FINLAND’S MORNING LIGHT
Sami Möttönen
I started taking photos in 2019. I witnessed a magical sunrise during the early summer, and only had my mobile phone with which to capture it. The experience was mesmerising, and after that moment I started to explore the world of nature photography.
Here in the northern hemisphere we are privileged to have four totally different seasons; cold, snowy winters, the low temperatures of which make for frosty trees and steamy rivers. It lives up to its name of “winter wonderland”. Spring is when nature wakes up from hibernation, followed by summer with its bright days and nights. And finally we have beautiful, colourful autumn.
Autumn in the north is particularly beautiful, surrounded by forests and entirely living up to its name of the "land of a thousand lakes”. I like to use morning light for my photos whenever it's possible, it adds a softness and moodiness to the composition that is unobtainable during daylight. Mornings are often also accompanied by great mists. For example during those bright nights, when I stand in the middle of total silence and watched only by a couple of animals, the experience of seeing the sun rise through the beautiful fog is unforgettable!
This great atmosphere, mysticism and surrounding silence are the aspects that I really want to bring to my photos. I attempt to capture all this beauty in many different ways. Sometimes I just want to search for little details, flowers, plants, or a drop of water. At other times I just search for the light and shadows. For me it is so important to keep my mind and eyes fresh for new ways to photograph, and bring out all those surrounding mesmerising moments.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 12.