Rocky beach, a photo from Southern Finland, South

Photographer's Note

I had run errands in western Helsinki and on my way home I decided to visit Lauttasaari recreation area. The weather was sunny, windy and chilly. I did not have my camera with me, but I did not resist the urge to shoot a few photos with my mobile phone. :-) Here is one of them.

Lauttasaari is an island and neighbourhood of Western Helsinki, about 3 kilometres west of the city centre. With a population of 19000, Lauttasaari is primarily a residential area but also contains services, including several marinas and canoe clubs. Although close to the city centre, Lauttasaari is noted for its preserved forest areas and rocky outcrops.

The southernmost part of the island was in military use during the Russian rule in the 1800's. No real garrison was formed there, but ramparts and weapon stores were built into the area. After Finland became independent, the area was for some time in the use of Finnish army until the city of Helsinki bought it for a recreation area.

The Finnish name "Lauttasaari" means "Ferry Island". The island was connected to the centre of Helsinki by a steam ferry in 1918-1936. Since 1935 the island has been connected to main Helsinki by a bridge. The original bridge was way too narrow and has been replaced by a new one. Moreover another bridge passing the motorway traffic to the west was erected in 1965. You can see both bridges if you zoom out the map view.

The photo is taken from the southernmost point of the island. Direction is south-west. Many mute swans were staying around in the shallow waters.

PP: Adjusted highlights, shadows, levels and contrast.

Geocode: 60.144357,24.875922

Buin, saxo042, papagolf21, ktanska, holmertz, JudyR, Cretense, bobocortis, vinicio, gracious has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Buin (42580) 2009-05-15 23:17

Good morning, Lasse!
That's something for a landlubber - taken with my cell phone ;-) The quality of the photo really is amazing. I like this impression of wideness and peace in this picture. The few "ingredients" create a beautiful scenery.
Greetings - and have a nice weekend!
Frank from sunny Siegen

saxo042 (38078) 2009-05-16 2:23

Hej Lasse,
A very fine picture for being from a Nokia! Nice to see the swans floating around here, adding some life to the picture. A interesting to see the same strongly abraded rocks we have here on the west coast. I wonder if the scientists some 12.000 years ago were very worried about that global warming, that made the inland ice retreat so fast. But at least our Nordic countries were made available!
H鋖sningar
Gunnar

Disabled_A (0) 2009-05-17 1:22

Hello Lasse,
I can't believe: you shoot photos with a mobile phone!! :)) Incredible quality for a cell phone camera! Well, the lighting conditions helped, of course, because it was sunny and the air was clear.
This means one important thing: companies producing cell phones whould change their concept about built-in cameras and make such cameras of a better quality with more technical settings! - for such photographers who sometimes do not have their camera with them ;)

As always, I like the composition very much: you know how to choose it.
How tiny those swans look in comparison with the big rock in the FG!
Warm regards,
and a very nice Sunday to you!
Elena

anto95 (1840) 2009-05-17 13:40

Hi lasse,
All aspect of the pictures are superb (especialy depth of focus and composition).
Antonello

papagolf21 (152607) 2009-05-17 13:50

Bonsoir, Lasse,
J'ai l'impression de voir une image sortie d'un conte de f閑s avec ces superbes volatiles glissant 閘間amment sur les eaux calmes.
La beaut� du paysage est extraordinaire. Le choix du cadrage est parfait pour donner � cette composition toute la beaut� qu'elle m閞ite.
Amiti閟.
Philippe

Clementi (52514) 2009-05-18 2:27

Ciao Lasse,
anche da voi la primavera e' arrivata, spettacolare paesaggio con una bella profondita' e molto bella anche la scena molto naturale. complimenti per il tuo cellurare fa delle ottime foto
Giorgio

ktanska (45094) 2009-05-18 3:54

Hei Lasse,
Nice sunny spring view from Rocky shoreline. Swans catch attention nicely. I guess noise reduction which shows as overly smooth water surface was done inside the phone camera?
Kari

holmertz (103660) 2009-05-18 8:50

Hej Lasse,
This would be a technically good picture with any kind of camera, really, but for a picture from a mobile phone I would call it fantastic. The sharpness and colours are excellent. Regarding the motif, the light falls nicely on the naked rocks, and the swans are welcome participants.
H鋖sningar,
Gert

JudyR (1671) 2009-05-18 11:11

Flat waters like we see here. Many people think we are on a lake, and this water looked the same, but when you mentioned islands, I thought, no, you're protected just as we are. And then mute swans too. How very nice. Judy

Cretense (68709) 2009-05-19 4:04

Hi Lasse!

Beautiful place, unusual seaside place, I like the rocks and their formations, but I also like the swans passing by! Nice framing and composition, great light managment! Congratulations!

Hercules

marcan44 (6315) 2009-05-19 5:09

Ciao Lasse, una buona foto che nessuno direbbe sia stata presa con il cellulare.
Buona la scelta dell'orizzonte marino a due terzi della'altezza e la prospettiva data dallo scoglio in primo piano peraltro molto nitido.
Complimenti
Regards
Mario

bobocortis (16090) 2009-05-19 7:08

Hello Lasse.
The swans give some items of elegance in this magnificent seascape. An excellent shot taken with a mobile phone!
Best regards.
Bobo.

vinicio (23423) 2009-05-19 8:51

Classic, pleasant and calm view, nice composition too, well doen Lasse, beautiful one, compliments.
Have a nice day
Ciao
Vinicio

RedDevil (1217) 2009-05-19 9:49

Hello Lasse,
Perfect schot for composition, ligth and colours.
Bravo (See a WS)
Salvatore

[workshop] [compare]

gracious (20025) 2009-05-19 19:23

Hello Lasse,
How are you!
not bad at all from a handphone indeed! quite amazing with the quality!
the fg rocks looks real sharp with nice details and a good distance view!
thanks for the notes
take good care and regards
Tony

Silvio1953 (222991) 2009-05-21 12:57

Ciao Lasse, splendid sea view with beautiful rocks in FG, wonderful light and colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

Longroute (19600) 2009-06-17 1:56

This is really a photo which conveys the sense of infinite space, just what we like to see at seaside. A well chosen POV and composition is responsible for that.
Small particulars, like the swans and the scattered rocks, enhance the sense of depth. The general quality is fairly good even if with the limits a mobile phone gives and the Finnish light is really rewarding.
An image which is well worth to be posted here.
(Bat next time bring with you your Canon 400D)
Best regards,
Donato