Finns have voted Winter Rapids, photographed by Jukka Risikko by the River Kitkajoki in Kuusamo, the most beautiful stamp of 2025. The photo depicts an old mill building and the Myllykoski rapids, flowing and roaring impressively in a landscape decorated by snow and frost.
Jukka Risikko has had great success in the stamp voting also in the past. Stamps featuring his photos have won first place in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 most beautiful stamp of the year competitions. So, this marks his fourth victory already.
The winning stamp received 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 9,159 votes were cast, of which as many as 33 per cent were given to the winning Winter Rapids stamp.
Stamps depicting landscapes were popular among voters, as the next four placings (2–5) went to the National Landscapes III stamps designed by Stiina Hovi, which feature landscapes from Lake Köyliönjärvi, Hämeenkyrö, North Karelia and Väisälänmäki.
Also among the ten most beautiful stamps were Klaus Haapaniemi’s Lucky Charms (6th place), Klaus Welp’s Veterans (8th place) and Minna Immonen’s Meadow Flowers (places 9 and 10).
“Jukka Risikko’s painting-like photograph of the winter rapids truly catches the eye. The water flowing in the freezing cold soothes the mind and displays the force of nature at the same time. Winter Rapids is an international no-value indicator stamp that represents Finnish winter at its most beautiful,” says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, who was responsible for organising the competition.
Freezing temperatures create the ideal conditions for winter photography
“Thank you to everyone who voted. This year’s vote once again featured fantastic stamps, and it feels good to have had success in such fine company,” says Jukka Risikko, who also actively shares his photos on Instagram and Facebook.
Jukka Risikko photographed the Myllykoski stamp at -25 degrees Celsius. According to him, extremely cold temperatures make for the ideal conditions for winter photography. “The snow, frost and unique light conditions light create opportunities you can’t get at milder temperatures. At freezing temperatures, even familiar landscapes look magical.”
Myllykoski is located along the famous Karhunkierros hiking trail in Kuusamo. Jukka Risikko, who lives in Lapua, considers Kuusamo to be a treasure trove for nature photographers, with diverse landscapes dominated by fells, waterways and forests. “I’ve only visited Kuusamo a few times, and my dream for the coming years is to spend more time there with my camera.”
The most beautiful stamp in Finland 2025 – the vote’s Top 10
Place Stamp Designer Votes 1. Winter Rapids, Jukka Risikko 3,023 2. National Landscapes III, Lake Köyliönjärvi, Stiina Hovi 926 3. National Landscapes III, Hämeenkyrö, Stiina Hovi 568 4. National Landscapes, North Karelia, Stiina Hovi 517 5. National Landscapes III, Väisälänmäki, Stiina Hovi 516 6. Lycky Charms, Swan, Klaus Haapaniemi 373 7. National Landscapes III, Olavinlinna, Stiina Hovi 339 8. Veterans, Soldier on Ski Patrol, Klaus Welp 295 9. Meadow Flowers, Minna Immonen 290 10. Meadow Flowers, Minna Immonen 249 Top 10 stamp images: https://digilibrary.emmi.fi/l/jkhCkqj85BtF
The winners of the audience vote prizes have been drawn, and the winners will be contacted personally.
All stamps available for sale are featured in Posti’s online shop: shop.posti.fi/en