Passer Domesticus

100 feeders (2).

2012-02-10T01:00:00.000+02:00

documenting the second week of work:

✻ tell me: what should I write on the postcards that I will give away with the feeders during the summer?

✻ meanwhile the decoration of the 100 butter boxes goes on and on.

to colour one box takes time because of the many layers of paint and making a unique decoration on each box is quite challenging - but I am very committed to 100 feeders project and I really like to spend every minute that I can on it.

my favourite cameras.

2012-02-09T09:53:00.004+02:00

I had always wanted to this but I didn't know how - then I decided to sketch them.

my favourite cameras I work with:

✻ they are listed in no particular order - even though I have my top favourite ones among them.

01) NIKON FM
02) VERMEER PINHOLE
03) AGFA CLACK
04) POLAROID P600
05) DIANA MINI
06) SUPER COLOR SWINGER III
07) MAMIYA RB 67
08) POLAROID LAND CAMERA 1000

if you click on their names you get to know something about each camera.

some of these cameras are very old and some others quite new - some of them I bought myself and some were gifts - with some I work more and with others I work less - but I really love them all.

snowflake study.

2012-02-08T09:00:00.000+02:00

today I would like to share something which I find beautiful and inspiring.

flickr commons - smithsonian institution - snowflake study:

✻ 1890: Wilson A. Bentley attached a camera to his microscope to study snowflakes crystalline structure.

I have always found fascinating the fact that no two snowflakes are alike. before moving to Finland snow was just something extraordinary and beautiful - after two winters in Helsinki I have learnt that there are different types of snow: the one that is sticky enough to build snowmen with and the one that is so dry that you can walk into it without getting wet at all. I will be daily stepping on the white for about 5 months each year!

overexposure is beautiful.

2012-02-06T14:07:00.000+02:00

a photograph may be described as overexposed when it has a loss of highlight detail - that is when important bright parts of an image are washed out or effectively all white - known as blown out highlights or clipped whites.

overexposure can easily happen when there is so much snow around - though sometimes it is not a mistake but a personal choice. I believe that overexposure is beautiful. this is what came out from my mamiya yesterday - after a bright sunny day full of snow and a darkroom session.

prints from a 120 ilford hp5 film:

♥ kudos to Jacopo for the two portraits he took of me - I do not often like myself on photographs.

in february the day light gets truly longer: I will take more photographs - despite the freezing temperature.

100 feeders.

2012-02-04T20:43:00.000+02:00

february is here and it is time to talk about my new long term project: 100 feeders.

after Lintujen Ruokintapaikka intervention - I have decided to concentrate on the process of bird feeding and work around it.

to explain this simply: 1) in the following months I will be collecting numerous empty butter boxes to build 100 special bird feeders. 2) I am going to install and exhibit my 100 feeders at the end of may - I will post more details about it soon. 3) during the summer I will complete my project giving away the feeders to 100 people in Helsinki - who will start feeding birds in their own neighborhoods. 4) via postcards I will collect other people's comments and experiences on bird feeding.

documenting the first week of work:

✻ photographs: courtesy of Jacopo.

each week I would like to share on Passer Domesticus some documentation of my work in progress - you will know more about 100 feeders by following it week by week!

P.S. many thanks to my friends of the art department and Dipoli student restaurant in Otaniemi for providing me with many butter boxes already - keep on doing it!

diana mini colour test 02.

2012-01-31T18:00:00.000+02:00

second part of my diana mini colour test post - you can read the first part here.

second post - morning with Jacopo at the botanical garden in Kaisaniemi:

✻ the sun was shining for the first time in many days: we really enjoyed our morning walk despite the freezing cold. P.S. thank you Jacopo for taking some photographs of me too!

✻ a beautiful mistake: we ended up together on the same frame by chance.

my conclusion after these first tests: colour film and bright lights are surely more suitable to my diana mini than black and white film and winter darkness.

diana mini colour test 01.

2012-01-30T18:11:00.000+02:00

I have just got developed the colour film which I took last week with my diana mini: I am extremely happy with what came out. this time I have used a fuji superia 1600 iso. since I would like to share here many of the photographs I have scanned - I have decided to do so in two different posts.

first post - afternoon with Anne at the botanical garden in Kaisaniemi:

✻ it was a very beautiful snowy day: visiting the glass house was even better with white snow outside.

✻ a beautiful mistake - Anne truly looks like a magic creature here.

P.S. tomorrow evening come back on Passer Domesticus for diana mini colour test 02!

diana mini black and white test.

2012-01-23T11:23:00.002+02:00

yesterday I have spent the whole afternoon in my darkroom: I have developed the first roll taken with my new diana mini. I have printed 12 photographs out of 36 - the rest was mostly underexposed: the flash isn't as strong as I was expecting and a 400 iso film wasn't enough for the dark winter.

✻ I have chosen 6 prints to share here:

1) the snowy forest in Vuosaari - on saturday we went to visit our dear friend Kasia: we had a great time.
2) Kasia with her Horizon camera - the best panoramic camera ever.
3) a portrait of Jacopo - outside the beautiful cafe' Villa Ullas.
4) a portrait of Kasia.
5) an evening portrait of Jacopo - with falling snow in Kruununhaka.
6) a portrait of Tove.

overall I am pretty happy with these prints: I think they hold a proper diana mini feeling. next I am going to take a colour film test with a 800 iso instead.

my feature on le ombre nel cielo.

2012-01-22T10:50:00.001+02:00

Dear Readers

I am writing this post to let you know that Jacopo decided to have me featuring a music article on Le Ombre nel Cielo.

from the introduction he has just posted:

✻ you can read it all on: ombrenelcielo.wordpress.com.

I am flattered that Jacopo asked me to write about music: I am not a writer - but when it comes down to music I know what I really like. every week I will be writing about a different artist.

if you are inspired by music yourself - follow my feature on Le Ombre nel Cielo: once a week there will be something new to listen to!

top 10 most colourful birds.

2012-01-20T11:35:00.000+02:00

it is too long for a title - but more precisely it should be: top 10 most colourful and rare birds of northern europe that I would like to encounter.

1) Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher
2) Coracias Garrulos European Roller
3) Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay
4) Oriolus Oriolus Eurasian Golden Oriole
5) Upupa Epops Hoopoe
6) Carduelis carduelis European Goldfinch
7) Picus Virdis European Green Woodpecker
8) Tarsiger cyanurus Red-flanked Bluetail
9) Luscinia Svecica Bluethroat
10) Sitta europaea Eurasian Nuthatch

✻ if you have enjoyed this post - you may also like top 10 birds.

letter from joey.

2012-01-18T17:40:00.000+02:00

today I have got a beautiful letter from my friend Joey: it made me very happy. Joey is the only person from my previous school who has kept on writing me letters regularly since I have moved to finland - which makes her even more dear to me.

✻ she has sent some old photographs: she got them for me in a flea market.

✻ she has sent a birthday card too.

♥ thank you Joey!
letters from friends are truly among the sweetest of pleasures for me.

postcards from 1979.

