A lovely place by the river to stop for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at Riverside (jokiranta) in Vääksy is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a summer day. Whether you’re seeking a tranquil setting to sip on a fine glass of wine, or simply craving a hot cup of coffee while taking in the beautiful riverside views, Riverside in Vääksy offers a escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Sit back and relax as you watch the gentle flow of the river, feeling the soothing ambiance that only nature can provide. This charming spot to enjoy the simple pleasures of life in a picturesque setting by the water’s edge.
When you drive in Finland on small dirt roads, you can come across this kind of old-time milieu, with the gravel crunching under your tires and the scent of pine trees filling the air. As you navigate the winding paths, you can imagine that the picture was taken years ago, before the modern advancements reached this corner of the world. The old log houses stand as witnesses to the passage of time, surrounded by many different outbuildings in the yard. Electricity pylons, a striking contrast to the rustic scenery, bring it into modern times, emphasizing the coexistence of tradition and progress. When presented in black and white, the atmosphere is further enhanced, allowing in the timeless vibes of the past.
The last photo on the card of my mobile phone was taken around 10PM in Helsinki, right at the quiet marketplace as we were casually strolling home from listening to a live performance by one of my favorite artists. The night air was filled with a sense of excitement and contentment, as the vibrant melodies still played in my head. The colorful sky making it a perfect end to a great evening.
Helsinki at July 30thRocky hills in Mankala
I took this with my Olympus camera with a 14-150mm lens as we were driving in the backroads in Mankala in southern Finland. It always amazes me how the trees can grow in so little soil as they do on these rocky hills. The natural beauty of this region is truly captivating, lush green forests, and stunning rocky terrain. As we meandered through the narrow winding roads, I couldn’t help but notice the vibrant shades of green that adorned the landscape. The tranquility of the surroundings is touchable. It’s incredible how such an unassuming location can hold such enchanting allure.
My last photo on my Sony 2.8/50 MACRO lens. As I reviewed the close-up photos of the day’s flowers previously taken with my phone, I couldn’t help but feel very disappointed by the quality. It’s clear that attempting to edit and post-process images on the small screen of a phone can often fall short of expectations. I think I am going to delete the post, it is so bad. Eager to elevate the quality of my floral photography, I decided to switch back to my trusty camera. Although the flowers were not as fresh as before, the images I captured with the camera were undeniably better in every way. The colors were more vibrant, the details were clearer, and the overall composition was more to my liking.
This was the last one, but not the best one, but as requested, the last 🙂
I spent an afternoon at this manor in Lahti celebrating my father in law’s 90th birthday.
Mukkulan kartano
More about the history of Manor One cannot describe the history of the Manor, without giving a special mention to the mysterious ghost of Mukkula, which sometimes makes an appearance around the estate. This is what Helli Jalas, a senior guide at Mukkula tells us: “It is said that a female figure sometimes descends the Manor’s stairs and enters the drawing room. It is believed that she is a former Lady of the Manor, wanting to check that everything in the drawing room is still in order – as it should be.”
The weather has been rather unpredictable over the past week, with a mix of rain, clouds, and sunshine. It’s one of the hallmarks of summer, especially in July, when the weather can fluctuate dramatically from one day to the next. This kind of variability keeps everyone on their toes, as you never quite know what to expect when you step outside.
This is stretching it a bit, first I noticed the woman with the orange scarf, she was sitting on the edge of the window – facing me and the sun having a smoke. Before I could get the shot she turned. The restaurant is out of business, well by the looks f the door. There is a lady coming out through the gate in the corner. So there is a door in this shot 🙂
Arena talo is a commercial and residential building located in Hakaniemi, Helsinki, which completely covers a triangular block on the north side of Hakaniemi market. The Danish-style red brick building was designed by architect Lars Sonck and was completed in two stages in 1924 and 1929. There is an Oxygenol light advertisement on the roof. And lots of doors on the street level.
Oxygenol has also been a part of Helsinki’s street scene for decades: the brand name can be read in two meters high letters on the roof of the Arena building near the Hakaniemi metro station from the direction of the Hakaniemi square. In these you can see it from the back 🙂
HELSINKI’s cityscape is a delightful blend of modern architecture and historical landmarks. The pavilion, located next to the Marketplace on Lyypekin laituri, with its wooden structure and two new piers, the pavilion offers visitors a serene place to take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Inspired by the Helsinki archipelago and Vallisaari specifically, the pavilion’s design showcases the city’s deep connection to its natural surroundings. “It’s shaped like a beach cliff that twists into a squishy ring,” as it was eloquently described in the press release during its initial design phase.
