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

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.

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

Regards,
Mika

Macro: 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)

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

On the front.

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. 

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

Regards.
Mika

International Grand Markets and Street Food Festival 2016 in Tornio

International Grand Market and Street Food Festival was held in Tornio in the first weekend of September. This was second time for the Grand Markets in Tornio. What makes this event special is international touch. Differend kind of food and other stands from all over the Europe, Asia and US.

Place: Tornio City Center, Finland
Event: International Grand Markets and Street Food Festival 2016
Date:  1st to 4th of September, 2016

Fudge from UK.

Death by chocolate. Really?

Souvenirs from UK.

Sausages from Germany.

Do you like salami?

Olives.

Gyros pitas are always good.

Mexican food.

Cool Perfect Gift items from Poland.

I liked also these planes. Very cool.

Dutch flowers.

What would be grand markets without German sausages?

Four days and lots of people.

International Grand Markets in Tornio was great event and local people really like it. Also weather was perfect during the weekend. According the organizer next year the event will be in Tornio on 31st of August to 3rd of September 2017.

Regards,
Mika

Moon, do you read me?

Full moon was just few days a go on 16th of September 2016. I took this photo yesterday evening. Aerial is just on the front of the moon and gives cool effect for the photo.

Today I tried to take better photo of the moon. I took many photos using different Manual settings and this was finally the best shot after heavy editing.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: Moon
Date:   18th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/40 sec. f/7.1 250mm ISO100

When I wrote heavy editing I want to show first the original shot without any editing.

Moon is very small and details are hardly visible. So what did I do?

Original photo is 5184 x 3456 pixels. Edited photo is only 576 x 576 pixels, because I had to crop it so much. Then I added Contrast. After that Highlights down even more. Finally photo is Sharpened heavily.

I'm quite happy for the edited photo.  What do you think?

Sigma and Tamron have both 150-600mm SuperZoom. That kind of lens would be so much better for moon and animal shots. Maybe some day.

Regards,
Mika

The Colors of Autumn in Riverside

We have now autumn/fall here in North Finland, so there are lot of colors in the nature. I took this photo today in the riverside.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: The colors of autumn in riverside
Date:   14th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/60 sec. f/5.6 50mm ISO100

There are already quite much leaves on the ground, but most of the leaves are still in the trees. Anyway soon all leaves have been fallen down.

Regards,
Mika

Dragonflies

I took these dragonfly photos on the same trip and same place like the previous photos about small frogs.

Place:   Riekkola, Haparanda, Sweden
Photos: Dragonflies
Date:    7th of September, 2016

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

Editing: Sharpening, highlights down, cropping

I have posted before dragonfly photo also earlier, but that was different species.

Also these mating dragonflies are different species than last time.

Dragonflies are interesting object for taking photos, but season for dragonflies will be very soon over here in North Europe.

Regards,
Mika

Small Frogs

I was watching yesterday swans on the seaside, when I suddenly realized there are jumping something just next to me. There was several small frogs. Size of the frogs were about 3cm.

Place:    Riekkola, Haparanda, Sweden
Photos: Small frogs
Date:     7th of September, 2016

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

Editing: Sharpening, contrast, saturation, cropping

This was nice, when the frog was on the leaf.

Same frog. Just different angle.

Here another small frog tries to hide and be invisible.

I haven´t seen frogs here in Finland or just other side of the border in Sweden for long time. Here are frogs, but I just haven´t been in that kind of place recently.

Regards,
Mika

Double Bridges

Walking bridge to Pikisaari Island and Tornio old bridge on the background.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: Double Bridges
Date:   5th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Shot: 1/80 sec. f/22 50mm ISO160

Editing: Sharpening, highlights down and cropping.

This was interesting and new angle to old bridge, which I saw when I was biking. I just had to turn back and take the photo.

Regards,
Mika

Northern Lights Season Has Started

Looks like Northern Lights season has already started here in Tornio, which is in south Lapland in Finland. There has been Northern Lights already many nights during last week. This photo I took from our condo balcony few nights ago.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Northern Lights season has started
Date: 3rd of September, 2016 at 01:25AM

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 6 sec. f/3.5 15mm ISO1000

Editing: Sharpening, highlights down, little bit cropping.

This is just a beginning of the Northern Lights season. Best time to see Northern Lights is usually from January to March, when are cold and clear nights, so this was nice surprise to see the Northern Lights already now. Waiting for the more clear nights!

Regards,
Mika

Barnacle Geese Landing on Water

Flock of barnacle geese landing on Tornio River.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden

Photo: Barnacle geese landing on water

Date: 20th of August, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D

Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Shot: 1/2000 sec. f/5.6 250mm ISO250

Editing: Sharpening and cropping

This is the same flock of barnacle geese like photo I posted earlier.

Regards,

Mika

Wild Ducks

Here in Tornio is a bay where are every summer lot of wild ducks. This summer was not exception. Young ones are not so small anymore.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Wild Dicks
Date:  26th and 29th of August, 2016

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

Editing: Sharpening and little bit cropping

This guy has different kind of color even it was in the same flock.

Bathing time.

Here the summer is in practice already over and wild ducks will fly soon out of Finland to warmer places.

Regards,
Mika