2012-01-17T17:51:00.003+02:00

today with my friend Salla we stopped by Kierratyskeskus. there are always so many peculiar and interesting things at the recycling centre: this time I have found two children's postcards from 1979.

aren't they beautiful?

little Reppi must had sent them as greetings to some special friends and they must have hanged them somewhere on their bedrooms wall - as there is a little hole on each of them.

I wonder if cards like these were common in Finland in late 70's: hopefully I can find some more in a flea market. I had never seen them before though: they have such a peculiar shape and they are much bigger than average postcards.

thank you little Reppi for writing these down many years ago!

birthday greetings.

2012-01-15T18:31:00.001+02:00

here are a few special birthday cards from some of the best people in my world:

♥ from Jacopo

besides this fantastic guide for bird watchers in south Finland - he gifted me with "BIRDS": a huge and beautifully illustrated book by Katrina Cook.

♥ from Emi

if you know italian - you can get by her note that she gifted me with a beautiful Diana Mini: I cannot wait to try it out. I have sent her something special too - but unfortunately it hasn't reached her yet: hopefully she will get it soon!

♥ from Maisa and Anne

isn't it one of the most beautiful hand made cards you have ever seen? it came with a delicate leaf-shaped necklace.

thank you for all the birthday greetings - it has been a truly wonderful birthday ♥ ♥ ♥ !

25th birthday.

2012-01-15T00:18:00.000+02:00

happy 25th birthday to me and Emi ♥♥♥

20 years ago we were turning 5.

the photo was taken in our play school canteen. I honestly cannot tell who is who but I guess I could be the one on the right as I got a fruit cake with pink candles. when we were little Emi was preferring blue to green colours - while I was going for reds and pinks. I also know that Emi didn't really like fruits and vegetables - at least at that time. I do not remember if we were happy to be turning 5: I only recall that when people asked us how old we were - we were showing one hand with the five fingers wide open and we felt like it was cool. how could I show people that I am 25 now? I would need five hands. I still like the same things I liked when I was 5 though.

25 years old feels like 5!

happy post box.

2012-01-13T14:47:00.000+02:00

our apartment post box is well known for being one of the happiest in Helsinki. I am going to share on here what has arrived via mail in less than a week.

♥ from Annika

happy new year wishes from Tokyo.

♥ from Miia

first early birthday greetings via mail.

♥ from Frances

more early birthday greetings with a special gift: a box of old dia films.

♥ from Emi

a beautiful old folder that belonged to my mam - I will use it for my notes now.

happy post box says thank you!

linnut.

2012-01-11T15:57:00.002+02:00

I should have been reviewing finnish this morning - instead of looking at old birds books. I can excuse myself though - since all my books about birds are in finnish.

♥ finnish birds - suomalaiset LINNUT:

✻ from "Lähde Luontoon" - lintuopas.

♥ two snippets from Anne:

a bird a day keeps the doctor away!

old negatives 03.

2012-01-08T16:24:00.001+02:00

dearest Joana have sent me 11 old negatives - along with her last letter.

the prints after my darkroom session:

✻ these negatives were squared - were they all taken the same day?

✻ probably my favourite - this negative was also a squared one.

✻ the negatives of these three prints were wider than my enlarger - I had to select an area to print from them.
the third picture was blurry but I still wanted to print it: you can tell that it belongs to the same series.

✻ the last three ones stand alone - I especially like the one with the woman sitting in that beautiful garden.

it was a pleasure to print Joana's family's old negatives. I am going to send her the prints via mail very soon: hopefully she will like them.

♡ thank you, Joana!

from my darkroom.

2012-01-07T18:33:00.001+02:00

yesterday I have spent most of the day in my darkroom: I had a lot to develop and print. today I want to share a few prints from a roll I had been shooting towards the end of december - when my sister was in Helsinki and then when I was Milano.

delta 3200 ilford:

✻ from Helsinki - that christmas market in senaatintori was beautiful and sweet.

✻ from Milano - unfortunately there weren't many photos worth of printing.

P.S. even though I like 3200 iso film's grain - after using it for months I cannot wait for the days to get lighter to use lower iso films.

lux helsinki.

2012-01-05T15:28:00.001+02:00

less than a month ago I have built my Lamppöllö for LUX - Helsinki festival of lights. on the 31st of december Lantern Park have opened in hesperian puisto: different crafted lanterns have been hanging from the trees since then and will be until the 9th of january. I have visited Lantern Park last tuesday to take photos: that afternoon a snow storm was making everything even more magic.

lomography color negative 800 35mm:

✻ the 4th photograph represents my dear friend Kasia Balcerowska's lantern - isn't it beautiful? the last two photographs are of my Lamppöllö instead - which was proudly blowing in the wind.

if you are in Helsinki - take a walk in hesperian puisto before Lantern Park will be taken down!

pictures from italy.

2012-01-03T12:50:00.000+02:00

now that I am back in Helsinki - I want to share some photographs of the two weeks I spent at my family place. the sun was shining every single day and it didn't really feel like winter.

lomography color negative 800 35mm:

✻ I found a package of 3 lomography rolls for a ridiculous price in Milano and I wanted to try it out. the colours aren't bad - but there is no grain at all. I still have two rolls remaining: I want to try them out here.

I had a beautiful time with my sister!♥ when the day of my departure was getting closer - we looked for a photo booth.

from a photo booth near my home town:

kaksi pöllöä - two owls.

P.S. I have a black and white film roll with pictures from both Helsinki and Milano ready to be developed: I am going to spend a full day in my darkroom on friday!

belated christmas cards.

2012-01-02T14:52:00.001+02:00

they weren't really belated - but I was the one reading them late as I have just got back to Helsinki yesterday night. all the Christmas letters and gifts I have found when I got home made me extremely happy: I want to share some here to thank the dear ones who sent them.
♥♥♥

❄ from Matti & Kyllikki

❄ from Frances

❄ from Joana
she has sent along 11 beautiful old negatives - which I cannot wait to print!

❄ from Amanda
she has sent two toys for Tove too!

❄ from Joey & her family

❄ from Silja & her family
the card becomes a 3D snowball!

♡ thank you all so much - it feels even better to be at home. thank you Maisa and Anne too - for preparing with Jacopo some beautiful cinnamon rolls to welcome me back.

end of 2011.

2011-12-31T17:23:00.000+02:00

my top 10 artists of 2011.

Joose Keskitalo

♥ song: ON HYVÄ ETTÄ OLET SURULLINEN

Belle & Sebastian

♥ song: if you're feeling sinister

Jónsi

♥ song: animal arithmetic

Paula & Karol

♥ song: house into a home

Ane Brun

♥ song: changing of the seasons

Patrick Wolf

♥ song: wind in the wires

Kings of Convenience

♥ song: homesick

Yann Tiersen

♥ song: les jours tristes

Emilíana Torrini

♥ song: heart stopper

The Bony King of Nowhere

♥ song: the garden

I hope you had a lot of nice music in your 2011 too - have a beautiful 2012 full of happy feelings and love!♥ ♥ ♥

filmini 02.

2011-12-26T10:30:00.000+02:00

my dad has saved for me a box full of old film rolls - from the same school where he got the previous ones. the box contains 154 film rolls, 7 packets of dia films and 6 super8 rolls about history, geography, science and more. I have scanned some frames of my favourites and stored the precious box in my room.

