Water

A bag of plastic attached to a hook in the sea photographed in Indonesia with an underwater camera

Water – it’s the source of life

A bag of plastic attached to a hook in the sea photographed in Indonesia with an underwater camera

Water is the source of life on this planet. I’ve always loved water. When I was little, my parents put a small bathtub on the floor in the sauna , where I sat until I got fingers that looked like raisins. I’ve been swimming all around the world, lately with my camera. Besides all the beautiful corals and fishes, I also encounter a lot of plastics, and other rubbish. It’s a big enviromental problem because plastics takes 1000 of years to degrade and release micro plastics which contaminate the soil and water. So. Use less plastic. This photo is also my contribution to Lenscultures Art Awards contest. I submitted the photo not just to highlight the problem with plastics but also, in a very strange way, the plastic wrapped around the hook looks beautiful where it’s floating around in the sea. Scary beautiful.

It’s soon Christmas. And then us humans use even more plastics. I’ve been trying to find a real Christmas tree. Funnily enough, living in the north of Sweden, in a county which is covered by trees, I can’t be able to buy a Christmas tree. There are none to be found. I’ve gotten the suggestion to buy a tree made out of plastic, which is completely against everything I believe in and I also love trees. I used to own woods, passed down by my grandfather to my father and then to me. Unfortunately I sold those forests since I was living in the south at that time. My family name is Finnish and means “meadow in the forest”. I’ve spent so much time with my father, who used to pick out our Christmas tree months before Christmas, in the forests picking berries, planting trees and just walking around. Having a real Christmas tree is amazing, it smells so nice and I take care of it just like I do with my house plants, I usually keep it alive inside my house for a month or so. And ironically, now, I can’t find a Christmas tree for sale. Guess I should go out into the forest and just steal one but I remember how sad my aunt got when someone stole the only fir on her land. So, sort of not an option too.

So, don’t use plastic and don’t steal trees. Hopefully I’ll post some more soon.

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67 responses to “Water”

  1. Isabelle Daude

    ❤

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      🩵

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  2. David Linebarger

    Yes, scary beautiful.

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      It really is. Strikes me every time I look at the photo and it was the same when I circled around the plastic with my camera 🐠

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  3. A BETTER 🌎 (pk 🌎)

    Nice post 💯

    Blessed and Happy afternoon from Spain 🇪🇦

    🌼🌷🪻🌻💖❤️💓💝

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thank you 🙏 and Christmas greetings from the north of Sweden 🎄

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  4. christinenovalarue

    🤍

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      🙏 🩵

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  5. mistermaxxx08

    appreciate your post. the best Holidays to you. peace

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Happy holidays to you too 🎄

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  6. Pam

    I can’t believe people steal trees! Where I live, they just cut them down to build more houses. Lots more. But I really, deeply love the name “Meadow in the Forest.” How blissful!

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      I know, it’s not ok to steal. In general. I love my name too 🙏 it’s a family name from where the family home was built. And almost every time I say my name to a Finnish speaking person I get the same reaction, “What a beautiful name”. Swedish speaking people can’t pronounce it 😹 so, two completely different reactions.

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  7. .Killa.

    “where I sat until I got fingers that looked like raisins”

    😂😂 I remember the first time that happened to me; I was perplexed 😅. Kudos to you for submitting the photo to the Lenscultures Art Awards contest; it’s a very interesting shot of a piece of plastic on something in the water, and hopefully it also gives people a clear picture of what actually happens when plastic goes into the oceans — it just wraps around and tangles up in stuff, and even kills things as a result, so this should be avoided 👎🤦‍♂️😅.

    It’s quite unfortunate that you didn’t find a tree yet, atleast with an artificial tree you’d be able to buy one before the Christmas season even starts and store away until you’re ready to use it, but since most artificial trees are plastic and this is definitely not a direction of things you want to support, that’s not an option, and if you’re getting the real trees it would be pointless to buy them outside of the season since they won’t really last or hold up that well, so it’s as though you’re between a rock and a hard place lol.

    I realized that you posted this on the 21st of this month, which was a while ago, and hopefully you did manage to get one by now, if not i still hope you have a fun time otherwise 🤟😹.

