@valo
@valo
Mushrooms have been shy this year. By this time, it's usually full of them everywhere. Last week, I was for a walk in a forest, and there was not a single mushroom. Something is missing. 😕 In the park, I managed to find several buddies, though, including the first coral mushroom of the year. #Photography #Forest
@valo
I'm feeling refreshed and reinspired after a beautiful afternoon spent in nature. It always gets me feeling like brand new again! How do people even survive in the concrete jungle? Even though this sunset is not a real photo but generated by AI, I can feel the warmth radiating. #Artwork #Digitalart
@valo
Work trips are fun. I always look forward to them. I always make sure there’s a bit of time to check out the city, especially if it’s abroad. Well, this time it wasn’t a foreign country, but it was nice to visit a city I had only seen on the map before. #Artwork
@valo
Many probably know that fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are found throughout the natural world. They can be anything that is created by repeating a simple process over and over again. They exhibit an interesting property called self-similarity, meaning that they look similar at different scales. That is, when you zoom in enough, you start seeing the same pattern as before zooming in. It is like an infinity pattern. Interestingly, they are generated via…
@valo
The sky was a deep blue, and the stars were fading away as the sun began to peek over the horizon. The world was just starting to awaken, and everything seemed so fresh and new. The birds were singing cheerfully, and the trees rustled in the wind. It was such a beautiful morning, and it made you feel happy just to watch it all unfold. It inspired me to try a longer-than-usual prompt for an artwork. #Artwork #Digitalart #Art
@valo
Am I the only one who doesn't like memes? They're usually so dull and the jokes are shallow. #Artwork #Abstract #Digitalart
@valo
This fractal artwork is actually derived from a bunch that I posted not long ago. It looks quick complicated but I’m sure that if you get close enough, you will see the repeating structures. Fractals can be found in many natural objects such as plants, clouds, or coastlines, but they can also be created by artists through a variety of methods. Nowadays I tend to use my phone for that, but this one came from Apophysis which is a PC program. #Artwork #Art #Digitalart
@valo
I was testing an unfamiliar film, the JCH Pan 400 that I had bought almost 2 years earlier, yet for some reason it was not leaving the fridge. I had seen some sample photos with deep blacks and good contrast but I had no expectations about what the results could be like, so I tried some fairly easy subjects. I used my foldable medium format camera, so this meant landscapes only. (If only I had a medium format SLR...) #Photography #Blackandwhite
@valo
Autumn is already in the air and some trees are starting to change their colour. Warm days are coming to an end and it's again necessary to take a jacket. Still, I like all seasons, though gloomy November could be skipped... #Artwork #Digitalart #Art
@valo
During my walk yesterday, I found plenty of mushrooms that inspired me to generate some artworks with them. The usual method that I use was producing some bland pictures even though I tried 4-5 times. Then, I thought that I should simply try a new method, and I got impressed. The prompt for all of them is "Forest mushrooms". #Digitalart #Artwork #Art
@valo
In mid-August, mushrooms started popping up everywhere. Usually, at the end of the month, it becomes rainy, and they thrive. This year, though, it was unusually hot, and I can barely see a mushroom anymore. I hope that they will return. I love mushrooms (not as food!). #Digitalart #Artwork
@valo
Feeling empty and blocked Do you know the feeling of trying to do something that you’re interested in, you gather your energy and dedicate some time to it, and… when you are about to start it, it is like hitting an invisible wall, like you no longer know how to do it? Well, this is how writing has been for me for a while. I have plenty of ideas and words in my brain. I open a text processor and… I no longer can manage to do it. It feels like an insurmountable effort to put…
@valo
The recent days have been quite heavy. Doing some writing was actually bringing some satisfaction among the corrosive thoughts. While running errands, I managed to reach the 5k limit. I made several pictures using the prompt "feeling empty". I like the mellow tones that starryai chose. They feel dreamy and remind of relief. #Art #Digitalart #Creativecoin #Actifit
@valo