✻ frames from Gli Animali del Bosco

✻ frames from Gli Uccelli

✻ frames from Pesci più Comuni

✻ frames from Animali in una Fattoria

✻ frames from Gli Animali Domestici

I love the scratches and the pale colours: these film rolls are beautiful.

♥ grazie papà!

merry christmas.

2011-12-25T19:36:00.001+02:00

I hope you all had a happy christmas!

like every christmas I have started my day by opening presents and cards: reading all those notes and looking at my friend's gifts have made my heart warmer.

some cards to share the happiness:

♥ from Emi

♥ from Kasia

♥ from Anne

♥ from Jacopo

♥ from Annika & Andrea

♥ from Luca & Paul

♥ from Sylvie

♥ from Viola

thank you so much my friends!

family time.

2011-12-24T13:14:00.001+02:00

christmas time has always been family time for me. this year will be different since both my grandmas are no longer with us - but that doesn't mean I will forget them. being at my parents house these days - I have been looking for more old family photographs and I have found some I have never seen before.

• nonna Ebe and nonno Dino in their beautiful garden:

these pictures were all taken by my dad in 1968 - when he was 18 years old.

• nonna Ebe and nonno Dino's home with my dad's first car:

the first of the batch is a blow up - the others were still taken in 1968 but with a different camera.

• my dad as a boy:

two of the best photos I have ever found of my dad - in my opinion.

the ones I have uploaded here are just a few of the photographs I have found: I have many more to look at during my family Christmas time.

♥ Christmas with my family is one of the best time of the year - I hope you are having a lovely family Christmas time too!

darkroom process.

2011-12-19T17:56:00.002+02:00

in my sister's apartment I have found a couple of 35mm film rolls I had taken a few years ago - dedicated to darkroom processing. It is interesting to have a re-look at them: I thought about scanning the negatives to share some photographs.

Piccoli Dettagli al Buio

I love the grain of 3200 iso film.

I wish I had a film scanner in Helsinki too - even though darkroom printing is way better than scanning. for this christmas holidays I have got a black and white roll in my nikon - to be processed when I'll fly back to Finland.

photo booths nostalgia.

2011-12-18T15:14:00.000+02:00

I have left Helsinki early this morning - to spend Christmas time in italy with my family. even though it feels lovely to be with my parents and see some sun - I will miss Finland and I have already started missing Jacopo and our love nest. that is why I would like to share here some photo booth pictures we have taken together - over the years in various places.

♥ yesterday in Kaisaniemi: we have decided to take one after a long time.

♥ from a summer when in Helsinki they still had an analogue black and white photo booth - in Rautatieasema.

♥ four old ones from various metro stations in Milano - Duomo and Zara.

photo booths pictures are beautiful and spontaneous - looking at them makes me happy. I definitely want to take more with Jacopo! I just wish they weren't that expensive - 7 euros in Helsinki.

lamppöllö.

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000+02:00

in the last couple of weeks I have been designing and realizing a special lamp - which is going to be installed in hesperian puisto along with many others - for LUX Helsinki Lantern Park. LUX is a festival of lights which is going to light up the city during the darkest time of the winter - between the 31st of december and the 9th of january. my contribution was of course inspired by the world of animals and birds - and especially by one of the most beautiful nocturnal birds ever: the great gray owl.
lamppu (lamp) + pöllö (owl) = Lamppöllö.
with Jacopo's precious help I had been documenting the realization of my lantern with his video camera.

✻ some screen shots from the video:

✻ the entire video:

I am going to take some photographs of Lamppöllö when it will be lighting up hesperian puisto. if you are in Helsinki during LUX festival - don't forget to go and take a look at Lantern Park!

relief 5.

2011-12-15T13:16:00.000+02:00

this morning I was in TAIK for the evaluation day of woodcut relief printing. I am glad I have completed the course: it was challenging but interesting. I want to share here my three final prints - which I have tried to scan piece by piece on my A4 scanner.

WINTER

SPRING

AUTUMN

since I wasn't very confortable at cutting the wood plate - I have decided to go for a basic shape and to concentrate on mixing layers of colours instead. the seasons theme is very dear to me since I have moved to Finland.
now that the relief printing course is over - I have already enrolled in the advanced screen printing course for the spring semester and I hope I will get in.

christmas holidays have officially started for me and my sister Emi is on a plane to Helsinki right now! ♥

top 10 birds.

2011-12-11T13:13:00.001+02:00

often I have been asked what is my favourite bird - I have eventually decided to prepare a top 10 chart of my favourite birds of northern europe.

top 10 birds from my Pohjolan Lintukirja:

1) house sparrow - the most beautiful ever between the most common birds.
2) robin bird - my grandma's favourite bird.
3) great grey owl - the biggest and my favourite between owls.
4) great black-backed gull - my favourite between seagulls as it reminds me of the ocean.
5) black bird - I will always connect this bird with my childhood and with the famous song by the Beatles.
6) magpie - because of the well known "1 for sorrow, 2 for joy..."
7) white-backed woodpecker - the woodpecker that used to eat by my window in Vuosaari.
8) bullfinch - a bird that truly represents finnish winter for me.
9) sea eagle - the eagle with the most beautiful sound ever.
10) puffin - the only bird in my top 10 that I haven't encountered yet: I hope I will soon.

I had never thought that making my top 10 birds chart would have been so difficult - I couldn't really make up my mind!

patrick wolf 02.

2011-12-06T16:34:00.001+02:00

HYVÄÄ ITSENÄISYYSPÄIVÄÄ!

tonight I am going to see Patrick Wolf for the second time in two years: last time I was in Milano - now in Helsinki.

the concert is part of the Lupercalia tour: even though I really like the new album - I still think my favourite album by Patrick must be Wind in the Wires.

✻ my ideal set list tonight would be:

• wind in the wires
• tristan
• libertine
• wolf song
• to the lighthouse
• pigeon song
• paris
• overture
• magpie
• augustine
• who will
• the sun is often out
• the messenger
• house
• the future
• the falcons
[in no particular order]

I am sure it is going to be a beautiful concert - whatever the set list will be.

P.S. the first snow has finally fallen last night and I want more! ❄ ❅ ❆

50 followers.

2011-12-05T22:14:00.001+02:00

today is a very special day...

✻ young happy Polly

I want to dedicate this post to all my dear readers. ♥ thank you so much for following Passer Domesticus - I had never thought I could reach 50 followers!

old negatives 02.

2011-12-01T18:58:00.001+02:00

I have been celebrating the start of december in my darkroom: my dearest friend Miia have mailed me three beautiful old negatives belonging to her family. according to what she has wrote me - the ladies in the photographs are her grandma and her grandma's cousin.

the prints from Miia's negatives:

✻ as the negatives are really big I have made a contact print of each of them - then I have printed a cropped version: my enlarger's frame was too small for them.

✻ all of the three negatives were quite easy to print: the photographer had done a really good job taking them in bright day light.

