We used to have a band. Me, these two guys pictured here and two others, we used to have a band. I miss that quite much, having a band and going to practice and smacking tunes out of my bass. Back in the days in Rovaniemi we used to be an item. A somewhat lousy item with crappy music and crappy attitude but 100%  good time, all the time. Now the three of us live here in Tampere and we go skating quite often together. I now feel similar anxiety towards skateboarding as I used to feel towards the band. I only wish I saw the two other dudes that are not pictured here more often, but they don’t skate. Nor do they live here.

Posted by Konsta

For the kind request of Jussi and since people seem to be doing it anyway I shall present you what I added to the Finnish Press Photographer of the Year -competition. As I’m incapable to do anything with time and precision, I had to do a few hasty decisions today as it was the last day to take part.

Last year I didn’t win anything and I plan to put on a similar performance this year. However, this attitude has it’s perks: I didn’t make the most obvious choices with my pictures, but decided to push my limits a little. It’s easier to take risks when you don’t think it really matters anyhow. Therefore I’m actually quite happy about how my set turned out. It looks like.. me?

Elina helped me with this final set, big thanks to her. Also thank you Jarkko and Ossi Ahola, with whom we had a great brainstorm/photo-eyeing-session few weeks back. Anyway, here they are:

Posted by Konsta

Couple of months ago I got the most exciting opportunity to hop on a trawling ship as an assignment for Suomen Luonto -magazine (thanks Samuli and Tatu for passing this assignment on). It was maybe the single most interesting assignment I’ve been on as a freelancer (and maybe ever). Most of the freelance-jobs I get are portraits. Nothing wrong with them, really, but this time around I actually felt I was part of some bigger cause, actually putting an effort towards greater goal.

You see, lake Puula is a bright-watered lake with a great vendace fish stock. However, the peat production at the bogs surrounding the area has over the years ruined the nearby lakes and now threats to blur Puula as well. It would be the end of vendace fish, since clean bright water is essential for it to survive.

Posted by Konsta

I recently needed to take some time off and headed to Rovaniemi. One afternoon we drove to Ounasvaara and proceeded walking. It was cold and it was raining and foggy and we were feeling that Sunday Blues.

Posted by Konsta

For the past month I haven’t been too interested in photography. Actually, I haven’t been too interested in much anything besides skateboarding. Then two weeks ago I blew my knee and ankle (skateboarding) and since that I’ve spent most of my time watching skateboarding videos in the internet and standing on my board in our living room, listening to the trucks squeak.

I picked up skateboarding last summer for the first time since junior high. I, of course, suck at it too, but this time around it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to take pressure from not learning any tricks and so on. Skating is my happy place where I don’t have to think about school or work or… well, you know, photoshop and lenses.

That’s why I haven’t been too eager to mix the two and start taking photos of skating – not until now, I figure. Skateboarding is amazingly visual sport (and yea, it sure as hell is sport even if you can do it with your jeans on) but even so, I’m more interested in portraying the culture around it rather than the act itself.

These photos were taken three weeks ago at Syyssessarit, an event to close down the season here in Tampere. I only had my camera with me because maybe I was a bit shamed to skate before all the pros so I settled with the next best thing, hah. They’re not the best skateboarding photos but I guess they’re not meant to be either.

P.S.

Jarkko’s last post was our 100th post!! That’s gnarly, as skateboarders say (according to my Thrashers). I’m psyched, as they also say.

Posted by Konsta

You guy’s ever heard of lights and shadows in terms of photography? Well go outside, there’s a lot of both right now!

Nothing too original about these photos, just playing with the light before the dark winter as well as getting to know the lens I just bought!

Posted by Konsta

I’m having a struggle whether or not to buy this amazing old school 35mm lens. I’m having a test-go with it right now and shot these two with it.. I’m starting to think ‘yes, i need this piece of work.’

If you don’t think I should, stand up now or silence forever. But do it fast, I have to decide before Jarkko get’s home from work!

Posted by Konsta

Posted by Konsta

Spot a fellow journalist! Some photos from the “Pelastakaa Reijo” demonstration from last wednesday. Konsta and Jarkko were able to attend and here are some shots. The portrait gallery was made by Konsta. The event itself went well so big thanks goes to the people who took the time to make it happen. We will not go into details of what the demonstration was all about because anyone interested in journalism should be very well informed! And as always there is some mischief going on in the photos but it does not change the fact that we feel strongly for this one. The cause is very much justified. And no one really asked us but we’ll say it anyway: signing contracts with such terms is a definite no-go. This goes for all of us at Partakuva.

Some additional information can be found at http://www.pelastakaareijo.fi/

Posted by Konsta

I didn’t think much of Helsinki before. With a stubborn reservation I kept an emotional distance between myself and the city. I got lost there everytime, as I never really bothered to adopt the map.

But as time has passed it has been harder for me to ignore how unique Helsinki actually is. Nowhere else in Finland there’s such a variation of atmospheres among the city districts, like towns within a town. I wouldn’t want to live there – not for now at least – but I find myself quite excited everytime I have some business there.

I had a couple of assignments in Helsinki on monday and a couple of hours in between them, so I just enjoyed the crowd and the sunlight reflecting from windows. The photos actually looked better in colors, but I wanna grasp the black&white, really learn it. Some people do it with such amazing style.

By the way, there’s a Reijo-demonstration in Helsinki today, so I’m heading there again today as soon as I hit the “publish” on this post. See you there!

Posted by Konsta