Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s latest photobook, Writing in the Sand, is an evocative testament to a career built on capturing the raw beauty and ephemeral moments of life. This exquisite volume, now distributed by Dewi Lewis Publishing, is much more than a collection of images—it is the culmination of twenty-five years of dedicated work, a visual diary that speaks to the transformative power of time and memory. As someone who grew up in Aberdeen during the vibrant 1980s, I found myself resonating deeply with the subject matter. The sandy beaches of Northeast Scotland and the North Sea have long held a special place in my heart, and Konttinen’s work stirs childhood memories of carefree days, seaside adventures, and the timeless allure of the coast.

I know this is now two book reviews in a row on my site and I said to myself that I wouldn’t do that as I am going to spread the posts out with some more interviews coming with some fantastic photographers who I adore and respect along with some more posts on post process, some projects I am thinking of doing along with more, BUT, I spent a couple of hours going through this book last night and really enjoyed it so much that I wanted to write about it and so here we are.

Konttinen’s approach is both spontaneous and direct. As described by the British Journal of Photography, she is “a spontaneous and very direct photographer, a photographer of inspiration.” This quality is evident throughout the book. The images capture the sandy expanses, the ever-changing moods of the sea, and the dynamic interactions between light and shadow. In one particularly striking plate, I saw the undulating patterns of the shoreline rendered in soft, almost dreamlike detail, a visual echo of the way light plays upon the surface of wet sand after a fresh rain. These images are not mere snapshots; they are meditations on impermanence, the constant reshaping of both nature and memory.

The photobook transports the viewer to the rugged coasts of Northeast England, where the high-spirited happenings and spontaneous acts of Geordie exuberance infuse the landscape with an almost magical vitality. I found myself recalling my own childhood in Aberdeen, a time when the beach was a playground and a source of endless wonder. Born in 1978, I spent countless hours on those sandy shores, building castles, chasing seagulls, and losing myself in the rhythmic lull of the tide. Konttinen’s images evoke that same sense of wonder, where every grain of sand carries a story, and every footprint is a fleeting testament to the passage of time as I still remember being taken to the beach from my grandparents on my dad’s side and it’s the only time’s I can remember seeing them anywhere outside their own house other than their own garden in that twice they took me, my brother and my cousin to the beach.

One of the most impressive aspects of Writing in the Sand is Konttinen’s technical mastery. The use of tritone printing lends each image a distinctive tonal quality that is both rich and nuanced. The subtle gradations between light and dark create a visual depth that draws the viewer into the scene. This technique, combined with her careful composition, transforms what might have been simple landscapes into evocative works of art that speak to both the heart and the mind.

Konttinen’s work is suffused with a quiet yet undeniable energy. There is a deliberate interplay between abstraction and clarity. a dance between what is captured in sharp detail and what is left to the imagination. In some images, the sand appears almost fluid, as if it were a living canvas upon which the elements themselves have left their mark. In others, the rugged textures of the shoreline are rendered with a clarity that is both precise and poetic. It is this duality, the tension between the ephemeral and the permanent, that makes the book so compelling.

As I immersed myself in Writing in the Sand, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Konttinen’s vision and my own experiences growing up in Aberdeen. The beaches of my childhood were not merely physical spaces; they were realms of possibility, where the boundary between reality and fantasy seemed to blur. I remember how the endless expanse of sand and sky made me feel both small and infinitely free a sentiment that Konttinen captures so beautifully in her work.

Her photographs serve as a gentle reminder of those formative years, a time when the simplest moments held the greatest magic. Whether it was the way the sea foam lapped against my feet or the way the golden light of a setting sun transformed the beach into a shimmering mosaic, these images resonate with the same sense of nostalgia and wonder that has stayed with me throughout my life. Writing in the Sand is, in many ways, a dialogue between the past and the present, a visual conversation about how the landscapes we encounter in our youth continue to shape our identity long into adulthood.

Beyond its aesthetic and technical brilliance, Writing in the Sand offers an invitation to reflect on the broader themes of change, impermanence, and continuity. The beach, with its ever-shifting sands and tides, is a powerful metaphor for life itself, a constant state of flux where nothing remains exactly as it was. Konttinen’s work captures this paradox with remarkable sensitivity, presenting the viewer with images that are as transient as they are timeless.

The photobook challenges us to consider how our own memories are formed and reformed over time. Just as the tide washes away footprints in the sand, so too does time erase the details of our past, leaving behind only the emotional residue of moments that once defined us. In this light, Writing in the Sand becomes not just a record of a physical place, but a meditation on memory, loss, and the beauty inherent in both.

What makes Writing in the Sand so captivating is its ability to elevate the everyday. Konttinen finds poetry in the mundane, a cracked shell on the beach, the subtle curves of a dune, or the way light and shadow play on the wet sand after a storm. Her images are imbued with a sense of reverence for the ordinary, reminding us that beauty can be found in even the most unassuming moments.

For me, as someone who grew up in Aberdeen, this sentiment hits particularly close to home. The beaches I frequented as a child were not grand or exotic; they were simply part of my world, yet they held a magic all their own. Konttinen’s work captures that same magic, inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty in every fleeting moment.

Writing in the Sand is more than a photobook, it is the culmination of a lifelong journey. Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen has spent twenty-five years exploring, capturing, and documenting the world around her, and this collection stands as a powerful testament to her vision and dedication. Awarded an MBE for her services to photography and recognised by publications such as the New Statesman and New Society, Konttinen’s work has left an indelible mark on the field. Her exhibitions have graced esteemed institutions such as the Tate, and her ability to capture the soul of her subjects is widely celebrated.

For me, reading Writing in the Sand is a deeply personal experience. It is not merely an appreciation of technical skill or aesthetic beauty, but a profound reminder of the moments that shaped my own life. The book’s portrayal of the sandy, ever-changing landscapes of Northeast England echoes the feelings I had as a child, those moments of awe, joy, and quiet introspection that can only be found at the water’s edge.

There is some fantastic images like the one of the four old ladies eating their chippers in South Shields as the laugh away loving their day out and the shot of a punk rocker kicking a float away ball about in Whitley Bay showing that if you give nearly any male, any sized ball in any situation it becomes a football pitch (I’ve played in many a Pittodrie and Hampden in my time that were just fields and beaches).

In a world where so much is fleeting and ever-changing, Writing in the Sand offers a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and rediscover the beauty of impermanence. Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s photographs are both an homage to the natural world and a personal exploration of memory and identity. They remind us that every moment is transient, yet every moment leaves an imprint on our souls.

As I close the book and look back on my own memories of Aberdeen’s beaches, I am filled with a renewed appreciation for the simple pleasures of life, the sound of the waves, the feel of sand beneath my feet, and the way a beautiful sunset can transform an ordinary day into something extraordinary. Writing in the Sand is a work that speaks to both the heart and the mind, offering a timeless meditation on the nature of change and the enduring power of art.

For anyone who cherishes photography, memory, or the quiet magic of the coastal landscape, I cannot recommend Writing in the Sand highly enough. It is a celebration of life’s fleeting moments, a visual poem that invites us all to rediscover the wonder of the world around us.

Regards

Alex