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Here are some questions to ask when choosing a res

Here are some questions to ask when choosing a responsible and most ethical large predator hide destination in Finland:
👇
Personally I believe that it’s more impactful for positive change to support responsible businesses rather than just bash the entire industry. So if you’re thinking of going to photograph bears, wolves and wolverines from a commercial hide business, research their website or contact them to ask these questions:

🐻Do they own the land and how much of it?

🐻Is hunting allowed on the same lands or right next door?

🐻How do they keep the animals safe and stress free?

🐻what is the guarantee to see the animals? (sightings can’t be guaranteed each day for truly wild animals)

🐻How many animals are often seen during a visit or at the same time in the area? (Get familiar with the territory sizes of the animals and how they naturally share them with others)

🐻What and how and how much are the animals fed to have a chance at seeing them?

🐻How does the operator make sure that the feeding doesn’t effect the animals health and behavior in a way that is harmful to the animal?

🐻Does the operator practice ecotourism (nature based tourism that includes an educational aspect which aids conservation) and what actions they take to conserve predator populations?

🐻How far are the nearest residential areas to the operation?

🐻What is the environment like around the operation, are action taken to preserve it and protect it from “too much traffic”? Is it a natural environment for the animals?

🐻Keep in mind that you as a customer have a big impact on what type of businesses you support and in creating positive change. This means doing your research on the species, asking questions, understanding that the places that offer the most photo opportunities might not be the most responsible; be ok with not getting any images out of your trip as you would with any wildlife photography with truly wild animals. Be honest about how your photos have been made and use them for good.

🐻I also encourage everyone to have a good think about who’s agenda is really being supported by people bashing these businesses in a black and white manner.

You see, when the golden light hits the stage; I s

You see,
when the golden light hits the stage;
I still think you shine brighter, than all the light ever reflected from the wet autumn 🍂 leaves.
You should be proud.
Even if my kind doesn’t always see it;
You are amazing.
Keep shining on my friend✨

Thank you for sharing this moment with me.

📷 There was a brief moment one evening, amidst the gray rainy weather, when the setting sun passed by…these are the moments, you know?

Nikon Z9 with Nikon 500mm 5.6 PF lens @ 1/640sec F5.6 ISO9000
📍September 2023 Eastern Finland.

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #goldenlight #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #nikoncreators #nikonz9 #auringonlaskunaikaan

Where to go? how to prepare? how it works? what to

Where to go?
how to prepare?
how it works?
what to wear?
things to consider... I’m trying to share as much information as I can think of based on my own experience and perspective.
I began exploring this type of wildlife photography, which is done from a commercially operated hide in Finland, six months ago and here I am sharing everything I’ve learned this far via some footage from my latest adventure to eastern Finland to photograph bears wolves, and wolverines in the wild.

In this video, I try to cover the basics in regards to what to think about, consider, and bring with you...how it is photographing from these types of hides. Everything I wish I knew, before I spent my first night in a freezing hide listening to wolves howl around me.

There is a lot more to this topic for example the ethics of this type of “travel service” and wildlife photography. I have begun exploring that topic in my blog, which you’ll find on my website, and plan on doing a video about it as well.

I’m planning on also following up with more hide adventures and with my top three places to go which I found the most responsible and had great wildlife encounters at. So stay tuned.

👉🏻THE GUIDE : Link to the YouTube video in my bio.
Please 🙏 Come leave a comment with your thoughts on the video, thank you 😊

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #ruskanvärit #wildlifephotographyfinland #wildlifephotography

Can you get through the set of photos without sing

Can you get through the set of photos without singing 🎤 this?
👇

I never miss a beat,
I'm lightning on my feet,
And that's what they don't see,
That's what they don't see,

Players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

I shake it off, I shake it off

Heartbreakers gonna break break break,
Fakers gonna fake fake fake,
I'm just gonna shake shake shake,
I shake it off, I shake it off! 🎶

📷 Nikon z9 with Nikon 500mm PF lens @ 1/640sec f5.6 ISO7200
📍Moody rainy September evening in Kuhmo Finland.

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #rainydays☔️ #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #shakeitoff #swifties #wildlifeplanet

Here’s the funny thing about people that have g

Here’s the funny thing about people that have
gone through a lot in their life:

What it should do, is build so much confidence in you that you can handle hard things. Because you’ve handled so many hards things.

You should just launch yourself at life!
…like whatever comes, I’ll figure it out.

Most people get anxious because they can see the bad things that could happen. Or they’re experiencing something hard, and they’re not sure they have the skills, abilities, talents, resources to survive it.
BUT reality is,
you’ve survived ALL of those hard things.

