Ajaton Joki » Finland http://www.ajatonjoki.com Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:37:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 My Love of Finland – If I Could Design A Postcard… http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/18/my-love-of-finland-if-i-could-design-a-postcard/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/18/my-love-of-finland-if-i-could-design-a-postcard/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:48:36 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=1242 Read More]]> Today, I thought it would be fun to do a shoot that really showed just how beautiful Finland is in Winter.  If I could design a postcard of an amazing Winter wonderland, then these are what I’d submit as the artwork.

Presenting a 9 year old Finnish girl, her reindeer, a book on antique Finnish maps, and a beautiful snowy day in January.

a girl and her reindeer enjoy the snow

A reindeer, antique maps of finland book, and a girl

A crown of iced winter berries in finland

The snow daydream - a girl and her reindeer

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/18/my-love-of-finland-if-i-could-design-a-postcard/feed/ 0 The First Snow http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/07/the-first-snow/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/07/the-first-snow/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:12:32 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=1235 It took half the Winter, but we finally saw snowfall here in Helsinki.

The light and scenery is so exquisite this time of year.  Soft and light and lovely.  We’re fortunate to have a mild Winter – not too cold for tea parties with friends!

Sweet child in the snow

a small tea party in the snow

Tulips in the snow, a portrait

Tea for the little bear

Tea for you, too! A snowy day in Espoo/Helsinki

Serving tea

Serving tea in the snow in espoo

first blossoms from the Winter snow

When the snowbound tea party finishes, it's time to go home

Life is always what you make of it

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2012/01/07/the-first-snow/feed/ 0 Ylioppilaskuvaus – Graduation Portraits In Finland http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/05/09/ylioppilaskuvaus-graduation-portraits-in-finland/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/05/09/ylioppilaskuvaus-graduation-portraits-in-finland/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 20:24:15 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=1121 Read More]]> I have to admit, I love doing graduation portraits.  Having teens as subjects allows me to let loose and really have fun with a session.   But more importantly, it gives me a chance to introduce modern graduation portraits in a country still using a 60+ year old style for many session.  It’s time to shake up the teen portraits and really show the unique personality and character of the 21st century Finnish graduate!

I’m happy to play with both the old and the new: the traditional white and black graduation cap in a timeless Finnish setting.  In this case, a location in the lovely city of Kauniainen.

senior graduation portrait finland

Graduation portrait

Sunny graduation portrait

graduation portrait Finland

close up graduation portrait

graduation cap

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/05/09/ylioppilaskuvaus-graduation-portraits-in-finland/feed/ 0 The Cusp of Spring http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/04/30/the-cusp-of-spring/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/04/30/the-cusp-of-spring/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 20:58:51 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=1113 Read More]]> Between the bits of melting snow, we can actually see ground again!  The warm Spring sun means that although there is the white stuff still on the ground, it is warm enough to bring out the Summer clothes.

Of course, with that much golden sun out there, I’m going to take advantage of it!  I love the glow and warmth from shooting out in that full sun.  It really exemplifies the beauty that is Spring and the emergence from a very long Winter!

spring sun full sun portrait outdoors finland

Full sun shoot outdoors in Espoo

Full sun shoot outdoors portrait in Espoo

Full sun shoot outdoors in Espoo Portrait

Full sun shoot outdoors in Finland

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2011/04/30/the-cusp-of-spring/feed/ 2 An Historical Railway Platform http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/10/13/an-historical-railway-platform/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/10/13/an-historical-railway-platform/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:09:29 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=983 Read More]]> I had shot this particular location several years ago but somehow had never returned until this past weekend.  The skies were heavy with clouds and rain – necessitating some extra lighting in certain areas.  But what a wonderful place for a photography session.

The terminal area dates back to the World War II era and was heavily bombed during the Winter War.  Several crates exist in the area around the terminal and it was rebuilt several times until finally being abandoned in the early 1990s.

I used my long lens for the shoot to compress the background and make a long platform seem much smaller and cozier.  And occasionally brought in a speedlight to lift shadows and bring further subject focus.

Abandoned railway platform portrait

abandoned railway platform portrait

abandoned railway platform portrait

abandoned railway platform child portrait

abandoned Railway platform child portrait

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/10/13/an-historical-railway-platform/feed/ 1 Congratulations to the Lovely Bride http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/09/27/congratulations-to-the-lovely-bride/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/09/27/congratulations-to-the-lovely-bride/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 22:35:54 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=963 Read More]]> This is the lovely Miia, who celebrated her wedding only a week earlier.  Miia was kind enough to schedule her bridals after the wedding, when we could have a relaxed day, with no wedding day pressures, making the most beautiful images possible.

Miia is quite lovely and statuesque and used make up artist Cemille Nismetdin to create a very lovely 1960s Bardot type of style. I enjoyed framing her figure against the variety of architectural elements at the location.  I used more environmental framing than usual but I think it just worked so beautifully for her.  And, of course, I appreciate that we were able to use a location well outside of the norm in Helsinki and really make the most of it.

All but the head shots were taken in natural light, using water as the main lighting source.  The beauty shots made use of a large white reflector in Miia’s lap to lift the shadows for a glowing glamor type of beauty portrait.

I count myself so very fortunate in having a lovely autumn day in which to shoot, a location all to ourselves, and the natural beauty of Finland framing a beautiful Finnish bride.

Finland bride portrait at the statue

Finnish bride beauty image

Finland bride on a bridge

Black and white image finnish bride in the gazebo

Finnish bride dreamily sitting at a gazebo

Finnish bride framed by tree branches

Finnish bride in front of a statue of mercury

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2010/09/27/congratulations-to-the-lovely-bride/feed/ 6 On The Rocks http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/25/on-the-rocks/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/25/on-the-rocks/#comments Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:39:13 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=92 This was an opportunity to break out my reflectors and 24mm lens and be creative.  I had the sun for the first half of the shoot but it disappeared behind clouds all too soon.  And someone was in a patriotic mood this afternoon.

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/25/on-the-rocks/feed/ 2 A day at an Historical Mansion http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/01/a-day-at-an-historical-mansion/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/01/a-day-at-an-historical-mansion/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:19:27 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=81

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/10/01/a-day-at-an-historical-mansion/feed/ 2 Exploring the Karjaa Area http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/09/28/exploring-the-karjaa-area/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/09/28/exploring-the-karjaa-area/#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:02:30 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=79 Ah, Autumn is truly here.  The scenery in Southern Finland is so incredibility beautiful this time of the year.

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/09/28/exploring-the-karjaa-area/feed/ 5 Finnish Nature – The Green Brought With The Rain http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/08/19/finnish-nature-the-green-brought-with-the-rain/ http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/08/19/finnish-nature-the-green-brought-with-the-rain/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:20:17 +0000 admin http://www.ajatonjoki.com/?p=63 Four straight weeks of consistent rain has left the late Summer countryside verdant and flush with moss, mushrooms, and green grass.

Below: A fairy ring

The Summer grains are just turning golden in preparation for the harvest

]]> http://www.ajatonjoki.com/index.php/2008/08/19/finnish-nature-the-green-brought-with-the-rain/feed/ 12