If you have followed me for a while, you might have seen that I post plenty of digital artworks, either generated using some program according to mathematical equations or created by AI after a certain prompt. Some people view computer-generated abstract art as being intrinsically inferior to traditional forms such as painting and sculpture because it often does not require investing hours and hours into it. However, others appreciate its unique qualities. To me, it…
@valo
The Elusive Feeling of Being Energetic The experiences of a neurodivergent person Feeling empowered gives you a boost towards achieving your goals and dreams. (**Photo: sasing on Pixabay**) https://pixabay.com/photos/achieve-woman-girl-jumping-running-1822503/ This will be a bit of a personal post. I have had a difficult year for various reasons, but they all combined were leaving me totally drained and, at times, unable to take care of my home properly. I even had to take a…
@valo
#Motivition #Life #Inspiration #Dailythoughts
@valo
When I go for a walk in nature, I admire the beautiful scenery, but also I look at my feet regularly. There’s always something interesting to spot - maybe a leaf, a caterpillar, a mushroom or… in this case, a piece of a wasp nest. I wonder what happened to it; probably nothing good. There was a dead wasp on the ground not far away. #Nature #Amazing #Photography
@valo
It was going to be a cloudy day, so I was thinking that it might not even be worth going for a long walk, especially if rain arrived. In the end, I decided just to move my legs along the nearby river. Suddenly, the clouds started going away, and there were more and more patches of blue above my head. I was really happy that I had left home. With the foliage turning golden and red, I knew that I shouldn't miss the opportunity to have a walk, even though the cameras remained…
@valo
The roots of the trees form an interesting staircase here. Just that one has to be very careful with slipperiness when they’re wet. I nearly fell down twice. Well, the age of my shoes also has something to do with that. #Photography #Forest
@valo
Tree mushrooms (or polypores) are so common that we often do not even pay attention to them. At times, though, they can be quite pretty. These photos are from last weekend when there were still quite few mushrooms in the forest. Still, I found a pretty big tree mushroom with beautiful colours and even more beautiful raindrops collected on its bottom surface. #Forest #Photography #fungus
@valo
The area I visited is dry with lots of pines. Underneath them there were lots of rocks. It’s interesting that pines can grow tall and live for decades even on a very thin layer of soil. Sometimes old pines end up being blown off the base rock by the wind and you can see the roots. Not in this photo, though. This was a forest area. #Photography #Forest #Nature
@valo
It was early summer, with the leaves just barely coming out (yes, leaves come only in May). Overnight it had rained a lot, but when I went out for a walk in the morning, the sun was already shining. I saw the beautiful droplets on a plant, and I immediately imagined a photo with a shallow depth of field; of course, macro. I took my camera and realised that I had an ISO 400 film. That's not going to work, I thought. I put the Vivitar 90mm f/2.8 and metered the exposure. It…
@valo
Yesterday was another pleasant spring day. I spent several hours in the park, sat by the lake and enjoyed the nice Sunday afternoon. Spring is definitely the time to get outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer. I was sitting on a bench, listening to the singing birds and enjoying my lunch. Food always tastes better outside. I don't know is it fresh air that enhances its flavour or simply that relaxing helps you slow down and actually feel your meal rather than gulping it…
@valo
Sadly, my phone battery died and my full walk remained uncaptured. # Artwork # Digitalart
@valo
I'm not a fan of work from the office. It's loud, people constantly disturb you and my efficiency just goes down the drain. Not to mention just how difficult it is to focus on avoiding all these distractions. I guess I'm not the only one who leaves work totally drained from that. Sure, it's nice to chat with a workmate about other things than work, but I totally prefer working from the peace of my home. The same number of work hours (tracked with an app) lead to more…
@valo
As a continuation to yesterday's thoughts... Not that I'm complaining but is it really possible to keep a desk ordered? Is it even possible? It feels restricting and uninspiring. (Yours sincerely, ADHD) #Artwork #Art #Digitalart #Fractal
@valo
Distant to life **The toxic thoughts that sometimes obsess our mind** *"Distant" - an AI-generated artwork I prepared in starryai* **Distant to myself** Stress takes its toll on us. Demands come from every direction; for many of us - most of the tight demands come from the inside. We become distant from our true self; we even start rejecting it, downplaying its value. **But do I even have any value?** This is a sad but real question that some of us have asked. What am I…