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thanks 😉 I finally managed to find a tree on the 22nd. And, it’s beautiful so I could hang up my Christmas ornaments which I love and have had for a long time. I spent too much time, and petrol, on the mission of finding a tree tho. But, I’ve not had a tree for at least 4 years so it felt important to me. And there it is, looking lovely. I heard about some research that says that people who bring in their tree early are happier. I hope the 22nd counts as early. We celebrate Christmas at the 24th and you’re supposed to have the tree until the 13th of January. So I have time to enjoy it. And, if you have a real tree, a tip is to water it many times a day for the first days. Then it last forever inside. I’ve even had trees that sprouted buds 🎄 So, do you have a tree?

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      1. .Killa.

        You are welcome and hooray for finding such a beautiful tree just in time my dear ☺️💕. I am sure that you have that tree looking like something out of a dream 🎄✨👌😹. You lost some time and some petrol looking for a tree, but gained something that makes your christmas even more special 💯👍😄. I see what you are saying about the research, but don’t get too caught up on numbers and statistics, just do what makes you happy and since you have actually done that in this case, you are not dissapointed 🤟😂.

        “I’ve even had trees that sprouted buds 🎄”

        Hahaa now that’s absolutely beautiful. You are right about watering the trees but I wasn’t really sure is that would apply in the case of these trees because I have never used real trees a christmas trees, and was under the impresson that you were talking about tall trees that were uprooted and had their roots trimmed off, which would prevent them from actally being able to absorb water 😅😅.

        “So, do you have a tree?”

        Yes, but it’s an artificial one and it’s usually put up for the majority of the year until the Christmas season 🤭😶‍🌫️😃. But mines has a spot all to itself and is decorated to the max with all the lights and fun sparkling, shiny, glittery things on it 🌟🎄😆🎉.

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      2. Helena And The Sea

        Great that you have a tree, even if it’s artificial. 🎄 I think the real ones drink water even if the roots a cut off. And I heard a thing on an architectural program this morning about something called CareTree which all houses used to have on their yard, even between my house and the garage you can see the stem of an old big tree that’s been cut off. Basically the meaning of the CareTree is that if the tree is well, so are you. So, since there are no trees close by to the apartment, I have to call the Christmas tree my Care tree 🌲 and I do take care of it.

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      3. .Killa.

        [YOU]: Great that you have a tree, even if it’s artificial. 🎄

        [ME]: Thank you. It truly did add charming life to the Christmas party so to speak 🎄😹.

        [YOU]: “And I heard a thing on an architectural program this morning about something called CareTree which all houses used to have on their yard, even between my house and the garage you can see the stem of an old big tree that’s been cut off.”

        [ME]: Wow, that’s historically eye-opening

        [ME]: “So, since there are no trees close by to the apartment, I have to call the Christmas tree my Care tree 🌲 and I do take care of it.”

        I like the sound of that lol. I believe that in your precious care, it will be hard to find a better place for that tree except for the natural place it was taken from in the first place 🙌💯😄

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      4. Helena And The Sea

        Yes, I care for it. Water it every three hours or so now. It’s almost sad when it becomes more independent and don’t need me as much. Just like a baby I guess 😉 and it’s so nice to have a proper tree in the apartment. And, I’ve seen many of our houseplants in Sweden growing big and wild in other parts of the world! Some things are a bit different, still 🗺️

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      5. .Killa.

        LOL, absolutely. Your little tree is growing up and will reach the caliber one day where it would not need you to water it as much, sort of like a baby transitioning into and adult.

        But it’s also like a fish being taken out of water — what you are really doing is what is necessary to make the Tree last in a situation where its quality wouldn’t otherwise be maintainable outside of it’s natural environment 😆.

        That was a mouthful <– emoji also needed for mouthfuls 😹👍💯.

        My apologies for the 8-hour late rely ❤

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      6. Helena And The Sea

        Oh, I don’t mind 8 hour late replies. Sometimes I’m missing for weeks from WP. Especially this exhausting autumn 😉 re-building my strength for the comeback by doing some more cross country skiing in -15 ❄️

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      7. .Killa.

