In case you have followed my blog closely, you realize, that I’m not updating real time. There are several reasons to this.
Firstly I started exploring way back in 2006-2008 (depends how you count it) and only started publishing in late 2020. I wanted to write this blog in the form of an urbex diary, and because of this choice I’ve gone through my archives in chronological order.
I also don’t feel comfortable publishing right away after visiting places, but rather want to have a gap of at least two years between my visit and the publication of photos. This I do both to protect myself and the locations, which still survive.
But if you have followed this blog closely, you will also have realized, that in 2020 my urban exploring was starting to get out of hand. The easiest way to realize this is to look at the amount of galleries I’ve published.
2009 – 1 gallery
2010 – 1 gallery
2011 – 2 galleries
2012 – 2 galleries
2013 – 0 galleries
2014 – 1 gallery
2015 – 5 galleries
2016 – 8 galleries
2017 – 8 galleries
2018 – 3 galleries
2019 – 19 galleries
2020 – 74 galleries
Things had been on a rising track before I got so disappointed with myself that I lost all ambitions to photograph. All the content from 2018-2020 has been shot with a mobile phone. But after touring Finland during the summer and finding new locations, I found the spark to explore again. After photographing my good friend during the last stages of her pregnancy I found the spark to photograph and started Deserted Finland. And after starting to dig through my archives, I realized what and how I wanted to photograph.
You can already see where this is going. And that’s why on the second last day of 2020 I boarded a train.
I had made a purchase the previous night and the thing I wanted was in only one store in Finland. The others were out of stock and didn’t know when they would get more. So that’s why I took the tram to the station, a train to Turku and a bus to Raisio.
It was a dark and wet trip. But eventually I got what I wanted.
To the left is my obsolete old 1000D which I sold without taking one more shot with it. To the right is my new partner in crime, a 250D, which I’m hanging high hopes on.
So 2020 wasn’t the peak. It was when all of this really started.
I’ve been an avid follower of your blog for what feels like an eternity, possibly since its inception. Your posts have always been a source of inspiration and joy for me. As a bit of background, I’m a seasoned photographer, having had my work featured in various books, newspapers, and magazines over the years. But, to be honest, somewhere along the way, my enthusiasm for photography began to wane.
My journey with photography started at the tender age of eight when my father presented me with a Canon AE-1, a 35mm film SLR. That camera was my gateway to the world of images, and since then, I’ve remained a dedicated Canon enthusiast. However, this year marked a significant shift for me. My wife and I made the bold decision to sell all my Canon gear. It was a difficult choice, but it paved the way for something new.
In a lovely turn of events, my wife surprised me with a Leica Q3. This gift rekindled my passion for photography in ways I hadn’t imagined possible. The Leica has opened new doors for me, allowing me to see the world through a different lens, quite literally.
I must say, your adventures and photographic journeys have always captivated me. Speaking of which, if you ever find yourself craving an adventure in Vermont, please let me know. I’d be thrilled to go exploring with you. There are a few hidden gems here that I’m eager to share, places that are sure to add a unique and memorable chapter to your journey. Trust me, it’ll be worth your while!
Keep up the good work; my wife and I are excited to see what you are going to post next year. 😀
Thank you, Thomas!
I think it goes like that with every enthusiasm you have. My greatest passion alongside abandoned buildings is dancing. To make things more difficult, I used to dance in three different groups, which all train in different cities. I danced between 5 to 25 hours a week and travelled 1500 kilometers every week to practice. A year ago the group, which trains furthest away from my home town was preparing a large work. I trained for five days a week four weeks in a row, I had big issues with my right ankle, I was hurting, I was tired of travelling and I was pretty much fed up, no matter how much I loved dancing.
I eventually quit the group furthest away. Now I only have between 2 and 7 hours practice a week and it tastes good again.
In my school there was a saying that you’re either a Canon person or a Nikon person and once you pick your side, it’s impossible to change it. I’ve also been a Canon person ever since I started studying journalism in 2009. I do understand, that selling the gear was a big thing, but you are right: giving up something important opens new doors. My choice to quit travelling 1500 kilometers a week came after I was given a grant for writing. The decision saved money and allowed a three month sabbatical, which I’m currently enjoying.
I will definitely let you know, when life throws me to Vermont. Until the day comes, I will continue exploring my beautiful, yet strange home country. I will not spoil the surprise from you two, but I’ll drop one hint: 2021 was my record year of new locations until then. During that year alone I took almost as many pictures as I had taken until that year.
And also thank you for the mention in your blog. It was kindly written and a nice surprise!