Sweater Weather

all photos are taken by my dear friend Aino. 

Thank you.

x Dora

Hello September, surprise me

I've been really busy lately so I haven't had time to write. Though I got to spend a weekend on our summer cottage, relaxing and well mostly studying for my final exams (or also known as matriculation examination). Lately I've spent most of my time with psychology, finnish and swedish books.

There's not much school left and I'm so excited. We are now working on our musical at school and I really love it. I do have a part in it and I will get to sing and act. It's nice to do something more creative and studying some swedish grammar  and this musical is kind of an escape for me (from all the school work) and I enjoy doing it.

You can notice autumn is here, as the mornings are getting colder and it's not much light in the morning anymore when I wake up. So depressing! Though I still love autumn. There is something in all those big sweaters, cold mornings, drinking tea, enjoying a good book, finding your wool socks and all the colors in the nature. It is just beautiful.

Well yeah, I did some studying during the weekend. Mostly I make mind maps, and I use a lot of colors cause they help me to remember things better. I do highlight too, but I don't learn that much only by reading the book. 

 

While studying, I enjoyed some organic green tea & some raw vegan chocolate. So good (and healthy)!

Here you can see an example of how I study. I drink tea, eat chocolate, make notes and mind maps and take photographs of it. Basically. 

 Bring on fall, I'm ready!

Keep smiling!

I LOVE my new macbook cover! It's so cute, and I also think that the text is funny. My wallpaper on my phone reminds me to stay motivated. My 1 month sick leave (well actually just a paper that says i'm not allowed to do any physical activity) is almost over and I can start walking (and later running) and going to the gym again! So happy! 

By the way, I think it is truly amazing how going for a walk into the woods can relax your mind. For me it gave a peaceful feeling and for a moment all my stress was gone! I enjoy walking alone in the woods, just smelling the fresh air, listening, being so quietly. It's almost something magical. 

I wish you all very pleasant september (and autumn). For those, who are studying for their final exams - Good luck! We can do it! We just need to remember to believe in ourselves. Find your own ways to relax your mind. Go for a run, read, listen to music? Whatever makes you feel comfortable and helps you forget all the pressure for a moment. 

xoxo Dora

All the photos are taken by me, except the ones with me in it are taken by my dad.

Photoshoot at the Suomenlinna Sea fortress

We took the ferry to the Suomenlinna sea fortress and luckily we had good (though cloudy) weather. This time I was behind the camera and my good friend Aino was modeling for me!

Here is some photos we got! What do you think? 

As you know, I don't usually do person photography cause it's not my thing and I don't think i'm very good at it.. but sometimes it's fun to take photos of my friends!

Because I got hungry. And cold. And I love food. 

And oh btw, dangerous hobby this photography...

xoxo Dora

Joutseno photography camp 29.7-2.8.2013

'' A picture is a secret about a secret, 

the more it tells you, the less you 

know.''

-Diane Arbus

Vietin 5 päivää Joutsenon Taidekesän yhteistyössä Kaakkois-Suomen Valokuvakeskuksen ja Suomen kameraseurojen liiton kanssa järjestämällä Valokuvauskurssilla Joutsenon Opistossa. Minulle tämä oli jo kolmas kerta, kun menin kyseiselle kurssille, ja kyllä kannatti mennä tänäkin vuonna. Olen hakenut kurssilta aivojen nollaamista, ja omaa aikaa. Melkein viikon verran voi mennä (lähes) ilman aikatauluja ja vain valokuvata. 

I spent 5 days on a photography camp in Joutseno. For me it was already the third time I was there, and I'm so happy I went again. I've gone there to relax and totally empty my brain from all stress and other things, and to get some time for myself. For (almost) a week, you can just go without (almost) any schedule and just concentrate on taking photos. 

