Saturday, December 31, 2016

Snowy Trees and Sunset

I took this picture in Tornio riverside, when there was just sunset.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Snowy trees and sunset in riverside
Date: 27th of December, 2016

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/1600 sec. f/2.8 14.148mm ISO 80

Editing: Cropping and sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Snowy trees and sunset

Happy New Year 2017 for All the Blog Readers!!

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Old Lights

For this photo I have used many different filters when I edited the photo. I wanted to that the photo would look like very old photo.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Restauraunt Mustaparta's lights outside
Date: 20th of December, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Shot: 1/80 sec. f/4.5 50mm ISO 1250

Editing: I used different filters, saved, other filters, saved, etc.

Lens and Cover Blog | Old Lights

Now it looks like the photo was taken long, long time ago.

Regards,
Mika

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Sunset on Tornio Finland and Haparanda Sweden border

Tomorrow on 21st of Dec 2016 is the shortest day of the year. I took this photo today just before sunset at 13:21. Today sunrise was 10:53 and sunset 13:49. Sun was above the horizon only 2h56min.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Sunset on the Tornio Finland and Haparanda Sweden border
Date: 20th of December, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot:1/60 sec. f/7.1 19mm ISO100

Editing: A bit cropping and sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Sunset on the Tornio Finland and Haparanda Sweden border

When I took this photo I'm standing in Finland side, but the building on the background are in Haparanda Sweden. The borderline goes just somewhere on that canal area.

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Mist on the river

River is almost completely frozen here in Tornio. Only small area was open anymore and there was some fog.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Mist on the river.
Date: 11th of December, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/320 sec. f/6.3 250mm ISO 1000

Editing: Cropping and sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Mist on the river | Tornio, Finland

Today two days later that place was already frozen also.

Regards,
Mika

Saturday, December 10, 2016

This is my Manila | PHILIPPINES

Manila in Philippines is one of those cities, which has so many different faces. Usually the news from Manila are very negative outside of Philippines. Ones you have been there a bit longer you will see it offers so much more. Something for everybody.

Place: Makati City, Metro-Manila, Philippines
Photo: Makati City in the evening
Date: 24th of January, 2015

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 8/5 sec. f/3.5 15mm ISO 100

Lens and Cover Blog | This is my Manila | PHILIPPINES

I wanted to do a video, which shows also the positive side of the city. I named the video "This is my Manila". Enjoy!


Hopefully you liked it.

Regards,
Mika

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Underpass from Finland to Sweden

Yesterday was a bit chilly weather and temperature was -21C. I walked anyway on the borderline here in Tornio and took this photo. This is underpass from Tornio Finland to Haparanda Sweden. Haparanda old water tower is in the middle of the photo.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden
Photo: Underpass from Tornio Finland to Haparanda Sweden
Date: 6th of December, 2016

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/250 sec. f/2.8 11.976mm ISO 80

Editing: Cropping and sharpening

Lens and Cover Blog | Underpass from Finland to Sweden

I took this photo 2:20PM, so it was about 17min after official sunset time.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, December 5, 2016

Dramatic sunset in Tornio, Finland

Many times the sunset view is even more beautiful after sun is not visible anymore. This photo is good example what I mean. Horizon is still yellow, but sky is red and looks like it's in fire.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Dramatic sunset in Tornio
Date: 1st of December, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/80 sec. f/8 20mm ISO 100

Editing: Cropping and sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Dramatic sunset in Tornio, Finland

Beautiful colors.

Regards,
Mika

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Sunset in Haparanda, Sweden

Day is very short at the moment here in Lapland. I took this shot 2:11PM and it was already sunset time. This photo was taken in Tornio Finland, but the view with the water tower is in Haparanda Sweden.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden
Photo: Sunset in Haparanda, Sweden
Date: 1st of December, 2016 at 2:11PM

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/640 sec. f/10 131mm ISO 100

Editing: Cropping and sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Sunset in Haparanda, Sweden

At the moment sun is less than 4 hours above the horizon.

Regards,
Mika

Friday, December 2, 2016

Old Railway Station in Tornio

This is old railway station in Tornio, which is not in use anymore. I took this photo on the side of railway station, where are also some trees.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Old railway station with the trees
Date: 24th of November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/60 sec. f/4.5 35mm ISO 250

Editing: Lot of manual adjustment and many kind filters combined, so it looks like old drawing.

Lens and Cover Blog | Old Railway Station in Tornio

Here is the original photo.

