Harmaja lighthouse Photo

Photographer’s Note

When you are leaving Helsinki by boat, soon after the narrow strait of Kustaanmiekka between the islands of Suomenlinna sea fortress there is Harmaja island and lighthouse. I took this photo on my trip to to Tallin in a mostly overcast, still wintry day. The northern half of the Gulf of Finland had still weak or broken ices in the middle of March, but the southern half was iceless.

The island has been functioning as a landmark since the 16th century. A landmark structure was built on the island in the 18th century and a light house in 1883. The first lighthouse was only 7.3 m high and it soon proved to be too low. In 1900 the height was doubled by creating a rectangular brick building on a granite base. A large misthorn alerted ships in fog and in bad visibility. Harmaja received the world's first directed and undirected radiobeacon in 1936. The lighthouse is fully automated today.

There is also a pilot station on the island.

Geocode: 60.105, 24.975500

saxo042, Longroute, Fellini, ktanska, fanni, paololg, mikeo, Kielia, pauloog, JonteW has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (42769) 2009-04-19 3:39

Ciao Lasse, brrrr, great capture of fantastic lighthouse, wonderful composition full of ice, very well done, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

cobra112 (11914) 2009-04-19 4:23

Ciao Lasse. Great compo of winters'smell. Good light an contrast.

Roberto

saxo042 (16250) 2009-04-19 8:58

Hej Lasse,
Very fine with this red lighthouse in this very cold and "hostile" picture. So much ice! I remember once going to Finland by overnight ferry in such conditions, the noise from the ice scraping against the board of the ship made sleep impossible...
Hälsningar
Gunnar

Longroute (9833) 2009-04-19 11:53

Dear Lasse,

this is really a sight of the Baltic sea as we imagine it: i.e. full of ice! I'm ignorant about those matters but to me it seems like the pack in the North pole!
In spite of the overcast sky (or maybe just for it) it has a charm and atmosphere of its own: the wild and cold North, the reign of solitude and silence...
Needless to say that I like it!
The red lighhouse of course is an important and fine focal point and I think you have framed it well. Also the red boat adds interest and moviment, so I'd say that in its semplicity it is a very good photo. I see you have respected the rule of 2/3 for the sky and I agree with this choice because here it gives a wider sense of space. Furthermore it conveys very well the sense of a journey by boat... just what I like!
Best greetings,
Donato

ktanska (16695) 2009-04-20 3:50

Hei Lasse,
Red details show well against all grey landscape. Surprising to think how this small skerry is so famous and important to Finnish navigation. Good high viewpoint from a ship. Blocks of ice make special marble like texture.
Kari

Fellini (4962) 2009-04-20 3:56

Ciao Lasse...
Very frost shot on this little little island.
Wow, the sea is full of ice block, the lighthouse site contrast with the white surroundings.
Fine work and interesting note too.
Greetings
Alex

bobocortis (14144) 2009-04-20 10:42

Hello Lasse.
A frozen landscape, with some red items giving color to the shot.
Well decentered vertical items.
Best regards.
Bobo.

archimatica (13344) 2009-04-20 10:50

Hi, lasse.
Great picture and great site.
I like the light.

Regards
Renzo

Buin (38220) 2009-04-20 11:49

Hallo Lasse!
What a place - especially for a "staunch" landlubber like me! ;-)) The whole picture transmits cold and winter. This islet seems to be a rather inhospitabe place - even in summer. An interesting contribution!
Greetings from sunny ans warm Westphalia!
Frank

fanni (8873) 2009-04-20 14:38

Hello Lasse,
this time it's a VERY "cold" photo! Almost frozen. This makes me remember my photo of a red fire boat which I took on a cold, chilly winter day :)
This combination of colours - red, grey, greyish, white - creates this cold in the photo.
Excellent composition! Typical North... but so cold......!
as cold as it was in Moscow today: it snowed :(
Warm regards,
Elena

paololg (14227) 2009-04-20 14:43

Ciao dear Lasse,
image with the colors in the winter. I hope that now the sea is blue and that the spring also starts on this island. I admire a lot the people that work and live in the lighthouses, especially in the winter season. The photo is really beautiful and interesting
BRAVO!
Ciao, buona settimana anche a te!
Paolo

carper (65622) 2009-04-21 2:57

very nice one Lasse,
good photo of this winter shot, good details, fine composition, good job, have a nice day.
regard jaap

diomed (4595) 2009-04-21 3:46

Hi Lasse,
amazing northern landscape as we can imagine living on Mediterranea Sea. Impressive the horizon and the grey tones prevalence. Well done!
Nice Tuesday
Antonio

COSTANTINO (23179) 2009-04-21 13:11

Hello
An impressive photo with the ice and the fantastic lighthouse,this scene is something unusual in our country but I like a lot
I have ner seen so ice before..it is very impressive indeed,great lightness
regards and compliments Costantino

mikeo (12117) 2009-04-21 13:12

Hi Lasse,

Very interesting and very useful note i found here - thanks! I also like your nice photo, great composition and nice quality of it! I guess taken from ship? Very cool POV - my congratulations!

tfs and greetings from Poland,

mikeo

Kielia (8729) 2009-05-10 11:13

Hi Lasse,
I have seen this fascinating lighthouse several times and it reminds me of one of the most pleasant waterways I have experienced. This is a very nice composition and the atmosphere of the cold and the winter is so typical. Excellent photo work! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

pauloog (6883) 2009-07-18 14:32

Hello Lasse,
An unexpected view of a lighthouse amidst a sea of broken ice. Fine colour tones of both the ice and the sky with just a few contrasting colours and forms.
Regards,
Paul