I’ve been living here in Joensuu for just over 2 years now, and there’s one place that I just keep coming back to. ”Voiluoto”, is the name of this tiny island just off the shore of Kukkosensaari/Kalmoniemi. It is an easy walk from the centre of town to this place (maybe 20 minutes or so), and it will provide to its viewer with a host of photographic opportunities. I owe a lot to this little piece of land. It’s played a great part in my learning process as a photographer, and still to this day I am happy to show it off to the world through my photography. If you’re visiting or live in Joensuu, I highly recommend going there to photograph it. Below are some photos that I’ve taken of the island over the last couple years or so.
Above: Using rocks along the shore as leading lines towards the island.
Above: The sun was setting to the right of this image, illuminating the rocks along the shore and creating a pleasant range of colour in the sky.
Above: It was drizzling and the clouds were thick and moving quickly across the sky. A very moody day for sure.
Above: An ice fisherman leaving his fishing spot near the island, with snow-covered rocks sitting in the foreground.
Above: This was taken shortly before winter. The water was still and the sky was cloudy.
Above: Amazing snow formations covering the lake during the beginning of winter. A frozen maze to entice the eyes.
Above: Something a bit different. Reeds sway in the wind and a piece of driftwood points to the island.
Above: A panorama at sunset from a different angle.
Above: My most appreciated photo of Voiluoto. Big shout-outs to the duck who agreed to model for the shot.
Above: These icy shapes change every day at this time of the year, making the foreground an interesting wildcard on any given visit.
Above: I froze during this shoot. I set my camera on a tripod over the frozen lake and waited for hours to get this image. Since then I have invested in better winter gear 🙂
Above: Red rocks sit in the snow at sunset and lead the eye to the island.
Above: Green rocks! How could I not use them?
Above: My latest photo of Voiluoto. Winter is in full force and so are its amazing tones.
So there you have it! Voiluoto is great to photograph if you’re a local or just visiting Joensuu. Middle of summer or winter, it always has something unique to offer. There are still countless ways to use this island in interesting ways, and I will explore more of those possibilities in the future. Hope you enjoyed these photos and please feel free to contact me if you’re visiting Joensuu and would like to know how to get there. It shouldn’t be missed!
P.S. If you have any knowledge about the history of the island or any other interesting info, please send me a message as I would be interested to find out more!
See you out there in the snow 🙂
Jason Tiilikainen 