SO if you’ve survived a lot of hard things,
You should RUN AT LIFE with such confidence that I’m going to survive WHATEVER is coming at me.
Because I’ve done it all before,
I’ve figured out all this,
If I can get through that; I can get through anything.

Launch 🚀 yourself at life, run at it with confidence, you’re alive!✨

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva
#wildlifephotography #wildlife_safaris_finland #conservationphotography #inthewoods #bears🐻

There we were, 5 meters and a piece of fabric bet

There we were,
5 meters and a piece of fabric between us.
Just the two of us in the woods.

Many asked me “aren’t you afraid?”.

I am terrified. Terrified that we’ll loose bears, wolves, lynx, wolverines…these magnificent, majestic and important beings, yes. I’m afraid that because of lack of understanding, fear mongering and egotism people are afraid…and what does anyone do when afraid? Fight or flight.

But being in the woods by myself next to a bear 🐻, whom if he wanted to he totally could have me as a snack, ( the hide walls wouldn’t keep him)… I felt no fear.

Instead I felt understanding.
I felt respect.
I felt connection and compassion.
I felt love and magic.
I felt like home.

I had brought some berries for a snack with me to the hide.
He found his from the forest floor…

There we were, just having a snack.

Fully aware of each other’s existence.
Fully aware that both our species could harm the other.
And fully aware that we both choose not to. There’s no need.
We can coexist peacefully.

📷 Nikon Z9 with Nikon z 70-200mm 2.8 lens @ 1/500sec f2.8 ISO1800

Special Thanks to @lassi.rautiainen for this opportunity 🤎.

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #suurpeto #luonnonsuojelu

”It’s impossible” said pride. “It’s ris

”It’s impossible” said pride.
“It’s risky” said experience.
“It’s pointless” said reason.
“Give it a try” whispered the heart.

🤎

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #wildlifephotography #femalesolotraveler #followyourpassion

Kieli keskellä suuta metsässä kulkiessa, ettei

Kieli keskellä suuta metsässä kulkiessa, ettei törmää ihmiseläimiin.
👅🐾

One thing that is astonishing to me each time when in presence of large animals in their environment… whether it’s elephants 🐘 walking in the woods or these bears 🐻 in a forest;
is how silently they move.

You would think you’d hear a large bear approaching you but no, they appear suddenly in view (while I’m in a hide). Once they’re close I can hear them sniffing around or munching on any food they find… but even close by I can barely hear their steps.

Just as elephant feet, the bear paws 🐾 silence 🤫 any branch they might break underneath the soles, any rock’s rolling etc.

When us humans walk in the woods with our boots 🥾, we can try to thread lightly but honestly we are actually quite loud walkers compared to bears or elephants.

If we walked barefoot 🦶 I think our soles would have similar built-in silencers the forest dwellers have.

Nonetheless, when sitting in a hide, one should keep constant watch (if wanting photos or to see animals) and not trust one’s hearing. There’s been a time or two where I’ve glanced at my phone 📱 ( made stories for you 😁 on Instagram) and looked up to find a bear right in front of me all of a sudden as if it appeared out of nowhere.

Them silencer paws are pure magic 🐾🤫✨

📷Nikon z9 With Nikon z 70-200mm 2.8 lens @ 200mm 2.8 1/500sec ISO1800
📍Kuhmo Finland September 2023

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #metsässä #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #nikoncreators #nikonz9 #wildanimalsphotography #topfinlandphoto #grizzlybear

I wish me and my camera were able to keep up…but

I wish me and my camera were able to keep up…but it all happened so fast and it was already darker outside…but you get the sense of speed and action from this don’t you?

Bears 🐻 really are fast 💨 runners!
They may not look so lean and athletic but they can run up to 60km per hour(40mph).

This bear was chasing an other bear…they disappeared into the forest and after a few minutes came walking back next to each other like nothing had happened.

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #wildlife #grizzlybear #runningmotivation #juoksuinspis

Don’t write to be liked. Don’t write to be rig

Don’t write to be liked.
Don’t write to be right.
Don’t write to be understood.

Write to become emotionally literate,
accepting of yourself,
and free.

Write to move a culture.
Write a philosophical change.
Write to revolutionize your pain.
~Tanya Markul

👆 And the same for photography ✨

…and that’s all the bear 🐻 had to say to me last evening. Wise bear, don’t you think?

📷 Nikon z9 with Nikon 500mm 5.6 PF lens @ 1/640sec f5.6 ISO4000 📍Kuhmo Finland Sept 20th 2023

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #nikoncreators #nikonz9 #wildlifeconservation #conservationphotography #wildlifeshots #grizzlybear #suomenluonto #villieläin

What questions do you have about photographing or

What questions do you have about photographing or watching bears 🐻 from a commercial hide in Finland?

