My name is Ritva. I am an avid, self-taught photographer from southern Finland, currently living in Kirkkonummi. Interest in life is evident in my diverse subjects, capturing anything that catches my eye. Whether it’s the delicate intricacies of a plant, the breathtaking beauty of a landscape, or the compelling energy of urban life, My lens finds and celebrates beauty in all its forms. Nature serves as an enduring wellspring of inspiration for me, as I seek out and immortalize its enchanting moments. Additionally, in portrait photography I try to capture human emotion and connection , as I aim to encapsulate the very essence of each fleeting moment.
I totally enjoy playing with photos and immersing oneself in the editing process. It’s truly satisfying to have the flexibility that shooting in RAW provides, opening up a world of possibilities for editing. I’m of the same mindset when it comes to photo editing; I prefer to maintain the authenticity of the moment captured, striving to avoid over-editing and keeping the essence of the shot true to life. However, I also appreciate the occasional opportunity to explore artistic expressions through my edits, transforming images into minimalist monochrome representations that beautifully convey the essence and emotion of the scene. Or using colors to enhance the mood of the image. This delicate balance between realism and artistic expression is what makes photo editing such a captivating endeavor for me.
Inspiration and ideas change. My knowledge changes and grows. Each piece I create is simultaneously an extension from the past, where I’ve come from and what I’ve learned, as well as a preview of the future, where I’m going.
I do not classify myself as just a photographer, as some might think from looking at my work. I am a sculptor, a painter, a photographer, an artist.
If a viewer stops for just a moment to view and reflect on a photograph, a photo collage or a painting I have created, then I have succeeded in my work.
“Too lazy to peel fresh? You don’t deserve to eat garlic.”
“Garlic is divine. Few food items can taste so many distinct ways, handled correctly. Misuse of garlic is a crime. Old garlic, burnt garlic, garlic cut too long ago, garlic that has been tragically smashed through one of those abominations, the garlic press, are all disgusting. Please, treat your garlic with respect.”
Anthony Bourdain
“I could smell garlic, butter, and wine – the world’s most delicious flavor combination. It made me feel warm, like the first few sips of wine always do.”
Happy is said to be the family which can eat onions together. They are, for the time being, separate, from the world, and have a harmony of aspiration.
In onion is strength; and a garden without it lacks flavour. The onion, in its satin wrappings, is among the most beautiful of vegetables; and it is the only one that represents the essence of things. It can almost be said to have a soul.
Charles Dudley Warner
Onion is such a great topic. I think I have to go ang by more vegetables and try to take food photos.
This is the original with added contrast and clarity
below you see the ones I used stronger editing to create different mood and colors. I find this fun and a learning experience. More “Art Photography” like.
I am cultivating my editing skills, trying to create different atmospheres with one photo.
The first one is the original with slight edits in contrast, clarity and vibrancy and exposure. This was already a macro so did not need to crop it.
I was going through my old photos, I was searching for something totally different, but I found these of a man wearing a mask. I wonder f he still uses it? It certainly is something different
Some ranting from a blogger who usually does not share that much personal staff other than photographs, that also tell a story about a woman who is happy and has a positive outlook on life. I still do have a positive attitude, in spite of this post.
Thanks me at work – the old fart
I think this is the most I’ve written about me personally about what I do, or did for a living. I have tried not to be a bore, but why not share. I have nothing to loose or be ashamed off, not an employer or a co-worker to to take offence of my opinions.
So I have a dream, of seeing far away places, sunset and sunrises, new experiences and being able to work to support myself.
It is a good thing. I am not going to let this thing get me down, make my bitter or loose hope.
I am a middle aged woman, with a dream, even though I know it won’t come true, it is still a dream. I would love to earn from my art and photographs.
Or getting a job. I have been unemployed for a 18 months and not a job in site for a woman of my age. Covid-19 is also a factor, but a small one compared to age discrimination. I am being put into my own reference bloc; not innovative enough, too expensive, too much experience, too much wrinkles (no I know that is not the issue)it is the age factor.
Also in Finland, it seems to be impossible to get a assistant, coordinator or office work position if you do not have a degree from a Vocational university also known as university of applied sciences. I don’t have that, I have hands on experience since 1990’s, only 30 years, but now days it does not account for nothing ( she says bitterly 🙂 )
Covid-19 made it nearly impossible for anyone to get employed, in Finland 60% of the workforce worked from home. And in is still an ongoing thing. it is time consuming, job applying for jobs, The CV is ready, but writing a letter to go with is so hard when basically all you wish is to get a job and you have to sell yourself in in every letter, but also trying to tell them why you want to work for them… really. I want a job, I do not have a five year plans etc. I don’t care that much which sector they are in, I want to use the skills I have and earn a living.