That is not why I took the photos, because delightful blend of modern architecture, no. I just loved how the triangle frames the city view and how the people added perspective to the height of the building
On Sunday we saw some lovely ships in Helsinki, it was the last day they were in the harbour and there were lots of people there to have a look at them. Here are few photos, from different perspectives.
The annual tall ships race, Tall Ships Races, takes place in the Baltic Sea every four years. The organizer is Sail Training International, STI, an ideological organization founded in 1956 in London.
Through the joint sailing event, they want to promote the education and cooperation of young people regardless of nationality, cultural background, religion and social background.
Sailing from Ecuador, from the equator to the Baltic Sea for the Tall Ships Races, Guayas is probably the most exotic ship of the entire event. A 153-person crew sailed to Helsinki with the Guayas ship.
The Polish Dar Mlodziezy is the biggest ship of the event, measuring almost one hundred meters
I think these are suitable for this week. Ympyrätalo “Circle House”) is a circle-shaped office building located in the Hakaniemi district of Helsinki, Finland. The building is a local landmark. The building’s architecture has been seen as a high point in 1960s Finnish office building architecture.
This last image is AI generated, the first two mine taken by my mobile of the same situation. Capturing the Storm’s Symphony: Driving Through Heavy Rain on the motorway.
The raindrops furiously pounded against the windshield, blurring the lights of the cars ahead. The sound of the rain on the roof resonated throughout the car, creating a somber symphony. As the wipers rhythmically swept back and forth, I marveled at the storm’s raw power, appreciating the shelter and security of the car. The AI-generated image, although striking, couldn’t capture the sensory experience of being enveloped by the torrential downpour while cocooned in a metal shell.
I spent some time in Helsinki and looked it with the eyes of a tourist. You rarely take photos of your own cities and towns that you frequently visit. Well last week I did, as I already posted we went to see Nick Cave and I took these on my way from the parking garage to the music hall and actually looked at the buildings, not just walked past them. Something we often do in familiar places, this goes to landscape and scenery too. I noticed a fare amount of door and windows, what a revelation to find them in the city 🙂
Kansalaistori is a new square and lawn area in the heart of the city located between the Music Centre and Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma along Mannerheimintie in Helsinki. On the other side of there square there is the Central library Oodi. The square is partially paved and in the summertime popular especially among skateboarders. . Kansalaistori serves also as a venue for various events.
Kiasma from the back. All the photos in the galleries can be enlarged by a click.
Kiasma is a museum of contemporary art under the umbrella of the Finnish National Gallery. The primary focus in the museum collection is on Finnish contemporary art. Kiasma was designed by the American architect Steven Holl and opened to the public in 1998. At Kiasma there’s also a museum shop and café. These are all taken from the backside of the building.
Sanoma House with its glass facade is situated in Finlandia Park, a cultural oasis in the heart of Helsinki, north of the Helsinki railway station, beside the Museum of Contemporary Art-Kiasma, the Central library Oodi and the Music Centre. The first and second floors mainly consist of covered public space.
Finland’s 200-seat parliament gathers in this impressive building representing 1920s Classicism. The facade of the building is made of red granite from Kalvola. The main facade includes 14 Corinthian columns. It is across the road from the kansalaistori.
Musiikkitalo is an acoustically first-class concert hall as well as other facilities providing a wide range of musical experiences for people of all ages and a place to study music. The residents of Musiikkitalo are Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Sibelius Academy, Uniarts Helsinki. These are also taken from the back of the Music Hall
This a photo of Oodi, I’ve taken at spring, for some reason I did not take on this time, but as it is in the square I’ll add it here.
Months pass so quickly. Already July. I had my grandkids visiting us for ten days. On the last day the the youngest enjoyed this sitting hammock and he was so cute I had to take a several shots this was one of them.
I took this with my iPhone 14 Pro
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA – Strawberry moon
This one is from my Olympus taken on the June 19th. I think I have not shared this one yet of the strawberry moon.