Lens and Cover Blog | Old Railway Station in Tornio

Sometimes is fun to play with different kind of filters and manual adjustments and create something totally different compared to the original photo.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, November 28, 2016

Ice Fishing Season Started in North Finland

Looks like ice fishing season has started here in Tornio. I was today walking and there was already one guy ice fishing.

Lens and Cover Blog | Ice Fishing Season Started in North Finland

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Ice fishing season started in North Finland
Date: 28th of November, 2016 at 1:18PM

Camera: Canon Powershot G15
Shot: 1/2000 sec. f/4 10.653mm ISO 80

Editing: Cropping, sharpening.

Maybe this means also winter has really started.

Regards,
Mika

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Underwater Photography | Highlights of diving in Puerto Princesa, Palawan | PHILIPPINES

Lens and Cover Blog | Underwater Photography | Highlights of diving in Puerto Princesa, Palawan | PHILIPPINES

Puerto Princesa in Palawan is great place for scuba diving. There is possible to see very small macro creatures, but also big ones. Even whale sharks. Here are some highlights of my underwater adventures in Puerto Princesa. Enjoy!


Palawan is well-known of beautiful beaches and islands, but there is also rich marine life.

Regards,
Mika

Friday, November 25, 2016

Frozen River and Sunset

I took this photo yesterday, when I was biking on the riverside. I took this photo from Finland, but the background of the photo is Sweden.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Frozen Torniojoki (Tornio River) and sunset.
Date: 24th November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Lens and Cover Blog | Frozen River and Sunset

I took this photo at 1:59PM, but sun was already very low. Official sunset time at the moment here in Tornio is 2:33PM.

Regards,
Mika

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Car Photography | Supercar Sundays in Manila, Philippines

Manila, Philippines. Manila in Philippines is not the first place, if you think about the supercars. There are anyway lot of real car guys. Every Sunday mornings Manila Sports Cars Club has a meeting in Burgos Circle in Metro-Manila. This place was on the corner of our home, so I used to visit there also often.

If you live or visit in Manila and want to see cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and other exotics, Burgos Circle is the place where to visit.


Place: Burgos Circle, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro-Manila, Philippines
Photo/Video: Supercar Sundays in Burgos Circle

Here in the video you will see the collection of the best supercars in Burgos Circle. Enjoy!


Lot of interesting and also expensive models, which are not so common.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, November 21, 2016

Ice Swimming in Finland

Tornio, Finland. Winter in Finland is cold and the coldest day of the year is usually about -40C. This means rivers and lakes are frozen. Some people anyway want to go swimming outside.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Ice swimming in Tornionjoki (Tornio River).
Date: 6th of November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/320 sec. f/6.3 250mm

Lens and Cover Blog | Ice Swimming in Finland

I have tried out ice swimming twice and let's say it's quite...refreshing.

Regards,
Mika

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The SnowCastle in Kemi, Finland

Kemi, Finland. Every winter it's possible to visit a gigantic SnowCastle in Kemi City. SnowCastle includes world's largest SnowRestaurant with beautiful ice-sculptures where are seats more than 200 people. There is also SnowHotel, which is something amazing. SnowCastle includes also SnowChapel.

The SnowCastle in Kemi is usually open from the end of January to begining of April.

Place: Kemi, Finland
Photo/Video: SnowCastle in Kemi
Date: 16 February, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Lens and Cover Blog | The SnowCastle in Kemi, Finland

Check my video to understand how big the SnowCastle is really.


Interesting to see what kind of will be new SnowCastle for season 2017.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, November 14, 2016

Ice Crystals in the Window

I saw these tiny ice crystals in our balcony windows. Ice crystals were very small and I had to use macro lens together with extension tubes.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Ice crystals in the window
Date: 6th of November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF100mm f/2.8 USM + Kenko Extension Tubes.

Editing: Cropping, more contrast, sharpening.

Lens and Cover Blog | Ice Crystals in the Window | Tornio, Finland

Here is another.

Lens and Cover Blog | Ice Crystals in the Window | Tornio, Finland

Winter has just started here in North Finland, so there will be lot of photos regarding winter and snow in this blog.

Regards,
Mika

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Must See Places in Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Philippines

Puerto Princesa, Philippines. This time something totally different. Palawan Island in Philippines has voted the best island in the world few times. I have spent in Palawan about 9 months and most of the time in Puerto Princesa, which is capital city of the Palawan province.

Lens and Cover Blog | Must See Places in Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Philippines

Place: Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines
Video: Must see places in Puerto Princesa area.

