Photo Lodge, Rita Maria

Name: Rita Maria

Age: 26

Where are you from & where do you live ?

I’m from Finland and I live in Copenhagen and San Diego.I packed my bags and started exploring the world at the very fresh age of 15. Now 10 years and more than 50 countries later, here I still am, on the road.

Please tell our us about your self, what do you do,

To summarize, I’m happy. The past years I have mainly worked with travel writing and film photography. This morning I was writing a novel about the King of Psychedelic Rock, Groovy George, from Imabo Nation in Africa. I also joined Instagram around a week ago for photography purposes. I wanted to spend my early twenties with my friends, not by chasing followers.

What kind of equipment do you use?

I basically try to use cameras that don’t have too many buttons. Over the years I have been lucky enough to receive old film cameras from friends, relatives and even strangers. Once an older man with gold teeth came up to me in Bedstuy. I was walking on the street where Biggie Smalls grew up, and the dude started talking to me and asked me to join him. He supposedly “had something for me in the van.” As a naive girl I decided to go for it. Afterward, he told me that he had seen me taking photos around the block over the past months. Then he gave me his old Canon AE-1 with five different lenses.

What do you prefer?

It changes constantly. I just love taking photos and experimenting with different types of films and cameras. I even like disposables because you can destroy the camera on purpose and still sometimes get lucky with the film.

How much money do you spend on equipment?

I’m lucky enough to not spend that much, I have good people around me that support me. But if there is no darkroom around, probably the most expensive part of my photography is developing film since it is a constant expense.

Do you only shoot skateboarding? Or other? If other please list?

As of right now, I try to shoot anything I can and just learn from every experience. Photography is constantly changing and developing, just like life. And I have never shot skateboarding, yet.

How long have you been shooting photos?

Eight years for fun, five of them also as an extra source of income. I’m currently trying to scan an insane amount of film flicks into my computer. My goal is to create a travel photo book with 365 things travel has taught me. I should have started scanning the negatives way sooner.

What is your best photo mission(s) to date?

Oh man, I think any day spent with your friends is amazing. It doesn’t matter whether you are shooting photos, skating or doing something else. Friends are the best thing in life. Creating new trippy projects is also fun or just randomly cruisin around, preferably around the golden hour.