Getting the new year started well with a great shot out of Finland – the main behind the lense is Aleksi Fräki (check out his photo gallery here…) and he says himself that this is his favorite shot from the past summer. The skater going by the name Samuel is caught in the middle of a heelflip. Time for us to get out for a skate and some photography in the new year!

Found this video of a one-man mini ramp session featuring “johnny aka 270 Maffia” out of Finland ripping a mini-ramp during the oncoming darkness – I like the feeling that the video conveys, being alone at a ramp, trying out some tricks, just happy the ramp isn’t wet from the general cold and damp autumn weather. Here’s his description of the action that went on:

“Few weeks ago I had slow day at work so I left early to skate the nearby miniramp before it got too dark. Temperature was about 0°C and there was thick fog hanging around. Weirdly the miniramp was dry enough to skate.
I had my Panasonic Lumix LX3 with me so I tried the HDvideo function while I skated. I didn’t have a tripod with me so I placed camera where ever it could stay still.
This version is a color graded (with magic bullet looks) and animated (frame movement). Mostly an experiment with MBL and moving frame compared to static.”

Continuing our change back to reporting more from the European scene our mates up in Finland from Hangup Magazine have just put up a relaxed video from their HangUp TV series (number 12) featuring a bunch of skaters having a fun looking jam session in a skate park packed with obstacles. Click on the pic to head on over to the HangUp website and watch the video:

Who are you? Tell us a little bit about yourself (age, what you do in life, where you live)

My name is Antti Lehtinen and I’m 34 yrs old. I come from Jyväskylä, Finland. I’ve been skating over 20 years and still keeping it going. Skating is a lifestyle that will be a big part of me for the rest of my life. I work full time as IT-specialist and photography is just a hobby for me.

How did you get into photography, especially skateboard photography?

Earlier on I used to shoot video footage for some skate movies but got bored with it and found photography much more interesting. And it really is.

Santeri Kulmala – Frontside lien air

What type of equipment do you use for your photos? (outside shots, night shots, indoor shots)

Mainly I use my Nikon D200 and various lenses with it. I have three flashes and radiotriggers to fire them cordless. Over 90% of my skate photos are shot with off-camera flashes. I also shoot film and then I use my Mamiya RZ67 or Kiev 60 sets.

Do you have any special “tricks” which you like to use for certain types of pictures?

Nothing fancy. One thing I like is DOF on skate shots.

Olli Ilmonen – Backside lipslide

If you could get any new equipment for free, what would you love to have?

I’d like to get the new Nikon D3 camera body and of course a digital back for my Mamiya RZ67. That’s not likely to happen anytime soon, heh.

What is your opinion on post-processing, especially enhancing pictures?

I try to shoot photos in that manner that they wouldn’t need post processing but most of the time some afterwork is needed and that’s perfectly fine for me. The result is what counts.

Olli Ilmonen – Fs ollieshove

What are you currently working on and do you have any projects planned?

There will be an small interview of me and few other Finnish photographers on next issue of Hangup magazine – http://www.hangup.fi. Right now I’m concentrating on my 3 weeks old son and family life.

Antti Lehtinen on Flickr >
Antti Lehtinen on the map >

View Larger Map

éS Game of Skate is going on around the world with skaters unknown to many us packing out their tech tricks and battling it out with fellow skaters to win a ticket to the finals at the Maloof Money Cup July 11th till the 13th 2008 in Orange, California. I know about Germany, France and Holland already have started up the contests around the country or as in Holland’s case already found the winner, Sewa Kroetkov.

Watch the Dutch video finals over at the Tacky.nl website

And here finally are the Finnish dates for this year:

27/5/2008 18.30 – Oulu, Hovinsuon Park (Real Deal)
28/5/2008 18.00 – Kuopio, Savilahti Park (Switchstance)
29/5/2008 18.00 – Jyväskylä ,Yrttisuo Park(Beyond,Lamina)
30/5/2008 18.00 – Tampere, Vapis Park (Cartel)
02/6/2008 17.00 – Helsinki, Kiasma (Ponkes,Lamina,GreyMarketSupply)
03/6/2008 18.00 – Turku, Kupittaa Park (Lamina)
04/6/2008 18.00 – Lahti, Laune Park (Lamina)

Finals:
06/6/2008 16.00 – Helsinki Kiasma

- éS Game of Skate official website