The Year I Took Polaroids of You

You and I and a Polaroid camera. One photo every Sunday, for 52 weeks.

[polaroidyear]

#43 Pia

Pia and I met many years ago at a marine industry fair in Hamburg, Germany.  We both worked very similar roles and hit it off immediately. My manager was a close friend of Pia’s. I think all three of us laughed a lot that day.

Work places have changed but we still keep in touch. Pia is fun and loud and I love how life pours out of her. We go to lunches and movies and only do things that bring us both joy. My most favorite thing is when Pia drives me around in her convertible - roof down, going fast and far, Thelma and Louise style.

#43 Regina

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#42 Katariina

This week I had the chance of meeting the spectacular and talented artist and writer Katariina Souri. My friend and I got to spend a couple of hours with her on her homestead being surrounded by the animals and the environment that mean so much to her.

I felt so blessed to see Katariina’s art and just get a chance to talk to her. Just like Katariina herself, her paintings and books hold wisdoms and secrets of the universe. I felt extremely inspired by this strong and hard-working woman who has received so many blows in her public life but still never ceases to have the courage to lead exactly the kind of life she chooses, reinventing herself as a person and artist again and again.

#42 Regina

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#41 Mårten

I met Mårten two years ago at a dear friend’s 50th Birthday party. Mårten was looking for a Russian teacher to brush up on his Russian. I had been slowly withdrawing from teaching but thought that teaching privately might be fun - Mårten was fun. While having cake and coffee at the party I nearly dropped my spoon as I realized that Mårten and I had met before - on a trip to Moscow exactly twenty years ago. I was was an 18-year old on an excursion with my class and Mårten was traveling with his group of adult language students - we had the same Russian teacher. Then it all came back to me; on the last night of our trip, on the night train from Moscow my ankle had gotten swollen and infected from a tiny old cut. My teacher quickly fetched Mårten, the doctor! He examined my ankle and told me to get penicillin as soon as we arrived back to Finland.

Twenty years later, I have been visiting Mårten weekly for almost two years now. At first we only studied Russian but as the political situation progressed we moved to other mutual fields of interest, like genealogy. It turned out that I’m related to Mårten’s wife. 

I teach Mårten Russian, Mårten teaches me all about DNA and how to read hundreds of years old church books. We study, drink coffee and share all the news of the previous week and then sometimes Mårten plays the piano for me, he’s very talented. Ours is a friendship where an age difference of over 30 years plays no role. Mårten and I share the same curiosity and enthusiasm towards life. I hope our time together will never end.

#41 Regina

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#40 Patti

I started this Polaroid project back in 2014 - that’s almost 10 years ago. The reason I never finished it was Patti Smith. The reason I intend to finish it now, in 2023, is Patti Smith.

In 2015 I actually had the chance of taking a proper portrait of Patti at a book signing in Turku. The owners of the bookstore made it very clear that taking pictures was not allowed and I believed them and did what I was told. But I did meet Patti and got my books signed, and just as I had already walked out the door, I heard her say “I don’t mind photos” to the next people in line. I felt like such a loser for not being brave enough and just telling Patti about my project and asking for a photo. I’m sure she would have let me take it.

I was so disappointed in myself that I ditched this project and regretted my cowardly behaviour for the next eight years.

But you know, sometimes life gives you a second chance. So it happened that I somehow managed to get a front-row ticket to Patti’s this week’s concert in Tampere. The show was amazing, it really blew my mind to see her and the band this close to the stage. And this time I got my photo. I also gave Patti a present - a Fujifilm FP-3000b Polaroid pack film. I still had three packs left in my fridge and it’s the same film Patti used to shoot with until it became almost impossible to find. I think she looked surprised and happy and sweetly thanked me. I was so happy myself.

This is a photo of the last song of the show, called People have the Power. During the show there was a brief moment with a drunken troublemaker further back who Patti silenced very quickly. She finished with saying “Do whatever the fuck you want” to the guy. And then, not into the microphone but very quietly, she muttered “And that goes for all of you”. I was sitting so close that I heard her.

