Behind the Work: Capturing the Soul and the Story
For Timo Mikkonen, photography is a journey into peace of mind and imagination. Through his camera, he aims to capture a soul that always tells a story. The IT Support Engineer also takes photos for Raumaster.
“When a good picture takes shape, it’s like the moon and the earth meet in that moment”, Timo Mikkonen describes the feeling of capturing the perfect image. It’s not just about pointing the lens and pressing the shutter-release button; success takes intuition, a trained eye, and careful planning.
"Photography is a kind of therapy for me because it forces you to pause and observe. My work can get very hectic, so behind the viewfinder of a camera, both the man and the world quiet down, and allowing me to pay attention to even the smallest of things and details", Mikkonen says.
He takes more than 7,000 photographs yearly, with about half undergoing image processing and roughly one-fifth making the final cut. He photographs abandoned houses and cars left in the woods, as well as scenery and people.
"I always try to capture a soul, whether it’s a person or a landscape. The image must provoke thoughts. For instance, in abandoned houses, you always get a certain feeling; perhaps a happy family once lived there, and that’s the story I want to encapsulate."
Everyone is beautiful in their own body
Mikkonen has been behind the camera actively for around two decades. The latest addition in his repertoire is empowering photography, which also got his work featured in an article on the topic in Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.
"Empowering photography is a way of showing a person themselves. It’s strongly interconnected with body positivity and the life stories of those being photographed. Through the image, you can show that people are beautiful, and stunning in their own bodies. It’s freeing and really demonstrates the power of photographs", Mikkonen explains.
He has made photo trips to places like Jyväskylä and Mikkeli. On holiday, he leaves the camera at home, capturing moments on his phone instead.
"My favourite photo from last year was taken in Rihtniemi on my phone camera. A sunset with its cloud formations made for a perfect scene."
Raumaster life through the lens
Mikkonen also shoots weddings, funerals, and confirmation and graduation parties. Recently, he has also been doing photography for Raumaster. His work can be found for example in new flyers and the company magazine Purkain.
"This is a great way of getting to know the company from a bit of a different perspective. Photography gives you a unique viewpoint, and in a way, allows you to dive deeper into the everyday of the company", Mikkonen reflects.
Photography is a popular pastime today, and Mikkonen encourages everyone to give it a try.
"Don’t worry about what kind of images you manage to get initially, because you learn through doing and trying. Photography is about capturing memories of moments that won’t exist again later, but through the photos you can always revisit them."
City’s whispers, shadows cast,
Urbex stories from the past.
Abandoned echoes, silent streets,
Concrete tales where silence meets.
An AI-made poem about Urbex photography that Timo has included in his Instagram posts.
