Calm vol. 120

Can a display window be any simpler than this?
Open.
10-
Car parts
Video lending.

Sõpruse bridge

Not sure about that now, but for a long time Sõpruse bridge, was the longest bridge in Estonia. It has always been connecting two sides of Tartu for hundred thousands' of visitors. I have been taking photos of the bridge in numerous events and explored it mostly during the low-light situations, where the bridge really comes alive.

I hope you enjoyed the view.

Kadri

Hope your ideas flame all day every day.

Smart

Estonian man is smart, uh?

Dead seal

I have never seen a living seal having fun in the sea. As proved, I have seen a dead one. Not a very beautiful sight, but still an experience. Even the pet found the sight interesting.

Snowing

Joy.
Love.
Sorrow.
Misery.

Fading Tartu

Yep, wooden city has its own charm, but lots of fading beauty as well.

By the way, there is a new and fancy hotel Lydia now, where the last photo was taken.

Calm vol. 119

Power of red.

Rummu prison

I had always wanted to visit Rummu quarry and the former prison area. Well, last year I had a chance to do that - it was a wonderful experience. Here are some photos of the prison area, or at least what was left of it. 

I found a wonderful story from this site, which will help you understand the history of the place better:

Rummu’s underwater prison is located in northwestern Estonia (about 40 kilometers west from Tallinn). Rummu is a small town in Estonia and had a nearby limestone quarry which was founded on 1 January 1938 together with Murru Soviet Prison (how conveniently…) – Convicts were forced to mine limestone.  

In 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, Estonia again gained it’s independence and limestone mining was ended, Soon enough the quarry became a “quarry lake” (faster than many assumed) thus resulting the flooding of buildings within the former soviet prison compound and even some machinery.

Nowadays the local people of Rummu fondly refer to the newly formed lake as “the blue lagoon.” This once eerie place which held about a thousand inmates is now an amazingly popular and mesmerizing beach where people swim in the deep blue water during the summer and dive almost yearlong.

Joyful

Whatever age, whatever point in your life, it is necessary to have a passion.
In this case it is music.

Best friends

Do you have somebody you could lift on your shoulders like that and give a helping hand, like these two guys have?

Horse

Old cemetary

The oldest rocks there are to point out the ancient burying site....so powerful and beautiful.

Visit to Kasepää

Kasepää is a small borough in Peipsiääre Parish, Tartu County, Estonia. Mostly inhabited by old-believers, people grow onions and fish, that is mostly what they do. Time often stands still there and you can find so much life in everything.

I drove there with my friend Kadri to see the Russian movie days, which had bought together many people, who enjoyed the vibe and the movies - more places like that, please. 

#untouched

Calm vol. 118

Plenty windows for peeking, uh?

Tallinn old town. Wpothy of your visit.

Kirsi street shop

The photo is not excellent, but the story is.

The old building is by funk architecture style, looks tired and wilted, but still looking good. 

The story is good, because a guy is keeping a shop in the first floor of the building and it is one of the few, perhaps five corner-stores in Tartu. What we have here now are malls, malls and malls. Private salesmen have no point to keep a shop, but some still do. Our of love, respect and passion.

Canadian Estonians - in light and shadow photography exhibition

My long-time photography project has finally become a reality, as I can proudly present my high quality black and white portraits taken in Toronto of the thirteen local Estonian community members. It was a great joy to meet all these people, to hear their life stories, see the passion, when they spoke about Estonia. Due to funding problems, it took five years to get this exhibition to happen. I am very thankful for The Museum of Estonians Abroad (VEMU), who gave their helping hand to acquire the frames and print the photos. Helle-Mari Märtson helped to edit the texts and Arp Karm helped to install the exhibition. I am very thankful for all your contributions to this exhibition. 

"Canadian Estonians - in light and shadow" is opened in the great-looking Tartu train station, which is located in Vaksali street 6 and is opened every day from 6 AM to 8 PM. Please go and have a look, unfortunately the texts are in Estonian, but I am willing to translate anything if there is a need. Exhibition will be up until 11th of January, 2017. Your visit to the train station is appreciated and I would love to hear your feedback.

Estonian man is stylish...

...when he wants to be...;)

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Bullfinch

It is incredible how the bullfinches catch your eye during the white season - like little delicious apples on the trees....mmm...love the early winter we have this year.

Still life with two deer

Inspired by the beautiful current weather in Estonia.

#takeamoment
#cherichwhatyouhave

Three moments of spring

I love when they organize community events, like for example Supilinna Päevad, Days of Supilinn. Home cafés ar opened, so are the yards, sometimes even home, so people can go and meet the people living in those boroughs. People, create more community events!

Calm vol. 117

Smoke of a St. John's Day bonfire.

Little houses of Tartu

... sometimes look like these,

but often they have the deepest meanings to them:

Do that. Indeed!

Serious

Portrait of one of the participants of Miss Valentine, an international gymnastics competition held in Tartu. It was fun to take portraits of the participants, but it was also very difficult to manage to capture the movement with a clean background. More to come in the future.

Estonian man is tired

??

Can't define the name of this bird....so if you know better, please tell me, so I can educate myself an the others. Other than that, nice singing :)

Sunset

If you ever get to Estonia, then please visit Hiiumaa in the summer, as the summer evenings there are wonderful.

Pinnacles

Nature is sharing with us some wonderful pinnacles, sharp ends. Flora and fauna. Beautiful.

Calm vol. 116

What about these wonderful vegan cookies?
Perfect for long November evenings with tea, right?
:)
Mmmmm!

Snail tower

This is how this majestic skyscraper in called in our little wooden town. In Estonian it means Tigutorn.