✻ I adore the amount of pets in the photographs - I bet that is the reason why Miia has chosen to send me those negatives: she knows me well.

♥ thank you so much Miia for your wonderful surprise! I will soon mail her back the negatives and I will also include the prints for her to keep.

for the snow to snow.

2011-11-28T11:21:00.001+02:00

temperatures are still way above 0° and it hasn't snowed yet. I so much want the snow to fall to light up the darkness - as it did last year on the 18th of november! I have selected in fact six photographs from my old photos collection - to share in honour of the snow.

for the snow to snow!

✻ from various flea markets in Helsinki, Milano, Stockholm, Athens.

✻ from my family album: my grandpa Dino on a glacier on the Alps.

while I write this I am listening to Bird by Snow - to stay true to my purpose.

christmas birds.

2011-11-23T10:59:00.001+02:00

it may be too early to talk about Christmas - especially since the snow has yet to fall - but when I am at home sick the best way to spend the time for me is to draw: so I have started preparing some Christmas cards for my friends.

I would like to share a few:

✻ I think birds can be also very christmassy - don't you think so?

✻ the open card looks like this.

I hope these and other cards will make my friends happy at Christmas. november is going to be over soon and I am hoping for a white december - even though the weather is strangely warm this winter.

old negatives.

2011-11-21T10:14:00.001+02:00

it is quite easy to find old photographs in flea markets - but what about old negatives? I had been looking for some in Valtteri and found only a few: three large black and white negatives probably from the 50's/60's.

darkroom prints:

✻ my favourite - the photographer must have nailed the exposition: it was quite easy to print.

✻ the negative was quite overexposed - but I really like the subject. could that building be Turun linna?

✻ the hardest to print: it was clearly shot towards the sun and the figures turned out very dark.

I wonder if these three photographs were all shot with the same camera: according to the focus it must have been an agfa with a fixed lens - like my clack.

printing old negatives is so very interesting: I am going to look for more. maybe my friends could send me a few - if they have some: it would be such a wonderful gift!

more lovely letters.

2011-11-17T18:27:00.001+02:00

I want to share a beautiful surprise letter I got today from my dear friend Miia - it was so big that I had to go to the post office to collect it.

♡ Miia:

✻ beautiful packaging - when I saw it I thought it must have been hers.

✻ she always sends the most birdish of postcards - owlish in this case.

✻ this pretty bird was the hero of the letter - I won't ever forget to water my plants now.

♡ I have also got a birdish looking letter from dear Joey:

♥♥♥

mine is surely the happiest mail box in Helsinki - thank you my friends!

lintujen ruokintapaikka.

2011-11-14T14:39:00.001+02:00

more than a month ago I have placed a sad smiley in my neighborhood - where a sign forbids you to feed the birds.

Lintujen ruokkiminen kielletty.

birds make the city look prettier!

last thursday night I have eventually made an intervention for the birds: in winter time they need more food.

Lintujen Ruokintapaikka.

I have hanged plenty of food balls from the bushes and placed a home-made feeder full of nuts below the forbidding sign.

watch the video:

✻ special thanks to Jacopo for taking care of this video.

I hope Lintujen Ruokintapaikka will encourage people to feed the birds!

P.S. to see other interventions check out otanieminterventions.tumblr.com: where everyone - who have just attended the interventions workshop in Environmental Art department - have uploaded their works.

green is in.

2011-11-11T14:17:00.001+02:00

beside the fact that today is 11.11.11 - I have got something very pretty in my mailbox. a couple of weeks ago - a wonderful girl living in Porto asked me to start exchanging letters with her: of course I said yes.

♥ first letter from Joana:

the envelope with this bird attached is so beautiful.

the inside of the envelope is even more beautiful.

she has also sent a pretty white shell - which still contains sand from Portugal.

I am so happy Joana has started writing me - it is lovely that she has collected precious stuff to send me. I have to recommend her blog and her flickr: with the most wonderful analogue photographs.

Joana: expect a letter soon!

postcards of birds.

2011-11-10T18:28:00.000+02:00

my school friend Kaisa gifted me with 24 beautiful postcards of birds and other animals: it was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. I would like to share some related to autumn and winter - as today the temperature dropped below zero.

♡ six postcards of finnish birds:

a punarinta - one of my favourite birds: it reminds me of my grandma.

I have never seen this bird before - Kaisa told me they are likely to be spotted in lapland.

a punatulkku - I have only spotted two of them before: I hope to meet many more this coming winter.

a beautiful way to feed birds in the winter time - it is very common in the countryside.

a sinitiainen in the snow.

I do not recognize this tiny bird - does somebody know its name?

♥ kiitos Kaisa!

for the birds.

2011-11-06T14:44:00.000+02:00

I have decided to take some photographs of birds - since they make my heart sing. we went to Seurasaari yesterday early morning: we placed some breadcrumbs and waited for the birds to come. the light in the forest was poor and the birds were moving fast - it wasn't easy to focus manually. later on we went to my studio and spent the afternoon in the darkroom - I have succeeded in taking a few nice birds shots: hope you'll enjoy them.

• from a delta 3200 ilford 35mm roll:

✻ a kuusitiainen was the first to come to our banquet of breadcrumbs.

✻ a sinitiainen came shortly after.

✻ a talitiainen came along too.

✻ the sinitiainen called many more of his friends to the banquet: they are the bravest between small birds.

Seurasaari is a great place to feed birds - I really miss doing it on my window like last autumn: unfortunately feeding birds in the city centre is forbidden.

polkadot magazine.

2011-11-03T17:10:00.001+02:00

my interview has just been published on polkadot.it: you can read it here.

• screen shots of the interview:

my interview is part of TRANSMISSION: I had to prepare a playlist to share along with a self made cover:

Sigur Ros – Glosoli • Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea • Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear • Camera Obscura – Suspended from Class • Belle & Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister • Patrick Wolf – Pigeon Song • Emiliana Torrini – Heartstopper • Seabear – Owl Waltz • Ane Brun – Changing of the Seasons • Jonsi – Animal Arithmetic • Paula & Karol – House into a home • Paavoharju – Italialaisella Laivalla • Eleanoora Rosenholm – Maailmanloppu • Joose Keskitalo – On Hyvä Että Olet Surullinen • Nick Drake – Bird Flew By

✻ you can listen to my playlist when you go to read the interview on Polkadot.it.

many thanks to Giulia Milza for contacting me and to Polkadot.it!

relief 4.

2011-11-01T17:14:00.000+02:00

it has been a couple of tuesdays now that I haven't touched my cloth - due to wood cutting exercises. therefore I am going to share a few of the prints I have made during woodcut relief printing so far.

• from the printing workshop:

translucent colours.

opaque colours shading with transparent black.

gradation effects.

• from the cutting exercise:

✻ I could only scan parts of the prints - due to my A4 scanner.

I am not even at the end of the course but I already feel like this printing technique is not really my thing. I am glad I have been experiencing it though and I would like to share my results here anyway. over the next few tuesdays I will have to prepare my final prints: to do so I must improve my cutting skills and keep on working until the 29th. go Polly go!

more darkrooming.

