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Veikko Somerpuro

Veikko August Somerpuro
Born April 11, 1970

Master of Arts 1997 theoretical philosophy), University of Helsinki

Photographer 1999–
Photography teacher, 2000–2004, Helsinki Adult Education Institute Malmitalo, Annantalo Arts Centre and YOK – University of Helsinki Student Photography Association.

Selection of Customers:

The University of Helsinki, WSOY, Johnny Kniga, Ylioppilaslehti, Trade Union of Education in Finland, Opettaja, Akava Special Branches, Vihreä lanka, Parnasso, Finnfund, Talentia ry, Finnish Union of University Professors, Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, Acatiimi, National Library of Finland, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finnish Forest Industries, Sitra, Image-kustannus, Finnish Centre for Pensions, KHT-media and KHT-yhdistys, Unihome, Unisport, Balanssi, A-lehdet, Nurminen Logistics, MJK, music academies of in the Metropolitan area, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, MTT, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Port of Helsinki, IHME art festival, Celia Library for the visually impaired, Finnish Union of Experts in Science, Painomaailma, KEPA, The Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists, STARA, City of Helsinki Real Estate Department, Docendo, Viinilehti, SA-TU Logistics, Fifth Element, Red Lynx, Kopiosto ry, Fazer, Nokia, Soste, Metso co., Finnish Paper Workers' Union, Maatilan Pellervo, Edita, Allianssi, Finnish Film Foundation, Kotimaa Oy, Nuorisotyö, Inclusion Finland KVTL, Noste, Bloomberg.

Chairman 1998–99 and artistic director 2000–01, YOK – University of Helsinki Student Photography Association

Photo: Tiina Somerpuro
Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by Matthew Billington

“A Successful Photograph Speaks to You Without Words”

Veikko Somerpuro can often put his philosophical, sociological and aesthetic expertise to use when taking photographs.

– Automatically thinking about things from different perspectives is a great help to a photographer. Every shoot is unique, and at every gig you have to take different things into consideration. You also have to be able to establish a quick rapport with the people you are photographing, whether they are politicians, professors, authors or businessmen.

A good photo will sell the photographer. When Marjaana Virta, typographer at WSOY, saw some of the photographs Somerpuro had taken of Professor of Aesthetics Aare Kinnunen for the university magazine Yliopisto in 1999, Somerpuro started to receive work from the WSOY publishing house. Ever since he has photographed the company’s authors for promotional materials and book covers.

– I completed my national service between 1999 and 2000 as a photographer at the Annantalo arts centre for children and young people. It was then that I also decided to learn digital image processing. At that point I did not even own a computer. The first magazines to give me work included Studentbladet, Nuorisotyölehti, the magazine Yliopisto and the magazine Yliopistolainen.

Along with WSOY, Yliopisto has been one of the employers with whom Somerpuro has enjoyed a long-term professional relationship.

– The editorial staff at Yliopisto are my work community. They truly care for their co-workers. The Christmas parties and spring sojourns are highly anticipated.

A photograph by Veikko Somerpuro taken for the university magazine Yliopisto in 2012.

A typical shoot for Yliopisto begins with Somerpuro being contacted by the writer of the story or the graphic artist of the magazine, Maisa Puranen. Somerpuro, who has been taking photographs for the magazine for many years, is familiar with their visual style and the layout of the pages, so it is easy to head out for the shoot itself.

– With the longer articles in particular, the editorial staff and I brainstorm the visual elements of the shoot. It is wonderful when they want some deeper meaning to the photos and not just someone posing like it was a portrait. As a photographer, I always take into account the content of the story and the personality of the person being photographed. A successful photograph speaks to you without words.

Somerpuro is a well-known photographer at the University of Helsinki. He has taken many of the professors’ official pictures and is the photographer of choice for various events.

– People at the University often think that I am on the University payroll. Most of my clients, however, are from outside the University. I take photographs of people for many different types of companies. I don’t know if it is a coincidence that a surprising number of the trade unions that hire me to take photos are connected to the academic world, for example the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ), the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, and the Finnish Union of University Professors.

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