I’d much appreciate any questions or thoughts you could write below ⬇️!

I’ll work on putting together a post answering the questions and helping you prepare for a hide adventure based on my experience and perspective…so all the help would be greatly welcomed 🩷.

This little lady 🐻 is from last evening.

📷 Nikon Z9 with Nikon 500mm 5.6 PF lens @ 1/640sec f5.6 ISO6400

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #nikoncreators #nikonz9 #photographyhides

Asking for a friend 😉 It had been a long wait

Asking for a friend 😉

It had been a long wait in the hide and eventually I decided to make some coffee ☕️ while I waited for bears to walk by…as soon as I got the hot cup of joe in my paws, this handsome fella came sniffing by the hide… lured by coffee maybe? I mean who isn’t 😀.

If bears would drink coffee, how do you think they’d like it?
Milk, sugar, grande soy milk hazelnut macchiato?

Spending days alone in the hide with not much to do, one has time to think 😅.

Next time I’ll make bearappuccinos for sure!

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva #coffeecoffeecoffee #kahvihetki

The ethics of commercial large predator hides…

The ethics of commercial large predator hides…

Greetings from autumnal Eastern Finland! It’s been now six months since I first begun my exploration of commercial hide photography in Finland and I’ve come to a few conclusions:

(Note, there’s a blog post coming, these are just a scratch of the surface)

1. I had pretty set and “harsh” opinions and views of my own, that were not in favor of these types of operations, before I decided to open mindedly experience this myself. Those views have changed and softened.

2. I think there is a lot of good and much potential for good/conservation/awareness etc in these types of nature based businesses. Naturally there are downsides as well.

3. In essence these hide operations aren’t much different from an African Safari or photographing wildlife around an other man provided food source like a field.

4. The biggest problem really is that there are various types of businesses running these operations: some are very ecotourism forward and responsible (like the place this photo is from), some are the opposite and most are somewhere in between.

I’ve talked to many people (guests and operators) while exploring this scene and there’s quite clearly one , maybe two, operators that seem to damage the reputation of the rest. Which is unfortunate for the image of nature photography and responsible ecotourism businesses: the hide operators at large.

(If you’ve got experience of responsible operators or bad experiences I’d love to hear those too)

5. ☝️ To help tackle the issue above I’ve come up with “a plan” , which if successful would nudge everyone towards a more ethical and responsible way of operations, help photographers choose which business es to support and help clear the “name” of this type of nature based business so that its potential for good and conservation could be used fully.

I’ve taken this idea to the board of Finnish Nature Photographer’s Association as the chair of said association’s ethics board, and we will begin working on it with the ethics board…it will be a long process but I’m very excited about it’s potential.

📷Nikon Z9 w Nikon 500mm PF lens 1/640sec f5.6 ISO8000 📍17th Sept 2023 Kuhmo Finland

Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to ever

Compassion hurts.
When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away.
Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others.
You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it.
You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.

~Andrew Boyd

This is so true and it’s taken me decades to learn to carry the universe and not be crushed by all the horrors and cruelty…that certainly doesn’t mean that I’m by no means immune to it…but letting it crush me is paralyzing and one cannot act to create change for the better by being paralyzed.

There’s an immense power in you and everyone with a camera and a compassionate heart. Just stand up, learn to carry the universe and embrace your potential for good ✨

I received some great feedback today from fellow nature photographers @kuusamonaturephoto festival about my photography work AND my work as the Chair of Finnish Nature Photographer’s association’s Ethics Board. I’m so grateful for the reminders and encouragement…everyone, even lil old you, can be the change ✨

#bethechange🌎 #topfinlandphoto #ethicalnaturephotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #utsjoki #ruska #compassion #conservationphotography #luontokato #luonnonsuojelu #tunturissa

The car is packed and I’ll begin my summer holid

The car is packed and I’ll begin my summer holiday tomorrow by heading towards Eastern Finland…

I’ve booked 5 nights in a hide in two locations back to back…not exactly sure how I’ll manage cause there won’t probably be much sleeping 😴…but who sleeps on their holiday anyways?😅

Also it’s a lot of alone time in a little box…so watch out for my stories…if there’s network there; my stories might be all kinds of lit 🔥 , add sleep deprivation to that and ..yeah 😄

Hoping for beautiful autumn 🍂 colors, mist and of course bears, wolves and wolverines 🤞

So exited ✨

📷 Nikon Z9 with a Nikon PF 500mm 5.6 lens 📍June, Kuhmo.