2011-10-29T19:20:00.000+03:00

there is nothing better than spending the whole saturday in the darkroom with Jacopo. I have printed some portraits we took with my Mamiya rb67. he had successfully modified the film back to shoot full frame: the result are some wonderfully squared photographs.

• delta 400 ilford - enjoy:

✻ I did not want to polish the dust away from my scanner: I like the effect it makes on my images.

I adore high contrast in black & white photographs - therefore I am in need of a new set of filters for my enlarger - as my current ones are really worn out.

P.S. Jacopo took 3 portraits of me: I cannot decide which one I like the most. which one do you prefer?

darkrooming.

2011-10-26T19:47:00.000+03:00

after more than one year in Helsinki - I have eventually managed to collect my darkroom equipment from Italy and place it in my studio in Otaniemi. today I have been developing and printing for many hours - but time goes by so fast when I am in the darkroom. I do not have anything special to share for now - but some prints from a roll I have taken a couple of weeks ago.

delta 3200 ilford - from my first day back in the darkroom:

✻ taken inside a toy shop.

✻ everyone enjoys HATTARA at the amusement park.

✻ a portrait that Jacopo asked me to take of him.

✻ Tove.

today I had to check the status of the remaining paper I had from Milano - now that the old paper is all gone I can get new one and print more and more.

I am so happy me and my darkroom are back together - let's celebrate!

metsän eläimet pelikortit.

2011-10-24T22:59:00.000+03:00

this evening at the local grocery store I have spotted a precious thing - Jacopo was so sweet to buy it for me.

metsän eläimet pelikortit - the cards game of the animals of the forest!

✻ this beautiful box contains 25 different animal cards and the rules of the game.

✻ I have chosen to share a card for each of the six groups: it was a hard decision - as I think that every single card looks very pretty.

✻ the 25th special card and the back of the box - which displays other cards games.

I cannot wait to play with my metsän eläimet pelikortit! it will be a good way to review my finnish - even though I would say it is not that bad when it comes down to animal names.

P.S. ♡ Jacopo is back from Paris: besides gifting me with this finnish cards game earlier on - he came home with some tasty french cheese and a carillon playing "la vie en rose".

profile pictures.

2011-10-20T15:11:00.000+03:00

I was browsing my profile pictures album on facebook: I couldn't help but noticing how each of the 28 images in it reminded me of a particular moment - the reason why I had uploaded it. I have deleted many profile pictures - but these 28 are still up and I would like to tell their stories. from the oldest to the newest:

15th december 2009

✻ my favourite photograph between my old photos collection - I have found it in Stockholm.

23rd january 2010

✻ the header of my blog - from an old book about birds I was given as a birthday gift.

8th february 2010

✻ a photograph of me as a child - I suppose it was taken around 1991.

14th february 2010

✻ Pikku Myy - my favourite Moomin character from an old book which belongs to Jacopo.

15th may 2010

✻ a beautiful picture of my Nonna Ebe - I have found it in her old house.

30th may 2010

✻ with my bunny Timo in my family's garden - one of the first PX 100 that me and Jacopo have taken.

10th june 2010

✻ autographs of Jónsi and Alex on my grandma's piece of paper - from Jónsi's concert in Milano.

19th august 2010

✻ at the mökki - from our first shots of PX 70.

21st august 2010

✻ in Korkeasaari zoo - a legendary fuji fp-100C taken by Jacopo.

23rd september 2010

✻ another fuji fp-100C in Suomenlinna - I had just bought those colourful leggings.

2nd december 2010

✻ from a 35mm roll taken in Rastila - when the first snow fell over Helsinki last winter.

8th december 2010

✻ a print of a fuji fp-100C negative - from our winter in Oulu.

3rd february 2011

✻ outside Villa Ullas cafè - when Jacopo flew back to Helsinki with my mamiya.

7th february 2011

✻ once again outside Villa Ullas when the temperature started going above 0°C - taken with a polaroid 669 sepia.

16th february 2011

✻ from a 35mm roll with beautiful Tove - just about at the time we have adopted her.

5th march 2011

✻ when me and Jacopo have found an old pack of polaroids 600 in Vuosaari - I was sitting on a winter game-thing for kids.

8th march 2011

✻ an old photograph of my grandma with her bike and her house on the background - I always miss her.

17th march 2011

✻ a polaroid 660 silver shade - I am wearing one of my favourite second hand pullovers.

22nd april 2011

✻ a polaroid 669 blue shade of Jacopo and I - on our car trip to Oulu.

25th april 2011

✻ a photograph of me that everyone has liked so much - by Jacopo.

22nd may 2011

✻ on Harakka Island - wearing the mask of the Baltic Sea Monster.

24th may 2011

✻ a fuji fp-100C to celebrate my new camera - my Vermeer pinhole.

5th june 2011

✻ when we moved to our apartment in Kruununhaka - first PX 680.

8th june 2011

✻ in the botanical garden - when the summer was in bloom.

29th july 2011

✻ in Kyllikki's beautiful garden - with my favourite summer hat.

3rd september 2011

✻ the prettiest feather I have found - when a sparrow flew into our window.

28th september 2011

✻ taken by my dear Kasia during our trip to the forest - fuji pro H film roll.

16th october 2011

✻ taken by Jacopo - a portrait of me that will be featured on polkadot magazine. more about it soon!

I wonder how many of these images will still be in my profile pictures album this time next year - but now they are here to stay on Passer Domesticus.

relief 3.

2011-10-19T15:45:00.001+03:00

my own dear piece of cloth - part 3.

✻ side A day 2.

✻ side A day 3.

✻ side B day 2.

✻ side B day 3.

I am still documenting the changes on the piece of cloth I use during my woodcut relief printing class - documenting the effects of time and usage on things is becoming more and more interesting to me.

✻ sandpaper

I have decided to scan also a piece of sandpaper - after I have been scrubbing my wood plate with it.

• more scanned surfaces to come soon.

valokarnevaali.

2011-10-16T22:47:00.001+03:00

I had just been to Linnanmäki for Valokarnevaali. it was even more beautiful than last year: with new friends - and the old ones even more close - and with Jacopo.

♡ I would like to share two special birds-related gifts I was given tonight by my dear Maisa and Anne.

♥ Anne: since she knows I love to collect newspapers snippets about animals - she saved this beautiful article about birds for me.

♥ Maisa: she had been to Rome last week and she has brought me this lovely birdish souvenir - on the packet it said "once upon a time, a clothes-peg dreamed of flying".

thank you - my heart feels warmer!

vacanze italiane 3.

2011-10-12T19:21:00.001+03:00

last weekend I flew to Italy with Jacopo to attend the opening of ArtVerona - where my SELFLANDSCAPES were exhibited. I had a lovely time - the weather was beautiful and I got to spend sometime with my family.

photos from Italy - new portra 400

✻ Milano - fog and pollution over the skyline at eight in the morning.

✻ ArtVerona - documenting the exhibition of SELFLANDSCAPES.

✻ Verona - where I spent the afternoon in very good company and I had a delicious ice-cream.

✻ Piussogno - I have missed the mountains and my home town can be quite picturesque sometimes.

✻ family home - dad photographed me with my dear bunny rabbit Timo.

