Good reminder about what is important. Just swap a few terms – in my case, poetry for photography, writing for shooting picture. After all, poetry is such a universal art, kind of a ancestor of all arts. Wise words about poetry are wise words about all arts.
What’s important, what’s beautiful.
I mostly shoot images that are related to human life. Not always including people actually. But structures we build, as individuals or as societies. Roads and houses, monuments and airplanes. Architecture and design. Infrastructure and memories. All kind of marks of human life we leave around us every day.
But sometimes all those marks just would be too much.
Sometimes nature has composed all things so completely and harmoniously that there is nothing left to add, take away, or alter by a man without disturbing the scene. Just shoot it.
Demolition men
My hometown Helsinki was founded in 1550 on the mouth of Vantaa River. Place is known as Vanhakaupunki, meaning old town. City begun to grow around this area.
Industrialization meant that the power of rapids were needed, first for mills, later for electicity. Dam that exists today is built in 1876 and there is also power plant from that era. It’s owned by local energy production company Helen and it’s the oldest working power plant in Helsinki, still producing 0,2 MW.
20th. century brought new way of transportation, flying. First commercial flights in Finland were operated by float planes, so the first airports were actually air harbors. 1930’s brought air traffic on ground. Helsinki-Malmi Airport located in Tattarisuo is the first land airport of Helsinki.
It was opened in 1938. Round terminal building is a masterpiece of functionalist architecture, designed by Dag Englund and Vera Rosendahl. There were few reasons why commercial aviation left Malmi as soon as 1952 for the new Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Malmi was left for general aviation use, which meant that there wasn’t need to expand it. Malmi Airport looks today very much the same as it was before years of WW2.
The future of these pieces of local history is very uncertain. During last few years voices demanding demolishing of these environments have risen.
In case of dam driving forces have been amateur fishermen who want to free the rapid so that salmons, trouts and other fish could climb up to the river. Malmi Airport is threatened by growth of the City of Helsinki, which wants to build a new suburb on the site.
I understand these demands. Fish are nice and people need apartments. But there are dozens of other rivers in this country and dozens of square kilometres of unbuilt land in this city. Why should these unique pieces of cultural history be demolished?
And even more philosophically – what kind of citizens and townsmen we are if we are destroying living pieces of our own roots? How thin is our civilization if we demolish the layers of our city?
Dam and airport can be destroyed once, never can they be brought back.
Photos: Rapid of Vanhakaupunki | Malmi Airport
Gear junkie, part II
One of the most interesting books I’ve read about life and work of a photographer is On Being a Photographer by David Hurn.
It’s not one of those thin guides which promise that following their step-by-step method everyone can become succesful and admired professional photographer. Instead it’s a thick book which draws a picture of branch in which it’s not enough to be a business person or an artist, but one need to have skills in many areas – often contradictory to each other. No cheap promises of instant wins, but honest and true wisdom by a photographer, to photographers.
David Hurn writes about styles, subjects, genres, philosophy of photography. But also, like title says, about the life as a photographer, paying bills, traveling, carrying one’s gear, walking…
Because as a photographer one must walk. Walk a lot.
According to David Hurn, best shoes for photographer are Dr. Martens Chelsea boots. Not absolutely perfect in any special feature, but very good in many. Suitable for long walks in rough pathways, suitable even climbing on rocks. But also, elegant enough fo flaneuring on boulevards and transit halls on airports.
I am not a copycat, but since the book convinced me in many other aspects, I decided to trust Hurn’s opinion and give these shoes a try.
He was right. Dr. Martens 2976 are The Shoes for photographer, versatility being the keyword. The have kept me going as well in wet and cold winter at home in Helsinki as the heat of Barcelona spring. Snow or dust outside, my feet feeling comfortable inside. I guess they will serve me many years to come. And I guess that after this pair has done it’s job, it will be replaced with another. I suppose that classics like these will not be dropped out of production in nearest future.
Previous part: Me, a gear junkie?
Wim Wenders: A Speech for James Nachtwey | ASX
Eleven months ago I posted a link to a documentary about James Nachtwey.
So, it’s obvious that today I should post a link to an essay by Wim Wenders.
Peace, mr. Putin.
Rukkilill – cornflower. Memorial to the victims of Stalinism. Tartu, Estonia.
“Never again” was tought of many people in Europe in 1945. Sadly, for many in eastern parts of the continent 1945 was just a beginning of another era of oppression behind The Iron Curtain. That’s what I’ve learned from history books.
Events of 1991 I remember myself very well. I was 19, at Santahamina island, Helsinki, doing my military service – playing war games. On the other side of the Gulf of Finland people were stopping Red Army tanks – by bare hands. Before that year ended, Soviet Union was history too. “Never again”, thought many people then, myself included.
In 2015, we unfortunately see it happening again. We are witnessing certain geopolitical goals being advanced by violence and power-politics, we are hearing certain leaders telling lies to international community, time after time. Big disappointment for Europeans who have disappointed many times before.
Back to Tartu. Rukkilill monument is located next block to an old office building in which underground cells people were questioned, tortured, and sent to Siberia by KGB, security agency of Soviet Union. For this very same KGB, in former East Germany, worked also a young intelligence officer Vladimir Putin.
Henry. The photographer. My friend.
ECMC (European Cycle Messenger Championships) 2006 at Helsinki. Five of us, Henry and Sonja, Shimaani, Dagmar and I went to Olympic Stadium. Henry and I shot some pictures, rest of our crew just watched and listened the action and we all enjoyed summer day and bright and hot sun (as well as few cold beers…).
Almost ten years has gone and lots has happened since then. Good things, not so good things too. Separations, born children, lost jobs, new jobs. Responsibilities. Loans for new apartments. Gained years, some weight too. We have become middle-aged.
Things that make that day in summer 2006 feel different. We were still young. Free too – at least it feels that the free space in our lives was larger then. Life was light and airy, not unlimited, but with lots of opportunities in front of us. We were happy together with friends around us.
I can’t speak for my friends, only for myself, but at least I feel that life was a bit better back then. I guess this is called nostalgia.
Twenty years
We must look at it.
We are required to look at it. We are required to do what we can about it.
If we don’t, who will?
The Model
Girl was sitting as a model for artist, charcoal drawing I guess. Artist was drawing, girl was chatting and laughing with her friends and the rest of the crowd was looking the scene. Common sight in any European city popular with tourists. No need to stop there.
But as I was walking by I noticed a crack in the wall of backs, model sitting just in the middle. Raised the camera, girl raised her eyes, noticed me. She shot the smile, I shot the pic.
Valoisa Huone | Photographer Petteri Sopanen 