#snapshot

The Internet has fundamentally changed photography. Never in history have people created so many photographs to such vast and immediate audiences as today. Never before has the individual snapshot taken by ordinary men and women had such global political impacts. Photographs have become integral in all forms of our communication. Today, sharing pictures is as important as creating them. 

Although technological changes, such as digitalization, the Internet, smart phones, and metadata have changed the concept of photography, the needs and desires behind taking photos have remained surprisingly similar. We still use photographs to enhance our memories, to construct our identities, to find love, and to stay in touch with those close to us. With photographs we try to influence the world that surrounds us. And just like before, we want to create business with photographs.

Erik Kessels: 24HRS in Photos.
Photo: Utu-Tuuli Jussila / The Finnish Museum of Photography

This exhibition is about the photographs we all capture and share – selfies, cat photos, and holiday snaps - not forgetting snapshots of tragedies and snapshots with political impacts. Selected pictures from the museum’s archives provide a historical context to the photographs of today. The changing photography culture is made tangible in interactive installations and snapshots, as well as in contemporary artwork by Catherine Balet, Erik Kessels, Niklas Kullström, and Sisse Stroyer.

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For a quick preview of the exhibition, check out the one minute Hyperlapse video on

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Yle News: Photo exhibition explores changing ways we communicate Read the article.

Erik Kessels gave a lecture on the death of photo albums. Read more...

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The exhibition has been designed and implemented in co-operation with Futurice; University of Tampere School of Communication, Media and Theatre; and Aalto University Department of Media Technology. The exhibition is part of Helsinki Festival 2014 and is sponsored by Ifolor and EIT ICT Labs.

#snapshot book

Thirteen writers consist of international experts of photography and communications. Among them are eg. one of the founders of Flickr, Caterina Fake, media scholar Edgar Gómez Cruz, and Finnish professors Janne Seppänen and Merja Salo. Each writer takes a different perspective to the snapshot culture.

The book is edited by Dr. Asko Lehmuskallio from the University of Tampere and the chief curator of the Finnish Museum of Photography Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger. It's sold as a hard copy at the Finnish Museum of Photography's book shop, and it will be shortly be also available as an e-book.

 Join the conversation with the hashtag #snapshotnow:

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Information

Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11-18, Wed 11-20, Mon closed.

Guided tours every Sunday at 2 pm.

Join us for an instagram walk! Guided tours in the Ruoholahti district are arranged on the first sunday of every month until the end of the year. Dates: 07.09.; 05.10. and 02.12.2014.

The Finnish Museum of Photography
The Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1 G, 00180 Helsinki.

Info +358 96 866 3621.

www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi/en

Press

Enquiries:

Heikki Pölönen, Communications Expert: +358 400 673 837
Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger, Chief Curator: +358 50 518 7619
Tiina Rauhala, Curator: +358 50 432 7562
Risto Sarvas, Service Design Lead (Futurice) & Adjunct Professor:+358 40 1677 499