Turku Cathedral Through My Camera
A photographic trip to the most
important historical building in Finland.
Winter 2010 witnessed a lot of snow and the River Aura was totally frozen.
I have photographed Turku Cathedral for many years now. And I walk and bicycle past it hundreds of times every year. But considering Turku Cathedral was consecrated on June 1300, I am just a drop in the bucket. However, its importance is as significant as ever as not only a religious symbol, but also as the symbol for history, tradition & culture in our country.
Here are some of my photographs of this important and magnificent building that still controls the skyline of Turku, Finland. The most recent images here were taken on Christmas 2015, and the earliest is from 2005.
Turku Cathedral Central Nave & Main Organs · The winter sun was coming in from a very low angle from the left upper most windows and washing over the right side of the nave. WIKIPEDIA: The current main organ of the Cathedral was built by Veikko Virtanen from Espoo, Finland in 1980.
Window in the Mayor’s Choir - 2011
The Church Remains the Same
2008 Cathedral Tower
A comparison: I photographed the cathedral from similar angles in 2008 and in 2011. The background changes but the church remains the same. On the image on the right (2008) you can spot the grain silo across the river on the left side of the tower. The silo was demolished in 2010 so in the photo below (2011) it no longer exists.
2011 Cathedral From Observatory Hill
Events & Performances
I have witnessed a large variety of religious and non-religious events in the church. I was there even when the Grand Maître of Finnish dance Jorma Uotinen and his company performed a contemporary dance in 2014.
Wedding in the Main Choir in 2008
Sacristan getting ready for visitors during a snowy winter morning in 2010
Stained glass window in the Main Choir - 2011
Spiritual Place for Me & My Family
I do not consider myself religious, despite belonging to the church. I'd use the term spiritual of myself. However, this church has been very important to me and my family. Here are some photographs with the church as a background and a view of it from our house.
My family on the cathedral square during the traditional Christmas prace announcement in 2010.
Our Christmas card in 2006. The church is in the background and my daughters are on the Observatory hill.
View of the Church from our House in 2013
View from the Tower
The tower reaches a height of 101 meters above the current sea level. I've been up there once and you get a great view over the city. Observatory hill is located on top right corner of the image. During 2000 B.C. the sea level was on top of that hill.
View from the tower, Observatory (Tähtitorninmäki) top right - 2005
Christmas Time
View from the Tuomaan Silta bridge in 2010 - the bridge was constructed in 1999.
Christmas tree through the Entrance Hall window in 2010
During December the Church is very much alive with all kinds of activities and traditions related to Christmas. It is also the time when I visit the church and the Cathedral Square the most.
Christmas 2010
Candles for the Dead - Christmas 2011
Frozen Tower from Across the River in 2010
ABOUT ME
I am a fine art & portrait photographer
based in Turku, Finland.
Vesa Loikas photo: Paula K. Niittynen
I explore and express my ideas about the human condition and its wide range of emotions.
Photography has always been part of me since I was a teenager. I have always been printing my work, first by traditional film process & development and now by using a digital workflow and inkjet printers. Recently I started printing on aluminum and other rigid surfaces. My prints make the photograph feel alive connecting with the viewer and also with the space where they are displayed.
here are some more information on the church IN a
PDF by the Turku Cathedral Parish
My Recent Blog Posts - Enjoy :
