Interview with Riku Hasari | A Photojournalist from Finland Believing in Resilience
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November 13, 2024
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1Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
Hi! I'm Riku Hasari, a 41-year-old photographer from Hameenlinna, Finland. I'm a freelance photographer mainly focused on photojournalism.
2Where did you study photography?
I studied cinematography at Tampere University of Applied Sciences from 2008-2012.
3Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
A clumsy photo of a bird with my parent's camera!
4What equipment do you use?
Depends on what kind of photoshoot I have, but mainly the Canon R6 camera and 1-2 flashes with color filters or gobos.
5What do you hope to achieve?
Money, money, money - just kidding! I hope to achieve my own style which people will recognize.
6What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
Kindly words from colleagues.
7What inspires your unique storytelling?
I have some masters that I follow: one is Jake Hicks, and another one is Finnish photographer Jetro Stavèn.
8What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Experimental, bold, and unique.
9Congratulations! As the winner of the Global Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Thank you! It is one step closer to my ultimate goal.
10Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2024 Global Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The photo I took was part of a portrait series of a new CEO. I wanted to try something new, and I came up with this result.
11How has winning an award developed your career?
Increases my self-belief.
12Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
Jake Hicks, Jetro Staven, and Lassi Puhtimäki.
13What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
Be brave, and don't follow others' style.
14What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
Practice, practice, practice, and find your own path.
15What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Go with the flow. Don't stress too much.
16How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
Ah! I don't use social media at all. It just makes you feel that you don't know anything. Photography is a very open art, you can achieve a masterpiece with low-budget equipment if you have a clear goal in your mind.
17Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thanks to Global Photography Awards for the opportunity to showcase my visual stories on this global stage!
Winning Entry
Simple light, powerful expression | Global Photography Awards
Verkatehdas is a spectacular culture and congress centre in Hameenlinna, Finland. Mika Nevalainen (model) is a new CEO who starts his work at 1st of November in Verkatehdas. Photo is... (read more here.)
Riku Hasari
Riku Hasari is a photographer from Finland whose photographic career as a freelancer sees him focusing particularly on photojournalism. His belief in photography is the constant act of practice and practice till one achieves the desired path.
Explore the list of Photographers and Category Winners of the Year for the 2024 Global Photography Awards here.