Christmas is coming

It's only two and half week for the Christmas and it's easy to see. This christmas tree photo I took on the front of Rajalla Mall in Tornio.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Christmas is coming
Date: 3rd of December, 2017

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 ISO 1250

Editing: Cropping.

Soon this year will be also over and it's new year 2018.

Regards,
Mika

Do you want ice?

In Finland you get drinks always cold in the bars - for sure.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Do you want ice?
Date: 3rd of March, 2017

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/250 sec. f/11 35mm ISO 100

Editing: Cropping and sharpening.

Nice icicles!

Regards,
Mika

Ready to swim?

March is the last real winter month in Finland. Swimming outside is anyway possible all year round. In winter it just means ice swimming. This is the main ice swimming place in Tornio.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Ready to swim?
Date: 3rd of March, 2017

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

Editing: Little bit cropping and sharpening.

I have tried ice swimming twice, but not this winter. How about you?

Regards,
Mika

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.

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

Regards,
Mika

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

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

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

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

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.

Fact sheet of Tornvallen.

South bastion inside.

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

South bastion inside from another direction.

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

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

North bastion.

North bastion inside and stairs to the tunnel.

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

Regards,
Mika

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

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

Tornio Stadium

I took this picture from old water tower like I took also the Ferris Wheel photo.

Place:   Tornio, Finland
Target: Tornio Stadium
Date:    20th of July, 2016

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

Editing: Only sharpening.

Stadium is in the middle of the city, so it's easy to see also church, city hall and river on the back ground.

Regards,
Mika