✻ by Jacopo - a traditional family photo: everyone has a funny face!

♡♡♡

relief 2.

2011-10-12T11:02:00.002+03:00

my own dear piece of cloth - part 2.

✻ side A day 1.

✻ side A day 2.

✻ side B day 1.

✻ side B day 2.

I have kept my promise so far: I have scanned the piece of cloth I am using during woodcut relief printing course for the second time after class. I can see it is getting dirtier. How is it going to be next week? I will keep on documenting it.

P.S. I really need to improve my skills at cutting the wood board.

relief.

2011-10-04T21:11:00.001+03:00

my own dear piece of cloth!

✻ side A - horizontal and vertical.

✻ side B - horizontal and vertical.

I thought I would scan the piece of cloth I had been using today for my second class of woodcut relief printing - to clean my hands and my wood board.

if I keep on using the same piece of cloth until the end of november - how will it look like?

I like the fact that the word relief in english means both "a sculptural technique" and "the easing of a burden or distress, such as pain, anxiety, or oppression".

I might also share some of my woodcut relief print attempts someday.

P.S. my apron deserves a special applause for it was the true hero of today - sadly too big to scan.

not to worry about seasons.

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000+03:00

the first weekend of october was beautiful. I have decided not to worry about seasons again. it is just wonderful to share my days with Jacopo.

♡ some instant photographs:

the ones I have taken.

the ones he has taken.

I have also been gifted with the prettiest pullover ever.

♥♥♥

doesn't it look like a strawberry? thank you Jacopo!

autumn collection.

2011-10-01T10:00:00.000+03:00

I want to celebrate the start of october showing part of my special collection. when I walk around the city I hardly look up and I tend to pick up little things I find laying on the ground.

my autumn collection:

✻ eight beautiful feathers.

✻ the prettiest leaf I have seen.

when I was a kid nobody really told me not to pick up stuff from the ground - for that I am grateful.

P.S. I am also celebrating the start of october with a beautiful concert tonight: Ane Brun!

sunday in turku.

2011-09-30T10:00:00.000+03:00

last week Jacopo and I decided to go to Turku. we had never been there before - even if it takes only a couple of hours by train to get there from Helsinki.

photographs from Turku

✻ even though most of the buildings were modern and new - I preferred the old and colourful wooden houses.

✻ I liked the fact that all the electricity boxes were painted - just like this one.

✻ my favourite place of the city was definitely the castle - we spent there the whole morning and I never got tired of exploring it.

✻ there were many ships at the harbour - I like the fact that this one is called "Swan of Finland".

✻ this house looked abandoned - there was a strange feeling on that ill over the city.

✻ along the river there were boats and various art pieces - I loved that iron bear/seal eating a fish.

✻ I had to photograph this old tram - it is a Valio ice-cream kiosk.

the trip to Turku was very pleasant: we also had the chance to meet a couple of dear friends - but I still think about Helsinki as the best city of finland.

for the forest.

2011-09-29T10:00:00.000+03:00

last friday I took a trip to the forest of Pirttimäki - with a few friends from my university department. I couldn't bring myself to stop photographing the beauty of nature around me. I don't think words could describe the intensity of a walk in the forest: I am only going to share some photographs - now that the film roll has finally been developed.

a celebration of the forest

♥♥♥

P.S. I picked up mushrooms for the first time and that evening I had the best pappardelle ai funghi ever!

letters of september.

2011-09-28T13:29:00.001+03:00

I have collected the lovely postcards and letters which were sent to me this month - the latest came today.

thank you for writing to me!

♡ Joey sent me these beautiful Peter Rabbit's images.

♡ from Annika and Andrea. we went to visit them in Turku last weekend - I will post about Turku soon!

♡ from Emi - who has sent a wonderful variety of dried fruit snacks along with her letter.

I am never tired of receiving letters and writing back - I cannot wait to get more in the post box!

what I liked about london.

2011-09-17T10:00:00.000+03:00

my few days in London with Jacopo went by quite fast - there wasn't enough time to visit all the places we would have liked to visit. London was far more big and far more chaotic than I had remembered it - still it held a peculiar feeling that intrigued me and inspired me once again.

8 photographs/8 things that I liked about London in no particular order:

✻ red brick victorian houses.

✻ the Tate Modern.

✻ the animals in St James's park.

✻ historical buildings such as the Tower of London.

✻ english gardens which reminded me of the countryside.

✻ the english weather.

✻ the unbelievable varieties of twinings herbal infusions.

✻ iconic buildings such as Big Ben and Tower Bridge.

next time I visit england I would rather go for a trip in the countryside - I certainly would not miss the enormous amount of people nor the complicated and suffocating underground trains system.

foraging and gardening in the city.

2011-09-16T18:23:00.000+03:00

foraging and gardening in the city has been the first workshop I have attended to in TAIK - since the start of this autumn semester. it was a truly intense and inspiring experience - which lasted a whole week.

photographs from the workshop week:

we had spent our days biking around Helsinki - looking for fruits and vegetables growing in public spaces and visiting gardens within the city area. at the end of the week each one of the workshop participants had to prepare a small intervention inspired by what we saw and talked about.

my intervention is Basket of Flowers:

✻ I have collected branches fallen from trees and prepared some flowers to decorate one of the busiest spot in the city of Helsinki. Basket of Flowers was in Unioninkatu for a little less than a week - until somebody took it away. I hope I had given to somebody a pleasing taste of Nature in the city.

in Gallery Atski - 8th floor in TAIK - there is a small exhibition documenting all the intervention works related to the foraging and gardening in the city workshop. you have time to go and see it until the 30th of september!

polly's thread.

2011-09-16T16:39:00.000+03:00

Polly's Thread is a new personal project related to the concept of Home.

episode one

wondering about the concept of Home and the relationship between what I consider Home and the cityscapes where I usually move around - thinking about possible different paths to walk from home to somewhere and from somewhere back home.

✻ video and photographs © Jacopo.

this is a long term project - more episodes to come in the following months!

calendar.

2011-09-08T11:11:00.001+03:00

the past two weeks I have been busier than I ever was in a long time and I am feeling good about it.

my calendar last week:

✻ when my sister flew back home, when my university started again and the things to do started to become more and more.

current week calendar:

✻ when Kasia flew back to Helsinki, when I have started an intense workshop which is giving me a lot to do and a lot of time on my bike and when eventually I will leave for London on saturday.

next week calendar:

✻ when I will be in London until wednesday with Jacopo, when I will get back to Helsinki and I will finally have some free time to get a couple of film rolls developed to share something about the workshop and the trip to London.

see you at the end of next week with hopefully more interesting posts!

knitting.

2011-09-03T20:59:00.000+03:00

I have got a packet of fp-100B - I feel like some black and white.

✻ it had been a long time since I have taken out my swinger III. the light behind the clouds was powerful - my eyes were about to close and I am not pleased with this photograph.

the reason I am writing this post though is to share something I am quite pleased with instead: my first properly knitted scarf! it isn't exactly my first knitted scarf ever - I have already knitted one a couple of years ago but I wasn't so happy with the result. I am glad I have decided to give knitting a second chance.

after two weeks of knitting:

✻ the scarf is big, long, soft and warm - just about how I wanted it to be. I will knit something more.

