Hey there! I'm Kristian Kaarna, a European photographer with roots in Finland but a heart that belongs to the world.
My journey has taken me through some of the most vibrant cities across the globe— Paris, Milan, Helsinki, Madrid, Barcelona, and even Hong Kong.
These places have shaped my eye for photography and fueled my passion for capturing the beauty around us.
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These days, you'll often find me nestled in the serene Andalusian countryside of Spain, where I balance the perks of remote work with my love for nature. Whether I'm in the lively streets of a city or the quiet fields of Spain, my camera's always with me, ready to capture the moment.
KRISTIAN KAARNA
PHOTOGRAPHER
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For me, photography is about spotting the beauty in the everyday. It’s about getting to know the world around us, whether it’s a stunning landscape or the person right in front of the lens. At its heart, photography is all about seeing things differently through my eyes.
PARIS
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My photography journey began in 1993 in the most beautiful city—Paris.
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I moved to Paris in 1989 to study French at the Sorbonne. After finishing my language studies, in 1993 I dove into the world of classical photography at MJM, where I got hands-on experience with analogue black-and-white film photography and spent countless hours in the darkroom. I had the absolute best teachers.
The magic of film photography and those late nights in the lab completely captivated me! I continued my studies at SPEOS, one of the most advanced photography schools, where I was among the first to explore the digital processes that would go on to revolutionize photography as we know it.
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ONGOING AND PAST EXHIBITIONS
LANDSCAPES
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I have a deep passion for landscape photography, always observing the world around me.
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It’s about capturing that perfect moment that embodies the spirit of nature, whether it’s vast or a small detail.
My goal? To make you feel like you’re right there, experiencing something extraordinary.
SUR IN ENGLISH
ART MAGAZINE FINLAND
SOLO EXHIBITION
MUSEO ETNOLOGICO
RIOGORDO ESPAÑA
2022
Kristian Kaarna’s latest exhibition, Landscapes, debuted at the Ethnographic Museum in Riogordo in late spring 2022 which features large format photographs of landscapes from around the world.
The exhibition marks the Finnish born artist’s first solo exhibition in Axarquia, Andalusia.
SOLO EXHIBITION
NELIMARKKA MUSEUM
ALAJÄRVI FINLAND
2019-2020
Integrated Landscapes presents works by photographer Kristian Kaarna. His exhibition aims to stimulate discussion about the beauty of our own area, nature and its observation and contemplation in the bustle of everyday life.
"Beauty is found in our everyday environment. Sometimes it's hard to see the wonderful nature in places that we know so well. Familiarity can make the landscape boring, but we don't pay enough attention to it."
PROJECT LA RUCHE
PARIS, FRANCE
2019-2020
Kristian Kaarna photographed a Parisian artist's residence La Ruche where many famous artists had once worked. The artist’s residence, once the cradle of modernism, is now closed to outsiders, but Kristian Kaarna was invited to stay and work there.
During his visit, Kristian photographed some current inhabitants of the house, known as the Beehive, and the statues found in the park, as well as the shattered splendour of La Ruche. The photographs of La Ruche were part of the Kristian Kaarna’s Nelimarkka Museum Solo photography exhibition.
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE joined Kristian Kaarna's project for the 2017 Centennial Year of Independence of Finland
2017-2018
Kristian Kaarna's solo exhibition "Under the blue sky" met the conditions set by Finland 100/ Suomi 100 program, as part of the country’s centenary celebrations around the world.

The exhibition was on display at Frame Gallery in Fuengirola from 25 September 2017 to 25 September 2018 and at the Embassy of Finland in Brussels in spring 2018. The Finns achieved independence on 6 December 1917.
CULTURE HOUSE PROJECT IN AXARQUIA
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This project was created to have space where everyday life and art meet, and where indoor interacts with outdoor. It is a place to create images and use traditional techniques with the latest technologies. Here, people can create and learn black and white analogue film photography, use the darkroom and the studio. The project also helps people to make photography in magnificent surroundings.
The project embraces the past and looks to the future. Culture house is a meeting place for art and culture-loving people from all over the world. Sustainable living in a modern world in the countryside!
KRISTIAN KAARNA
Building exchibition in Nelimarkka Museum in Finland
INTEGRATED LANDSCAPES
12.10.2019 - 23.2.2020, Nelimarkka Museum, Alajärvi Finland
KRISTIAN KAARNA
Finland 100 years Exchibition in Frame gallery Spain Exhibition closing