Text reading 'SAANA HELLSTEN' in gray, bold, large font on a black background.
Close-up of a person with dark skin, dreadlocks styled in an updo, tattoos on the arm, and wearing a black tank top, standing amidst a crowd at an outdoor event under a large red metal structure at Stone Techno Festival.

Stone Techno, Essen, Germany

Observing the world through the lens of my Ricoh GR4 (and sometimes GR3).

scroll down for a selection of images taken on my travels in the past years. More images coming in Autumn 2026.

2025

naivasha, kenya

“john”

the finalist of Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery.

Exhibtion open for the public from 5th october 2026 to 17th january 2027.

read more and donate for John’s school’s singing competitions here

2026

Stone Techno, Essen, Germany

A young man wearing sunglasses, a sleeveless shirt, and a tie, holding a drink, standing outdoors in front of a background with trees and sunlight, surrounded by mist or smoke at Stone Techno Festival.
Crowd of people on a stage with intertwined wires and red LED lights at Stone Techno Festival.
A man with glasses, earrings, and a chain necklace, wearing a black cap, red mesh shirt, and dark jeans, standing with arms behind his back at a music event, with DJ equipment and other people in the background at Stone Techno Festival.
People walking outdoors under metal structures with industrial chimneys and tents in the background, sunny weather casting long shadows at Stone Techno Festival stage.
Close-up of a woman lying down, with her head resting on her arm and her face partially obscured, wearing a bracelet and multiple necklaces, with tattoos visible on her shoulder and side at Stone Techno Festival..
People gathered outdoors near an industrial steel structure, some sitting on a brick ledge and others standing, with diverse clothing styles and hairstyles at Stone Techno Festival..

2026

Maasai mara, kenya

A young Maasai man jumping on a muddy ground, wearing traditional shuka and jewelry, with a group of Maasai people in similar attire standing around him under a clear blue sky.

Tokyo, japan

2026

People walking on a city sidewalk in bright sunlight, with storefront signs and buildings in the background in Tokyo.
People sitting at outdoor tables on a city street, with traditional Japanese paper lanterns hanging above, in Tokyo, Japan.
Entrance to a building with a tiled facade, an archway with a glass cover, mailboxes, a door leading underground, a bicycle, and Japanese signage in Tokyo, Japan.
A potted plant with yellow flowers and green leaves casts a shadow on a beige brick wall and a white concrete wall below. The plant is in a large white decorative rectangular planter on a concrete surface in Tokyo, Japan.
Nighttime street scene in Japan with red paper lanterns hanging above, people walking, and a person riding a bicycle in a white traditional outfit in Tokyo, Japan..
A grill with various meats and vegetables cooking, with smoke and flames, inside a restaurant. A glass of Sapporo beer is on the table near the grill. Menus with Japanese writing are visible in the background in Tokyo, Japan.

2022-2026

architecture details
Puerto escondido, tokyo, berlin, marseilles

Large clay pots with cracks, placed on a concrete floor inside a structure with a thatched roof and a concrete wall in Casa Wabi in Puerto Escondido.
Large clay pots with cracks, placed on a concrete floor inside a structure with a thatched roof and a concrete wall in Casa Wabi in Puerto Escondido.
Students in school uniforms walking down stairs at school building in Tokyo, Japan.
Students in school uniforms walking down stairs at school building in Tokyo, Japan.
A modern, minimalist white building with curved edges and large glass windows designed by Le Corbusier, set against a clear blue sky, with a flat rooftop and a few people standing on the ground nearby in Marseilles, France.
A modern, minimalist white building with curved edges and large glass windows designed by Le Corbusier, set against a clear blue sky, with a flat rooftop and a few people standing on the ground nearby in Marseilles, France.
A round wooden table with a metal base, surrounded by three green upholstered chairs with wooden legs, set against a gray wall with two horizontal light fixtures and a small section of a window with a plant in the top left corner.
A round wooden table with a metal base, surrounded by three green upholstered chairs with wooden legs, set against a gray wall with two horizontal light fixtures and a small section of a window with a plant in the top left corner.