✻ I have also got something special at the market today: hedgehog gloves.

I am now certainly ready for the winter.

welcome back september.

2011-09-01T20:00:00.002+03:00

september means autumn and university - today was the official opening day at Aalto campus in Otaniemi and when I woke up it was 13° degrees outside. my goal for the just started autumn semester is to take the most of it not to be unprepared when the first snow falls.

I salute september with a beautiful house sparrow's feather:

yesterday a little sparrow flew into my apartment's window: he managed to escape the cat and found his way back out - but he has left this tiny feather behind - which now goes into my feathers collection.

♡ today I have also sent a letter to Emi and I have got a lovely one from her. she has sent some pages out of a finnair magazine - my favourite is about the fishes of the Baltic Sea.

she has also sent one of the most adorable photographs of my dad as a child - it makes me smile when I see that my grandma used to dress him up in such a girlish way. I wonder when did his hair turned from blond to black? I can only tell it is him because of his name written in the back of the photograph.

✻ one more thing: Jacopo has been spending a lot of time updating my website - I think you should take a look at it since he has done a wonderful job!

www.pollybalitro.com

more days with emi.

2011-08-29T09:43:00.002+03:00

Emi left Helsinki early this morning - after the most wonderful 10 days together. I feel like a piece of me flew away with her - it must be the reason why I feel tired and ill.

♡ memories and photographs of the last few days:

✻ at first I didn't like this photo booth - where my face looks incredibly round - but then I have started to love it - since it is of me and my sister together.

✻ for days it has felt like june again - just yesterday it started to look like autumn.

✻ we went to sell some clothes at Kallion Puistokirppis. I have managed to sell almost everything and I have also bought a gift for Jacopo: one of the most beautiful pencil cases I have ever seen - and the money went to the finnish animal association.

✻ we have managed to attend the workshop Eläimet Kylässä//Animals visting the City for Helsinki Juhlaviikot - where Jacopo and I prepared two eagle masks and Emi prepared a dancing seal. The seal was quite big - but she could carry it on the plane back home with her: that is why I adore Finnair.

✻ in Suomenlinna we had a pic nic with dear Maisa and Anne - my true friends. it was the first time for Emi on the island - she enjoyed it a lot and the day was warm and beautiful.

✻ yesterday - despite the autumnish weather - we eventually visited Korkeasaari zoo and we also managed to drop by Helsingin Kaupunki Museo in Hakasalmi Villa to see the exhibition Merelle.

I am so thankful for these beautiful ten days I have got to spend with my sister. I am going to miss her so much - since it was just so wonderful to have her around it is going to take me a lot of time to get used to Skype and text messages only. I cannot wait to see her again! ♡

first days with emi.

2011-08-23T23:15:00.012+03:00

my sister is in Helsinki - for the second time this year. needless to say we are having a lovely time together. the days are getting a little colder and shorter - still we are enjoying every minute of our walks in the city.

10 photos from these days with Emi:

1st day: the weather was summery. the tourist who took our photo at the market harbour didn't quite got it right. we spent hours reading books at the botanical garden.

on Saturday: we went to Seurasaari - the openair museum was open for the summer and it was amazing to be there.

yesterday: museums were closed. we walked a lot and Emi took a photo of me sitting next to I-don't-know-what in front of a souvenirs shop.

today: we tried to catch up with our schedule of museums and city sights - but there are still so many things for Emi to see. I have taken a portrait of Jacopo with his new bike - it was a joyful day for him too.

♡ I am so grateful for these days I get to spend with my sister and I am really glad that there are some more to come!

per jacopo.

2011-08-18T11:15:00.000+03:00

I would like to dedicate a post to Jacopo. today is an important day for him and I want him to know that I am thinking about him. I would like to share here 10 of my favourite photographs of him and me together.

Polly & Jacopo

♥ the first photo booth we took together in Milano - february 2009.

♥ when he bought roses for me and we had our photograph taken in Piazza Duomo - march 2009.

♥ we were printing in the darkroom as he was helping me with a school project - april 2009.

♥ our first time in Finland together - when in Helsinki there were still a couple of analogue photo booths - july 2009.

♥ for a project of mine called "Betulaceae" - november 2009.

♥ one winter day we have met Muumipeikko in Stockholm - december 2009.

♥ my favourite polaroid that Kyllikki has taken of us at the summer house - august 2010.

♥ when Emi visited Helsinki for the first time she took a polaroid of us in front of the white cathedral - march 2011.

♥ from our trip to northern Finland last Easter - one of the best self timer shots we have ever taken - april 2011.

♥ unseen PX680 of us in front of the botanical garden - one of our favourite places close to our home - august 2011.

one year ago - when I have moved to Finland - Jacopo had to wait more than 5 months before moving with me: it was really hard not to spend time with him. I am just so happy that we won't have to say goodbye this time in september.

Jacopo ♡

my first customer.

2011-08-15T10:00:00.044+03:00

Audrey Clark is a lovely girl from USA and she is the first person ever who has purchased my finnish postcards.

thank you Audrey - this is what I have mailed you today:

✻ maxi envelope for maxi postcards - each postcard is 14,8 X 21 cm.

✻ Audrey wanted to have all of the 8 postcards - which made me very happy.

✻ the back of each postcard.

✻ my message to Audrey - I have also included a little surprise for her...

now that I have finally printed the very first batch of my finnish postcards - I must say I am really happy with the texture of the paper and with the colours that have come out. I have just open an etsy shop to hopefully get more visible.

www.etsy.com/shop/PollyBirdBalitro

valtteri 03.

2011-08-14T10:30:00.000+03:00

some old photographs I have found at Valtteri flea market yesterday:

✻ is this little girl holding a bird in her hand?

✻ I always tend to look for portraits of women.

✻ I have searched for animal photographs and I have found a few ones with dogs.

✻ I usually pick up the photographs which struck my attention - like the one with kids posing as greek statues or the tiny black-framed photo booth photo.

✻ is this Tromsø? it reminds me so much of this polaroid I took there.

✻ eventually I have chosen a few landscapes and two photographs of planes.

I just can't get enough of old photographs - they are truly inspirational and sensational to me.

1990s.

2011-08-13T17:06:00.006+03:00

I have asked Emi ♡ to send me some scanned photographs of our childhood - since I really miss my family sometimes.

10 photos of my childhood in the 90s:

✻ when me and and Emi were just a few days old - with my mam and dad.

✻ my family's garden looked so different back then - there was even a birch tree.

✻ our pram belonged to my mother's family for generations - my great grandmother knitted that colourful quilt for us.

✻ we went to the seaside in Tuscany every summer until we turned 6 years old - I remember that giant dog was there every single year.

✻ we must have loved going by bike with dad - even though we both had our own small bikes.

✻ my mam started cutting her hair short back then - we were always so tanned in summer time.

✻ Emi must have found these two last photographs together - as they are both apparently cropped for some squared frames.