I like this shot of the Naples Pier I took few years ago. The sun was low and it came shining under the pier. I transformed it to blank and white image. I think i works both ways.
This first photo is an unedited straight from my mobile that i converted to black and white image. I took it at a Pier in Kaivopuisto in Helsinki on a very misty day.
I have been having trouble with getting the comments and likes etc to my screen. This feature did not at all, I mainly saw them on my app on my phone. Not the most convenient to say the least, it frustrated me totally. I got help, I have to say that when you contact the help on WordPress they do respond immediately. I appreciate that. That said, I had an invasion of spams, mainly from Russia and they all were sent in the past week over 2500 of them. They jammed my sites!!!
That is huge amount – 2500 spams in weeks time, please see your sites if similar thing is happening to you. All these came after I’ve updated the themes on both of my sites Ritva’s Art- Photography and ART BY RITVA .
The photo I’ve chosen is in no way related to the topic. It is a photo of an old ledger book. I just like the photo 🙂
Beautiful sunset at near my summer house in Lahti, the green fields and orange sky make a beautiful contrast. Mist always adds an extra plus to the scenary
Ihana auringonlasku lähellä mökkiäni, vihreän ja oranssin kontrasti on aivan ihana. Sumu aina tehostaa kuvan tunnelmaa. Kyllä kesällä on niin kaunista.
long time since I posted here, summer being one of the reasons. Other is my digital art project that i have organized. I have also deleted two of my sites. Trying to organize my hobbies. I will most likely revamp this site too now that I am on a roll. Just to here to tell all is good, no covid or anything else but laziness with lack of posting, but I am back.
Details of the harnesses and carriages were that dates from the 1880’s.
I did a set in color and in black and white, as I’ve said before, the atmosphere is totally different in them, in my humble opinion. Do you agree or disagree?
Visiting Hartola for the first time, there is not that much to see but we saw the main attractions I assume.
The main green building dates from the 1828. The larder is from the same period and has been built over cellars which date back to the 18th century.
Koskipää Mansion
The red side building was constructed in two phases, first came the “savupirtti” (literally a smoke-hut in which there was no chimney) built in the 17th century. The work was finished in the 1850’s. The yellow building, which was the main one during the middle of the 17th century, is not used as a museum.
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The shed in which the harnesses and carriages were formerly kept now houses the agricultural section of the museum, and dates from the 1880’s. The windmill was build in 1840. The buildings were all originally here except for the windmill, which was transported to the museum in 1965.
The first known reference to Haikko Manor dates back to the year 1362, but the present Manor House was built in 1913, it is located by the beautiful archipelago about 7 kilometres from Porvoo. Now days it is a Hotel Haikko Manor and Spa.
as it is not recommended that we travel abroad at the moment, we have been visiting picturesque towns and places in Finland. Let me introduce Porvoo to you again with few new photos. It was so full of local tourists that I did not take many photos from the streets. Enjoy a a small photo tour from this lovely town.
Old Porvoo, with its red-ochre painted riverside warehouses, is one of the most photographed national landscapes in Finland. Here you can admire the colorful wooden houses and stroll the winding cobbled streets – as if in a children’s story book.
I have been lazy and on holiday, we have done few trips to town near us.
The grey stone church was built in the 1680s
Ekenäs Old Town with its wooden houses spreads out to the seashore. The street names tell the story of the life of the townspeople and how they got along hundreds of years ago. Here, the streets have stayed the same since the 16th century. Street names such as the Hatter’s Street , Linen Weaver’s Street , Cloth Weaver’s Street , Smith’s Street and Tanner’s Street reveal that Barcken’s peninsula in Ekenäs once was populated by skillful craftsmen.
The grey stone church was built in the 1680s on the initiative of Count Gustaf Adolf Leijonhufvud. The church was badly damaged in a fire and owes its present appearance to the reconstruction in the mid-1800s. The latest restoration was made in 1989-1990. There are several valuable items in the church, including a pulpit from the 1600s.
Most of the buildings in the Old Town date from the late 18th and the 19th century, but the area grew out of a 16th century fishing village that the Swedish king Gustav Vasa granted a town charter in 1546 – a few years before Helsinki.
In the summer, you can peep over the fences to the enclosed courtyards. The small signs with names of fish, as given to the blocks in the 19th century, and the cast-iron lamp posts give the face of the Old Town that little extra. The small street mirrors or “gossip mirrors” in the windows, elegantly crafted garden gates and the intricately decorated window frames are all details worth spending time looking at.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 