Kari Kuukka Sportsphotography

Interactive virtual tour of the Lahti HS130 hill

Something a bit different I did in Lahti Ski Games 2008. Handcoded in Flash, the image above contains several images resulting in an interactive virtual tour of the Lahti HS130 hill. The narrator (in Finnish) is Janne Ahonen, several times World Cup winner, several times world champion, olympic medalist, etc. He agreed to explain his feelings, sensations and what he does in different stages of the jump.

The image (autorotating) can be grabbed and dragged with the mouse, zoomed in and out with the scrollwheel of the mouse (as well as with shft/cmd/crtl-keys). Signs in the image are interactive hotspots, pointing to the next image and resulting it to load - with a crossfade - and with the appropriate audio in autoplay.

Shot with Canon 5D with a superwideangle circular fisheye. About 12 different computerprograms were used in final compilation and editing with an Intel MacBookPro. Audio recorded with Maranz PPM660 and Coles 4104 lip microphone on location.

Everything done by KK - my sincerest thanks to Janne Ahonen for his co-operation in the middle his concentration for the days competition.

The Best Sports Picture of the Year 2005 in Finland

Shot on 22nd January, 2005, in Pretoria, South Africa, late afternoon. January 2005 was the rainiest month in 25 years in Pretoria. Image portrays pole-vaulter Matti Mononen in training.

Canon EOS1DsMrk2, 70-200mm/2.8 IS; 1/400 sec at 2.8, ISO 640.

The Best of Scandinavian News Design 2007

Although mainly a sportsphotographer, I just have to post this one, as I have been having so much feedback on this image. I was shooting a sports event in the neighbourhood, when a friend sent a SMS saying that the warehouses were on fire. I arrived to the scene in couple of minutes.

After observing the fire a while I thought of Monet's famous painting (London Parliament in the Fog) and I just patiently waited 'til the smoke and flames were as I saw they should be.

Canon EO1DMrk2, 70-200IS 2.8 at 1/320 sec, f 7.1 at 250 ASA

The opening spread of Iltalehti featuring this image received later an award of excellence as the Best of Scandianvian News Design 2007

The Best Sports Picture of the Year 2002 in Finland

Shot on 18th February, 2002, in Salt Lake City, USA. Image potrays skijumper Janne Ahonen during the Olympics Team Competition, first jump.

Canon EOS1D, 16-35mm/2.8 at 1/1600th of a second, f 11.0, at 800 ASA

Friday, August 8, 2008