After a few years pause I gave blood. Things went well and all. After the session I was offered some fresh juice, coffee and bun. But there were some things that I kept thinking about. Some of the donor policies seemed out of date. For example gay people are not allowed to donate blood (meaning if you have had intercourse with same sex), not even if they have stayed with same partner for years. It ain’t right.
When it comes to photography, I feel like I’ve been sleeping for aeons lately. Just a very long and quite uninspired phase, not really taking photos at all. Well, as I have learnt to know, it is nothing to worry about.
Almost every year I go into this slumbering state of mind, moaning, hating my photos, my shooting angles and my visual ideas. It is a process of shedding skin. Through this introversion I’m hoping something fresh comes out. As it turns out, it never really happens. Instead I just grab the camera and stop sulking. And almost magically, I get excited about photography again.
About these photos. I was lucky to have midsummer’s days free from work and I visited my parents in Kainuu. I also had a great chance to hook up with Konsta and Elina. When it comes to photography, Konsta is one busy bee, let me tell you. He has been keeping this blog alive. He is also one of the most promising young photographers in Finland, as far as I know.
So anyway, we met and had good time. These photos are from a visit to an abandoned house, which was close to their summer cottage. The young man in the photos is Elina’s brother Aleksi. I think that the scenery would make a great place to film a Finnish version of the classic film “Deliverance”.
This photo isn’t here because I’d find it particularly good. Quite the opposite actually. It was one of those gigs when nothing really came together.
The story was about how international the city of Haaparanta has become and it was supposed to showing from the photo aswell. And the boss-man of Haaparanta, Patrick Oja (second from left) had to be included in the photo. And he was in a hurry to another meeting. Right.
Luckily on the way to meet them I had seen those Indian men selling their goods at the market, so I just grabbed mr. Oja and told him to go ask Mohit Kumar and Pal Singh who were they and what where they doing there. Patrick was as confused as I was, but didn’t hesitate a bit, which I greatly appreciated.
Talking about visual side of the photo: it was completely out of my hand. I kinda panicked since I couldn’t figure any interesting or suprising angle or composition, so I just grabbed my 70-200mm, ran some 50 meters and started shooting. I guess sometimes one just has to trust his spontanous eye for composition and the fact that the situation actually speaks for itself. This time I think I got lucky.
Otherwise this photo is quite typical shot for me right now: I’ve been grabbing the 70-200mm way more often than the wide angle I usually play with, which I’m actually quite happy about. I guess I’ve been trying to imitate Anssi Jokiranta from Lapin Kansa.
Warning: This post is about feelings. Technical and more platonic stuff later next week.
First couple of weeks at Pohjolan Sanomat are now behind, but I feel like I’ve gained a year’s worth in experience. I’ve never actually worked in a newspaper as photographer before, just freelance work, and this is a whole lot of different ball game. The intensity of it all is demanding but on the other hand it keeps me alarmed. So far I’ve managed to consider every gig as an opportunity to improve myself and to seek for the best photo available. Needles to say, the perfect shot is still to occure but I’m quite glad that I haven’t rocked the bottom either. Still on the safe side, I guess.
I don’t know anyone from Kemi and it’s totally uncharted city for me. The photos in this post never appeared anywhere, they just somehow tell alot about how I feel about this place and maybe how confused but determined I am about this on going summer that I’ll spend here. This post was sort of an intro for becoming weeks: For now on, I’ll start posting intensively things I shoot at work and hopefully sometimes outside work, aswell.. Stay tuned, next post tomorrow.
Aarne Haarala and Pekka Tuovinen inspect boats at Kemi harbour. The safety regulations for boats get tighter every year. They say that finnish sailors are diciplined and keep their boats in good and safe fit. Accidents are rare.
It is pleasant to see some old friends. I met a while ago my artist friend Juhani from the days of art school. We had few beers and had good laughs, talked about things and the exhibition which he was preparing. I’ve always enjoyed Juhani’s work so check them out live if you have a chance.
Of course some frames were shot and when talking about life and art, what is more accurate visual reference than the image of crucifixion, the core symbol of martyrdom? Every artist needs to have one taken. And by the way, it was Philippe Halsmans who made these jumping portraits as one of his trademarks. He also published Philippe Halsman’s Jump Book where he stated that his photos where studies in little known science of “jumpology.”
