A lakeside landscape voted as the most beautiful stamp of 2024

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

1. Glow of the sun 1, lakeside landscape, Jukka Risikko, 6,310 votes
2. Glow of the sun 2, tussock cottongrass, Jukka Risikko, 4,514 votes
3. Christmas Path, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 3,897 votes
4. National landscapes II, Vanajavesi Valley, Stiina Hovi, 3,107 votes
5. National landscapes II, Utsjoki, Stiina Hovi, 3,061 votes
6. Christmas Miracle, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 1,658 votes
7. Blossoming friendship, Ilona Pietiläinen, 1,236 votes
8. Kuninkuusravit 100th anniversary, Evartti, Stiina Hovi, 1,073 votes
9. National landscapes II, Aura River Valley, Stiina Hovi, 882 votes
10. Taste of summer, Klaus Welp, 791 votes

Source, text and pictures:

Posti Group’s media release 20 February 2025