Claire Aho

Known as ‘the Grand Old Lady of Finnish Photography’, Claire Aho was a pioneer of editorial photography recognised for her innovative use of colour techniques. Her vibrant images showcase her keen eye for composition and surprisingly modern aesthetic.

Claire learned her trade from her father, Heikki Aho, who was a photographer and filmmaker himself. Following in his footsteps, she began her career as a documentary filmmaker but eventually started her own studio in the 1950s, which was a formative period in Finnish design. Her foray into colour photography followed her father’s remarks about the poor quality of colour photographs in Finland; his views inspired her to develop techniques which produced beautifully saturated images.

Claire’s artistically arranged, witty photographs reflected the liveliness of Helsinki’s cultural scene, capturing the imaginations of viewers and creating a demand for her work among leading commercial publications and brands. In her native Finland, she became one of the most prominent photographers of her time. Her hometown for much of her life, Helsinki features frequently in her work; in 1957 she produced Helsinki, Itämeren tytär (Daughter of the Baltic Sea), a photobook documenting the lives of the city folk. These images have also been displayed at an exhibition organised by the United Nations to celebrate the centenary of Finnish independence.

Claire was the only woman to photograph the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, which led her to be hired as a photojournalist by Warner Bros. in Finland. Alongside documentary and fashion photography, Claire worked as a filmmaker, producing the film Laulu meren kaupungista (The song of the city of the sea, 1950) with her father to mark the 400^th anniversary of the establishment of Helsinki. She moved to Sweden in the 1970s, where she lived and worked until her death. Her broad body of work has been exhibited around the world, including at The Photographers’ Gallery, Photo London, and Liljevalchs in Sweden.

By Satu Lehtinen