Way Up North Roadie workshop Scotland

I make the same New Year’s resolution every year. Be brave. Be honest. Be better.

Be brave is for stepping out of my comfort zone as often as possible. Be honest is for remembering and religiously practicing the best Finnish quality. Also it’s about bringing heart to my work, creating images without pretence and capturing true feelings. And lastly, be better is about continuous learning, the best among many brilliant qualities I inherited from my parents. It’s also about the only competition that matters – the competition with myself. I might not be the best in the world, but I must strive to be better than who I was yesterday.

Speaking of competition. Last year I participated in the wonderful Way Up North Roadie workshop, organized in Scotland by Mark Pacura. I had the absolute privilege to spend a few days around Highlands, Glencoe, Isle of Skye… at some of the world’s most picturesque locations in the company of amazing photographers and under the watchful eye of our host and teacher Mark, who just happens to be the best Scottish wedding photographer and share my Slavic roots. I left my heart in Scotland and Quiraing is where I want my ashes scattered. (This is an official statement. In case my family doesn’t remember, someone remind them please.)

Way Up North together with Imagen organized a competition for the best wedding photo of 2022 season. There is a bunch of categories and one of them is the Best Roadie Photo. And I have submitted some images. To a competition! Me – the person, who dreads judgement of others, hates negative feedback and suffers from A-level Monica syndrom.

Because
Be brave. Be honest. Be better.

How do you like them? Which one is your favorite?