Finnish Instagrammer of the Week: Taru Latva-Pukkila
We love Instagram and we love Finland. Combining the two is the logical step. Every Wednesday we showcase a Finnish Instagrammer who captures the best of the country. We ask about their photos and their process. If you want to share your work with over half a million monthly readers, use the hashtag #InkTankFinland.
To kick off the series, we have an Instagrammer whose work has been admired for a long time. This is Taru Latva-Pukkila, known on Instagram and EyeEm as @tarulp.
About Taru Latva-Pukkila
Thanks for being our first ever Finnish Instagrammer of the week, Taru. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born on the west coast of Finland in a small place in the middle of nowhere. I spent my childhood in the Ostrobothnia region. Later I moved around Finland. I stayed in Great Britain and Spain before moving to Helsinki 12 years ago to finish my Master degree in Arts and Design at Taideteollinen Korkeakoulu. I have lived and worked within the worlds of textiles and design since then.
Photography has been close to my heart since childhood. I started on Instagram in August 2012 when I bought my first iPhone, the 4s. I decided then to focus my mobile photography on Instagram. I still use the same phone for shooting and editing. Instagram has become a diary of my life.
Shooting style and subjects
So, where do you shoot most of your photos and what sort of photos do you like to take best?
I mainly shoot on the streets of Helsinki. I see beautiful and interesting people in the urban environment combined with architecture, shadows and light. I see many details while walking and documenting daily life.
Tips and recommendations
What are your top tips for shooting Instagram photos in Finland?
Do not worry about the weather. Just go out and shoot. People want to see your culture and city. Small details make a difference. On the streets, people are often not willing to be photographed. Respect them, keep your distance and use common sense.
Which five Finnish or Finland-based Instagrammers do you recommend everyone follows?
- @skwii: Jussi is a talented photographer I met at my first Instameet in Helsinki. He has grown much over the years.
- @ektara: Meri is a wonderful photographer who maintains a sparkle in her eye when she shoots and edits.
- @__kilu__: Kristian has a lovely touch for nature in black and white. The deep dark nuances make some photos feel like colour shots.
- @tanukallio: Tanu is a talented street photographer whose work I have followed for a long time.
- @j_vallius: Joonas achieves a nice touch by editing nature and urban shots with rich and soft colours. His work feels full of light.
Favorite shots from Helsinki
What are some of your own favorite shots from Helsinki?
Most of these could be movie stills from some of Nordic noir film.
Except Helsinki is pretty much always grey except maybe for three months (if lucky) in summer
Happy photo has got to be most Suomi photo ever :)
Nice photos. Uunisaari Island looks like an album cover.
I might travel to Helsinki to write some poetry. The surroundings seem very apt for that!