Swans are back again

Looks like same swans have returned again. River is still frozen and there are still lot of snow. There is anyway already two small areas free of ice and swans are there again. This place is only few meters from the place where swans have had a nest already many years.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Swans are back again
Date: 19th of April

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX730 HS

Who is there?

Walk to the next free water.

Interesting to see how many small ones there will be  on coming summer.

Regards,
Mika

Waxwing and Rowan Berries

In the last post I tested zoom in my new Canon PowerShot SX730 HS. This photo I took also using the same camera. Distance to bird was about three four meters.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Waxwing and Rowan Berries
Date: 15th of March, 2018

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Shot: 1/160 sec. f/5.6 61.899mm ISO160

Editing: Clarity, contrast and just a little bit cropping.

So far the camera has worked well. There are still some new features for me in the camera like using mobile phone as a remote control to camera via bluetooth, which I haven't tested yet.

Regards,
Mika

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS Superzoom - Quick Zoom Test

I have had in my mind already long time that I want some kind of superzoom pocket camera. I have Canon EOS 60D DSLR and Canon PowerShot G15 in use, but superzoom camera would combine long zoom and small size. One week ago Finnish Verkkokauppa.com had special offer of Canon SX730 HS Travel Kit, which included also case for the camera and very small Joby Gorillapod Original tripod. The price for the package was 249.90€, which was 120€ under normal price and I had to buy one.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Canon SX730 HS - Quick Zoom Test
Date: 15th of March, 2018

SX730 HS has normal 20.3 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, but the big thing is 40x optical zoom which is equivalent to 24-960mm in 35mm terms.

Here is my first zoom test, where is easy to see the zoom range. First the wide view.

Here in this second photo I zoomed to the fisherman on the right.

Zoom works well and the quality of the photos are good especially for the size of the camera. First impression of the camera is great.

I will post more photos soon, what I have taken using this SX730 HS.

Regards,
Mika

Winter Market 2018 in Tornio

I took this photo last weekend, when in Tornio had winter market.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Winter Markets in Tornio
Date: 9th of March, 2018

Camera: Canon G15
Shot: 1/640 sec. f/2.8 19.123mm ISO160

Editing: Contrast, clarity.

It was snowing, but there was quite many people.

Regards,
Mika

Tornio 2017 in Photos

Tomorrow is already last day of the year, so it's time to summarize this year 2017. I created this video, where is possible to see how the seasons change from one to another and something what happened during the year here in Tornio near Arctic Circle.

Place: Tornio, Lapland, Finland
Video: Tornio 2017 in photos
Date: January 2017 - December 2017

Cameras: Canon EOS 60D and Canon PowerShot G15

Enjoy!

I created same kind of video also last year first time - so this is Tornio in 2016.

If you like the video or videos give thumb up, leave comment and subscribe my YouTube channel.

Happy New Year 2018!!

Regards,
Mika

Northern Lights in Tornio

Last night was possible to see northern lights (aurora borealis) here in Tornio. I took this shot from our balcony towards city hall, which is the highest building in the middle.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Northern Lights in Tornio
Date: 8th of November, 2017

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 6 sec. f/3.5 15mm ISO 320

Editing: Exposure, clarity, cropping

There has been many times high numbers in the weather forecast for the northern lights, but always cloudy. This time was finally clear sky.

Regards,
Mika

Foggy Afternoon

I took this photo two day ago in the city center, when was foggy afternoon.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Foggy afternoon
Date: 1st of Nov, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/30 sec. f/2.5 13.556mm ISO 800

Editing: Cropping

I took this photo at 16:30, but sun was already down and it was quite dark.

Regards,
Mika

Swimming Pool is Open in Torne River - Ice Swimming

It's again that time of the year, when river freezes. It means also ice swimming.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Swimming Pool is Open in Torne River - Ice Swimming
Date: 31st of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/400 sec. f/2.8 10.013mm ISO 160
Editing: For this first photo I used HDR effect, clarity and cropping.

Swimming pool is open.

Swimmers.

Have you tried ice swimming? If not, try it. I have tried twice in this same place few winter ago and it was interesting...and refreshing.

Regards,
Mika

First Ice

This week has been already subzero temperature in the day time. I took this photo on monday, when Tornio Kaupunginlahti was already frozen.

Place: Tornio, Finland

Photo: First ice
Date: 23rd of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15

Shot: 1/250 sec. f/2.8 30.5mm ISO 80

Editing: Highlights, contrast, clarity, cropping.

Thickness of the ice was already more than 1cm. That's quite much in so short time. In winter it will be here usually 70-80cm depending the place.

