Sicilian Summer!

Not really loving all the rain in Denmark at the moment, I'm already reminiscing about our fabulous summer holiday in Sicily two weeks ago. So here goes: A couple of pictures that I feel capture some of the amazing essence of the Italian island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

Sleepy Sunday

I think we all know the feeling. I do, at least, and I bet that you do too. That sleepy, dreary feeling that life, at this particular point in time, is best lived asleep. Maybe it's very hot outside (yes, that actually does happen in Denmark once in a while), you've had a bit too much for lunch, and suddenly that siesta-thing makes sooo much more sense to you.

Or maybe it's just Sunday. Maybe you were out last night and are now battling a throbbing head, something which we all know is best done from deep under the covers. Or maybe that sleepy Sunday feeling has just got a hold of you, for no particular reason, but, hey, it's the weekend, so why get up, when you really don't feel like it. And even if you do get up, a little nap on the couch in the late afternoon feels like the best idea you've had in a long time.

Today, on this particular Sunday, I woke up with a bit of that feeling, loving the fact that sleeping late was definitely an option. Therefore I wanted to share some pics (pun intented) with you that I feel capture the essence quite well.

In colour!

It's spring and the world is full of colours. And this year the shops are full of them as well, as summer fashion is an explosion of bright colours to light up the world in these times of crisis.

To quote Ole Henriksen, I LOVE it! Therefore, this post is dedicated to life in colour - enjoy!

Graffiti Love

Now, I will make this short, and leave it up to my photos to speak for themselves this time. Just wish to share that I happen to live in the midst of graffiti central, aka Nørrebro, here in Copenhagen - for better and worse. Now, in my opinion this street art has two sides to it: one which is simply annoying and destructive, that is, the constant scribbling of words everywhere. But it also has another side to it - the art side. Because grafitti can actually be quite interesting, making the urban scene colourful and expressive, when done "right", whatever the recipe for that is. And, for my purposes and interests, it definitely makes for some great shots, I think.

I would love to hear your opinions on the subject!

So here goes: The Graffiti Love mini-collection - named after the first of the photos.

Staging product placement?

Now, this picture may make the most sense to you, if you are a Dane - or speak Danish. Therefore, here goes a translation and explanation: The sign says "Det danske vejr er Gajol vejr", which translates into "The Danish weather is Gajol weather ". Gajol is a Danish cough drop, making the slogan well suited for a country with some quite, let's just say, schizophrenic weather, where sun may quickly turn into bitter-cold wind and rain - and an accompanying cold.

However, once in a while the Danish weather shows its more pleasant face, like on the day this picture is taken. I was strolling down Vesterbrogade, a central avenue in Copenhagen, together with a friend of mine, enjoying one of the first real spring days here in DK, when we came across this neon sign. Now, that kind of ad board has been around for ages, making it as central a part of some cities as the town hall or well-known tourist attractions. Just think of Piccadilly Circus in London or Times Square in New York - or, for my Danish readers, the Irma hen by Dronning Louises Bro.

While these signs definitely demand attention at night, at daytime they normally seem more anonymous. But this Gajol ad is actually quite brilliant (pun intented), as it, whether planned or not, works as product placement with all the sky as its stage. On this day, the slogan came across with a positive note, however, no matter the weather, the sign fits - because the changeableness of the weather IS the essense of the message.

So, in an age when micro-targeting through social media is replacing - or at least competing with traditional mass media advertising, this sign, to me at least, still works. It's concise, it's culturally adapted (let's face it, we Danes speak of the weather quite a lot), and it's brilliant. Nothing more, nothing less.

What do you think?