“The richness I achieve comes from Nature,
the source of my inspiration.”
- Claude Monnet

Ilaskari is a nature photographer inspired by the enchanting Finnish nature and the pristine myths. He has an extraordinary gift and sensitiveness to perceive the empowering elements of nature and make them visible with his camera. His images give a glimpse into the brilliant world of light, peace and harmony; the hidden energy in the nature. He catches the sun in a dewdrop and the song of the wind among the leaves, grass and flowers. His images are like a love song to the Nature.

Ilaskari’s images share the fundamental energy of the Finnish nature. This unique nature has been an endless source of inspiration also to such Finnish artists as the architect Alvar Aalto and the composer Jean Sibelius, known worldwide.

Finland, as part of Scandinavia, is Europe’s most remote and exotic wilderness. The landscape is a glorious variation on the theme of water and forest. It is like a blue labyrinth of lakes, many of them still with crystal clear waters. This breathtakingly beautiful country extends from the enchanting archipelagos in the south to the mythical arctic mountain district of Lapland in the north. The midnight sun disperses magical energy in summer and the spectacular, flickering Polar Lights in winter.

Ilaskari has his roots in the primeval Finnish traditions and myths as the Finnish National Epic Kalevala. Kalevala has a magic power and it has also inspired many writers, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and W.B. Yeats. It has been translated into 51 languages. Väinämöinen, a central figure in the poems, is a singer and player of the kantele, a folk instrument. He has been compared to Orfeus of Ancient Greek mythology, who, like Väinämöinen, was able to enchant his listeners with his playing.

Kalevala and indigenous Sámi culture in Lapland have a very close connection with nature and it’s energies. Ilaskari is linked with these deep streams of tradition.

About 4000 years old rock painting.

Ilaskari was born in Tampere, Finland, in 1952. Since his childhood he has been very tender to see the light, beauty and grace of nature, unlike other children, and especially boys of his age, who tormented him because of his dissimilarity. He got his first camera when he was 10 years old, but it was not until 1987 he became interested in photography as a means of expressing what he saw in nature. At that time, he was living with his wife Heli in New Zealand. They moved back to Finland in 1989 and settled down in the countryside, where he could be concentrated upon perfecting his craft in the fine art photography. He has become absorbed in photography so thoroughly, that he withdrew from his career as X-ray engineer, that lasted thirty years, in 2007. He has become convinced that he can contribute to people’s health more with his empowering images than X-ray imaging.

Now Ilaskari lives and works in Kemiö Island. The island is part of the impressive south-western Finnish archipelago, which is said to be the greatest treasure of Finland. Thus the empowering nature is literally around him and he actually breaths it with his camera, as his wife says. There he can completely devote himself to combine his intuitive abilities with his artistic talents and professional skills.

Ilaskari’s images have been recognized in numerous national and international juried shows and his work has been published on countless books, calendars, magazines, post cards etc. He is also represented by two Finnish photo agencies, LKA (Nature Photo Agency) and Kuvaliiteri. He is a member of The Finnish Nature Photographer’s Association, which has strict set of ethical rules concerning nature and it’s conservation. He is also a member of The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.