Push to Fire: Ville Akseli Juurikkala Interview

Push to Fire Interview: Ville Akseli Juurikkala
by Meghan Player
You Wanna Rock?
Finnish photographer Ville Akseli Juurikkala is one of the biggest names when it comes to band photography. Collecting a portfolio that includes the likes of HIM, Nightwish, The 69 Eyes, Lordi, The Rasmus and Good Charlotte (just to name a few), his photos have featured in publications across the world. Speaking from his home in Los Angeles, Push To Fire Music Editor, Meghan Player got the low down on why Ville Akseli is considered THE rock photographer of Finland.
'A Perfectionist'. This is how Ville Akseli Juurikkala describes himself on a photoshoot. The photographer clearly takes a lot of pride in capturing his subjects in the best way possible, allowing the natural beauty of the photo and its astounding lighting to create the most dramatic, poetic photos around. Hailing from Finland, then later moving to Los Angeles [where he now resides], Ville has worked with some of Finland's biggest music exports - including taking to the road with The 69 Eyes and later, with Nightwish. "I was good friends with Jussi69 [of the 69 Eyes], and was travelling with the band a lot," the photographer explains, "Jyrki said that 'since your hanging out with us so much, we should try to make a photo book or something.'"
And thus the photobook was born. A publisher was found to produce the book, and pretty soon Ville found himself, 'touring with them all over the world.' Most rock photographers could only dream of what Juurikkala has done, but the photographer wasn't always destined for this job.
"I was playing guitar and singing in many different bands since I was 10," he begins, "Then I wanted to be a cinematographer and started photography to learn the lighting. Pretty soon, the photography took me with it."
Indeed, this initial dream hasn't strayed too far at all. Ville, as well as shooting over 100 album covers, has directed three music videos and one documentary film [Nightwish: End of an Era (2008)]. And the photographer believes the process is a completely natural one. "I think it is very natural. Many directors are photographers originally. And music video directors, I believe that most of them are [too]."
What is astounding about Ville's creations, is his ability to capture his subjects. From shooting band photos and album covers, to merely photographing the natural surroundings of his Finland home, his unique style is also his trademark. His photos somehow evoke even the deepest emotions, and without doubt, bring life back into the phrase 'A picture is worth a thousand words.'
Fittingly, each photo, regardless of the place it was taken, still seems to come from his Finnish influence and heritage. The natural highlights and lowlights of Finlands gorgeous landscape seem to weave, seemingly unintentionally into his other works - perhaps and indication of being constantly inspired by his home. The photographer, however, has "never thought about that really. But it might be very true," he continues, "I love my mother land very much."
Living and working in Los Angeles since 2008, Ville is currently working on his third and fourth photo book - as well as another documentary film. Influence seems to follow the photographer, but he is quick to note that in LA, it is different. "Everything is more shallow," he explains, "It is a lot harder to work there."
Though his next photobook project seems to be coming along nicely. Focusing on rock stars [from bands such as Good Charlotte, Linkin Park and Bad Religion]
and their children, the photographer is aiming to "show a different side of the notorious looking rock stars."
"It just came to me," he says about where the idea came from. "I really like this project...They [the rock dads] seem to be into this project [too]. It's not about the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll anymore. Even rock stars have different kinds of values nowadays."
As far as being able to do what you love for a living, Ville has undoubtedly stuck to his guns - and it has paid off. Recently, one of his works graced the cover of Slash's [ex-Guns 'N Roses guitarist] live photo album. "One of those dreams [came] true this month. My photo on the album cover of Slash. Okay, so it was just a live album, but still. Shooting Slash was a great big thing for me."
And that hasn't stopped the photographer from wanting to keep at his craft and work with some of the other people he admires in the future.
"My idols today come from a different scene than music. Paulo Coelho, Ekchart Tolle (both writers) would be great to shoot. Would be just so great to [even] meet them." After being a huge fan of Ville's work before today, and being shown into the world of photography, I had to ask, 'what advice would you give to someone who wants to take up photography?' And his answer was probably one of the most profound I have ever heard.
"The eyes are blind," he said quoting Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "one must look within the soul."

