Be brighter – Have pedestrian reflector
Week ago I wondered topic of last blogpost of this year. I had content in my mind but then on Sunday night everything changed. I was hit by a car.
On Monday I was back home recovering and got an idea. I'll arrange event where I hand out pedestrian reflectors for free. Idea just came and I couldn't stop it.
I phoned to city authorities and asked is this kind of action legal. Then I googled firms who deliver pedestrian reflectors. I had already decided to order snowflake shape reflectors. I congratulate myself – I was able to use christmas card and -gift budget to reflectors. I didn't have struggle in any malls to find gifts. Read more
Photography workshop in Kapeenkoski rapids
I had summer's last photography workshop in location in the middle of Finland. Place is called Kapeenkoski rapids and it's such a beautiful place. I got there early Friday evening to be there in time for next day's workshop. I enjoyed beautiful sunset and peace in Kapeenkoski Camping. I slept in one hundred years old granary listening sounds of rapids. I had a breakfast on the beach of rapids. Great beginning for photography workshop, right :)
At first in photography workshop we explored available light without any additional light sources. Day was cloudy and nature of light was soft. It's quite easy to create photographic image because of low contrast between light and shadow parts. You can just choose right spot to shoot and place your model to right spot in relation to backround.Read more
Masterclass photography workshop – diffusers & reflectors
Masterclass photography workshop group portrait. From left, Tiina, Mr. Paavo Lipponen (former Prime Minister of Finland), Oscar Lindell (Studio Lindell, Porvoo), Johanna Uusitalo (Foto-Friitala, Ulvila) and our gorgeous model Laura Arrhenius. (Continue reading blog to figure out how former Prime Minister of Finland ended up in Masterclass group portrait.)
Masterclass started without me on Saturday. I was at the same time celebrating my friend and colleague Laura's wedding in Tampere. Johanna took a challenge at the same time. She shot Oscar's 3-year-old son Kevin, who's synonym for word action. He just doesn't stop. Ice-cream helps, but just a split second.
Later on I heard how it all went: Kevin ran around Old Porvoo and four adults tried to keep up with him. Johanna tried to shoot, Susanna-mum helped all, Oscar and Johanna's husband Harri were assistants. For all adults that was sport exercise, for Kevin real fun and for tourists around free amusement :)
Pic: Harri Uusitalo
Masterclass Photography Workshop – heading towards new challenges
Masterclass in group portrait once again: from left Tomi Kallio (Valokuvaamo Potretti, Orimattila), Johanna Uusitalo (Foto-Friitala, Ulvila), Oscar Lindell (Studio Lindell, Porvoo), Sami Reivinen (Valokuvaamo KLIK, Tampere) and Tiina.
Masterclass gathers this weekend again. It's been a while since we met last time. Latest photography workshop was held in last April. I found it meaningful for all group. I felt like everyone has found their path as photographers. Maybe I've picked up some experience too to be able to notice that :)
Circle closes this weekend when we see each other in Porvoo. We began Masterclass photography workshops a year ago exactly from same place. But it's not the end.Read more
Photography workshop in location – brilliant summer light
When you plan photography course in location you dream that you'll get perfect sunset and twilight. This time we just got it.
We left the island and drove to Nallikari, Oulu early enough before sunset. Spot is known for local teens having parties summer weekends, but we went there any way and occupied best spot for photography.
Between demos I just had to take evidence of perfect sunset. You can hardly beat that (or I hope it will be beaten eventually in some other cool place :) ).
Photography Workshop in pictures
I did photography workshop in July in Orivesi College of Arts. I have great memories from the workshop and I want to share with you some of them.
First few days were foggy and grey, light didn't have any direction. I decided to stay inside and demonstrate the basics of light and lighting there. I found it reasonable because I could use TV-screen and everybody could just sit and listen. That didn't last for long –end of the week we stayed totally outside in different locations.
- Pic: Markku Rintala
Volunteer Photographer in Canoeing Finnish Championships
A week ago local canoeing club Vihuri hosted Finnish Championships in canoeing. Competition was held in beautiful environment around Ruovesi. I've participated in club's action about two years now.
Last winter active members of club began to organize canoeing competition. Usually in sport clubs it means volunteer work. I was asked to shoot during the competition. Even though I thought about two days in cold and rainy weather I promised to participate. And afterwards – I didn't regret. I enjoyed the whole weekend in Ruovesi. There was a great atmosphere and there was rain just a little while. Otherwise it was cloudy or sunny – great weather for canoeing and taking photos.
Young women bloggers – new aficionados of photography
"Finnish importers have made a survey of typical first time SLR-camera buyer. Young women and teenage girls are signifant grouop of these first time buyers. They want quality and and they appreciate SLR's versatile features." (Editor-in-chief Asko Vivolin, Camera Magazine editorial 5/2013)
- My daughter wants SLR as gratuate present.
- Yeah, I just bought one for my daughter last summer.
(part of conversation between two fathers)
Canon bloggers in a photography workshop
Two weeks ago Canon organized a photography workshop for group of young women who are active bloggers. They blog about fashion, lifestyle, design, healthy living, travelling, baking etc. I was totally fascinated when I listened their discussing about different type of SLR's, objectives and their requirements for cameras. I've never met this kind of group. Joy and enthusiasm was real :)Read more
Masterclass workshop in Orimattila – available light, continuous light & winner pictures
Masterclass traditional group portrait: from left Tanja Pohjaranta (Valokuvaamo Knalli, Somero), Tomi Kallio (Valokuvaamo Potretti, Orimattila), Johanna Uusitalo (Foto-Friitala, Ulvila), Oscar Lindell (Studio Lindell, Porvoo), Sami Reivinen (Valokuvaamo KLIK, Tampere) and Tiina.
Last February Masterclass gathered in Orimattila. Our host was this time Tomi Kallio from Valokuvaamo Potretti. I had my birthday at the same time. So we had a birthday party too :)
FPPA's Annual Contest "Portrait Photographer of the Year" was getting nearer, so one of the goals of the workshop was to shoot pictures for it. While eating cake we checked pictures and chose series for the contest, and in a workshop we did our best to achieve our goals. Once again I was amazed of enthusiasm.Read more
Spring Update of FPPA – one little dream came true
We took first steps to create this event last autumn. I was driving back from Kuopio with FPPA's CEO Anna Kaleva-Tsagklas where organization's annual meeting had been just held. Last Monday it all bacame reality. It was for me like a little dream came true :)
Part of my dream was that we can all learn from each other. The others inspire us. We are surrounded by great people who do great stuff.
I'm proud of the professional collegiality which predominates among professional photographers. People are ready to share their inspirations, thoughts and stories.
Passion and inspiration
In this Spring Update I interviewed three photographers: Krista Keltanen, Mikaela Löfroth ja Antti Karppinen. Main thing that links these people is passion to photography.
Krista started doing interior- and decoration images by creating a blog. This blog was all about renovating her own house. Mikaela realized that her passion is to shoot wedding pictures in locations – and now all the couples want just that. Antti decided "imagine anything" – and won Portrait Photographer of the Year 2013 -prize, he created You did what -project and there's more coming.
I admire their passion and skills. Among that I was interested in their thoughts of social media. How they use Facebook, Twitter, blogs or Instagram?
My dream was that these interviews make us to think. What is my passion? How I'm gonna achieve it?Read more