Finns have voted Frosty Flowers photographed by Jukka Risikko as the most beautiful Finnish stamp of 2022. It features plant blossoms covered in wintery frost. The photograph for the stamp was taken in a fieldside in Alajoki, Lapua, on a crisp winter morning.
Like last year, Jukka Risikko’s nature stamps claimed the two top places in the voting for the most beautiful stamp of the year. Winter River was voted as the second most beautiful stamp of 2022, and Risikko shot the photograph for the stamp in Malkakoski, Seinäjoki, around sunset. The photograph depicts the River Kyrönjoki steaming in subzero temperature.
Jukka Risikko’s Winter Light stamps were released in November 2022. Stiina Hovi did the graphic design for the stamps.
The stamp celebrating the centenary of the legendary Fazer milk chocolate, known as “Fazer Blue”, was voted as the third most beautiful stamp. In the stamp designed by Paula Salviander, the pieces of chocolate reach beyond the edges of the stamp.
The winner stamp received over a third of all votes
People could vote for the most beautiful stamp in Finland on the Posti website or by sending a postcard. A total of 33,835 votes were cast in the voting, of which 34 percent went to the winning stamp.
“We have never before seen such a clear winner in the most beautiful stamp in Finland vote. Over a third of all votes chose Frosty Flowers as the most beautiful stamp of 2022. Jukka Risikko’s photographs selected for the winter stamps are like paintings, and they work brilliantly in the stamp size,” says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti.
Crisp, cold days are perfect for nature photography
Jukka Risikko says that winning the vote feels great. “Again this year, the competition included spectacular stamps, so I wish to thank everyone who cast a vote!”
According to Risikko, cold and snowy days are perfect for nature photography. “The colder the weather, the more beautiful the light, especially at sunrise and sunset. Snow, ice and frost reflect light beautifully.”
Risikko keenly posts nature photographs on social media. “Right now, my photography is followed by over 150,000 people on Instagram and more than 80,000 people on Facebook. I have also posted short videos from photography trips and might do more of them going forward, if I only have the time.”
The most beautiful stamp in Finland 2022 – the vote’s Top 10:
Place, stamp, designer, votes
1. Winter Light, Frosty Flowers, Jukka Risikko 11,368 2. Winter Light, Winter River, Jukka Risikko 4,734 3. Fazer Blue 100 Years, Paula Salviander 1,935 4. Europa – Stories & Myths, Kuutar, Emmi-Riikka Vartiainen 1,743 5. Joy of Spring! Minna Lehväslaiho 1,414 6. Europa – Stories & Myths, Päivätär, Emmi-Riikka Vartiainen 1,095 7. Finnish Art Classics II, Elin Danielson: Girl with Cats in a Summer Landscape, Ilkka Kärkkäinen 840 8. Finnish Art Classics II, Akseli-Gallen Kallela: Boy with a Crow, Ilkka Kärkkäinen 799 9. Let Christmas Come, Christmas greeting no-value indicator stamp, Niina Kuu 776 10. Winter Wonderland, Christmas domestic no-value indicator stamp, Niina Kuu 628