Discover how one Finnish photographer makes the everyday look out of this world

Miemo Penttinen is a freelance designer and startup entrepreneur with a talent for bringing creative ideas to life. His photography is particularly striking. It features sharp, symmetrical shots of architecture with clean, modern colors.

Penttinen’s series Tau Zero [ Supersymmetry ] satisfies lovers of both symmetry and sci-fi. We spoke with him about his inspiration, seeing the world differently and sharpening photographic skills.

The path to photography

How did you get into photography and what do you most love about it?

At the turn of the millennium, two things happened. I found Lomography with its “shoot from the hip” attitude and digital photography became more accessible. The former freed me to try different approaches while the latter made the iteration required for learning much faster. I have been on that path ever since. Milestones include getting a photography degree in 2006, my first solo exhibition in 2005 and becoming a contributing photographer for Getty Images in 2011.

I love that photography allows me to be a modern day explorer. It is a great excuse to wander around weird locations and take visual samples of the wonders of the world.

Tau Zero and sci-fi inspiration

Tau Zero looks super sci-fi. What was your inspiration and where did you shoot the photos?

Last March, I was in a taxi on the Berlin ring road when I spotted a building unlike anything I had ever seen. It looked like a spaceship from a 1970s sci-fi movie had landed on the outskirts of the German capital. It was the International Congress Centre Berlin (ICC). It opened in 1979 and is currently closed. I returned a couple of days later to walk around with my camera. The first outcome was the ICC-B series.

The photos captured the architecture but did not match how sci-fi the place felt. I was not fully satisfied. Later, I played with Instagram’s Layout app which allows for mirrored images. I liked the aesthetic and tried the ICC series photos in a similar fashion in Photoshop. It took the otherworldly feel to another level. I modified the photos further by adding layers resembling an abstract HUD or lights embedded in the structure.

The creative process

Your portfolio has an eclectic mix of projects. How do you come up with the ideas and which is your favourite?

I do very little pre-planning. Most shots happen with a documentarist approach by observing the world and shooting anything that looks interesting. Because I find many things visually fascinating, I end up with various styles.

One project I keep coming back to is “Altered perspectives”. I use a tilt-shift lens to throw the focal plane off angle. I have a soft spot for how lenses capture out-of-focus areas. This technique introduces a softer, blurred look into sceneries that would normally be in focus. It draws attention to specific parts by leaving only them sharp. It resembles how our eyes work by focusing quickly on one detail. It works well with old cities like Siena, Prague, Porvoo and Tallinn.

Tips for budding photographers

What top tips do you have for budding photographers wanting to look at the world differently?

Do not focus too much energy on rules of photography or technical qualities. Fantastic photos have been taken with crappy devices while breaking all the rules.

Seek out the works of photographers representing various styles to train your eyes. Do not spend too much time in online photography forums. There is a history of images taken by people who do not post on fashionable social sites. Cinema and painting are also great ways to see how others view the world.

When you find something that resonates, follow that path. Do not worry about imitating idols in the beginning. Everyone starts that way. Finnish photographer Arno Rafael Minkkinen has a theory about this called “The Helsinki bus station theory”. It is a must-read for anyone in a creative field. I also suggest Austin Kleon’s “Steal like an artist”.