        “Sometimes I’m missing for weeks from WP”

        Yup 🤣🤣. Then when you come back, it feels like a reunion 👌😆😁

        “re-building my strength for the comeback by doing some more cross country skiing in -15 ❄️”

        Yes re-build your strength my precious one. -15 degree weather might seem unbearable, but if done right, it’s just frosty therapy ❄️🌨️🥶🤣

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      8. Helena And The Sea

        I actually start sweating in -15, it’s a great workout! 😅🥵😅

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      9. .Killa.

        Wow 😮, great workout indeed; impressive I dear say 😆.

        But somehow, I get the feeling that the real reason you still sweat in -15 degree weather is because you are actually a hot girl🔥🤔😹😉

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      10. Helena And The Sea

        Ok. You know that this is not an ok comment nowadays especially on the internet.

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      11. .Killa.

        Happy New Year to you my friend 🎊🥳🤟2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣🎈😆🥳🎉.

        I care about you alot and I did not realize that I would put you on edge with my previous comment. I wish you well always and I hope that you are great otherwise 🤗🤗

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      12. Helena And The Sea

        Thanks 🙏. and I sort of understand the caring about me bit but, we all have to pay attention to the changes in society and what’s acceptable in terms of … well, basically everything 😹 what was ok a couple of years ago might not be ok nowadays!

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      13. .Killa.

        Yes you made some very solid points and I agree 100%.

        But if anyone else apart from you, has major life-changing issues with that comment, they are just blowing it out of proportion and are very unhappy people 😃. It was not that serious at all lol.

        I actually sent you another message prior to sending the Happy New Year one, but I guess that one was too candid for the critics to be exposed too haha

        But I am happy the misunderstanding is cleared up because it’s never my intention to offend you or make you concerned 😅😅. For you, I am sorry ❤

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      14. Helena And The Sea

        I accept your apology. Thanks 🙏 and it doesn’t have to be a major life changing issue, it’s just that everybody has to think about how their comments on the internet sound to people in different cultures, and if you would say that to a complete stranger on the street. That’s all.

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      15. .Killa.

        I understand your points my friend 💙💙. The quip I made in a conversation between you and me, was not anything vulgar, insulting, rude, offensive, sexist, vile, harassing, or any of those very serious things, at all, and if anyone besides you reacts dramatically to it as if it’s something extremely offensive, they may need medication or they may need to just stay off the internet, because that’s just blowing things out of proportion 🤣🤣.

        But I am glad that you accept my apology — that matters alot 🥰🤗💞💌

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  8. Suraj Sharma ‘Master ji’

    A nice article inspiring to save trees and avoid plastic.

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thanks 🙏 and we have to in order for this planet, and the life that’s on it 🌏

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      1. Suraj Sharma ‘Master ji’

        Welcome df. My wishes are with you. 🙏❤️

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  9. kites201019

    Beautiful message, nice post 👌 👏 👍 ❤️ 😊

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thanks 🙏 more to come 🤞

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      1. kites201019

        Sure. Best of luck 👍 ✨️ 💓

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      2. Helena And The Sea

        Yes, a bit short of time atm 😉

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      3. kites201019

        Managing time is the biggest challenge for us all, not at the moment, even throughout the whole life.😉

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      4. Helena And The Sea

        Indeed it is 🙄😉

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  10. kites201019

    🙂

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  11. .Killa.

    I missed you for 6 days 😹. I hope your new year is looking up 💯🙏💌

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      It really is! 👍

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      1. .Killa.

        Awesome 👍😄☺️. I thought my comment was lost 🤣. But I wish you a beautiful weekend 💌😇🙏🙏

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      2. Helena And The Sea

        Thanks 🙏 it wasn’t lost. A beautiful weekend to you too! I’m working since it’s too cold to go outside and not much else is happening at the moment 😉

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      3. .Killa.

        You are welcome and I am thankful that it wasn’t lost 🙌😹😹. I appreciate your update — please stay safe ❤ ❤

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      4. Helena And The Sea

        No, worries 👍 the snowstorm has ended!

