Images & Text By Tommi Viitala

For me street photography is a unique and captivating art form that captures the essence of everyday life in public spaces. It freezes moments in time, revealing the beauty (and the truth) of real city life. What I draw emotions from in my photos is mostly Finnish melancholy. Finnish melancholy is a concept that is deeply rooted in Finnish culture. This goes back to the history of Finland, which is shaped by its vast landscapes, long winters and a national identity rooted in resilience.

Many Finnish Street photographers, like me, are influenced by this philosophy. We seek to capture the quieter, more introspective moments amid the hustle and bustle of city life. Also the interplay of light and shadow in our compositions mirrors these melancholy emotions, creating images that are both visually interesting and emotionally resonant.

All images and text © Tommi Viitala

Edge of Humanity Magazine

Presents

Photography & Philosophy

The freezing of a moment is a magical event. Images can make us feel love, rage and every sensation in between.

Photographers, whether partial or impartial to their subject matter, consume a massive amount of insight. Their participation cannot be substituted nor replicated. The moment is gone! The experiences will live in their minds and those encounters are immortalized in their photographs.

Edge of Humanity Magazine’s ‘Photography & Philosophy’ series will bring together the art and the mind of these fantastic creators.

If you would like to participate, please contact the editor jo@edgeofhumanity.com for more details.