@valo
Some ten days ago, I was feeling really frustrated with a boring task at work and how it just was not going the way my colleague and I were hoping to. I was working remotely, so I decided to take a breath of fresh air and then continue with my duties. Autumn colours were just starting to show up. The clouds were really thick and dark, and it looked like it was going to start raining any minute. Still, it was pleasant to be outdoors and let the brain take a rest. #Photography
@valo
Some personality tests ask you if you are more of a detail-oriented person or more into seeing the big picture. I find it difficult to reply. I am a bit of both and neither at once. The big picture is more intimidating but taking care of all possible details is a daunting task. I often get carried away in a few small details and forget about the big picture and the rest of the details... My weirdness aside, I tend to prefer closeup photography, though when using a phone…
@valo
Why goal-setting and task organisation apps do not work for everyone **Probably ADHD is not the only reason** Do you know the direction of your life? (Photo: poupoune05 on Pixabay) https://pixabay.com/users/poupoune05-4055465/ You know the feeling, right? You want to get rid of the bad habits and pursue your goals with full determination at all times. Various apps and tools are advertised to help you with that and solve your problems. Sure, they are nice. I also use my phone…
@valo
The observation spot on this cliff opens towards the forest with trees slowly vanishing to the horizon. Right now, the leaves of the birches have turned completely yellow, and many of them have even fallen off. I took the photo about two weeks ago. #Photography #Landscape
@valo
A phone camera simply cannot deliver the shallow depth of field that I expect in my photos. Occasionally, that works okay as with these lichens. Lichens are an interesting combination of fungi and algae that have evolved over the millennia such that they can no longer live separately. Biologists call this process symbiosis. Still, the two components of the lichen have their own DNA. #Photography #Fungos #Forest #Nature
@valo
Early autumn is beautiful when the leaves turn into hues of honey, copper and gold. Not many have fallen yet, and walking in nature feels great. Sadly, it has been cloudy for many days in a row. Yesterday and the day before, I managed to break 5k steps, but my absentmindedness forgot to the report on time... There's a bit of sorrow watching the autumn scenery because it means that the tree branches will soon be bare again for the next half an year or so. Still, I enjoy…
@valo
I was talking to a colleague about desk organisation. I hate open office space and I hate even more having work spaces not assigned to you. One day you can use this desk, then the day after you have to go to that desk... #Artwork #Digitalart #Abstract
@valo
How do you keep yourself inspired and on track even when you disagree with a decision by the big bosses at work? Sometimes it's annoying, and on other occasions, you start feeling misunderstood or unappreciated. #Artwork #Digitalart #Art #Abstract
@valo
In the area, there is a huge cliff where climbers set ropes and do their hobby. I find it a bit weird, but hey, I have weird hobbies, too. So climbers, please go on and enjoy your thing. #Photography #Climber
@valo
Worth looking at your feet When I go for a walk in nature, I admire the beautiful scenery, but also I look at my feet regularly. There’s always something interesting to spot - maybe a leaf, a caterpillar, a mushroom or… in this case, a piece of a wasp nest. I wonder what happened to it; probably nothing good. There was a dead wasp on the ground not far away. The roots of the trees form an interesting staircase here. Just that one has to be very careful with slipperiness when…
@valo
Cloudy days have their charm Some ten days ago, I was feeling really frustrated with a boring task at work and how it just was not going the way I and my colleague were hoping to. I was working remotely, so I decided to take a breath of fresh air, and then continue with my duties. Autumn colours were just starting to show up. The clouds were really thick and dark, and it looked like it was going to start raining any minute. Still, it was pleasant to be outdoors and let the…
@valo
I realised that I had forgotten where my exercise bands are... not a good sign when you are thinking of making yourself exercise regularly. Even once per week would be a huge achievement for someone as lazy as me. In any case, I was impatient to fulfil my daily 5k limit, so I went for a walk after work. I still needed some 800 steps. It was too close to the goal to just say I'm too tired. Besides, this would be the final use of the Actifit boosters that give you extra AFIT…