          

Kurssilla oli monenlaista opetusta (aina perusteista isojen kohteiden valaisuun), mutta mihinkään ei ollut pakko osallistua. Kun ohjelmassa oli henkilökuvauksen harjoittelua, kävi kyllä vahingossa vähän niin että tuli oltua enemmän sen kameran edessä kuin takana... Mutta onnellinenhan minä vain olin kun asia meni näin päin. Oon itse ehdottomasti sitä luontokuvaajatyyppiä, joten meitsin löysi sitten milloin mistäkin puskasta kykkimästä. 

Sää suosi, ja olikin aurinkoista, paitsi sitten keskiviikko iltana jolloin satoi hiukan, ja torstaina nautittiinkin sitten kaatosateesta. Ei sinällään että se olisi menoa haitannut, poljin pyörällä kaatosateessa niin että reidet kramppas ja kastuin läpimäräks, vaan siksi että saisi hyviä valokuvia. Mitäpä sitä ei tekisi hyvän valokuvan eteen. 

We had many different topics on the course, but there was no lessons that you would've had to participate. You could choose the lessons according to your own interests. When we were rehearsing person photography, I ended up being in front of the camera more than behind it... But I was so happy that it went that way. I definitely find nature photography as my thing. So I was mainly sitting in a bush. 

We had amazing weather, sunny and warm, except on wednesday evening when it was raining a bit and then on thursday when it was pouring rain the whole day (it stopped in the evening). Well, not a big deal, it wouldn't stop me - I was biking for hours that my thighs got sore and I was soaking wet, only to get good photos in nature. But well, what would you not do to get a good photograph. 

Me and my camera. I have canon EOS 450D and 

here I have Tamron's 18mm-270mm lens. 

Kyseisen viikon aikana pääsin myös tekemään mallinhommia. En siis ole malli, enkä mallin mitoissa, mutta tarjoudun aina harjoitusmalliksi jos joku tarvitsee. Tuli tehtyä loppujen lopuksi aika montakin kuvausreissua. Tän ansiosta mun viikko oli ihan älyttömän huippu, ja pääsin toteuttamaan ideoita ja inspiraatioita mitä mulla oli ollut jo pidempään ja vietin ihan mahtavaa aikaa ihanien ihmisten kanssa. Kiitos kuuluu kaikille kurssilaisille ja opettajille, teitte tästä kokemuksesta jälleen mahtavan! Eräs erityiskiitos kuuluu kuvaajalle, joka suurimman osan näistä mallinhommista minulle mahdollisti.

 Me getting ready for a photo shoot & a sneak peak from the photo shoot!

During this week I got to do some modeling. I am not a model, and not in a shape of a model, but I always offer to be a rehearsal model if someone needs one. I actually got to do quite many photo shoots. Because of that my week was amazing and fun, I got to implement some of my own ideas and inspirations that I've had and I spend awesome time with some lovely people. Thanks to everyone and the teachers on the course, you made my week awesome (again)! But I owe a special thanks to the photographer who made this modeling (and photo shoots) possible.

Opin jotain uutta tälläkin kertaa kamerastani, mikä on tietysti hienoa. Vähän iski sellanen himo ostella kaikkia kivoja leluja. Tai no, oikeasti haluan vaan uuden kameran rungon. Näillä leireillä joka kerta muistan, miksi oikeastaan valokuvaan. 

I learned something new about my camera this time too, which is great. I really want to buy new camera stuff! Or well actually I just want a new camera haha. On these camp(s) I always remember why do I take photographs. 

Here's me getting ready for the photo shoot I loved most, and there's a sneak peak for you from the photo shoot... get excited! And stay tuned of course. 

Mutta se siitä kurssista sitten. Oli mukavaa. Tätä fiilistellään pitkään! Todistus kainaloon ja takaisin kohti Helsinkiä. Kaipa se on vaan hyväksyttävä, että se kesälomakin loppuu ihan kohta. Minnekä se katosi?

But oh well, that's about it then. I had good time! Got my certification and then left back to Helsinki. I guess I need to accept that my summer holiday finishes real soon. Where did it go? 

My certificate (that I participated on that course)

I didn't wanna go home!

Mutta hei...

Nauttikaahan viimesestä lomaviikosta!

Enjoy the last week of holidays

xoxo Dora