When planning on taking a photo of Patti the last time all those years ago, I would have written this post about how much her music, books and photography mean to me. Instead this is a post about overcoming your fears and the obstacles you build yourself. People have the power, you have the power, I have the power. To do whatever (the fuck) we want, no matter what anyone tells us. And if we mess it up the first time, we get up and try again. So here goes - to Patti, to me and to Polaroids, for 12 more weeks.

#40 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#39 Emilia & Olli

Emilia and Olli and I work together. They are the kind of fun coworkers who you can count on to take part in afterwork activities and they always sign up when we have something fun planned out.

This week our company spent a Wednesday evening at a local brewery restaurant in the spirit of Oktoberfest. There were jolly drinking songs, German food and steins of beer. Just before we left, Emilia and Olli were kind to pose for me. And here on these stairs with the camera in my hand I thought of Maid Marian and Robin Hood - Olli in his hat and his arm around Emilia, ready to take on the world.

#39 Regina

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#38 Eki

Eki is my dealer. My camera dealer. He knows all about cameras.

I find it amazing that in our relatively small city there is this unbelievable camera shop, JAS-kamerakauppa, that not only sells all the digital things one desires but also stocks film and fixes and sells any kinds of film cameras and more, from vintage light meters to darkroom equipment. And they have a camera museum. This really warms the cockles of my analog heart.

This week Eki made me very happy by finding me a Polaroid SX-70 camera. It’s in mint condition. I nearly fainted. The serial number revealed that the camera was made in 1974. That’s 41 years old. It works like it just came out from the assembly line. I hope that such beautiful things will never disappear but be preserved and appreciated by people who really see the beauty, design and engineering of cameras - by people like Eki.

#38 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#37 Anna-Leena

Everyone knows Anna-Leena. Anna-Leena Härkönen bedazzled the Finnish literary scene in the eighties with her first novel while still only in high school and has kept on writing ever since. She is also a very well-known actress. I first got to know her work while in high school myself. Her novels felt like a window to adult words, feelings and relationships that I had little experience of.

My friends and I were lucky to get to see the premiere of a play based on Anna-Leena’s latest novel Kaikki oikein - All right. The story is about a lottery winner and her life and people around her after she wins. We laughed, we didn’t cry, we enjoyed ourselves. And through the play I kept glancing at Anna-Leena. Just to see her and hear her laugh. So talented, beautiful and petite. And after the play, she was kind to pose for me and my Polaroid, in her stunning gold dress, just to bedazzle us one more time.

#37 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#36 Henna

Henna and I meet at parties and get-togethers. Sometimes we bump into each other at Henna’s work place. She is a girl from the north, here in the south. I love her northern dialect and calm approach to anything and everything. She is a paragon of patience.  

To me Henna seems like a person who can read people very well. She knows what you’re looking for and she'll help you find it. I respect people who observe and listen and are in no hurry to state their opinion. I myself am trying to learn to listen instead of speaking. Speaking is just repeating what you already know. Listening might teach you something you’re not familiar with. Henna knows how to listen.

#36 Regina

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#35 Meeri

Meeri caught my eye some years ago. She is an immensely courageous and hardworking photojournalist who gives a voice to those whose voice is sometimes merely a whisper. I got to meet Meeri at the opening of her spectacular exhibition Vaihtoehto - alternative. Vaihtoehto is about female genital mutilation and those women and men who are looking for alternatives and ways to stop the cruel procedure in their own community.

Talking with Meeri and taking her portrait with my less-than-predictable Land 250 was an honor. Her calm and striking appearance and her soothing voice have remained with me and I cherish the moment we shared together. 

When I look at Meeri and the work she does, I see a woman who fights so hard for what she believes in. Her work makes me question the choices I make. Her work makes me question the choices I don’t make. Meeri keeps changing the world for better - photo by photo, person by person, community by community. She challenges us all to do the same.

#35 Regina

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#34 Krista

Fate brought Krista and I together. She was a bride looking for a photographer, I was a photographer looking for a bride. We hit it off immediately.

Technically Krista wasn’t a real bride but an actress performing to be a runaway bride in an urban art festival. We spent an amazing day together. We eloped from the church and kept moving on planes, trains and automobiles. We had so much fun that getting married would have been boring compared to our day.

Getting to know Krista even for one day has been an honor. It didn’t take me long to realize how strong and independent this woman is. Krista is a woman who has been through so much and still hasn't lost her joy of life, her energy and her wonderfully contagious smile and laughter.

