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100 for 100

To celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017, I posted a Photo of the Day with a Finnish twist every day for 100 days leading up to the centenary year. Hopefully, my personal experiences of having lived here since 2002 will provide some insights to this place I call home.

Helsinki 12

Finland 100: 12 – New Build

Sony A7RII : f/8@800th : ISO 320 : EV +0.3 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence There can’t be many capital cities in Europe that have so many large construction projects going on all at once. I suppose that’s what happens when you relocate the docks at Kalasatama and Jätkäsaari a little further out and release all that prime real estate. Then you add in […]

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Helsinki 11

Finland 100: 11 – Musiikkitalo

Sony A7RII : f/8@400th : ISO 320 : EV +0.7 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence A beautiful autumn morning to show off ‘Musiikkitalo‘, or Helsinki Music Centre; it was completed in 2011 and took over from Finlandia Hall as the main concert venue. It is also a building I walk passed most mornings and evenings on my way to and from work. One […]

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Helsinki 10

Finland 100: 10 – Functionalism

Sony A7RII : f/8@100th : ISO 2500 : EV +0.3 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence Functionalism, the essence of Finnish design. The bicycle and snow shovels in this image still do the job, what more do you want! Obviously, this is a rather simplistic point of view. You just have to look at the bicycles being produced in Helsinki by Pelago to get an idea of […]

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Helsinki 9

Finland 100: 9 – Sibelius

Sony A7RII : f/8@1600th : ISO 320 : EV 0.0 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence Seeing as the previous post introduced the theme of Finnish national identity, it would be impossible to have that conversation without acknowledging how important a role the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius has had in helping to form that identity. With his work ‘Finlandia’, he evoked the national struggle of the Finnish people. Finns may not be […]

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Helsinki 8

Finland 100: 8 – Kantele

Sony A7RII : f/3.5@60th : ISO 2000 : EV -0.3 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence The Kantele is the traditional musical instrument of Finland, taught to young children in schools across the country, just like this collection here at my daughter’s school; and the kantele played by Väinämöinen in the national epic Kalevala is even endowed with magical properties. ‘Kantele’ and ‘Kalevala’, with an understanding of just […]

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Helsinki 7

Finland 100: 7 – Silja Line

Sony A7RII : f/8@1000th : ISO 160 : EV -0.7 : FE 55mm f/1.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence A regular sighting of a Silja Line ferry, one of the many ferries in the Port of Helsinki that go about their daily business connecting the major cities in the Baltic and beyond. I’ve only made it on the short ride to Tallinn and the overnighter to Stockholm so […]

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Helsinki 6

Finland 100: 6 – Baana

Sony A7RII : f/11@200th : ISO 400 : EV -0.7 : FE 35mm f/2.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence Winters may be long but the fireworks heralding the dying days make it all ok. And then there’s Baana, the cycle lane for all seasons cutting through the centre from east to west. A pity I’m only a fair weather cyclist. When I first arrived in Helsinki back […]

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Helsinki 5

Finland 100: 5 – Linko

Sony A7RII : f/8@320th : ISO 500 : EV -0.3 : FE 55mm f/1.8 A countdown of 100 images for the 100 days leading up to the 100th Year of Finland’s independence Linko Pizzabar is one of my favourite eateries in my local area of Take-Töölö. This image was taken at their original venue, where they became so popular that they moved to a larger site. I was worried that they might lose the special something in the move but, […]

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