leigh – Thanks. The cold really makes one more aware.

    @Eileen – Ha! We definitely need to fika one of these days. Just the two of us!

    @Michelle – Thanks! They were taken on one of Stockholm’s islands.You should be arriving to snow for sure.

    @Kendra – Thank you ma’am!

    @Adri – Thanks. A few of them aren’t technically perfect, but who cares, right? πŸ˜‰ See you at the U.

    @Ekua – Thanks. Love your essays as well. I’m slowly accepting that this is my new “world” now and beginning to take it in and enjoy the snow/chill.

    @Candice – Ha! I think the colorful houses definitely add to the ambiance. I’m sure it would be the same up in Newfoundland.

    @Joya – Thanks for stopping by and please come back πŸ™‚ Will check out yours as well.

    @Dylan – Thanks Dy! Would love to send them to Bing, but I just don’t know how *hint* * hint *

    @Arwa – There really is something about the blankness of it all that forces one to think, be more creative, ponder, reflect, analyze…

    @Monica – Tack sΓ₯ mycket! Det var snΓ€llt av dig πŸ™‚

    @Tope – Hey maggot! Your snow boots are waiting here for you

    @Joshywashington – You know, I was always tempted to grab one of those apples (before the snow), but was scared the minute I bit into them, a worm or maggot would pop out!

    @Neha – Haha, thanks.

    @Zaki – ..and the real winter is here to stay! Thanks

    @Audrey – Yes, the darkness gets us. We do savor those few hours of light though. Just as the sun is setting, the sky is absolutely beautiful. There’s really something special about Scandinavian/Baltic winters.

  9. Lovely photo essay. These photos – and especially the time they were taken – remind me of living in Estonia. It was so beautiful when it snowed, but I have to admit the darkness did get difficult after a few months.

  10. That is the real winter – much snow, frost and the beautiful feeling of the winter!!!

  11. Amazing, amazing! But am also so glad not to be there!

  12. The snow capped apples look magical and delicious.

  13. looks painfully cold!!! so NOT visiting you in the winter :p pretty though….

  14. Beautiful pictures, you captured our country very well and the text is beautiful written.

    Eileen, it’s called Fika. Fikka is a pocket.

  15. The first snow of the season always sends me into a reflective mode, may be I just love the white space. Lovely pictures!

  16. Phenomenal. I think the 12th and 14th ones are stunning. Should submit them to Bing: they’re always looking for the next great home page image. But quite apart from that aside, well done!

  17. These pictures are so beautiful. I am just visiting your blog for the first time and look forward to reading more of your post.

  18. Ooh, this almost makes me want snow, hehehe. That yellow house is so fantastic surrounded by white.

  19. Gorgeous pictures, as always! I think snow is beautiful, but I am not a fan of being it. Your pictures make me want to go to the snow! I especially love the photos of the fruit and the bright buildings. The white with a pop of orange or yellow or red is fantastic.

  20. Love this photo essay Lola, beautiful!

  21. simply. beautiful.

  22. I’m loving these pictures. Where were these pictures taken? I’ll be in Sweden for Christmas and can’t wait to have a white Christmas!

  23. Love these photos. Make me feel all cozy and cold and crisp at the same time, which is hard to do, since I’m in South America, where light increases daily (and will for the next six days). We’re continually surprised to find it’s after 9 PM and still light out. Love the fruit with snow, and of course, the big yellow house. Fikka, anyone?

  24. “I am fully aware of life happening breath by breath.” Beautiful. And so perfectly reflected by the accompanying photos.