There I was...

...inspecting the old tunnels of Suomenlinna, when suddenly...

Like with most old things, there is a ghost story connected to this place. It is about a cadet of the naval cadet school about a hundred years ago. The cadet and an officer's daughter were in love, but their relationship ended tragically in the young man's suicide, and his sorrowful spirit was left to wander along the school corridors. Reportedly, a figure wearing a military uniform of the era has been sighted in one of the class rooms of the cadet school.

Ho ho!

I'm just glad because the cough didn't keep me awake last night anymore. It's back to swimming this weekend for sure!

This is a bit of experimentation, sparked by opportunity. The picture is founded on a photograph, taken of tree branches in strong wind with slow shutter speed, which was then manipulated (colour, contrast). I was actually trying to capture the violent movement of the branches in the wind, but the result lended itself better for a painting-like autumn picture. In any case I' fairly pleased.

This past monday, I just knew I had to go to Suomenlinna for photography. It always turns out great when I have such a strong feeling. Hopefully there'll be some more sunny days before the autumn colours are gone. I need to go back to Suomenlinna, because my visit on monday was cut a bit short because I had other things to do.

A lucky shot, with that bird there, coming back from Suomenlinna.

I've mainly been doing final corrections to my article so I can send it off later this week, but I also added plenty of pictures to my photo site. Next week there's another funding application to write but I'll think about that next week.

Application fun

I'm not kidding or being ironic, I actually enjoyed writing an application just now.

I spotted a work ad for exhibition guides in the museum of modern art of the neighbouring town. I've visited it quite a few times and like the place, plus I'm genuinely interested in modern art, especially artists who use photography and video in their work. So, I decided to send an application.

Their requirements were an art history or art education degree or experience of similar jobs. I don't have a formal degree like that as my field was general history (although crossed paths with art history occasionally during my studies) but I actually have some work experience from a summer job, albeit a long time ago. Obviously, I emphasized my interest in art and naturally made clear my photographic ambitions, including the few sold and published photos. Gave me a chance to mention my new photo site, so that turned out to be useful very soon!

Would be a fun job to have - and ideal time-wise: it's part time, so it would leave time for research work. Money-wise not necessarily something that makes you rich but far better than the unemployment money still.

I certainly put modern technology to full use with this application: I first wrote it in my head yesterday and today (ok, technically my head isn't modern technology since I've had it for 34 years); then typed it down on my phone while out on town (for those with iPhone, go for AwesomeNote); just now I copied it to Open Office, wrote also the CV, saved both in pdf and sent off in email (they expected applications via email only).

Grrr, if only my cold got better soon. I've had it for the past week. No fever but a sniffle and a hell of a cough, with the voice still down. I was so enjoying the swimming which I took up again only last weekend.

New photo site

I have today started a new photo site. The address is:

http://www.wix.com/marianiku/photography

I figured it might be a good idea to have a designed portfolio site that looks like me if/when I need to/have a chance to show someone what my photography work is like.

Koos dug up the service for me, thank you Koos!

Update, finally

I started working on my pictures, to see if I can get some uploaded in the photo bureau I'm a member of. A randomly selected picture from that - a bit melancholy but somehow I like it.

The picture doesn't match the early October days so far, luckily. It seems like every day until today has been sunny and beautiful. Now cloudy. I'm having a week or so free time after a very busy stretch. I finally got the article I've working on finished and sent to my friend for proofreading. 

Also my mother visited for a week which was nice. Last weekend grandma and two aunties took the nephews to a kids' activity centre in the city, an underground hall with bouncy castles, game machines, a "jungle track" etc. I sure got my excercise following the almost-six-year-old, climbing crawling in pipes on my knees and bouncing. Both nephews obtained a 'slimy hand', a hand made of some sort of slimy rubber that sticks everywhere when you throw it. Consequently, it took rather a long time to get out of the underground hall and across the market square to the McDonald's to eat. It's funny how things that little boys (or little and slightly older boys) find really cool invariably seem rather gross to grown-ups. :-) Monday, my sister's birthday, we and our mother had lunch at this vegetarian restaurant which always has fantastic food and where the pricing is per kilos: you take as much as you want and go to the counter where they charge you for how much your plate weighs. Then on tuesday further celebration on account of sister's birthday: we three, plus my brother, sister-in-law and nephews took a little trip to one of the outdoors areas in eastern Helsinki. We grilled sausages in one of the camping spots and then ate mocha pie on the rocks by the sea, watching the sunset. One of the pieces of the pie appropriately got to serve as a birthday cake, with a lit candle. Such a lovely little outing.

I also managed to get in the obligatory control visit - to keep the unemployment money running - to the employment office on monday, and that sure was troublesome. I got there at 11 am and there were 40 people in front of me in the queue, so it took three hours. I would have needed to come wait outside the door before opening time to get in first. They don't have a appointment system, and I felt sorry for the young mother at the reception, asking if they couldn't give her an appointment because she's a single mother with a baby, lives in eastern Helsinki and it's really difficult for her to arrange the time to come to office in central Helsinki. All she got was, "sorry, there's nothing we can do, you'll just have to work out something to get here early." At least they gave her more time.

I'm glad I got that done - and that the next visit isn't until April. I'm REALLY hoping I'll get the research grant that will be decided on sunday or the other one I applied for that will be decided on November 6th, so I won't have to go to the employment office for at least a month.

When my friend gets the proofreading done there'll be more work to do the corrections and do the formatting etc for whichever journal I'm going to send the article done. There's also two more funding applications to do this month. But for at least until the 15th, I'm going to just take it easy.