Regards,

Mika 

Fall - Path in Torne riverside

Leaves have already fallen down from the trees in Torne riverside. This is one of my favorite place for walking in summer and fall here in Tornio. Beautiful and relaxing place.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Fall - Path in Torne riverside
Date: 19th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15

Editing: Contrast, clarity, highlights, cropping. For the second photo also B&W conversion.

Torne riverside.

Almost from the same place, but B&W.

Let's see when here start to snow. First snow has already been on the ground, but it melted it quickly.

Regards,
Mika

Fall Colors in Tornio Kaupunginlahti

At the moment many trees have already dropped the leaves. I took these photos about one week ago, when was sunny day and fall colors looked great.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photos: Fall Colors in Tornio Kaupunginlahti
Date: 9th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15

Editing: Contrast, clarity, croppping.

View under the tree.

Bridge.

Path to the bridge.

Last night temperature was already below zero here in Tornio, so winter is coming.

Regards,
Mika

Green Line, Bridges and Torne River

Here is view near Sweden border towards Green Line and bridges in Torne riverside.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Green Line, Bridges and Torne River
Date: 6th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Shot: 1/125 sec. f/11 15mm ISO 100

Editing: HDR effect, B&W conversion, contrast, highlights, clarity, cropping.

Clouds are better visible using HDR effect.

Regards,
Mika

Fall Colors - Kauppakatu and Saarenpäänkatu in Tornio

Here are two street photos from Tornio in fall colors.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Fall Colors - Kauppakatu and Saarenpäänkatu in Tornio
Date: 7th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15

Editing: Contrast, clarity, cropping.

Kauppakatu, Tornio, Finland

Saarenpäänkatu, Tornio, Finland

Some trees have already dropped all the leaves.

Regards,
Mika

Calm Torne River

I took this photo yesterday when I was walking on Torne riverside. River was like a mirror. I edited and used HDR effect for this photo.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Calm Torne River
Date: 12th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/320 sec. f/2.8 6.1mm ISO 160

Editing: HDR effect, contrast, clarity, saturation, cropping.

Nice day for walking.

Regards,
Mika

Fall Colors - Bench and Path

Today was good example how fall colors really shine, when weather is also good.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Fall Colors - Bench and Path
Date: 9th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/1250 sec. f/2.8 9.323mm ISO 80

Editing: Contrast, clarity, cropping.

Riverside is always good place to take photos.

Regards,
Mika

End of Boating Season

I took this photo near Tornio bridges and there was also this old broken boat.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: End of Boating Season
Date: 7th of October, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/320 sec. f/2.8 6.891mm ISO 80

Editing: HDR effect, contrast, clarity, cropping.

HDR effect works quite nicely in this photo and the boat comes better visible.

Regards,
Mika

Flock of Swans on river in Tornio

This time of the year birds fly from North Europe to south. Also swans. I took this photo few days ago, when there was big flock of swans on the river.

Place: Torne River (Finnish: Tornionjoki), Tornio, Finland
Photo: Flock of swans on the river in Tornio
Date: 2nd of October 2017

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/640 sec. f/7.1 250mm ISO 1000

Editing: Contrast, clarity, highlights, cropping.

Yesterday I didn't see the swans anymore in the same place, so maybe those left already towards south.

Regards,
Mika

Fall Colors - Torne Riverside

This time fall colors from Torne riverside. This is very nice place also in summer time.

Place: Torne riverside, Tornio, Finland
Photo: Fall colors - Torne riverside
Date: 30th of September, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/125 sec. f/2.8 12.819mm ISO 160

Editing: Contrast, highlights, saturation, clarity, cropping.

There are already lot of leaves on the ground and soon there will be all.

Regards,
Mika

Fall Colors - Ainopuisto in Tornio

Summer is over and now is already fall. It means also fall colors. This photo I took in Ainopuisto.

Place: Ainopuisto, Tornio, Finland
Photo: Fall colors - Ainopuisto in Tornio
Date: 17th of September, 2017

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15
Shot: 1/125 sec. f/8 12.819mm ISO 250

Editing: Contrast, exposure, highlights, saturation, cropping.

Fall is good time for photography. Nature change color and there is possibility to see big group of birds.

Regards,
Mika

Landmarks - Church and Factory

I took this photo from old water tower in Tornio. On the front on the photo is Alatornio church and on the background Outokumpu steel factory and wind mills.

Place: Tornio, Finland
Photo: Landmarks - Church and Factory
Date: 29th of June, 2017

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/500 sec. f/8 250mm ISO 100

Editing: Contrast, exposure, highlight, saturation, cropping and sharpening.

Objects on the background looks much bigger, because of long focal length.

Regards,
Mika