These Oak leaves photo is taken with my old, Sony camera with a macro lens on June 12th
I have to admit that lately I have been a lazy photographer, and most of the time I’ve taken photos with my mobile. I have two previous posts about the beauty of summer nights and these were taken the same night. I took these first, then went to get my camera to take better shots of the moon. The iPhone has a great camera, with a RAW option, and you can get great photos with it; even the zoom is okay. But you can also edit and crop the images as a way of enhancing it.
It’s amazing how much the technology in smartphones has advanced, allowing us to capture stunning images without the need for additional equipment. The convenience of having a powerful camera always at hand has certainly made me rely more on my mobile for photography. Despite its compact size, the iPhone truly delivers remarkable image quality, especially in low light conditions. The ability to edit and refine the pictures directly on the device further adds to the appeal of mobile photography, providing a convenient way to enhance the visual impact of the captured moments.
The color of the sky, clouds and mist set such a beautiful view, that I only slightly edited the contrast and light in Lightroom app – nature did the rest.
Birch trees stand sentinel, white and tall, Their leaves a verdant canopy, a gentle sprawl. Mist weaves through their trunks, a spectral dance, As dusk paints the sky in hues of chance.
The evening cradles them in twilight’s hark. Silhouettes against the canvas of fading light, They sway, entwined, in nature’s quiet rite. And there, where fog and foliage converge, A sacred silence settles—a tranquil surge.
So let us linger here, beneath their boughs, Where time suspends, and dreams are allowed. In this ethereal embrace, we find our place, As birch and fog weave magic, leaving no trace.
I took these of the strawberry moon, but only now got around to posting them, I shared some taken with my mobile on Instagram, but these I took with my camera.
Strawberry moon
I was already in bed, all comfortable and ready to go to sleep, when my husband repeatedly said the mist is rising, the mist is even heavier, meaning get up, grab your camera, and take photos. Good on him or I would have missed some lovely midsummer moments.
The moon was so pretty.
It was such a serendipitous moment, being snug in bed and then being urged to capture such an ethereal sight. The mist rolling in created an otherworldly ambiance, and combined with the presence of the strawberry moon, it resulted in a truly mesmerizing spectacle.
I sat down and took a shot with the fence in the foreground
It’s moments like these that etch memories for a lifetime, and I’m grateful for the nudge that led to these stunning captures.
Clouds started to gather around the moon
so lovely moment
Were you able to capture or see the strawberry moon in June? The strawberry moon, also known as the June full moon, is a beautiful sight that occurs when the moon is at its fullest and appears with a warm, reddish glow. This phenomenon takes place in the month of June, marking the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. People often gather to witness this remarkable celestial event, and many photographers aim to capture its stunning beauty through their camera lenses. The strawberry moon has cultural significance in various traditions and is a source of inspiration for poets, writers, and artists around the world. So, did you have the chance to admire this enchanting spectacle?
A serene Finnish lakeside, the air thick with warmth and the scent of pine. As the sun dips below the horizon, a soft mist rises from the water, cloaking the landscape in mystery. The birch trees stand like silent sentinels, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The sky, painted in hues of lavender and dusky pink, seems to hold its breath, waiting for the stars to emerge.
In these misty summer nights, time loses its grip. The world becomes a dreamscape, where reality and imagination intertwine. The distant call of a loon echoes across the water,. The wooden sauna, perched at the edge of the shore, emits a comforting warmth, inviting late-night conversations and laughter you can hear carrying across the water.
As darkness settles in, the mist thickens, blurring the boundaries between land and water. The moon, casts its glow upon the ripples, creating a shimmering path that leads to infinity. Perhaps it’s the magic of these nights that makes lovers embrace each other, stealing a kiss under the veil of mist. Or maybe it’s the promise of endless possibilities—the feeling that anything could happen in this enchanted realm.
In Finland’s misty warm summer nights, reality fades, and enchantment takes hold. It’s a time when the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the heart opens to the beauty of the ephemeral are you by the lake or next to the fields
Northwest sky at midnight
Mist rises like a delicate veil, weaving through the grasses and clover. It’s as if the earth exhales, releasing whispers of relief of the warm day.
Mgic of summer nights
The trees, their branches etched against the fading light, stand sentinel. Each leaf catches a droplet of mist, turning it into a tiny gem. The air is cool, yet infused with warmth—the remnants of a sun that lingers in memory. Birds settle on fence posts, their calls softened by the mist, creating a symphony of hidden melodies.
As the last rays slip away, the mist thickens, blurring the boundaries between earth and sky.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 