Here is a video, where I have chosen Must See places in Puerto Princesa area in Palawan.


Beautiful places in tropical Puerto Princesa City area. Enjoy!

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Winter is coming - Frozen Tornio River

Here is Northern Finland days are getting colder and last days have been already subzero days. At the moment temperature is -12C, so it means the river has already frozen. This photo I took two days a go on Sunday.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Frozen Tornio River
Date: 6th of November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EOS EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Editing: Cropping


One interesting point of the photo. I took this photo at 14:45, but sun was already very low. Today two day later sunrise was 8:44AM and sunset was already at 3:29PM, so sun is above horizon only 6h 45min.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, November 7, 2016

Train Bridge and Windmills

This just a interesting example how focal length effect to background of the photo. Here in the photo train bridge is on the front and windmills on the background are quite far from the bridge. Windmills look colossal.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Train bridge between Tornio in Finland and Haparanda in Sweden and windmills.
Date: 3rd of November, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS 

Editing: Sharpening and cropping.

Lens and Cover Blog | Train Bridge and Windmills | Photography

Any idea how to use this feature and do some funny tricks?

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Pier in Penang, Malaysia

This time old photo. I took this photo when I was motorcycling around the Penang Island in Malaysia.

Place: Teluk Bahang in Penang Island, Malaysia
Photo: Pier near Teluk Bahang
Date: 26th of January, 2011

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Shot: 1/250 sec. f/8 55mm ISO100

Editing: B&W conversion, more contrast, some cropping.

Lens and Cover Blog | Pier in Penang, Malaysia

Great memories of the riding day even it was quite cloudy day. More photos from Penang in my travel blog. You can use Search (Haku) on the  up right corner.

Regards,
Mika

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Reflection

I took this photo from Tornio riverside. There was some fog on the background and river was like mirror.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Reflection in Tornio River
Date: 20th of October, 2016

Camera: LG G2 mobile phone (HDR Mode)

Editing: Some cropping, contrast, highlights

Lens and Cover Blog | Reflection | http://lensandcover.blogspot.com

It's quite rare, that river is so calm in the day time.

Regards,
Mika

Friday, October 28, 2016

Review - Small and Powerful DJI Mavic Pro Drone

Lens and Cover Blog | Review - Small and Powerful DJI Mavic Pro Drone

I have been interested about drones already many years, but I have never owned one. During the last few years drones have developed a lot and features are getting better and better.

One of the newest and most interesting drone on the market is at the moment DJI Mavic Pro. It's small and powerful drone with 4 vision sensors, 4K camara and amazing 4.3mi (7Km) range.

In fact the size is now very compact, because the arms are possible to fold to small packet.

Lens and Cover Blog | Review - Small and Powerful DJI Mavic Pro Drone

Mavic Pro promotional video.


Here is interesting review of Mavic Pro.


Very impressive drone indeed! I think I have to buy one.

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Rajalla Mall in Tornio

I took this photo today from the border of Finland and Sweden. The Rajalla Mall in the photo is in Tornio in Finland side, but I took this photo from Haparanda Sweden side.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: Rajalla Mall in Tornio
Date:   25th of October, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Editing: B&W conversion, more contrast, highlights down, more sharpness, cropping.

Lens and Cover Blog | Rajalla Mall in Tornio

Tornio is my home town, but this was also new angle to the mall for me too. Always something new.

Regards,
Mika

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Found the keys - Where is my Porsche?

Now in autumn every place is full of fallen leaves. I decided to play little bit with the leaves and took few photos.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Fallen leaves
Date: 19th of October, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Shot: 1/30 sec. f/5.6 50mm ISO100

Editing: Cropping, sharpening, highlights down, more contrast.

Lens and Cover Blog | Fallen Leaves

Same photo as a B&W is also effective.

Lens and Cover Blog | Fallen Leaves

Leaves and mobile phone.

Lens and Cover Blog | Fallen Leaves

It was also fun to play with depth of field when taking these photos.

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Macro: Fly

Now is already October, so it means almost all insects have disappeared here in North Finland. Few days a go I saw a fly in balcony, which hardly could move anymore at all, because it was already so cold. It was perfect target to take same macro shots.

