“When I first met Esa Ylijaasko, I realized immediately that he had a different voice, a unique way of seeing the world and telling stories with images. The perseverance, patience and tenderness of his approach are rare gems in this industry, and he is devoted to continuing to do it.” -
Sebastián Liste, Spain, photographer
Esa Ylijaasko is a photographer originally from a small northern town of Keminmaa, Finland.
Esa Ylijaasko graduated from Jyväskylä College of Arts, Finland. Since then, he has been awarded in the Magnum Photos Showcase in November 2012, the Gomma Grant in 2016, the Carina Appel Award in 2017, and the FotoFinlandia Award in 2018.
His works have been exhibited in Officine Fotografiche (Milan), Werkstattgalerie (Berlin), Galleria Uusi Kipinä (Finland), Eigenleben der Galerie Neurotitan Schwarzenber (Berlin, Germany), Ratamo Galleria (Jyväskylä, Fotoleggendo Festival (Rome), Gazebook Photo Book Festival (Sicily), Next Generation -Young Eyes of Photojournalism (Helsinki), and FotoIstanbul Festival (Istanbul).
His images can be found in publications such as The New York Times, VICE, Suomen Kuvalehti, Huvudstadbladed and Helsingin Sanomat.
He was in the VII mentor program.
See Esa Ylijaasko's 'November is a beginning' on Witness, World Press Photo's online magazine.
Esa Ylijaasko received a nomination from Sebastián Liste.
Find out about the 6x6 nomination process and our growing community of global nominators.