Kirjakaari
Somewhere in Finland
Paavo Hamunen • Johannes Lahti
Somewhere in Finland Photos © Johannes Lahti © Paavo Hamunen Graphic design Pekka Oikarinen Text Janne Rosenqvist Print WS Bookwell, Porvoo Publisher Kirjakaari ISBN 978-952-67343-1-6 2010
SOMEWHERE IN FINLAND
PAAVO HAMUNEN • JOHANNES LAHTI
KIRJAKAARI
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One does not leave the camera behind
T
wo experienced photographers, one from the North, one from the Southwest, and Finland between them and around them. Add to that a few years and a lot of photographs, fine photographs, each worth their own postcard. Photographs of landscapes and moments, events and people; momentary views of Finnish life and nature, always as surprising, always offering something new. From behind a camera, nothing ever looks the same. This is why we always take the camera with us on trips, always. One never knows what kind of a scenery or situation one will encounter. A moment worth immortalizing, a moment worth a story. This is our way of telling you about Finland now. It is our postcard from this country. For us Finns, and for you, guests, for the enjoyment of everyone. Be our guests, enjoy Finland!
RE WHE E M ND SO NLA IN FI
Paavo Hamunen & Johannes Lahti
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THE
ARCHIPELAGO
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HIARC E H T GO PELA
W
hen I as a sailor see the beauty of the open archipelago, I weep. When I as a researcher see the plight of one of the world’s largest and also one of the most polluted brackish water basins, I weep. If there is anything holy at all, it lies in making the right choices. If we lose the Baltic Sea, how are we ever going to explain it to posterity? The right choices to make are to protect the Baltic Sea here and now. While we still have time and while we still can.
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Eckerรถ in ร land.
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Eckerรถ in ร land.
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Bathing sauna.
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Strandbo and the Burnet rose.
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Morning mist and a jetty in Parainen. S채rkisalo.
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Bjรถrkholm, Parainen.
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Ruissalo and Kemiรถ.
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THE CITY
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THE
CITY
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hen we looked at the map, it seemed to be so far in the cold North that we almost had a mind to cancel the whole trip. Well, luckily we didn’t. Temperatures of almost 30 degrees centigrade accompanied us in the beautiful capital of Finland, where nearly everybody speaks English. The only downside in our vacation week was that we lugged with us a suitcase full of unnecessary clothing.
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The colonnade of Suurkirkko, the Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki.
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Helsinki and Turku.
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The Olympic Stadium and the centre of the city, Helsinki.
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Handicrafts Museum, Turku.
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The University of Jyv채skyl채.
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Pori Jazz.
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Tropiclandia, Vaasa. S채rk채nniemi Adventure Park in Tampere.
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Kuopio after the thunderstorm.
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Savonlinna Opera Festival, Olavinlinna Castle, Savonlinna.
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Imatrankoski Rapids, Imatra.
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Kuopio after the rain.
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The Moomin World and ”The Christmas Church”, Naantali.
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Naantali Spa Hotel.
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The Raippaluoto Bridge, Vaasa. Oulu and the Old Rauma.
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THE FINNISH LAKE DISTRICT
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SH INNI F E TH LAKE T RIC DIST
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e think that the most interesting way of seeing the lakes in Finland is by a boat cruise. Boat cruises are journeys in more than one sense; taste journeys to the local food, adventure trips to pure nature, time travel in history, and cultural journeys. Also they are journeys into calm and quiet, into meditation or just enjoying unhurried existence, a rare treat for us as a generation used to constant rushing.
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Fishing in Central Finland.
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Evening swim.
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Sulkava Rowing Race.
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Oravi.
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Korpilahti, the willowherb and Neitvuori in Anttola.
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Saarij채rvi, Nurmes and Puumala.
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Savonlinna.
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Central Finland.
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Roine, Kangasala. Enonkoski.
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A sheep.
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A squirrel.
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The golden lily pads.
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RURAL FINLAND
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AL RUR D N A FINL
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t is almost unbelievable how near the countryside is in Finland: a few dozen kilometres by car from the city, if even that. Lush fields, glittering lakes, dense forests, all the fragrances of nature; well-kept farms, small villages and their beautiful churches beckon you to stop, to sit on a rock underneath a birch tree and to become one, for a moment, with something bigger than you.
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Hankasalmi and the barley.
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Korpilahti.
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The harvest time.
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Out to graze, Mietoinen and Lieto.
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A field of turnip rape in Kustavi and the rye.
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Cattle in Pöytyä.
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An autumn oak in Ruissalo.
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OSTROBOTHNIA
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ROOST IA HN BOT
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ere in the land of vast plains of open air, anyone who is even the least bit interested in winged creatures should find out about the wonderful possibilities of bird tourism. From Easter to the summer months, you can take in all sorts of natural drama and also family comedy at times, and at times tragedy. Also, you may well spot something very rare. So get your binoculars and get out there!
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Barns in Nurmo.
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Building culture from Ostrobothnia.
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Pyh채joki.
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The thunder.
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Jackdaws on the fence.
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Pyh채joki, Northern lights and the first snow.
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Art in nature. Gulf of Bothnia, Hailuoto.
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EASTERN FINLAND
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N TER EAS ND A FINL
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n our view, you could not find a better place for travel on your own initiative. Here, the warm hospitality is a way of life and part of everyday life, and the occasional visitor will feel welcome wherever they happen to roam. On our journey, we have seen all kinds of blessed folly and had the most extraordinary cultural experiences. If only some of this mirth and joy of life would rub off on us!
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Kuusamo.
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Taivalkoski, Tyr채vaara. Kitkajoki.
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Ruunaa and the yellowhammer.
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Kitkajoki, Kuusamo.
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Myllykoski in the summer night.
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Koli. Kitkajoki.
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Kitkajoki.
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K채yl채nkoski, Kuusamo.
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Kuontivaara.
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Ruka, Kuusamo.
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Running and solid water. Kitkaj채rvi Kuusamo.
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LAPLAND
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AND
LAPL
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e had many unique experiences in Lapland, but for us the definitely most exotic experience was driving some fifty kilometres on a highway without encountering a soul. Not even a single reindeer. Even the Finns themselves probably do not understand what an amazing country they live in!
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Saana, Kilpisj채rvi.
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The willow grouse.
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Kukkolankoski and the hiker, Lemmenjoki.
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Saana, Kilpisj채rvi.
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The golden eagle, Korouoma, Posio.
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The wood grouse. A canoeist on Lemmenjoki.
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Pyh채 unplugged, Tokela, Pyh채tunturi.
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Kuruteatteri, Pyh채tunturi.
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Autumn colours in Lapland (The Arm of Finland) and a creek in Utsjoki.
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Keimiötunturi. View from Pyhävaara.
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A view from Levi and Kilpisj채rvi.
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Full moon and Northern lights.
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Ruka, Kuusamo.
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Luirojoki and reindeer in Saariselk채.
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Pallastunturi, crown Snow Load at Kuntivaara.
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Photos Š Paavo Hamunen, page: 4, 6-7, 28, 32, 33, 39, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 57, 85, 90, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 105,106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127.
Photos Š Johannes Lahti, page: 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18 ,19, 21, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 55, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 92, 95, 96, 116, 119.
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