This is a lake reed, most common reed in Finland, photo of Lake Syväjärvi in Kirkkonummi. I am also posting this to John’s Cellpic Sunday
Lepis is hosting once again How to Survive November, and this year’s theme: Let’s follow alphabets! Every day the subject of the photo, drawing, painting, collage or whatever, is that day’s alphabet. First day the subject is something that starts with A, second day with B and so on. In Finnish there are few more alphabets than in English language: Å, Ä, Ö. The last day we’ll make a collage out of all the other photos. You can make a link from your page with InLinkz-page which is found on the right column of her page.
Last weekend we ventured outside and drove to have lunch in Helsinki , it’s about half hour drive, not much of an adventure. The restaurant is located in the area of Katajanokka is a neighbourhood of Helsinki, with around 5000 inhabitants. The district is located adjacent to the immediate downtown area, though in the first major town plan for Helsinki from the mid-18th century, the area fell outside the fortifications planned to encircle the city.
This us driving away from Katajannokka on one of the bridges, in the corner is the part of the The Presidential Palace.
Katajanokka was originally a headland of the Helsinki peninsula but is now an island due to the canal dug in the 19th century. Four bridges connect it to mainland Helsinki. Urban settlement expanded to Katajanokka in the 18th century, remaining largely untouched until the canal’s completion in 1844, which linked the South and North Harbours. The south side features a busy passenger harbour for ferries to various destinations, while the area consists mainly of co-operative apartment buildings and small parks. The eastern part was once a military zone with a naval base, which evolved into a commercial shipyard.
These are from the eastern side looking towards the sea, my attention was on the house on the small island as the sun was casting the last light on it. for some reason I did not take photos of the newer buildings.
Here we are leaving the area, driving towards the Helsinki Cathedral
The western part of the residential area, known as the “Old Side” of Katajanokka, is an upscale neighborhood and a well-preserved example of early 20th century Art Nouveau architecture, though up until the mid-19th century – while the centre of Helsinki was being filled with stone buildings – the area was essentially still a wooden shanty town.
The westside has some restoration going on and the area is not built for the amount of cars that we nowadays have, a bit tricky to get a parking spot here,
The wind that blew yesterday in Helsinki was so, so cold, slicing through the streets like a sharp knife, making each passerby pull their coats tighter around themselves. Despite the frigid temperatures, there were still some dedicated souls about, braving the chill to learn about the rescue service boats by the marketplace.
Found this old photo of us driving in the tunnel, it was not a great shot , but I liked something about it, decided to, do some editing and after that I thought it looked rather nice. So here it is, for no other reason than that.
Oh well… the first one is from my Sony SLT-A65V – using the macro lens. I was trying to capture details from different distances.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL shot October 5th, – three weeks later most of the leaves have dropped …
This the last one I took with my Olympus – I have not taken this camera for an outing for three weeks, oh no… this I took during our last stay at the summer house before closing it for the winter.
Well as I aim to be honest, my last is a selfie, cringe 🙂 I had my hair shortened and colored, a transformation that I had been contemplating for quite some time. I just came from the hairdresser, feeling happy about my new look – and I took a shot of myself to commemorate the occasion. Notice that I did not edit the photo :-D, I so wish I had edited it, though, now that I see it on the monitor the harsher light of my screen, I see every little flaw and imperfection. (vanity) A small blessing is that I wore make-up, which helped that not every pore was visible. I wasn’t sure about sharing it, I decided to embrace this little glimpse into my day and it was the last photo on the card.
Breath of the season, chill in the air, Winter’s fingers almost there, A forest still, calm and profound, In November’s grasp, so tightly bound.In tranquil beauty, time halts its flow. A moment’s peace, an endless roam, In this November forest, I find home.
I took these two half moon photos last night, with my mobile, and I must say that I am truly astonished by the amount of light it captured in these shots. The subtle glow of the moonlit sky combined with the shadows of the night created a beautiful contrast that I could hardly have anticipated. While it is obvious that the photos did not capture the half moon, the overall mood and atmosphere of the scenes were captured wonderfully. The cool hues of the night blended perfectly with the warm light emanating from the half moon, creating a dreamlike quality. I have to say, for a half moon, the brightness of it was really striking , I went out few times to look at it, illuminating everything around me and encouraging me to linger under the stars a bit longer, marveling at the beauty of the night sky. I
This is ruska. (n the Finnish language, this stunning phenomenon that paints northern landscapes in deep and soft tones is called ‘ruska’.
What is ruska?
Ruska comes from the Sami word “ruškat”, and close to the Finnish word ruskea which means brown. This refers to the time of the year when the spectacular natural phenomena of the autumn foliage happen, or when leaves change colors and the trees get ready for winter.
Puuruska
There are two different types of ruska; puuruska and maaruska. In Finnish language, puu means tree, therefore puuruska refers to the leaves of the trees changing to different colors. Maa means land, ground, or soil; so maaruska, when translated to English, means bushes and plants of the ground changing their colors. The maaruska is especially beautiful to see in blueberry bushes at the forest. The colors are very bright and intense, creating the perfect spot for that perfect shot, or most of the time, simply an immeasurable and breathtaking view that a photo can’t even justify.
river Salajoki
Typically, ruska starts in the north of Finland in early September and gradually moves southward. By late September to early October, the southern parts of the country, including Helsinki, will be in the full throes of this colorful season.
Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, offers some of the most stunning ruska views. The fells and vast wilderness areas, interspersed with crystal-clear lakes and rivers, provide a perfect backdrop for the red and gold leaves.
Reflections
I took these last weekend, and since then, this week the colors have intensified spectacularly. Hopefully, the rain and winds of the autumn storm pass swiftly, allowing the beauty of nature to remain mainly undisturbed. I hope for a chance to photograph the stunning fall leaves again in the coming days, capturing the fleeting beauty of the season.
Last weekend I was trying to capture the gathering of the Canadian geese that were getting ready to migrate at a nearby field, and as I was waiting for them to start flying, I took some shots of the autumn colors that painted the landscape in warm hues of orange, yellow, and crimson.
Flock of birds
The crisp air was filled with the loud sound of honking. While I eagerly anticipated the moment when the geese would take to the skies in a formation, I took in the beauty surrounding me, snapping photos of the sun filtering through the trees and illuminating the colorful foliage. Unfortunately, I was forced to leave abruptly as some farming equipment needed the whole road to maneuver, leaving me with only a few shots of the birds not even that good one, but since I took them I am also sharing them, just because 🙂
Last weekend I was so happy by a beautiful weather; the sun shone brightly, the skies were a stunning shade of blue, and the air was neither cold nor warm—comfortable is maybe the word to use, especially if you are properly dressed for the season. The best of autumn colors was not yet totally visible, but the enchanting season of changing colors was right at our doorstep, whispering promises of vibrant reds, golds, and copper hues that would soon adorn the trees. As I took in the view, I pulled out my camera and snapped some photos from a nearby gravel road, capturing the landscape where nature seemed to pause in anticipation before the full display of autumn arrived. The gentle rustling of leaves and the very recognizable noise from the gathering Canadian geese created a loud backdrop, the sound so seasonal as can be.
This is for Monochrome Madness, I did some conversions of my photos to Monochrome that I took on a rainy day by the lake in Nastola – Kumian Mylly. I usually find landscapes in color more impactful, with their vibrant hues invoking emotions and memories, but in monochrome, something different can be found within the images. The absence of color allows for a heightened focus on the textures and contrasts present, revealing more details that might otherwise go unnoticed when colors are distracting the attention. The interplay of light and shadow takes on new significance, drawing the viewer’s eye into the depths of the scene. I hope I was able to capture the essence of that rainy day in a way that stirs the imagination.
I seem to capture rain from the car or the safety of indoors mostly, but I should wonder out more often in the rain, preferably during the night and into the city to capture the unique mood and vibrant lights reflecting on the pavement. There’s something enchanting about the city at night when it’s wet, as the streets glisten and shimmer, creating a magical atmosphere.
Autumn is here, a time when it often rain, which might just be my new learning topic: capturing rain. I could explore different locations, experimenting with angles and compositions, and perhaps even play with long exposure shots to capture the movement of raindrops dancing on surfaces. This could turn into a creative project, forcing me to engage with the elements and see the beauty in the mundane, although I often doubt whether I will follow through. Probably not, but maybe it should be.
Nallikari Observation Tower, better known as Nallikari Lighthouse, was built on top of the breakwater at the northern end of the beach in 1988. Standing against the backdrop of the ominous sky and the dark waves, I think it looks like a rocket ready for a launch off, poised to embark on an adventurous journey.
Nallikari Lighthouse is the most important seaside landmark in Oulu to this day. Climbing to the top level is free of charge. The view out towards the sea from the top level is worth seeing. This is the place for people come to admire the beautiful sunsets, to marvel at the gleaming, white surface of the frozen sea, and to gaze at stars and auroras during the darkest months of the year. I saw it under dark skies…
I have mostly used my phone to take photos lately as it is always available and convenient to carry around. On Thursday evening at 9 PM, I captured some beautiful moments while we left home to drive to our summer house, eagerly anticipating the relaxing weekend ahead. Our goal was to arrive there that night so we would be refreshed and ready to start our workday early on Friday. By planning this, we aimed to sidestep the afternoon traffic, which often adds unnecessary time to our trip. The other photo was taken at 10:40 PM, just as we arrived, with the warm glow of the house welcoming us.
I have to say mobile is not the best to take moon shots, but I had to try. Here are the results; I edited them in LR – not classic. I have the mobile version on my phone, which is quite handy for quick access and sharing. When I first looked at the moon through my mobile lens, it looked so huge and captivating, almost as if it were within reach. The smoke trailing from a plane nearby created an interesting contrast, and the street lamp at the end of the road nicely framed the scene, making a beautiful leading line that draws the eye toward the celestial body. It reminded me that sometimes unexpected beauty can be captured in the simplest moments.
This is when we reached the countryside, and the field was blanketed in a delicate mist that swirled gently around us, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The moon cast its soft glow upon the landscape, illuminating the field with a silvery light that made everything appear almost magical; plus, the car lights enhanced the scene by bringing out the subtle details in the corner of my photo, creating a perfect backdrop for the moment. I just rolled down the window and seized the opportunity to capture this sight with my camera.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 