Finns have voted the lakeside landscape photographed by Jukka Risikko Orisberg, Isokyrö, as the most beautiful stamp of 2024. The photograph depicts a quiet lakeside and a dock in the morning fog at sunrise.
Jukka Risikko claimed the two top places in the voting as the second most beautiful stamp was also photographed by him. The stamp features tussock cottongrass in the morning sunlight on the edge of a bog in Alajoki, Lapua. Both of the stamps by Jukka Risikko were issued in the Glow of the sun stamp sheet in September 2024.
The Christmas stamp Christmas Path, illustrated by Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, came in third place. The bright colors of the northern lights are reflected on the surface of snow and create a magical atmosphere to the Christmas stamp.
The winning stamp received a fifth 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 34,037 votes were cast in the voting, of which 19 percent went to the winning stamp. The stamps that came in second and third place received 13 and 11 percent of the votes. The other themes of the ten stamps voted as the most beautiful included national landscapes and horse racing, among other things.
"A lakeside, a dock and sunrises or sunsets are beloved views to Finns, and many have photographed them at their summer homes several times. A quiet lake and rays of sunlight calm the mind. Jukka Risikko has wonderfully captured the beauty of an early summer morning with his camera," says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, who was responsible for organizing the competition.
A third double-win for Jukka Risikko
Jukka Risikko has had great success in the voting. This is already his third double-win in the most beautiful stamp of the year vote, in addition to the wins in 2021 and 2022. "This feels unbelievable. I would like to thank all those who voted for my stamps and Posti for once again making new stamps of my photos," says Risikko.
Jukka Risikko from Lapua finds photography sites in the nature of his home area.
"My favorite places are peaceful forests, bog areas and waterfront areas. I observe the differences in light at different times of the day and year. Soft sunlight creates the best atmosphere in photographs. The light of sunrises and sunsets especially brings out the tones of the surrounding nature and makes them glow beautifully."
The most beautiful stamp in Finland 2024 – the vote’s Top 10
Place, Stamp, Designer, Votes
1st. Glow of the sun 1, lakeside landscape, Jukka Risikko, 6310 2nd. Glow of the sun 2, tussock cottongrass, Jukka Risikko, 4514 3rd. Christmas Path, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 3897 4th. National landscapes II, Vanajavesi Valley, Stiina Hovi, 3107 5th. National landscapes II, Utsjoki, Stiina Hovi, 3061 6th. Christmas Miracle, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 1658 7th. Blossoming friendship, Ilona Pietiläinen, 1236 8th. Kuninkuusravit 100th anniversary, Evartti, 1073 9th. National landscapes II, Aura River Valley, 882 10th. Taste of summer, Klaus Welp, 791
Top 10 stamp images: https://digilibrary.emmi.fi/l/8cKwpwzVLwXr
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