Meet the photographer — Merja Varkemaa

Meet the girl behind the lens

Hello there, I’m Merja, passionate about photography and in particular, fine art street photography. I mostly shoot here in my hometown of Paris, but as I like to travel with my family, there is a wanderlust part in my portfolio as well. I’m a natural light photographer and light and shadows are my main motivators.

For me photography is all about seeing light and feeling it

I’m not a native to this city, but Parisian by adoption. My very first contact with Paris was unforgettable, at the age of 18; staying in a one star hotel near Gare du Nord railway station, woken up in the middle of the night by an erring mouse.

Times have changed since but Paris continues to surprise me. Decades later, I still find little marvels of everyday life here, combined with real nuisances such as commuting on the metro line 13 on a daily basis.

Merja carre-032.jpg — For me photography is all about seeing light and feeling it

Paris is special because of its history

Imagine all the people who have wandered through these same streets

and entered the beautiful buildings before us.

They have passed and are now gone, but Paris is still here and thriving.

I feel privileged to be a part of this evolution and contribute to it in my own fashion.

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

— Dorothea Lange

**BEFORE I BECAME PARISIENNE**

I’m originally a small town girl from Finland, up in the north of Europe.
I grew up skiing in the woods in winter and spent my summers swimming in some of the thousands of lakes of my beautiful homeland..
Amidst all the natural beauty, I was born an urban soul and as long as I can remember, longed for big cities and dreamed about living in a metropolis.

**MY CHARACTER - AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN**

Shy is my middle name and I have always felt so very uncomfortable, should I become the center of attention.
Public speaking is out of the question for me, I have gone to certain lengths in my life to avoid it.
At the same time, I’m sociable, and like being part of a group. Just please don’t ask me to take the lead.

**MY FAMILY**

is my rock.
I’m married to David and we have one son, Victor, who is now 18 years old.
I’m very close to my parents, who live in Spain and to my only sister and her wife, who live in Finland. My extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins helps us to keep in contact with my native Finland and ensures that my son knows this part of his cultural heritage.
My French family aka beautiful in-laws (belle-famille) lives in Lyon, Paris region and Lisbon.

**THE PLACE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN MY LIFE**

As I work full time, photography is my passion and creative outlet.
I’m so grateful to have its richness in my life.
It has allowed me to see the light and in consequence, everything differently.
It has opened my eyes to the beauty that I did not notice before, although it was always there.
Maybe **you feel the same way** about photography?
IS IT **YOUR HAPPY PLACE** AS WELL?

random facts about me

I miss reading, I used to be an avid reader but have difficulties finding time these days.

I know it is an excuse.

I have a huge collection of coffee table books by the masters of photography that I plan to study.

Instead I always find myself in the rabbit hole of photo forums and social media.

Favorite past time: drinking wine, either while sitting in cafés people watching or at home editing my images.

When commuting in the metro, I love visualiZing all the images I could take if I were invisible, or had the nerve.

Secret vice - binge-watching American and British Netflix series.

Lost in translation

My native language is Finnish which I hardly ever use here in France,

except when speaking with my son or on the phone with my Finnish family.

I speak better French than I write, so I prefer to write in English.

Please excuse my approximative English at times.

I sneeze funnily.

enough of me - let’s get back to photography

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