@valo
Paths make good photographic subjects. I have way too many photos of that kind, but I just cannot resist them. This was at the beginning of the trail. #Photography #Path #Forest
@valo
Is it better to post daily with a short caption or once a week a full-length post? Yes, in an ideal world we can all write 1000-word posts every day but maybe if one is a full-time blogger. #Artwork #Abstract #Digitalart
@valo
In my country, there are lots of pine and spruce forests. Under the conifers, there are lots of moss and blueberry plants, or in some areas, lingonberries and lichen if the soil is dry. I love mosses; they feel soft and cool to the touch. #Moss #Photography #Forest
@valo
Little details vs wide sceneries Some personality tests ask you if you are more of a detail-oriented person or more into seeing the big picture. I find it difficult to reply. I am a bit of both and neither at once. The big picture is more intimidating but taking care of all possible details is a daunting task. I often get carried away in a few small details and forget about the big picture and the rest of the details... My weirdness aside, I usually prefer closeup…
@valo
Have you heard of the pharaoh’s serpent chemical reaction? It’s highly toxic due to releasing mercury but forms unusual structures as if a snake is coming out of the dish. Definitely worth checking out. #Artwok #Abstract #Digitalart
@valo
Usually when walking in nature, there are side paths going through the forest. It was not part of the official walking trail, so I skipped it. But of course, I could not resist capturing it in a photo. It feels like a fairytale forest. #Forest #Photography
@valo
Yes, you have time. But do you use it wisely? Time and again, we hear *Oh, I’m so busy, I just can’t do X.* Yes, practically everybody says so, and I am no exception. However… **Do we really not have time for an activity?** Every human being, animal, plant, rock, etc., have 24 hours per day — not more, not less. How we spend them varies, though. A rock sitting on the beach will not run a marathon, and it will not write articles even though it has time. A plant will create…
@valo
Do you keep a diary? I've tried many times but I end up carried away by other fun activities and I have no time for the diary. I still remember one horrible period in my life when I was keeping a daily schedule hour by hour and striking out what has been done, shifting duties several days ahead when I couldn't fit it everything for the intended day. It was actually quite productive and I even felt good when I could see how far I have proceeded. Sadly, there came a point when…
@valo
Mushrooms never cease to amaze me. These two look so cute with their chubby stalk and bright orange colour. And they were quite small, adding to the cuteness. #Photography
@valo
I was wondering for a while what could be a suitable photo on the topic “colourful”. First came to my mind some of the abstract photos that I have already shared. Too bad, I thought. Well, I decided to dig further in my photo archives, and I came across this one. It depicts the magic of combining colours on paper. Although far from a professional, I enjoy drawing and painting every now and then. One evening I realised that the crayons are actually a nice subject for light…
@valo
There was an insect that really looked like a mosquito on this mushroom, but it was not aggressive. Maybe it was simply feeling too cold. Finally most mosquitos are gone! Polypores (known more commonly as tree mushrooms) grow on tree bark and decay the wood. I believe the species is Fomitopsis pinicola. According to the Wikipedia article, it prefers coniferous trees, but I think this was a broad-leaved tree. #Photography #Mushroom
@valo
Do you have a favourite day of the week? Some say that Friday is best, or that weekend is the only time they truly feel alive. Then on the contrary, Monday is hated... While I do prefer the weekend over Monday, I don't think I have particular strong sentiments about either of the days. How about you? #Artwork #Abstract #Digitalwork
@valo
Masked mushrooms In this late post, I am sharing several interesting yellow mushrooms that were hiding well among the leaves. I must have walked past many other similar-looking ones well-masked like autumn leaves. There was some other species with a chubby stalk. I have no idea what the species is. I will define it as cute and slightly funny. Note that it was not me who uprooted them. The last photo for today is of several brown ones - not too bouncy to touch but they felt…
@valo
Today's photo is quite unusual. I have seen these bead-like organisms before. I believe they are slime mould, though, so they are not fungi. This Trichia varia [looks very similar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichia_varia). # Trichia #Photography
