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Tony Raita
@tr_pixels
Photographer based in Finland
I’ve been working for years as a tattoo artist and professional motorcycle rider. Photography began to interest me later on, as I started to spend more time in nature, hiking and exploring. Seeing so many beautiful places and stunning wildlife, I wanted to immortalize those moments. I’ve always had an interest in wildlife in particular, and I wanted to exercise a new art form that would bring me closer to it.
"I started taking photographs in the summer of 2021. I had no previous experience or training when it comes to photography, but through practice, I became better."
Also, as a tattoo artist, I specialize in photorealistic, black-and-grey tattoos. I especially love doing animal pieces, dogs, wild animals, and so on. Both art forms benefit from many of the same artistic skills, but I’d say composition skills were the most useful when first taking up photography. Wildlife photography and all other forms of art, generally take a lot of practice and effort. The fulfillment comes from seeing all your hard work and labor come true in the result. You can make ideas into something concrete through your efforts.
"I grew up in Finland, where most of the country consists of nature."
Northern Finland is sparsely inhabited. Of course, deforestation and development affect wildlife like anywhere else, but Finland is still rich in wildlife despite all of that. I really hope we can keep a balance between nature and human needs and urban development. The most common animal you can encounter in southern Finland, where I live, is deer but it varies based on location. Bears are animals you see less, so when you see them, it’s incredibly impressive.
When I saw a large male bear up close for the first time in nature, outside of any staged or planned situation, I was amazed. This is still one of my favorite moments and encounters with animals. Standing within under ten meters of the bear, and being able to look it in the eyes, was an outstanding experience. It gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for bears and wildlife in general. A photo I took of the bear cubs I had the opportunity to observe for the entire summer while they were growing up is my favorite so far. Hopefully, I will have the chance to observe these cubs as they continue to grow.
You might have to make multiple trips to locations and spend dozens of hours with nothing to show for it before being successful. Of course, good gear makes a difference. You can get good photos with basic gear, but better gear helps you take advantage of more opportunities.
When editing photos, I don’t strictly go for raw authenticity but rather, I want to achieve a certain mood or emphasize a certain aspect of the photo. Surly enough, I can’t help but see the photo through a tattoo artist’s eyes. I focus on different temperatures and shades to get the desired result.
After all, how we think, what we like, how we feel, are intertwined with each other and visible in what we do and create. It is the combination of skills, knowledge, experience, and personality that create the final result, what audience we reach and what we contribute to as artists in this world. I am looking forward to see how my work will evolve over the years as well as that of other artists I am inspired by!
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