I don't have external flash, so I used internal flash and also flashlight to have some extra light.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Fly
Date:   15th of October, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM + Kenko Extension Tubes (3)

Editing: Cropping, sharpening and highlights down

I tried many different manual setting. Here I used: 1/125 sec. f/18 100mm ISO320

Lens and Cover Blog | Macro: Fly

Closer. 1/60 sec. f/11 100mm ISO100

Lens and Cover Blog | Macro: Fly

Front close-up. 1/125 sec. f/14 100mm ISO320

Lens and Cover Blog | Macro: Fly

Normally it's very difficult or almost impossible to go so near a fly like I did in these shots.

Regards,
Mika

Friday, October 14, 2016

Northern Lights - 13th of October 2016

This evening we had some Northern Lights here in Tornio. This was my best one today.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo:  Northern Lights
Date:   13th of October, 2016 at 22:23

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 5 sec. f/3.5 15mm ISO320

Lens and Cover Blog | Northern Lights | Aurora Borealis | Tornio, Finland

Numbers in the Northern Lights forecast have been very high today for the whole evening and night. Unfortunately there came also some clouds, so I couldn´t take so many photos. Hopefully some evening again.

Regards,
Mika

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

One Day - One View

I took today photos in the morning and later on early evening from the same place. Weather just was totally different.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: City View toward Tornio vity hall
Date: 12th of October, 2016

Lens and Cover Blog | One Day. One View. Thick Fog. Foggy

Morning fog was so thick, that it was not possible to see city hall at all. Later on sun was shining and clear sky.

Regards,
Mika

Monday, October 10, 2016

Tornvallen - World War I Fortification in Haparanda

Tornvallen fortification was built in the end of World War I in 1918 to defend the railway bridge, which was under construction. Fortification include two bastions. The bridge was completed in October 1919. Tornvallen means Tower Hill in English.

Place:   Haparanda, Sweden
Photos: Tornvallen fortification
Date:    4-6th of October, 2016

South bastion.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

Fact sheet of Tornvallen.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

South bastion inside.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

Bastions have connected with the tunnel. Stairs go down to the tunnel.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

South bastion inside from another direction.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

South bastion on the left and north bastion on the background.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

Railway bridge between Haparanda in Sweden and Tornio in Finland. Connection tunnel between the bastions is just under railway, where I took this photo.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

North bastion.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

North bastion inside and stairs to the tunnel.

Lens and Cover Blog | Tornvallen Fortification in Haparanda

Only two years and this place will be already 100 years old. Piece of local history here in Haparanda-Tornio area.

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Muskrat Swimming

I took this photo few years ago in Tornio bay area, when muskrat was swimming grass in the mouth.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: Muskrat swimming
Date:   27th of June, 2011

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/320 sec. f/6.3 250mm ISO125

Editing: Cropping and sharpening

Lens and Cover Blog | Muskrat Swimming

This summer I didn´t see any muskrat even I tried to find several times.

Regards,
Mika

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Swans Flying

I was yesterday biking and taking photos, when I saw a flock of swans flying toward south.

Place:   Tornio, Finland
Photos: Flying Swans
Date:    1st of October, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Editing: Cropping, sharpening, highlights down

Lens and Cover Blog | Swans Flying

Here is another flock.

Lens and Cover Blog | Swans Flying

Winter is coming and all swans will fly to south warmer place.

Regards,
Mika

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Wall and Trees

I took this photo just outside of Tornio old church. Already lot of leaves on the ground.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Wall and trees next to Tornio old church
Date: 23rd of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/125 sec. f/5.6 85mm ISO800

Editing: More contrast, highlights down, sharpening

Lens and Cover Blog | Wall and Trees

Here is another photo from the same place. I just converted the photo to B&W and I added intentionaly too much contrast and sharpness, so it looks very dramatic.

Lens and Cover Blog | Wall and Trees

This is the best time of the year to take autumn photos here in North Finland.

Regards,
Mika

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Macro: Crane Fly

Lens and Cover Blog | Crane Fly

Days are getting colder here in North Finland. Insects also disappear. Anyway few days ago I still saw these long legs - Crane flies.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden
Photos: Crane Fly (Tipulidae)
Date: 16th and 17th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS (first 2 photos) and Kenko Extension Tubes + EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM (last three photos)

Lens and Cover Blog | Crane Fly

I took next day photos using Kenko extension tubes + 100mm macro lens.

Lens and Cover Blog | Crane Fly

On the front.

Lens and Cover Blog | Crane Fly

I used internal flash, but should have better external flash to get better macro photos. Sun was also already low, so it didn't help much anymore. 

Lens and Cover Blog | Crane Fly

Macro photography is very interesting and I really like it. I have already some ideas how to improve magnification in the future.

Regards.
Mika