In Mika Suutari’s images of Finland’s countryside, the ‘sound’ of silence peals through small-town farmhouses, rural cornfields, and starlit skies. I spoke with Mika to find out how he’s created the perfect pairing of solitude and beauty. As an aside, you might want to try viewing his photos with the following trailer music. You’ll be happy you did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqt9L4fIExA
The Custodian: When did you first take an interest in nature photography?
Mika: I started taking pictures in 2007 when I bought my first digital SLR camera. First I only took photographs of nature. I didn’t want there to be anything that wasn’t ‘natural’ to be in the pictures.
C: How long does it take you to set up a shot? Do you plan beforehand or do you mostly improvise?
M: I have a ready plan for the place and often I have a vision of the image. However, the end result is often different.
C: What’s your favourite area in Finland?
M: I don’t have a special place, but I love being in nature; either under a clear starry sky or on a field in the morning mist listening to nature’s sounds.
C: Some of your photos feature a ‘cosmic wanderer’ figure who always has his back to the camera while ghostly light or sparkling stars encircle him. What’s your interpretation of him?
M: I love the mystical atmosphere of the pictures and the lonely figure gives the images mystique. I also use a lot of remote control. The mysterious figure in the photos is me.
C: Any plans for shoots outside of Finland?
I think many a photographer’s dream is to photograph in Iceland. That’s mine as well. I would like to know what kind of photographs I could get there!
For more of Mika’s photos, have a look at his website:
Just beautiful.
Finding this post has anwesred my prayers