Sami Serola (inactive)'s photos with the keyword: SSC

... at Piazza San Marco. Souvenirs bought from Venice, and background photograph taken in 2016. Update : Oops, I forgot GIMP software takes the EXIF from the base (background) image. The picture of souvenirs I shot today morning (Feb 3, 2018), against green background (click the image for more details):

Here once was a pub, where I met my wife. I lived at the other end of the building, I used to go to the pub once a week. Then I started to date with the bartender (barmaid). And finally I visited there several times a week, just to spend time with my sweetheart. We drank tea or coffee, played Scarbble or Yatzy, and I helped to close the pub late at night. And after one year we got married. Unfortunately the pub got closed one year later, because the owner died, and no-one was interested to buy the pub. My wife went to work for the communal home care service. The positive side is that she no longer had to work late hours. But every now and then we dream winning in the lottery, and establish a pub, just for a hobby. That pub was very cozy and unique, and so were most of the customers. One of them even made a drawing for us, where the idea is to show what the pub would look when we were much older and still hanging around there:

This week's Saturday Self-Challenge was to compose a square image. It happens to be also my plan for the latest The Art of Photography assignment by Ted Forbes . There the actual assignment is to take a photo sequence made out of multiple images. Photo sequence assignment by Ted Forbes: youtu.be/xnC8SGWlE1w The idea of photo sequence is to tell a short story with few images in a similar way as on cartoons or comic strips. But it can be also sort of a collage. The sequence can tell a chronological story, or the images can illustrate some concept from different angles. When I watched the assignment video by Ted Forbes, I almost immediately though I would like to make a square composition. The idea was to tell a circular story, which does not have beginning or end. So, here's my plan what I try to shoot. I'm a lousy drawer, but on notes you can try to figure out the details of this idea. I'm planning to use my Lumix camera remotely controlled with the mobile phone. The inspiration for this I got when I was browsing through my old pictures and saw an image where I'm inflating a balloon: And the whole idea is based on sort of a photography joke and word play with the concept of negative space . In photography negative space means "the space that surrounds the main element of interest" . Although in my plan the negative space actually fills the middle of the collage and composition. More about negative space in photography here: photographylife.com/negative-space-in-photography UPDATE: And here's the final image.

...and his friend's buttocks.

Soundtrack by The Dining Rooms: soundcloud.com/schema-records/the-dining-rooms-invocation

The "Holmes stereoscope" and a collection of "stereo cards" I inherited from my grand mother. The copyright notice on cards reveals the prints are done between years 1901 and 1907, but these devices became as a popular home entertainment medium already in 1850s. Unfortunately there are no information about the photographers and actual dates when the photographs have been taken. Printed on stereo cards: H.C. White Co., The "Perfec" Stereograph. Examples of stereo cards available at: content.lib.washington.edu/stereoweb Post processing details: Nik Collection used for post processing. FIrst 'Fine Art' on Silver Efex Pro 2, and then 'Film Efex: Vintage' on Color Efex Pro 4.

Soundtrack by Luke Abbott: soundcloud.com/lukeabbottmusic/luke-abbott-modern-driveway

Soundtrack by State Azure: soundcloud.com/state-azure/state-azure-6-15-am Neon lights are rare these days, or they are common, but often covered with acrylic in order to form more diverse array of forms, like letters in different fonts and logos. So, finding neon tubes used as such in signs is not common. There is however, a certain "retro movement" going on, and neon tubes are again used in new contexts. Few years ago a new under passage for pedestrians was built close to Tampere railway station, and there the neon tube signs now work as information signs telling what is the purpose of the under passage.

Patterns as repetition within space Patterns can be understood as a repetition within the space, like a decoration on floor, wall, canvas or in any three dimensional space. Probably most creative masters on this sort of patterns are Arabic architects and artists who have decorated Mosques and other Arabic buildings with incredibly detailed mosaics. I have read somewhere the Arabic art went to this path of illustration because in Islamic religion and culture such thing as iconolatry (or idolatry) is strongly forbidden. Therefore artists could not decorate the buildings (or any other items) with anything that could be recognized as an any sort of a symbol. As a consequence they invented actually very imaginative form of abstract art: almost painstakingly detailed patterns and ornaments. Arabs of course were not the only ones making mosaics for decoration. But they certainly took it to another level. Then later on these master pieces of art have inspired many modern and contemporary artists. Good examples on this are relatively modern western artists M.C. Esher and Antoni Gaudi . Patterns as repetition within time Another way to see patterns is what could be called as pattern recognition. It is a learned ability to recognize familiar symbols, sounds, melodies, smells, tastes and textures. Through everyday repetition of stimuli, we learn to recognize familiar things and then call them as patterns. One example is pareidolia, where we recognize some pattern formed from dots and lines, which then looks like a face of some creature. Pattern recognition can be also programmed into a software, and then used on number of applications. For example on camera software it can be used to recognize faces as well, and then help camera automatically focus on those subjects. Using patterns as subjects in photographic art On my example image, I use patterns in number of ways. First of all I have taken shot of a brick wall to show the repetitive pattern of that colorful and beautiful wall. Then I have chosen someone else's work of art to illustrate how those bricks could be used to create a mosaic, or as pixel art, as we would also say today. Except in this case the mosaic is used to create some icons that we can recognize, thanks to continuous cultural repetition. Then, finally I have made this work as mine by adding there my shadow. But not just any shadow. The idea is to show there Mr Nobody , which I have intentionally taken to represent myself as an imaginary amateur photographer. The shadow holding hand and camera up is supposed to bring several possible "patterns" into one's mind. First of all, one can see there a person just rising the hand in order to salute the viewer. Second purpose is to directly show the new way to use modern cameras. We no longer need to hold the camera in front of the face, and that way we are able to extent our reach much further. Thirdly the idea is to show how the shadow actually looks more complete than a torso. If the hand would be held in front of the body or head, it could be much more difficult to recognize it as a pattern of human figure. Then the fourth reason is to add there so called inter-textual references. The inter-textual references can be of course many; depending on what of them are familiar to the viewer. But what I have intentionally "hidden" there are Michelangelo 's famous sculpture David , and Ignatz the cartoon mouse from Krazy Kat by George Herriman . So, there is a character holding either a sling or a brick, in order to hit somebody with it. Depending on the point of view, it is either David or Ignatz, but they both are more or less trying to make a statement. What the statement then is, it fully depends on the person who views the image. The final message can be either obvious or complex. One possible message could be hidden on those icons or symbols. The picture can for example say: "Look at those symbols! Do you accept them as icons of human kind? Do you see there a woman wearing a skirt and a man with a hat, or what do you see? A symbol for unisex perhaps?"