Thanks to Ville Akseli Juurikkala for speaking to Meghan.

Push to Fire Interview: Ville Akseli Juurikkala by Meghan Player You Wanna Rock? Finnish photographer Ville Akseli Juurikkala is one of the biggest names when it comes to band photography. Collecting a portfolio that includes the likes of HIM, Nightwish, The 69 Eyes, Lordi, The Rasmus and Good Charlotte (just to name a few), his photos have featured in publications across the world. Speaking from his home in Los Angeles, Push To Fire Music Editor, Meghan Player got the low down on why Ville Akseli is considered THE rock photographer of Finland. 'A Perfectionist'. This is how Ville Akseli Juurikkala describes himself on a photoshoot. The photographer clearly takes a lot of pride in capturing his subjects in the best way possible, allowing the natural beauty of the photo and its astounding lighting to create the most dramatic, poetic photos around. Hailing from Finland, then later moving to Los Angeles [where he now resides], Ville has worked with some of Finland's biggest music exports - including taking to the road with The 69 Eyes and later, with Nightwish. "I was good friends with Jussi69 [of the 69 Eyes], and was travelling with the band a lot," the photographer explains, "Jyrki said that 'since your hanging out with us so much, we should try to make a photo book or something.'" And thus the photobook was born. A publisher was found to produce the book, and pretty soon Ville found himself, 'touring with them all over the world.' Most rock photographers could only dream of what Juurikkala has done, but the photographer wasn't always destined for this job. "I was playing guitar and singing in many different bands since I was 10," he begins, "Then I wanted to be a cinematographer and started photography to learn the lighting. Pretty soon, the photography took me with it." Indeed, this initial dream hasn't strayed too far at all. Ville, as well as shooting over 100 album covers, has directed three music videos and one documentary film [Nightwish: End of an Era (2008)]. And the photographer believes the process is a completely natural one. "I think it is very natural. Many directors are photographers originally. And music video directors, I believe that most of them are [too]." What is astounding about Ville's creations, is his ability to capture his subjects. From shooting band photos and album covers, to merely photographing the natural surroundings of his Finland home, his unique style is also his trademark. His photos somehow evoke even the deepest emotions, and without doubt, bring life back into the phrase 'A picture is worth a thousand words.' Fittingly, each photo, regardless of the place it was taken, still seems to come from his Finnish influence and heritage. The natural highlights and lowlights of Finlands gorgeous landscape seem to weave, seemingly unintentionally into his other works - perhaps and indication of being constantly inspired by his home. The photographer, however, has "never thought about that really. But it might be very true," he continues, "I love my mother land very much." Living and working in Los Angeles since 2008, Ville is currently working on his third and fourth photo book - as well as another documentary film. Influence seems to follow the photographer, but he is quick to note that in LA, it is different. "Everything is more shallow," he explains, "It is a lot harder to work there." Though his next photobook project seems to be coming along nicely. Focusing on rock stars [from bands such as Good Charlotte, Linkin Park and Bad Religion] and their children, the photographer is aiming to "show a different side of the notorious looking rock stars." "It just came to me," he says about where the idea came from. "I really like this project...They [the rock dads] seem to be into this project [too]. It's not about the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll anymore. Even rock stars have different kinds of values nowadays." As far as being able to do what you love for a living, Ville has undoubtedly stuck to his guns - and it has paid off. Recently, one of his works graced the cover of Slash's [ex-Guns 'N Roses guitarist] live photo album. "One of those dreams [came] true this month. My photo on the album cover of Slash. Okay, so it was just a live album, but still. Shooting Slash was a great big thing for me." And that hasn't stopped the photographer from wanting to keep at his craft and work with some of the other people he admires in the future. "My idols today come from a different scene than music. Paulo Coelho, Ekchart Tolle (both writers) would be great to shoot. Would be just so great to [even] meet them." After being a huge fan of Ville's work before today, and being shown into the world of photography, I had to ask, 'what advice would you give to someone who wants to take up photography?' And his answer was probably one of the most profound I have ever heard. "The eyes are blind," he said quoting Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "one must look within the soul."
Thanks to Ville Akseli Juurikkala for speaking to Meghan.