I’ve been fortunate to visit Finland in winter and early spring where I made these images. With around five hours of daylight in late January, the subsequent light can be similar to a long dawn/dusk resulting in gorgeous pink light on the snow as seen in some of these images.
Positioned in the sub-arctic region of Kuusamo and Oulo, Northern Finland, where temperatures ranged from -12 to -32c in Kuusamo and 1 to -17c in Oulo during spring.
Golden Eagle Landing on Carrion.
Golden Eagle and Magpie.
Golden Eagles pair and mate for life, the female is slightly larger than the male.
Golden Eagle in diamond dust, these shimmering particles are ice crystals and appear in extreme cold and dry conditions.
Golden Eagle landing in pink light.
The male looking straight into my lens.
Female Golden Eagle tweaks a feather from the male so claiming this meal for herself. Note the female is larger and has a feathery scarf.
Female in falling snow.
After several visits here I wanted something a little different and to portray these magnificent birds in their unforgiving environment. By using a slow shutter speed of 15th of a second, the falling snow is enhanced into streaking lines. I just needed the bird to remain still.
Incoming male. My new Nikon Z9 proved highly capable for these eagle photos and being silent proved a huge advantage.
Juvenile Golden Eagle, this bird was in the territory of a mature eagle pair and was constantly on the lookout in case of being attacked.
Juvenile Golden Eagle.
Golden Eagle in flight
We had two 17 hour overnight shifts whilst waiting for Eagle Owls to approach, and experienced 3 visits each night. It was an unforgettable experience listening to the male and female calling to each other in the forest.
The magnificent Eurasian Eagle Owl, considered to be one of the largest owls in the world, with 155-180cm wingspan. This image was taken with carefully positioned and constant LED lighting, thus eliminating the use of flash which could cause injury to the birds eyes
Possibly the only place to photograph these majestic birds in the wild is through 'Finnature' near Oulo, Northern Finland.
Northern Female Goshawk coming into land.
Backlit Female Goshawk.
Female Goshawk on a hare carcass
Male Goshawk
Female Goshawk is larger then the male
Sometimes an image needs space and this is one example. Here we have a mother otter with her two cubs. Weaning takes place when they are around 3 months old. They remain with their mothers for up to 14 months and reach reproductive maturity at the age of 2 or 3 years.
Eye contact with a male otter.
Male otter, drying itself off in the snow.
Crested Tit.
Crested Tit in pink light.
Adult Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, females lack the red patch on the back of the birds head.
Black Woodpecker, these birds are roughly the size of a crow and can measure 45cm (18in) long.
Alpha Male Black Grouse putting on a display.
Black Grouse Lek, these birds arrive in precisely the same location during spring each year in a huge field. Here, the males participate in battles for supremacy and breeding rights.
Black Grouse Lek, we entered the hide an hour before sunrise for these backlit images. The grouse do battle for a few moments and then sit and rest before joining for battle again. After a couple of hours they all departed back to the forest.
Female Goshawk
Landscapes of Northern Finland
Snow and hoar frost combine to form Tykky on these trees, taken from the Kuntivaara Fells and overlooking Russia. The sunset completes the scene.
Taken in January 2019, Last rays of sun over a frozen landscape.
Tykky or 'soft rime' encrusted trees. This is a build up of snow and rime frost and is spectacular.
In this northern climate in January the sun remains low in the sky resulting in sublime light
Arctic Sentinels, bow their heads under the weight of snow.
Oulanka National Park, Finland.
Oulanka National Park at sundown.
Circling ice flows, taken with a slow shutter speed and ND filter.
Moonrise over a frozen lake.
Moonrise over Myllykoski Mill, Oulanka Park
For my visit in January 2024, we were blessed with the most glorious light and some mist for good measure.
As the light fades and shadows emerge.....
The fell takes on an ethereal look under moonlight.
- 20 and gloves were pointless here whilst using a slow shutter speed, Lee 6 stop filter and polariser to smooth water and clouds.
One of the reasons for another visit was to make this photo, taken from a suspension bridge.
One of my favourite images and a panorama taken with my new iPhone 15