@valo
What is the best thing you want in life? Do you actually know what you want? Have you paused and pondered on what really motivates you? Many will say yes, but oftentimes, we simply have not asked ourselves this important question. Romance is short-lasting but sweet and necessary. An AI-generated artwork I prepared in starryai. **A Relationship** The state of a romantic relationship is critical to one’s well-being. There is way too much misery in the world caused by…
@valo
It's so easy to slip into the mindset of "I'm tired, I'll do it tomorrow"... and before long that tomorrow was a week ago, or, as in my case, almost two. But, I'll try to get back on track. I've actually created lots of new artworks lately. How do you get inspiration about titles and captions? It's quite tricky... Here are a couple of my latest creations. #Artwork #Art #Digitalart
@valo
I was on a trip when I found this lonely boy sitting on the street. Judging from the sight of other stray dogs, I realised that this little one does not have a home, either. A part of me wished that I could do something. But the only thing I could was to curse at the people who let their dogs roam on the streets - and generation after generation, they just multiply. I have no idea if this little one made it to adulthood. Maybe he found his way to a place where he would get…
@valo
I didn't believe I'll manage reaching 5k, but somehow the number of steps hit 4000. I thought, okay, I shouldn't waste this opportunity, and started doing some light movement. Next time I looked at my phone, the number was exactly 5002. I rarely include human figures in my art, but this time I was quite pleased with the prompt "Motivated". #Artwork #Digitalart
@valo
Film development is not a simple process, and mistakes can happen at any stage. There are some weird streaks in the sky, which I suspect are issues with the agitation during development. I was using a new tank that was leaking chemicals when turned upside down, so I had to limit the motion to mostly moving and swirling it back and forth. #Photography
@valo
The amount of grain was higher than expected in this photo I took on JCH Pan 400. It is quite prominent even though the frame is a 6×9. Still, I like the tonality of the image and the dark reds in the brick chimney. I wish the development had gone better, though. The streaks in the sky are too prominent to just ignore. #Photography
@valo
Sleep is critical for performing well, and keeping your mood under control. A couple of hectic weeks and sleep of less than 7 hours, on a couple of occasions even less than 6 turns you in a living zombie. The worst part is the anxiety that it gives rise to, affecting your ability to pull through the day, and keep the thoughts under control. Not to mention that focus at work just doesn't work when you're sleep deprived. Don't underestimate your sleep! The pictures below are…
@valo
Fragility in black and white It was early summer with the leaves just barely coming out (yes, leaves come only in May here). Overnight it had rained a lot but when I went out for a walk in the morning, the sun was already shining. I saw the beautiful droplets on a plant, and I immediately imagined a photo with a shallow depth of field; of course, macro. I took my camera and realised that I have an ISO 400 film. That's not going to work, I thought. I put the Vivitar 90mm…
@valo
Why is goal setting important? There is no doubt that goal setting is essential. When you set a goal, you are practically telling yourself that you want to achieve something. This type of clarity can help motivate and focus your efforts. There are numerous reasons why achieving goals is beneficial: - It gives you something to strive for - Helps organise and prioritise your time - Improves productivity by providing clear steps towards completion - Provides a sense of…
@valo
In some parts of the world (at least in the Northern hemisphere), there is still plenty of sun, and summer refuses to go. But in others, rain has taken over for several weeks, and you freeze outside without warm clothes and a jacket. Tulips are spring flowers, but the feeling of the drying and falling-off petals suits the end of summer better than the end of spring, right? 😁 Who is sad that spring is over, after all... #Flower #Photography
@valo
I worked hard (or at least mentally) towards getting past the 5k limit in Actifit. I was really glad I managed. Today I was more productive in my blogging in a long time. But... I guess too many good good things are a bad sign and I got an unwanted visitor with the name epilepsy. That kind of ruined the end of this otherwise quite good day, but at least I managed to post and even make an artwork in starryai. I had to try many times and different methods before I got a…
@valo
