My Time
In 1985, Juha-Pekka Inkinen photographed his first portraits of friends, seeking strength, hope, and a gaze toward the future — the rise of a better time. Decades later the idea returned, and he invited the same friends back before his camera. “With everyone, the conversation continued right where it had ended in the ’80s. It was fun and interactive. Thirty-eight years struck deeply somewhere.”
Inkinen aims to make the passage of time and life stages visible. No one can avoid aging, but it need not mean decline — it can bring new content, perspectives, and freedoms. Our culture often glorifies youth, yet it is vital to recognize people of different ages and paths. In consumer society, aging is easily tinted with negativity, though life still offers new and exciting things worth grasping.
Letting go can also be a relief. As responsibilities lessen — children grow up, work duties fade — life feels lighter. With years, one may see the past more clearly and face the future with curiosity. One person looks back warmly, another forward with eagerness. Inkinen’s portraits capture this arc, reminding us that every moment has value — in youth as well as in aging.