Less is more, a photo from Sodermanland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

You will not find this the most impressive Christmas tree you have ever seen. Neither do I, but at least we can see that it is a real tree, straight from the forest, and it is not completely covered with twinkling LED lamps and shining dazzles. I actually find the modesty of this tree quite appealing. Just red bulbs on green branches.

This is from Medborgarplatsen (Citizens Place), the major square of Södermalm island in Stockholm.

I took this at about 10:25 a few days ago as I was going shopping. The temperature was –15 °C, which explains why the young couple standing near the tree were so carefully dressed.

In the background is Stockholm's central mosque.

The title refers to the motto of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who strived for simplicity of design. It means approximately that something which is of a smaller quantity could be of a higher quality. Or: You will get your message through more easily if you don't complicate it.

A slightly related photo is in the WS.

Fis2, ikeharel, Royaldevon, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, PaulVDV, jhm, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, ktanska, adramad, jean113, clic, worldcitizen, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (169589) 2021-12-10 0:28

Witaj Gert my neighbour today :)!
A very nice scene, Chrismas tree makes impression.
Good POV and colors.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

pajaran (114781) 2021-12-10 0:58

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepo mesto sa okicenom jelkom, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Lepi svetleci ukrasi na jeki za Christmas.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja

ikeharel (112391) 2021-12-10 1:46

Snow for the holidays season, just on time for the picture with the decorated tree, Gert.
There wass enough bright sun rays to give excellent contrast around the place.
Red bulbs drew my first attention.
Cheers and a nice friday,
Ike

Royaldevon (85576) 2021-12-10 2:43

Hello Gert,

So you have received the snow, along with very cold temperatures. Cold weather never seems so bad when the sky is bright. (You even had birds circulating!)
To me, red, green and white are the colours of Christmas, very well represented in your photograph.
The couple next to the tree help to qualify its scale, as it soars high into the sky, nicely balanced by the other tall features, receding into the b/g.
I like the simplicity of it, too. 'Less is More' is a phrase often used in our everyday language nowadays!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

ChrisJ (171146) 2021-12-10 4:25

Hej Gert

A real tree is always an improvement on plastic, and the absence of tinsel and LED lights is probably a blessing. I like the crescent moons of the bg mosque too. Tfs!

pierrefonds (113474) 2021-12-10 4:52

Hi Gert,

The presence of the persons is animating the scene. The point of view is showing the details of the Chritsmas tree. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Silvio1953 (220443) 2021-12-10 5:17

Ciao Gert, fascinating winter view, lovely composition with beautiful Christmas tree, wonderful colors, splendid light, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Gerrit (62042) 2021-12-10 6:44

Hello Gert,
I totally agree. I like the composition and the soft warm light in the background.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

jmdias (114150) 2021-12-10 8:08

gert

I liked more the WS and that vase with colors around. here we don't use more natural trees, what I think it is nice. I like minimalism and modernism, but I like a lot baroque too.

take care

jorge

PaulVDV (62746) 2021-12-10 8:17

Hello Gert,
The sun is shining and it's a very clear day ... but so cold.
Today we have only 4°C and I think that's already too cold. Moreover, it has been raining almost all day.
The decoration is indeed quite minimalistic.
But maybe inconspicuous is good. Some Brussels municipalities have to take measures to protect their Christmas trees. In Anderlecht the trees are provided with a chemical so that they cannot be easily set on fire. In another municipality they are sprayed wet.
Fortunately, only a few municipalities have such a situation.
Best regards, Paul

emka (157280) 2021-12-10 8:48

Hi Gert,
I also find this simple Christmas tree attractive. It looks very cold. Now you have the real winter, with frost and snow, not like it was exactly six years ago.

مع أطيب التحيات من مصر
Malgo

jhm (211734) 2021-12-10 9:36

Hello Gert,

I read -15° Celsius, I think than I must remain in my house of the cold.
The red balls give additional colour to the picture, no this is indeed not to see in my surround this type Christmas tree.
An excellent picture, pleasant to look at, this daily life picture..
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

