Coal mining communities of West Virginia.
Part of an upcoming book in which the great environmental issues of our time are surveyed through Norwegian oil drillers, American coal miners, German lignite miners and Finnish peat harvesters.
On going project.
A photo story about the northen town of Finland - Ii.
Shot during a 12hr photo marathon competition - Valto Pernu Photo Marathon http://vppm.fi/en/
1st prize - 2017
Published in the November issue of Image Magazine
In Finland, inmates of a unit in the Satakunta Prison have the opportunity to work in the prison's organic farm. There are some dozen inmates working in this countryside idyll, and the turnover rate is large, typical to an open prison. The farm is the most desirable job in the prison, where inmates have time to think and often take pride in their work.
A few decades ago, Finland had one of the highest rates of imprisonment in Europe. In the 1960s, researchers across the Nordic countries, after investigating how much punishment really helps reduce crime, came to the conclusion it doesn't. After remending its criminal santion system bit by bit, Finland now has one of the lowest crime and recidivism rates in the world.
The Finnish criminal justice system is based on the limitation of freedom, not humanity.
Photographer Meeri Koutaniemi for December 2018 issue of Pirkka Magazine
AD: Anne Ala-Jokimäki
Muah: Essi Kylmänen
Style: Meri Milash
Story of the rising number of women working in the Finnish shipyards. Shot for Helsingin Sanomat.
In Finland, hundreds of thousands of people live with a rare disease. These deasiases their selves might not be leathal or even severe, it's the rareness that leaves the diseased and their close ones troubled and alone with their problems. Only a handfull of people in the entire country may carry a disease that has no known cure in the world. Every visit to a doctor is a rollercoaster where no knoledge is certain. Facing different diseases but the same issue, The Rare find comfort in coming together and sharing the little knowledge out there.
Cognitive neuroscientist Katri Saarikivi for OP Financial Group magazine Chydenius
Shot in streets of Berlin with common Berliners. Commissioned by Nokia.
Finnish social democratic politician and the Governor of the Bank of Finland, Erkki Liikanen, for OP Financial Group magazine Chydenius
Promotional shoot for musician Samae Koskinen by commission from the label Universal Music Finland
Konglu Ezekiel Odupol stands in the bottom a well he dug manually to provide water for his plantation in Kajiado County, Kenya, 9th of October 2016. Rather than choosing the traditional pastorialist Maasai lifestyle, Odupol chose to farm for living. Over the past decade, overwhelming drought has afflicted the Maasai and Odupol's well has been dug deeper and deeper untill now there is barely any water to withdraw. In addition to the increasing drought due to climate change, the wells have gone dry because of sand harvesting the river bottoms. Sand harvesting is a short-sighted mean to make a living, for the people of Kajiado that have no other opportunities.
For Finnish University Magazine // Ylioppilaslehti
More and more kids are fantasizing about becoming a pro fighter in the United States. MMA - Mixed Martial Arts - is, by far, the fastest growing sport among the youth. Kids as young as 4 are picking up ’kiddy classes’ taught by the professional MMA fighters.
The sport is tough and looks violent. Most parents still say ”I wouldn't let my kid participate”, even though statistically the sport is safer than soccer.
At the gyms there are communities being formed where kids all ages are mingling and taking care of each other. Strict discipline and respect is taught and children grow up self confident.
Contradiction about the sport is inevitable.
2013-2014 California & Arizona, U.S.A.
Published by Time Lightbox.
Pääministeri Juha Sipilän hallitusohjelmassa 27.5.2015 kirjoitetaan:
”Suomalaiset voivat paremmin ja kokevat pärjäävänsä erilaisissa
elämäntilanteissa. Jokainen ihminen kokee voivansa vaikuttaa, tehdä
valintoja ja ottaa vastuuta. Meillä on vahva yhteenkuuluvuuden tunne.
Kunnioitamme toisiamme. Yhteiskunnassamme vallitsee luottamus.”
Halusin puhua paskapuheesta. Minusta tuntuu, että Suomessa on yhä sallitumpaa puhua paskaa. Valehdella. Vääristellä. Huudella. Sanoa yhtä ja
tehdä toista. Esimerkkiä antaa maamme hallitus, jonka arvot puheen ja
käytännön välillä ovat täysin vastakkaiset. Puhutaan puolesta ja toimitaan
vastaan. Hallitusohjelman väite siitä, että olisimme kehittämässä Suomea
jossa vallitsee yhteenkuuluvuuden tunne ja luottamus, on absurdiudessaan naurettava.
Kuvassa esiintyvä Ari on keski-ikänsä ylittänyt mielenterveyskuntoutuja,
joka on elänyt yli puolet elämästään sairaseläkkeellä eri hoitokodeissa.
Arin katse paljastaa hallituksen bluffin. Hän ei tunne vahvaa
yhteenkuuluvuuden tunnetta. Hänellä ei ole mahdollisuuksia vaikuttaa. Hän ei voi paremmin kuin kahdeksan vuotta sitten, jolloin tapasin hänet
ensikerran. Päinvastoin.
#vuosivaaleista
https://pvf.fi/en/vuosi-vaaleista/
Personal project about Finnish athletes training for Rio Olympics.
Finnish pop star Antti Tuisku for the cover of Image Magazine
Shot thru out Finland with commission by the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs & Employment.
