I AM A YOUNG TREE
My given name Vesa means a young tree, literally.
Tree created archway for my family on the way to kindergarten early winter morning | Turku, Finland
Name Day Celebrations in Finland
In Finland we have name days, whereby a name or set of names is assigned to each day in the calendar. The practice of name days has deep roots in Finland and stretches back to medieval times. Even at work place, name days are celebrated, even more than birthdays actually. But rarely you are named the same as the day you were born, and the name is only revealed a month or so after the birth during baptism, especially if you belong to the dominant Lutheran church in Finland.
I was born on September 8th and that day is assigned in Finnish calendar to a female name Taimi, which means sapling or seedling. Maybe that was one of the reasons I was namedVesa, and my name day is September 27th. It is almost like a twin brother to Taimi since they both are very similar in meaning, sapling and young tree.
“Vesa: Finnish - Etymology -
The given name is an 19th century invention from vesa (“young tree”).”
My father photographing cypress trees in the swamp in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA in 1995
IN ADDITION TO YOUNG TREE,
VESA ALSO MEANS YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY
(WHICH I AM)
Alder tree - Nauvo Archipelago, Finland
Black Alder in the fall by the shore line in Nauvo Archipelago
Needless to say that I feel a strong connection with trees. But don't we all!
One of my hobbies includes night orienteering in the forest - there I try to avoid trees in the dark!
SEE MORE night orienteering photos HERE
Black Alder in winter by the shore line in Nauvo Archipelago
Connections
Needless to say that I feel a strong connection with trees. But don't we all! My days climbing the trees, as I used to do when I was younger are long gone. But nowadays I photograph trees and find them particularly interesting. They almost feel like animals or creatures to me. Each tree has their own character even in the forest full of trees.
Tree Stump - Nauvo, Archipelago
So in a sense these photographs are my self-portraits. However, photographs we take, and especially the ones we choose to display, always reflect the persons we are.
Snow covered spruce trees in the tundra in Lapland, Finland. The sun was setting as the moon was rising. The trees reflect the sunlight as does the moon.
Old style cross country skiis against a trunk of an old birch tree - Nauvo Archipelago, Finland
ABOUT ME
I AM A FINE ART & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED IN TURKU, FINLAND.
I explore and express my ideas about the human condition and its wide range of emotions.
Self portrait - Reflection from a glass panel with trees in the background
Photography has always been part of me since I was a teenager. I have always been printing my work, first by traditional film process & development and now by using a digital workflow and inkjet printers. Recently I started printing on aluminum and other rigid surfaces. My prints make the photograph feel alive connecting with the viewer and also with the space where they are displayed.