This year Finland celebrates 100 years of independence. But the first year was not a celebration at all: " The Finnish Civil War (27 January – 15 May 1918) concerned leadership and control of Finland during the transition from a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire to an independent state. The conflict formed a part of the national, political, and social turmoil caused by World War I (Eastern Front) in Europe. The war was fought between the Reds, led by the Social Democratic Party and the Whites, conducted by the non-socialist, conservative-led senate. The paramilitary Red Guards, composed of industrial and agrarian workers, controlled the cities and industrial centers of southern Finland. The paramilitary White Guards, composed of peasants and middle-class and upper-class factions, controlled rural central and northern Finland. " -Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Civil_War There are several old buildings around Tampere, where bullet holes still work as a reminder of those terrible times. The Finnish Civil War has many names, depending on the point of view. For some it is a "freedom war", suggesting Finland was released from a possibility to become part of Soviet Union. For some it is "war between brothers" because literary there were brothers and sisters of same families fighting against each other. Some may call it as "class war" because it was also a war between labour and capitalists. And there still are scars in our society, similar as seen on the walls of the buildings. Some people still holds a grudge against anything that represents the other side.

Soundtrack by Jens Buchert: soundcloud.com/jens-buchert/ice On this year's first day at work, I decided to be "the somebody else", and clean our storage room at work. Among all things abandoned there, I discovered all sorts of recreational stuff, like two disco balls. I loaned one of them, to take shots of it. I took several shots of the disco ball hanged against dark background. I lit the wall on one side of the ball instead of pointing the light directly to the ball itself. The idea was to capture the colourful reflections seen on the tiny mirrors only, and make the ball look like a planet lit from one side. And the original idea was also to make an image where one disco ball is rising above the horizon of an other.

R.I.P. Multiply, My Opera, Panoramio and ... "We are here to help you on a daily basis as on a long-term one to organize your thousands of pictures and all your memories to build in time in a unique and secured space your digital heritage." ~About Ipernity: www.ipernity.com/about/us Many great attempts to record and share the cultural heritage are somehow based on similar noble goals there were behind French revolution: Liberté, égalité, fraternité! The basic idea is that by providing equal and free access also onto information, we get to know more about each others, which then would strengthen equality, solidarity and freedom even more. Someone who comes from a different culture often looks strange and intimidating, but if and when we learn more about that culture, we very likely, or hopefully, start to accept the other. But as history has proven for so many times, even the most noble ideas may prevail because of many "counter forces", and worse of them is selfishness. Although, it is very human and natural for all of us to think our own best. In case of internet, the worst forms of selfishness are things like spammers, thieves of copyright protected materials, and "black hat hackers". White hat hackers (whitest of them) have of course helped us to fight against those evil ones, but the fight is still often lost. My personal claim is that the expenses of many great online communities would not be so high if they would not have to fight against thieves, spammers and black hat hackers. This is of course also highly political topic! However, as long as there will be inequality (e.q. between genders and standard of living), the cultural differences will be too great to overcome. Soundtrack by Thierry Soret, Pierre Miramont, and Christophe Hugues Loriot: soundcloud.com/orphangray/03-ekahalat

I suggested a topic "Use the edge of a photo to cut the main subject in half" at Saturday Self Challenge group, and after few days I almost started to regret it! My suggestion became accepted right away, and I soon discovered how challenging this suggestion turned out. First of all the subject has to be either symmetrical or easily recognizable enough, to realize it is cut in half for the picture. Then it has to be wide (or tall) enough to fill the frame, and make it look like it indeed is intentional composition, and not just accidentally popping out behind the image edge. And finally one needs to decide what to do with the rest of the space, not to place there anything that competes too much with the main subject. Luckily I once again got the idea in middle of the night. Some noise woke me up, and as usually, I had difficulties to get sleep again because of all the thoughts rushing through my mind. But I got my idea, and that's all what matters! =D This is a clock up in the clock tower of Tampere railway station. It is one of my favourite subjects, and more pictures of it can be found here: www.ipernity.com/tag/serola/keyword/34368

Inspired by M.C. Escher www.mcescher.com/gallery/back-in-holland/balcony

Soundtrack by Keith Kenniff: soundcloud.com/keithkenniff/05-facing-west Because winter has arrived. This old 'rathus' (city hall) is one of the few landmarks in a very small town of Kristinestad, Finland. Most of the buildings are small wooden houses, no higher than one floor and an attic. Then two churches, old fire station and one old windmill rises above roofs. During summer, the town is rather lively, and also during four annual fair weekends. But especially in the winter, streets are mostly deserted. Town is located on a narrow peninsula reaching to Gulf of Botnia, and therefore it is a sunny and peaceful place to live. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristinestad

Soundtrack by jh0st: soundcloud.com/jh0st/bicycle-ride Because it just sounds right =) Find more here: www.jh0st.com/bicycle-ride