Open Access to Helsinki City Museum’s Photographs | Helsingin kaupunginmuseo

"As Helsinkiphotos.fi launches, everyone can freely use Helsinki City Museum’s photographs of Helsinki throughout the times. The collection includes, for instance, all of Signe Brander’s much-loved photographs of Helsinki from a century ago as well as the extensive and significant Simo Rista and Eeva Rista collection depicting the changing city in the 1970s. The oldest of the collection’s photographs date back to the 1840s, allowing users to browse photographs about, for example, the history of trams ranging from the 19th to the 21st century. At launch, approximately 45,000 photographs are made available, with more images added as the digitization proceeds. Thus far, only a fraction of the photographs in the museum collection has been digitized.

The museum will make the photographs available in high-resolution suited for print-quality products, under a CC BY license. This means that users can download the images free of charge and use them freely not only online or in applications but also in books, gift items or even wallpapers, provided that the photographer and Helsinki City Museum are credited. Anyone can decorate their home with a framed picture of their home street a century ago, include images of the changing city in a family history or have a nostalgic custom poster made. The high level of detail in the images allows for research and teaching use. Commercial use of the images is allowed within certain restrictions. For instance, it is prohibited to use portraits in marketing and advertising without the person’s consent."