Jiggers

Helsinki, Vanhankaupunginlahti. 31.1.2009

I was looking for some mallards, but they have gone. Where? Instead there was jiggers on the ice. The weather was sunny but freezing. I cannot understand how anybody has the patience (and the ass) to sit ice fishing for hours.

Christoed enterance

Helsinki, Inarintie. 30.2.2009

The neighbouring house is "christoed", wrapped in plastic, due to the renovations. Yes, I fancy these veiled buildings, the play of light and shapes; temporary art for every passerby.

Lazy

Helsinki, at home. 29.1.2009

Quiet day at home, reading.

Childhood house

Helsinki, Ullanlinna. 28.2.2009

We moved to this house when I was five, and the perspective shows how it felt to move back to Helsinki after living in small villages. The building has its 100th anniversary this year.

Clock

Helsinki, Main railway station. 29.2.2009

The clock tower of Helsinki railway station is under repairs, not the clock. Anyway the sight brought to my mind this.

Park

Helsinki, Sörnäinen. 26.1.2009



It's snowing. A quick tram trip to buy a new ink cassette to the laser printer. Amazing how long the first one lasted, about ten years, even if I print a lot.

Colours

Helsinki, Vallila. 25.1.2009

A dull and grey day, but walking round the block I saw these, these... colourful somethings.

Camera-hand

Helsinki, at home. 24.1.2009

I have strange rash on my left hand. Next week I have an appointment to a dermatologist. Today I realized where the rash comes from... The camera! The turning LCD with metal frames touches my left hand, and I have nickel and chrome allergy. Well, not a reason to quit photography.

Boxer

Helsinki, Hämeentie. 23.1.2009

A new shop round the corner selling boxing gloves, punchballs etc. The dummy looks, however, more like one who stays at the ringside.

Bowl

Helsinki, at home. 22.1.2009

Quiet day, just working. Didn't even do any shopping, except his PS.

To be continued

Helsinki, Vallila. 21.1.2009

Sawdust blowing.
Renovations to be continued, and it's going to be a long story. Today a hug container appeared to the courtyard. Maybe a base for the men, I don't know yet.

His way

Helsinki, Mäkelänkatu. 20.1.2009

The old man moves around Helsinki with his bicycle and a load of plastic bags. I'm not sure but he might be one of the "forest men" who sleep in huts and tents and refuse to live in an old peoples' home or a social home.

Window

Helsinki, Vallila. 19.1.2009

A walk round the corner, to the shop. In the neighbour house the man was having a look how the renovations proceed. Swiftly! I'm happy that so far I haven't heard too much noise. It's cold and it's snowing so I keep my windows shut.

Snow

Helsinki, Vallila. 18.1.2009

In the night world had turned white. The white dog is not quite snow white...

All night long

Helsinki, Vallila. 17.1.2009

Working too late. Went to the balcony and saw the moon rising; it happened amazingly fast. Almost could feel the globe turning. Or is it just my head?

Supershopping

Helsinki, Arabia. 16.1.2009

Quick excursion to the shopping centre for food and wine and warm underwear because I have cold at home sitting by the computer all day.

Renovations

Helsinki, Euranlinna. 15.1.2009

Not a long wait; the plumbing renovations in this house have begun. Dust - as here - and noise. For two years.

Lunch break

Helsinki, at home. 14.1.2009

These days I'm working like a bulldozer. No time for photowalks. Just a lunch break and back to the computer.

Wheelbarrows

Helsinki, Eurantie. 13.1.2009

Renovations in the house next to mine have begun. Lots of noise and dust, but as usual the building packed in plastic looks intriguing as a Christo work. Even these wheelbarrows are like a sculpture. Daily art, just a few steps away. I hardly can wait for the plumbing renovations to begin in this house. Hmmm.

Advice

Helsinki, at home. 12.1.2009

I have been struggling with the picture sizes of my other blog http://cameo-mathilda.blogspot.com/
A helpful person sent me some advice (here on print), and I hope there is now some progress.

Car wreck

Helsinki, Eurantie. 11.1.2009

The suffering - the neglect - of things, objects is sad. Nowadays their life is getting shorter and shorter. An object's death is programmed to give space for brand new ones. I'm delighted when I see a well kept old car. Often the owners turn out to be an old couple.

Omega

Helsinki, Sturenkatu. 10.1.2009

Time of this gold, silver and watches shop has stopped. The shelves are empty, the door closed. The enterprise was in the same quarter for fifty years. I'm glad that I took some pictures when the old watchmaker still worked there. In the past years mostly changing batteries... I felt pity for a qualified craftsman.

Having fun

Helsinki, Arabia. 9.1.2009

These guys were riding a car (which rocks when you feed a coin) in the supermarket. Their happy faces were like sunshine in the market where adults hassled wearing after-Christmas-sales-bargain faces. Their mother gave me the permission to take a photo.

Porch

Helsinki, Vallila. 8.1.2009

Another reality

Helsinki, Kaisaniemi. 7.1.2009

Cinema's lobby in the mirror. I went to see Jan Troell's film Everlasting moments (2008). It tells the story of a working class woman Maria Larsson in the beginning of the 20th century. She wins a folding camera in a lottery and finally learns how to use it and how to develop pictures from the glass plates. It's like a miracle. Photography gives happy moments in her hard life with seven children, lots of work and a husband who drinks and beats the family. Troell's film is based on a true story told by Maria Larsson's daughter.

Bird canteen

Helsinki, Vallila. 6.1.2009

Somebody has established an Alpro Soya chain of bird canteens in the nearby park. There were at least six of them. The customers were great tits and sparrows. Heavy and clumsy pigeons were waiting for their share on the ground.
More backyard sights can be found here and here too.

Twelfth Night

Helsinki, Vallila. 5.1.2009

Just writing something about Shakespeare... absorbed in my work when I looked out and saw that daylight is fading.

Frost II

Helsinki, Vallila. 4.1.2009

The car is frost tuned. Flowers and stars which frost creates are amazingly complex in shape and structure.

Frost

Helsinki, Vallilanlaakso. 3.1.2009

Strange that there is about - 10 degrees, but no snow. The white is frost, thin, cold layer on the grass.

Cold

Helsinki, Vallila. 2.1.2009

This sight brings childhood to my mind; the cold and clear winter days when none of us knew the word "pollution" yet.

Interior

Helsinki, at home. 1.1.2009

After the New Year's Eve with plenty of bubbly, kind of interior feeling today.