#wildgeography #bearphotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #femalewildlifephotographer #solotravels #womencapturemagic #exelent_nature #pro_nature #karhu #bearcentrefin #topfinlandphoto #nature_of_our_world #mistymorning #magic_shots #finnishnaturephotography #luontokuva

I made a very interesting discovery during the pa

I made a very interesting
discovery during the past week spending time with
the Landscape photography queen @sapnareddy …

I had invited her to come to Utsjoki to scout locations and put together a workshop, so we spent a lot of time outside on shoots.

I used to shoot mainly landscapes and macros when I still had my three rescue dogs in tow (wildlife was not really an option with doggies in tow, and spending my free time without my fur kids was not an option either so..)

After loosing my last dog last February; I decided that NOW was the time to do more wildlife photography…that really was the reason why I got into photography about 15 years ago in the first place.

Soon after I traveled back to my other home in Florida and ended up spending my evenings at a state park at dusk with this Great Horned Owl 🦉 family.

Since then I’ve slowly aimed more towards wildlife photography and this past week I had the opportunity to shoot landscapes with the queen…and though we had a lot of fun, and I’m pretty sure Sapna is my spirit animal; I discovered that I no longer got super excited nor felt the urge to really shoot landscapes…unless there’s an animal in it. I’ve only got eyes for wildlife now.

Funny how things change and evolve…really exciting actually! Looking forward to diving in deeper with wildlife, conservation, nature based adventures and any planet positive initiatives I can help with.

💚

#greathornedowl #owllover #owlobsession #owlchick #floridawildlife #femalewildlifephotographer #wildgeography #globaldaily #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #womencapturemagic #exklusive_animals #planet_of_animals #nature_of_our_world #rewilding #conservationphotography #pro_nature #luontokuva #igcutest_animals #birds_adored

Saying “ I love you”, is one thing Living “

Saying “ I love you”,
is one thing

Living “ I love you”,
is a whole other story.

When you live “ I love you”, you do no harm.

#wildgeography #kettu #ketunpoika #redfox #foxcub #suomenluonto #globaldaily #bella_shots #elegantanimals #animalelite #babyanimalstagram #perfection_nature #pro_nature #femalewildlifephotographer #conservationphotography #magic_shots #igcutestanimals #topfinlandphoto #exklusive_animals #finnishnaturephotography #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #womencapturemagic #ilovenature💚

Syksy 🍂- Autumn 🍂 Time to play with light

Syksy 🍂- Autumn 🍂

Time to play with light ✨, colors ❤️ and look for magic in new beginnings…so exciting!

Greetings from Utsjoki ❤️ Take a little stroll through the foliage, take your time…the light is beautiful.

#suomenluonto #syksy #ruskanvärit #utsjoki #lapinluonto #luontokuva #topfinlandphoto #womencapturemagic

All you have to do is add your voice, that’s all

All you have to do is add your voice, that’s all.
When enough of us add our voice, change will come.
The violence will end.
Just Add. Your. Voice. Your way.

Change is coming 💚

📷 Nikon Z9 with Nikon 500mm 5.6 pf lens @ 1/250sec ISO1600 f5.6
📍Kuhmo June 2023

#conservationphotography #wildgeography #global_daily #elegantanimals #bella_shots #animalelite #animalsmood #karhu #luonnonsuojelu #luontokato #suomenluonto #suomenluonnonvalokuvaajat #perfection_nature #magic_and_hope #magic_shots #liveandletlive #topfinlandphoto #suurpedotkuuluvatluontoon #bears🐻 #nikonz9 #nikoncreators #rewilding

I certainly didn’t expect this! After driving fr

I certainly didn’t expect this!
After driving from Southern Finland all the way up to Utsjoki (16hr drive) by my self, I was greeted with by a friendly cat 🐈‍⬛ as I was unpacking the car…

I was beat from the drive and it was late, but the sky was clear and when the sky is clear and dark in Utsjoki: there’s usually northern lights…

So I set up my camera and headed down by the Teno river…

Then the cat showed up to keep me company, then lady Aurora showed up to keep me and the cat company AND then there we BATS 🦇, bats flying all over and so close I could hear their wings and felt like I could touch their bellies as they flew over me…

I knew to expect Auroras…but never would I have guessed I’d get to watch them with a cat and bats! What a night ✨.

🦇These guys had a wingspan of about 30cm. Based on Google I think they’re Pohjanlepakko- Eptesicus nilssonii - Northern 🦇. The only reproducing bat species north of the Arctic Circle.

#suomenluonto #lapinluonto #lepakko #pohjanlepakko #batsofinstagram #northernlights #revontulet #utsjoki #exploreutsjoki #finnishnaturephotography #thisisarctic #syyskuu #nikoncreators #wildlifeplanet #wildgeography #wildlifeencounters #instagramcats #auroraborealis #northernbat #havaintokirja #yleluonto #mtvsaa

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