Suomenlinna (bi-cone steel buoy)
Suomenlinna has one of the oldest dry docks in the world (from around c. 1750). Nowadays the dry dock is used for repairing wooden sailing ships, reviving traditional handcraft skills.
Logo with centurion helmet and anchor
The logo on this buoy looks more modern than the large bi-cone steel buoy on which it is printed. The logo appears to show centurion's helmet and anchor. In the Great Courtyard, the tomb of Augustin Ehrensvärd (founder of Suomenlinna) incorporates a helmet (centurion). Are these linked?
Suomenlinna (Finland's Fortress)
Suomenlinna is on an island (6 islands), a UNESCO sea fortress located off the coast of Helsinki. It can be reached via a 15 minute ferry ride on Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) from Helsinki harbour. Visitors can explore the fortress walls, tunnels, paths, buildings and cannons, and visit museums and exhibitions.
Entrances and passages
The fortress has aged over 200 years. At each turn of the head, there is something of beauty and awe to look at.
Fagervik (fishing boats)
Fagervik is a village in the municipality of Ingå. These boats were placed by the lake at Fagervik, now a museum and site of an old ironworks and village.
Objects in harmony with their surroundings
The boats have attractive colours. Their aerodynamic design is modest and functional, a ribbed structure with a prominent spine. The hulls, turned over, look in complete harmony with the surroundings.
Fagervik Kyrka (church)
Fagervik Church (privately owned) is as old (c.1740-70) as Suomenlinna. As well as services, it hosts events and can be visited as part of pre-arranged guided tours. Like Ingå church, the bell tower is a separate building, common in Finnish churches.
"Melting glass" and leaning structures
The world outside looks warped when viewed through the aged window panes of the church. As objects age, they no longer stand straight or vertical. As we become older and display signs of aging, the church building gracefully ages with us.
Ingå Kyrka (church)
Ingå Church is one of the oldest (c.1230) churches (still active) in Finland. The bell tower is a separate building, common for Finnish churches. Ingå Church also hosts concerts and other events.
Understated but exquisite
The church is tall and impressive, with perfectly maintained ("manicured") churchyard cemetery and surroundings. The gravel in the war cemetery has been raked into concentric lines (to honour those that died). Gardening and landscaping tools are respectfully arranged and maintained. The colours (sea grey, burnt sienna, yellow ochre and burnt umber) are not used in advertising.
Suomenlinna (fortress walls)
Plain, simple and obvious subjects for the camera can become head turners. One has to slow down and look at the details (from different angles).
Entry points to photographs
There is no space around the subject in the photos. The viewer's "entry points" into the photos are from any of the 4 sides. The images become flatter. There is no perspective. So now the viewer is free to imagine. In these pictures, the viewer makes the picture. There is more focus on the essence.