Tue (91450) 2021-12-10 10:08

Hej Gert,
Det er et ret imponerende juletræ, i hvert fald langt større end det lille træ jeg har herhjemme. :-) Og kan kan også godt lide at det ikke er blevet pyntet alt for meget. Det ser meget koldt ud med masser af sne, men det klare vejr og vintersolen er meget fine.
Lars

lousat (138521) 2021-12-10 13:35

Hi Gert,often it is not necessary to have super lights, after all it takes very little to remember that it is Christmas, and then there is the snow which is a decisive ingredient. I was complaining about the cold in Milan, for a few days always around 0, but when I read your -15 I was consoled and I have never tried in my life to find myself at this temperature ... ahha ... congratulations also for the photos from your yard and good weekend, Luciano

mcmtanyel (67507) 2021-12-10 19:18

Hello Gert,
I agree, the few red ornaments on the tree make more of an impression. I would have preferred that they planted the tree there to cutting a tree from the forest.
Regards,
MT

ifege (46851) 2021-12-10 19:47

Hi Gert
Some tree, especially artificial ones seem to get over decorated. This real one is very understated. A good winter pre-Christmas photo.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (115407) 2021-12-10 22:34

Hello my dearest friend
thanks for sharing with us
this christmas postcard
and christmas atmosphere with
this high decorated Christmas
tree...I can feel the cold
atmosphere and the temperature
which is -15 degrees Celsium...
but never mind...
we need to feel a little bit
in a different environment
away from covid 19
regards
costantino

jemaflor (146168) 2021-12-10 23:31

Hi Gert,
A cold view with snow ... nice Christmas tree, good effect with red tones, interesting message with your tree ... tfs.

GyurMaster (24668) 2021-12-11 3:42

Dear Gert,

I also find this tree appealing with its modest decorations. I envy you for the cold temperature and the snow that remains more than one day. We barely have it.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

ktanska (44416) 2021-12-11 3:50

Hej Gert,
Red bulbs are indeed quite special, they seem to pop out of that tree. Lovely low angle sidelight. I see you have had quite a bit of snowfall. Not so typical in Stockholm before Christmas, I think.
Kari

adramad (72524) 2021-12-11 4:58

Hi Gert.
A magnificent composition with this splendid natural fir tree, the few red balls fulfill the mission of giving it charm, because here the important thing is that the tree is real, a curious contrast with the mosque just behind.
The WS plant has the best natural decoration to beautify it and it is snow.
A fantastic photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Very well done. I love it.
Enjoy the weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

kasianowak (17648) 2021-12-11 5:02

Hi Gert
Very tasteful Christmas tree indeed. I like the composition with another tall-standing element, a nicely-lit minaret.
You know how much I like winter weather with plenty of snow so I'm full of envy. This brings memories of my trip to Sweden last December back!
Have a nice day
Kasia

jean113 (27585) 2021-12-12 9:21

Hello Gert, the red lights really 'pop', they are so bright against the dark green of the tree.
I can't imagine -15 degrees C. No wonder that the couple are dressed so well.
A very good wintery scene of life in the city.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

foxy (3423) 2021-12-14 4:10

Hello Gert,
You're absolutely right ... Less is more :-)
You even have the 'traffic-light' red as the Christmas lights ... it's so wonderful and appealing to see the red 'glowing' in the low sunlight on a wintry cold day.
I do like a small 'snow-hill' f/g and a very strange looking 'statues' on the square along the road ...
It's kind of very interesting Christmas festive scenery with the mosque in the b/g esp the crescent moons and minaret.
For the WS, it's definitely very very less :-)
Still it's a lovely courtyard ... I love the striking colours walls - red and yellow !!!
Thanks for sharing this Less is more ... as it's Christmas , I like ... More the merrier !!!
Loong

clic (76) 2021-12-14 7:35

Hallo Gertwrist watch
At my venerable age :) I wear a traditional time machine displaying large numerals, so I consider this impressive image of yours as another piece of wisdom in your portfolio referring to self-explanatory simplicity, all the more it is captured with great care for low contrast and rigorous vertical lines for a charming festive mood.
Basta halsningar

worldcitizen (15930) 2021-12-17 8:24

Hello Gert,
I think all holiday trees are beautiful, and this one makes an impression with those bright, red bulbs. It's also very tall! While it's cold and snowy there in Sweden, we are having very mild temperatures and no snow at all. This is a lovely city scene. Take care!

aliabazari (21139) 2022-01-16 21:31

Hello Gert
Good view of this street with Christmas tree and mosque in the background. A shot of people's daily lives. Clarity and exposure are well done. Thanks for sharing
Dear friend Gert, we do not know the type of camera and lens you have