I processed this photo a bit too heavily, but the original one was pretty bland and lifeless. I like strong contrast, as you can see - the corners vignette heavily on purpose. #Flower #Photography
@valo
The massive sea waves are crashing against the rock with their mighty power, sending droplets all the way to your face. The wind is blowing your hair; it feels refreshing. The sun is reflecting off the droplets, making them shine like gems. The feeling is amazing. Anything that gets caught in the waves follows their rhythmical up-down motion all the way to the shore. #Artwork #Digitalart
@valo
Today I'll share some photos of one of my favourite mushrooms - Coprinus comatus - carrying the English names shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane [1]. They have this odd behaviour that soon after the mushroom has opened its cap, its edge starts turning into a dark liquid that sticks everywhere. People say that if this inky mass ends up on clothes or on a basket, you can't ever get rid of it. I prefer not to try. #Fungi #Photography
@valo
The breakdown of chlorophyll I went to a nearby park full of beautiful old oaks. They are not native to my country, so seeing them is quite rare. I love their huge thick trunks and the beautiful shape of their leaves. In autumn, they put on a pretty yellow coat. Plants rely on photosynthesis to produce the much-needed carbohydrates to keep themselves alive. Chlorophyll is the main chemical that reacts with light and binds CO2 and water into glucose. As the weather cools and…
@valo
I had a ridiculously busy day yesterday, with more frustrations and paperwork than I would prefer. I hate going to the busy city centre altogether, and even more so the public transport full of people. I'm looking forward to spending time in nature to relax after the busy week, but it looks like the whole weekend will rainy. Maybe at least a short stroll will be possible. Below are two artworks I created using starryai with the prompt "busy city" #Artwork #Digitalart
@valo
Some claim that ink mushrooms are delicious, but they need to be collected before their edges start turning black. As soon as it is fully grown, the whole cap melts into black ink in a matter of hours. The ones in the photo count as edible, I guess, but somehow I am not so tempted to taste them. #Photography #Fungi
@valo
Looking back at my AI-generated artworks makes me smile. I thought that was the limit of AI image generators. I had asked for “yellow butterflies”. Well… there’s something yellow but… I wouldn’t guess they are butterflies if I didn’t know. At least it passes as abstract art. #Artwork #Digitalart #Abstract
@valo
In this post, I am sharing several interesting yellow mushrooms that were hiding well among the leaves. I must have walked past many other similar-looking ones, well-masked like autumn leaves. #Photography #Fungi
@valo
I have no idea what the species of mushroom is. I will define it as cute and slightly funny. Note that it was not me who uprooted them. #Fungi #Photography
@valo
A full day outside means lots of photos and full 10k steps during the day. It was great. Tomorrow I'll share more photos. Below is just another picture I made with starryai. #Artwork #Digitalart
@valo
I’m Autistic, But I Don’t Have Meltdowns When Routines Change That doesn’t make me less autistic One of the typical traits people associate with autism is the need for repetition and routines. For many of us autistic people, routines are very important. A change in plans can wreak havoc and bring a meltdown. In some cases, I can get frustrated if something was supposed to happen but failed. But anybody else does, too, every now and then. I am fine if plans change. I do not…
@valo
I can’t resist touching mushrooms (unless they are toxic, of course). These were not too bouncy when you tap them, but they felt cooler than the surroundings. I should sometimes bring a thermometer. I have the impression that some mushrooms are cold to the touch. #Photography #Fungi
@valo
Ok, this time I blame my migraine for the bland post. I had a horribly busy day yesterday combined with sleep deprivation. Ouch. #Artwork #Digitalart #Abstract
@valo
A little friend under a birch tree I went out for a walk, carrying a sandwich in my backpack, and I sat under a birch to get some energy for the rest of the trip. On a piece of wood, I saw something moving. It was an unusual caterpillar. I have no idea what this species could be. The birch itself was very pretty - as usual. Elegant long white spotted trunk covered with some lichens. The leaves were golden-coloured... and the contrast was beautiful against the blue sky. Some…
@valo
The more tired you are, the less your ability to remember your duties. In this case, I almost missed the time to post my Actifit report. This is a good example of what you shouldn't do. Below I managed to make a picture using the prompt "Forgetful". #Artwork #Digitalart