#34 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#33 Sergei

Sergei, my brother, my only sibling. Our ten year age gap seemed so big when we were kids. Sergei was the cool big brother who never let anyone bully me. I remember looking up to him and bragging to other kids about his jumps from rooftops, his cool earring and him picking me up from the kindergarten on a motorcycle. He bought me Barbies and stuffed animals I dreamt of.

Today Sergei is still is my cool big brother. He still gets me things I dream of, only he makes them with his hands. And he still makes sure no one bullies me. If I have a clash with someone, I can call my brother and know that he’ll give me the right kind of advice. He’s my big brother.

#33 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#32 Fräulein Orvokki

After hearing so much about her and seeing so many photos of her I finally got to meet Fräulein Orvokki today. She performed for my friends and I and certainly didn’t leave us disappointed. 

Fräulein dazzled and stunned us with her performance. We gasped for air, we flushed, we felt all bubbly inside and for the first time I really hoped that I could whistle like guys do. You know, the loud whistle kind. 

This tropical cocktail of flowers and curves was celebration of womanhood. Fräulein Orvokki has redefined the word 'hot' for me. She set me on fire which I am in no hurry to put out.

#32 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#31 Anneli

Anneli and I met at a Night of old photographs. Though I hardly talked to her that night, her smile and laughter made me feel that she is a person who is easy to approach. And right I was. Anneli’s joie de vivre is contagious. I get excited as we talk and her passion towards arts, science and life in general makes me feel happy to be alive. It makes me feel that my curiousness towards almost everything is more than OK - it is actually a state worth pursuing and hanging on to.

This week Anneli and I met on a cloudy and windy Saturday morning, meaning to photograph a huge Magnolia tree. The weather had been violent towards the flowers, many of them had gone with the wind. Still we found some to photograph. The clouds parted for just some seconds and Anneli got her perfect shot. I got my perfect shot.

#31 Regina

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#30 Terttu

Terttu is my spouse’s mother, our daughter’s grandmother. We’ve come to know each other over the years. Terttu helps us with our daughter, we help her where we can. Reciprocity forms the base of our relationship.

Terttu was widowed two years ago. Grandpa’s death was hard on all of us, but one can only imagine how hard it is if you’ve been together with someone for over forty years and suddenly they’re not there anymore. Suddenly you're alone doing the all the work in the house, work like chopping wood for the winter. Terttu has done it all with such determination, strength and spirit that I can only admire her. I hope we could all find a bit of courage like hers when times get really hard.

#30 Regina

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#29 Janni

Janni is one of my dearest friend’s little sister. We meet very randomly at parties and get-togethers and it’s funny how it always comes as a shock to me to realize that Janni is an adult now. No longer a girl but a grown woman with a spouse and a gorgeous, gorgeous home.

Today Janni celebrated her very first official name day. This is the first year that her rare name has entered Finland’s name day calendar. I think the calendar people got it right this year. This beautiful woman definitely deserves a day of her own.

#29 Regina

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#28 Robert

Experiencing one´s art is as close as you can get to knowing the artist without meeting them personally. I have been reading about Robert Mapplethorpe for quite a while now and seeing his prints last week was a stirring experience for me. It was almost all there, all his periods. The beautiful and the disturbing - black, white and grey.

Robert started photography with a Polaroid Land camera similar to mine. His photos drew me to experimenting with a Polaroid pack film camera. I have then dusted my other film cameras, loaded them with film and clicked away. I had forgotten the feeling of analog, the smell of chemicals, the tones in black and white prints. Robert has helped me remember.

#28 Regina

[polaroidyear]

#27 Tallu

Tallu and I met some years ago at a music festival through a mutual friend. It turned out our tastes in music were very different but that didn’t stop us from listening to some more music and becoming friends.

We’ve broadened our topics from music to other arts and life in general. I draw comfort from being around a strong woman who knows more about life than I do, who has seen a lot more.

To me, Tallu is about dark and light and the interplay of the opposites. Underneath her black clothes I see a warm heart that shines through brightly. She is a woman of mysteries - she writes and speaks in riddles that I want to solve without asking for the right answer.

#27 Regina