✻ I have uploaded these photographs in the exact order which my sister has chosen. I cannot really tell exactly how old we were in each of them -but they were all taken approximately between 1987 and 1995.

35mm film family photographs were so common through the 1990s - these photographs make me smile every time I look at them. I feel sad when I think about families today - it seems like all they get is boring digital shots.

postcards from europe.

2011-08-10T14:16:00.000+03:00

a couple of weeks ago I was told about an interesting project - I had immediately decided to take part in it with Jacopo.

our personal contribution to Postcards from Europe:

✻ our postcard from Finland.

"Postcards from Europe has been set up by a group of young artists and producers based in the UK who are working together to put on an exhibition of new creative work by emerging artists from across Europe. [...] Young international artists taking part in the project will be asked to produce a ‘postcard’ representing the place in which they live and work. This ‘postcard’ will act as a starting point for conversation between young artists from different cultures on the themes of place, European identity, and individual creative practices. [...] The exhibition of artists’ postcards will take place from 1st Oct - 15th Nov at Wem Town Hall, an emerging arts venue in the West Midlands. A publication featuring the work of the artists alongside accompanying essays and interviews will be produced in tandem with the exhibition."

• read more about it on postcardsfromeurope.tumblr.com

from kasia.

2011-08-09T10:23:00.006+03:00

• you can play the music video at the bottom of the page while you read this.

♡ Kasia sends her love with a beautiful card - which I have absolutely to share here.

yellow is my favourite colour lately.

✻ this colourful illustration is by polish artist Elżbieta Wasiuczyńska.

Kasia knows how I feel for birds.

dzięki ♥♥♥

I cannot wait for her to come back from Warsaw!

✻ Paula i Karol make me think of her - lately one of my favourite bands.

antique photographs of birds.

2011-08-08T13:52:00.004+03:00

I really enjoy visiting the commons on flickr - especially when it comes down to old photographs of animals. today I have decided to share here my favourite antique photographs of birds from the commons.

top 10 antique photographs of birds - in alphabetical order:

chickadees

frozen adelie

half-grown barn owls

kookaburras

penguins

royal eagle twins

sclater penguin

shags defending nest

six of the frowzy-headed Fishers

skua gull with baby

✻ all photographs are tagged "bird" on the commons - click on titles to get to each photograph page.

which one do you like the most?

surprise letter.

2011-08-07T12:21:00.008+03:00

a couple of days ago I got an unexpected letter in my mail box. I am always happy when I receive a letter - but this time I am even happier.

♡ letter from Frances

✻ she didn't write much but there was a special photograph with a certain message.

✻ Frances is holding a photograph in her hand - which I have sent her a couple of years ago: in that photograph I was in Stockholm.

✻ she is moving to Stockholm in less than two weeks and she will live there until december: we will be closer than we have ever been.

Frances and I have been writing letters since 2006: in the meanwhile she has lived in Canada and Thailand and I have moved from my parents house in the Italian Alps to Milano and then to Helsinki - which means that me and her have been pen pals for more than 5 years. finally me and Frances will be less than 1 hour flight away from each other and we will be able to meet for the first time.

♡♡♡

I can't wait to plan a weekend in Stockholm. see you soon Frances!

1 year of finland.

2011-08-05T09:00:00.049+03:00

happy anniversary: a year ago today I moved to Helsinki!

to celebrate such a significant day - I have chosen to share on Passer Domesticus 3 photographs for each one of the 12 months I have spent in Finland so far.

elokuu 2010

syyskuu 2010

lokakuu 2010

marraskuu 2010

joulukuu 2010

tammikuu 2011

helmikuu 2011

maaliskuu 2011

huhtikuu 2011

toukokuu 2011

kesäkuu 2011

heinäkuu 2011

♡♡♡

I am thankful to Finland and to all the people who have made my first year here so beautiful. K I I T O S !

my finnish postcards.

2011-08-03T14:13:00.002+03:00

I have been inspired to design my own postcards of Finland: my photographs of finnish landscapes with my sketches of finnish animals.

HERE they are:

✻ from top to bottom: taivas // sky #1 - metsä // forest #2 #3 #4 - meri // sea #5 #6 - järvi // lake #7 #8

if you would like to receive any of them - or any of these other postcards - please contact me.

this is what you will get:

✻ 1€ per postcard + postage rate

if you are around Helsinki drop by Kallio Flea Market on the 25th of August - you may find some of my postcards there.

selflandscapes.

2011-08-01T12:44:00.010+03:00

SELFLANDSCAPES*

a series of photographs around the concept "nature//individuals" - I had been working on in Lapland.

• vermeer pinhole camera
large format sheet film 4x5 inch
kodak portra 160NC

I have never been working as close to nature as I was in Lapland. feeling the rain and the wind in such wide solitary landscapes has been a really strong experience. I want to thank Jacopo for his superb assistance.

✻ SELFLANDSCAPES is going to be displayed at "Disappearance" exhibition in ArtVerona - Italy 6th-10th of october. don't miss it!

polaroids of a journey.

2011-07-29T12:04:00.012+03:00

Helsinki - Tampere - Oulu - Särkimö - Oulu - Kilpisjärvi - Tromsø - Oulu - Helsinki.

26 polaroids of the journey:

✻ bed and breakfast near Tampere.

✻ in Kyllikki's garden - Oulu.

✻ at the summer house [mökki] in Särkimö - Ostrobothnia Pohjanmaa.

✻ riding my bike in Oulu - will it be so easy to bike in Helsinki?

✻ images from Pohjois-Pohjanmaa and Lappi - on the way to Kilpisjärvi.

✻ I have never seen as many reindeers as I have during this trip - not to mention two moose calves.

✻ crossing the finnish border to reach Norway - from Kilpisjärvi.

✻ night(less) time in the beautiful city of Tromsø.

✻ more images from Norway - where the ocean smells different from our Baltic Sea and where I have found shells and sea urchin's skeletons.

✻ on the way back to Finland.

✻ last day in Oulu - before driving back home to Helsinki.

I hope the photographs will be able to resume a little the magic of what I have seen. ♡ colours and smells and sounds of those places are going to be forever a source of inspiration for me!

ciao nonna.

2011-07-21T22:41:00.011+03:00

in the middle of my road trip to the north - I am stopping here for a moment.

I would like to say goodbye to grandma Mariuccia ♡

I have written something for her today - my message lays in the beauty of finnish nature and I am sure she can read it from above.

I feel empty knowing that all my grandparents are gone. I keep the sweetest memories in my heart - there is no such affection like the one you feel for your grandparents!

✻ thank you Emi for mailing me these beautiful photographs of my grandma.

ciao nonna ♥

a letter from vanessa.

2011-07-13T18:45:00.004+03:00

sometimes it is hard to be far from my family and friends - letters though make the distance less painful.

a letter from my dear Vanessa has finally arrived today!

it was resting at the post office for many days without any notice - but I have managed to track it and it was such a joy to finally pick it up.

✻ she brought for me this beautiful paper cutter from Brazil - her home country.

I consider myself so lucky to have met Vanessa - almost by chance - more than one year ago. she is one of the most special friends to me and I wish she could live closer.
obrigado, my dear friend ♡