Light in autumn is always perfect even during midday. It’s soft and sets up a great overall mood. Everywhere you look has those colors you never get in any other time of the year. This time of year you don’t really get any nasty shadows on your subject, like panda eyes, so as long as there is light any time of that day is good for portraits. When it gets dark and if the sky is clear, you get that beautiful starry sky.
Personal
Ulko-Tammio – Spending a night on an island under the stars
A boat ride to an island in the middle of the sea during the most beautiful time of year? Yes please.
An island called Ulko-Tammio was an experience I didn’t know I needed. Initial thought was to go to an island next to the border but getting permits there took too long so we chose to go elsewhere instead. Boy, was that a good idea. There were a few others here too but the island was big enough for us all. We, myself, and my 2 cousins and my cousin’s kid spend one night on this island. The weather was beyond perfect as it could have been whatever and it did promise rain only a few days before the departure. Skies cleared for the night and showed million stars above us. Light pollution is minimal here far from big city lights. Something did light the horizon and that was the neighboring country burning excess gas so it did look like Mordor from Lord of the Rings.
We were fast enough to reserve the one house on the island which is free for short accommodation to anyone visiting the island. It had all the stuff one would need and bunk beds for about 6 people. There was also god know how old filter coffee which we did not dare to try. Lucky us we saw two sea lions, one on our way to the island and other one popping its above water while we had dinner next to the water. Trips like these feed the soul and seem necessary to charge batteries and just be away from daily routines.
I would love to come back one day and take pictures of couples here for sure. This island is just one of many we have here in Finland, but really worth it.
Back in business – Changes in life
It has been Long time.
It has taken over a year since I’ve taken pictures to anyone else but myself. I needed to take a pause from creating so that I could come back and find that passion again. A couple of reasons why I have stayed back for this long.
First of all I went through a divorce years ago and after that it was really hard to see and document happy couples celebrate their day. I struggled a lot while trying to do my best. Meanwhile my mild IBD symptoms became bad ones which took me to hospital and surgery which required a long recovering time. It’s funny how major surgery can make you feel like you have never ever exercised in your life. A cherry on top my old site was held as a “hostage” by previous service provider and only way I could have gotten it back was to fill a written form and send it to them to France.
I was too stubborn to do that.
So I let it all be.
This all got me to stay away from this business, because I think one needs to be mentally okay to create good content for customers. I do not envy entrepreneurs who cannot take time and stay home. Bills don’t pay themselves. They just need to cope with it and try their best on that day. Some can block that out of their mind and take good pictures throughout the day and some, like myself, absorb those feelings from that day and add them to existing feelings and feel emotionally drained at the moment and even more after it.
Secondly I have a day job now which requires a lot of energy. Yes, I know it’s a choice to have 2 jobs and one has to cope with that. This also gives one a privilege of choice to photograph only a few weddings and not get overwhelmed or burn out.
Lastly I have been trying to find that passion again. It’s done good to me to have a real break. You can’t force art. I am excited to get out there again and create something beautiful I can be proud of and deliver my clients the best possible content I can.
I’m taking bookings for the year 2023. So far all the dates are open.
Here’s to new year and new adventures. Let’s make it a good one.