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      5. .Killa.

        Thank goodness — on less thing to worry bout lol

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      6. Helena And The Sea

        Yes, one thing less … out of the million things I tend to worry about and have to keep an eye on 🙄😹

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      7. .Killa.

        😂😂 You are so right my dear. But don’t you worry, the small steps are going to add up; you aer right to keep an eye of the prize 💌😉💘💘

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      8. Helena And The Sea

        Instead of worrying … taking action. Had to drive 250 kms today too to check up on my house since it had only had electricity for 13 hours out of 48 hours last weekend when it was -30 degrees C and a big power cut. Fortunately, everything seems ok and it had been warm even when it was -34 outside. It’s a good house energy wise 👍

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      9. .Killa.

        “Instead of worrying … taking action” – Helena 2024 ✊🤣🤣

        Wow, those are extremely cold temperatures ❄️🥶❄️🥶; it’s definitely a good thing to check up on your house and property occasionally to make sure that things are still holding up. I am glad that things seem ok. It’s excellent to see the house is in good hand until it is finally sold 💲🏠😹

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      10. Helena And The Sea

        Yes, you have to take care of the houses! There are too many old houses that are empty and falling apart as it is. And, I got a nice wave “Goodbye 👋” from the tall old trees around the house when I was leaving, could hear the birds as well🌲 we’ve had a nice time together.

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      11. .Killa.

        Couldn’t agree more about taking care of the houses and the concern you sharded about seeing alot of old and empty derelict houses falling apart 😅. I know that’s certainly not what you want to happen to your house even though you don’t really live in it 😄💯.

        Awwww, the trees and the birds collaborated to put on that special moment of goodbye to you 🌲🌳🕊️🦜👋😄. It’s wonderful to know that the trees and the birds adore you as much as I do 😹☺️💌

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      12. Helena And The Sea

        And, they adore me as much as I adore them! 😉

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      13. .Killa.

        Indeed, and we give thanks for such mutual blessings 🙏😇

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      14. Helena And The Sea

        Yes we do 🙏

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  12. Lisa Orchard

    This photo sends a powerful message. I hope you win an award!

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thank you 🙏 I hope it gets noticed. Because the photo is intended to create awareness about our use of plastics and how it affects our environment. And there’s been so much dumping of garbage in the seas, as if people expect it to just disappear if you don’t see it. But the seas are crucial for our survival and it’s home to some amazing creatures 🐠🪸🦭 This “out of sight, out of mind” policy about garbage is not working. It’s scary that us humans have managed to almost destroy the environment on earth in less than 200 years, and the earth took much longer to create.

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      1. Lisa Orchard

        I hear you loud and clear. I’ve written a number of blog posts on this very topic and mention it repeatedly. I will keep writing about it, I’m sure. It looks like we’re on the same page on this issue. 🙂

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      2. Helena And The Sea

        We absolutely are 👍

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  13. spotlightchoices.com-C. Wilson

    Good point “plastics takes 1000 of years to degrade and release micro plastics which contaminate the soil and water.” Hope your photo wins!

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thanks 🙏 but most of all I hope that this planet survives all the abuse it’s been through 🤞

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  14. Marina Aagaard

    VERY scary beautiful, indeed.
    Great color and composition 👌

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Thank you 🙏 that’s how I saw it. And, it’s scary how long plastic survives and where the world and the oceans are heading. Heard yesterday that the Gulf Stream might disappear which could mean that the winters in Sweden might get 20 degrees colder, considering we’ve had a very cold and long winter as it is with temperatures around -20 C it would mean we’re facing extreme cold 🥶

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  15. Katherine Mary

    From the reader presentation it looked like a scarf. Sad and beautiful and the same time.

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    1. Helena And The Sea

      Well, I wasn’t sure what it was when first saw it but I swam around it for a while, sadly it’s a piece of plastic. Which there are plenty of all over the world, and not just in the sea.

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      1. Katherine Mary

        It’s inevitable with everything that happens nowadays. Thanks for sharing! 🙏

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      2. Helena And The Sea

        Thank you too 🙏

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