2024

Dekmantel Festival, amsterdam

Concert crowd and stage with fiery light display and smoke effects in Dekmantel Festival.
Black and white photo of a woman with curly hair, Mia Koden , operating DJ equipment in a dimly lit room with a bright light behind her at Dekmantel Festiva. Various objects including bottles and a fan are visible in the foreground.
Black and white concert scene with a large crowd of silhouetted people facing a bright stage with multiple spotlights and lighting rigs at Dekmantel Festival.
A black and white photo of two men at an outdoor event, one with glasses and a beard looking directly at the camera, the other with glasses focusing on equipment, with a crowd and metal structures in the background.
Black and white photo of a person with dark hair and glasses sitting at a table, with a large bright light or reflection in the background, along with cars and trees outside the window.
Black and white photo of a person with dark hair and glasses sitting at a table, with a large bright light or reflection in the background, along with cars and trees outside the window.
Hands with long nails illuminated by green lights in a grassy outdoor setting at night.
Hands with long nails illuminated by green lights in a grassy outdoor setting at night.

kathmandu, mt. makalu, mardi himal, pokhara
the Himalayas, nepal

2022

A resting yak on grassy terrain with a gray sky in the background.
A man with a big smile, wearing a hat and warm jacket, sitting in a dark cave or shelter, holding a metal mug, with shelves of metal cups and cans in the background.
A woman holding a child walking in a dirt yard, with a backdrop of concrete and metal buildings and corrugated metal fences, in a developing area.
A man in a beanie and jacket standing outdoors in a mountainous area with snow-capped peaks in the background. Other people are visible behind him, dressed in outdoor gear.
A person dressed in warm outdoor clothing, holding a hammer and working on a rocky surface with a mountain landscape and partly cloudy sky in the background.
Several small boats floating on a calm lake with mountains in the background during dusk or dawn.
Close-up of an elderly woman with wrinkled skin, wearing a red knit hat, black lace hat, gold earrings, a necklace with a cross pendant, a purple floral top, and a black scarf with white polka dots. She is outdoors with a house or shed and a pile of white sacks visible in the background.

2024

solstice Festival, ruka, finland

A black and white photo of a crowd inside a large structure with glass walls and ceiling, possibly a greenhouse or atrium, with silhouettes of people dancing and enjoying themselves.
A person wearing a jacket and headphones, possibly a DJ, standing behind DJ equipment in a room with lighting and stage equipment.
A man wearing a black beanie and jacket operating DJ equipment, with a large outdoor stage and lighting setup in the background.
Close-up black and white photograph of a person’s hand wearing rings, reaching out towards the camera with chairs in the background.
View of a modern glass and steel building with a curved roof, featuring a glass-enclosed promenade with people inside. In the background, there is a ski lift with empty chairs, and the sky is at dusk with a gradient from blue to orange.
Two people in white protective suits embracing each other outdoors under a cloudy sky, with a landscape of fields and water in the background and a crane nearby.
Silhouettes of two people sitting outdoors at sunset or sunrise, watching the horizon, with a power line and a large bridge structure overhead.

2021-2025

by the water
Lissabon, marseilles. ponza, Heinola

A beach scene with two elderly people walking hand in hand along the shoreline, with other beachgoers and buildings visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
An elderly man with long gray hair sitting by a harbor filled with boats, with hills and white buildings in the background during daylight.
A white camper van parked on a dirt area near the coast, with mountains, a blue sea, and a boat in the background under a clear sky.
A young child with blonde hair, wearing yellow shorts with a dinosaur pattern, playing in a body of water on a sunny day with a partly cloudy sky. The child is holding a container of yogurt and smiling at the camera, surrounded by a natural landscape with trees in the background.
A person sitting on a sandy beach facing the ocean, with waves breaking near the shore and the sun shining brightly in the sky.

2025

Maasai mara national park
kenya

2023-2024

B&W photography
nyc, isle of portland, lissabon

Black-and-white photo of a person playing the piano, with a bald head and dark clothing, focusing on the side profile.
A person playing the saxophone on stage in front of a banner with the U.S. Post Americ logo, with a woman smiling and another person in the background.
Two people sitting on a rocky shore overlooking the water, with a large rock formation island in the background.
Black and white photo of two horses standing outdoors on grass, with one horse facing left and the other facing forward. A fence is visible in the background.
Silhouettes of three people outdoors against a wall with trees in the background, one person sitting and two standing close together, engaging in conversation.

2019

Ponza, italy

People sunbathing and relaxing on the deck of a boat with mountains and sailboats in the background.
A shirtless man with a beard and a bald head sitting on a red beach chair at the beach, holding a woman’s foot who is lying on the chair and reading a book on a rocky beach in Ponza, Italy. In the background, there is another person sitting.
Older man with white beard and sunglasses on a boat with people around him in swimsuits, holding onto a rope, with the ocean, blue sky, and distant land in the background in Ponza, Italy.

More images coming in Autumn 2026.

Inquiries: saana@hellsten.co