The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is divided into an east and a west village. While the east village is the older and more charming one, the west village is definitely the one where the magic happens. We stayed in the east village and really enjoyed the hygge feeling there. While we were walking around in our village we rarely met any other guests even when all igloos and cabins were booked out. The west village is the starting point for many activities like the reindeer or husky safaris. They also have an igloo tower which provides an amazing view all over the village. Another treat is the art gallery inside the igloo tower. During Christmas time it must be the most wonderful place on earth, because you can visit Santa Claus (called Joulupukki in Finnish). There is not only Santa’s home, but also a Christmas crib, you can spot an elf tower and a huge celebration house. Another special accommodation possibility is the kelo-glass igloo which is a combination of a cabin and a glass igloo located in the west village. During our stay we visited both villages and even came across some reindeers.
Lapland by Night
There aren’t many places in winter which are also breathtaking by night, but Lapland definitely is. I have never felt so excited just because it turned dark. The view out of the glass igloo turned into a dreamy and magical winter fairytale. Just watching those snow-covered trees and hundreds of stars makes you feel calm, but also thankful and entirely happy. And then, all of a sudden, there was a light spectacle in the sky. Yet visible, although very weak a long-cherished dream came true. It actually makes you forget the cold and all you want to do is to get outside and get closer to the northern lights. Yes, now after I have seen the aurora borealis, all I want to do is go back there one day and watch them again.
Lago di Fusine
Last week we went to Italy and came across the Fusine Lakes which are surrounded by the Mount Mangart mountain range. I have been there a few times before and it was always worth visiting. While I was taking a walk by the lake the weather changed from cloudy to sunny and later on to foggy. Not only the weather, but also the colours of the lake were changing. Those unique shades and the beautiful reflections made this place even more magical.
November
I was planning to take atmospheric pictures of a moor landscape at sunset. Unfortunately there was no sunset on that day at the Hörfeld Moor. This shoot proved to be unsuccessful, but there are still a few photographs I would like to share with you. The pictures turned out dark and moody – nevertheless I like them, because they represent the month November quite well.
Autumn Vibes
Last weekend I spent some time at the Turracher Höhe and took the three-lakes-trail which offered some really scenic spots. I can't wait to get back there!
Arboretum
My last Tampere related blog post is about the Hatanpää Arboretum which is a city oasis located two kilometres from the centre. If you love roses as much as I do, you should definitely go there: Hundreds of beautiful roses can be admired in the rose garden at the arboretum next to a collection of gorgeous trees and plants. Yes, the arboretum is definitely a gem of the city.
Dreams of the Future
One day. Me and this beautiful little wooden house. In the north. My beloved home in the future. Dreams.
Spotlight the Forest
When you are in Finland walking through the forests is an absolute must. I personally spent the majority of my time in the Finnish forests or near the lake. I figured out that I can relax the most when I walk somewhere alone just listening to the birds and my feet hitting the ground. Also the sound of the waves makes me feel grateful. I absolutely loved experiencing the calm.
PinjaPuu
The forest is a place for me where I can calm down and relax. I feel like I am surrounded by a magical atmosphere and all those beautiful natural colors and shapes make me happy and worry-free. I discovered PinjaPuu in a little eco design and vintage shop called Forget-Me-Not in the heart of Tampere, Finland. Those beautiful designs immediately caught my attention. Now I am able to take a little piece of Finland and the calming feeling of the forest with me every day and everywhere.
Pinja Kärkkäinen is a young Finnish designer who makes nature-inspired jewelry and accessories. The jewelry line is called PinjaPuu which means “Pine tree” in English. The jewelry is made of Finnish birch plywood, it is light as a feather, produced ecofriendly and rich in detail. You can definitely see that Pinja puts a lot of effort in her handmade jewelry line and that she truly loves her job: Not only the jewelry, but also the packaging is designed and made with love.
Spring is here!
I’m very sorry for not posting anything for such a long time. Due to a job change I was really busy the last months. BUT now spring arrived and I am looking forward taking more pictures. I bought myself a new lens which I tested last weekend. A big thank you goes to my lovely sister who was my model that day. It’s always a pleasure to take pictures of her!
Hello 2017!
“New Year. New Feelings. New Chances.
Same Dreams, Fresh Starts.”
Happy holidays!
2016 was such a great year for me – mostly because of you! I would like to thank everyone who worked with me this year. I had so many great projects which made me and my camera really happy.
It was also the first time ever that I had something like a temporary photographic studio at a company for a few months. This was really a big thing for me.
I would also like to say thank you to my subscribers, followers and basically everyone who visited my homepage/instagram page and/or gave feedback on my pictures. I wish you happy holidays and all the best for 2017! I don’t know what the next year will bring, but hopefully I will be able to show a lot more photographs and I’m looking forward posting them for you!
Großglockner
A month ago my family and I decided to go on a hike close to the Großglockner – the highest mountain of Austria. It was really impressive to walk the road near its peak and the scenic glacier that supplements it. We had a magnificent view on this sunny day and enjoyed the gorgeous panorama the whole day.
