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Photography tour in Northern Finland, in search of the symbolic species of the boreal forests, with focus on black grouse And capercaillie.
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€ 790,00
4 Spots Left
In the heart of the Northern Finland, where the boreal forests they stretch for kilometers and frozen lakesReflecting the soft winter light, lies one of the most authentic and wild regions in Northern Europe. Here, nature reigns supreme, and wildlife lives according to ancient rhythms, offering photographers a one-of-a-kind setting.
Among the snow-covered fir trees and the silent clearings the rituals of the black grouse and of the capercaillie, two of the most iconic species of the Nordic forests. The hills are guarded by the elegant flight of the’golden eagle, while in the most remote points you can encounter the enigmatic Ural owl And Lapland owl, in addition to the fascinating white partridges and other typical Arctic species such as Siberian jays, ermines and mountain hares.
This remote corner of Finland is much more than a destination: it is a place where silence has a sound, where every step in the snow tells a story and where the light changes the landscape in a few seconds, creating perfect atmospheres for the nature photography.
An ideal trip for those seeking emotion, authenticity and the opportunity to experience the magic of Great North in one of its purest and most uncontaminated forms.
4 nights in a double/triple room
Michael Lovera
Our journey will begin at’Kuusamo Airport, where you will meet the professional photographer and the rest of the group. From here, with a comfortable private transfer, we will enter the Finnish forests, until reaching our Base Camp, a typical Nordic hut that will be our home for the entire experience.
After settling into the rooms, a introductory briefingThe program will be explained day by day, along with the logic of the activities, the photographic approach to the different species, and any changes due to weather conditions or wildlife behavior. The goal is clear: maximize photographic opportunities and make the most of every moment of the trip.
The days will be punctuated by sunrise and sunset sessions, moments of relaxation, and delicious traditional meals prepared in a local restaurant. The pace will be intense but well-balanced: there will be time for rest, but also for discussion, reviewing your shots, analyzing situations, and improving your technique.
During your stay, a complete post-production lesson, where you'll discover an effective professional workflow for nature photography. It will be a valuable opportunity to understand how to best enhance images captured in typical Northern conditions: low light, snow, soft contrasts, camouflage subjects.
Before departure you will be entered into the dedicated WhatsApp chat, where you will receive personalized advice on equipment, clothing, settings and physical preparation, as well as knowing the other participants in advance.
Clear and continuous communication to ensure a smooth, organized, and worry-free experience.
This trip is a real full-immersion photography. In five days you will live 7 sessions dedicated to the symbolic species of the Great North, alternating professional huts with short itinerant activities in the forest.
Our two main targets will be the black grouse and the capercaillie, protagonists of fascinating courtship rituals that take place in the early hours of dawn. For the capercaillie we will spend the whole night in the shed: an intense, incredibly exciting experience, which allows you to find yourself in the center of the arena at the first light of dawn.
We will also photograph the elegant golden eagle, positioning ourselves in dedicated huts on the snow-covered hills, and we will move into the forest to look for more elusive species such as Ural owls, The Lapland owls, the white partridges, the Siberian jays and numerous Arctic passerines.
Sessions will vary depending on animal activity and weather conditions, which can change rapidly in these regions.
The huts are designed to offer comfort, invisibility and optimal shooting angles: some allow shots at ground level, perfect for dynamic portraits, others are raised and equipped with comfortable seats for longer sessions.
No challenging treks are planned: the only relevant distances concern the session of the’golden eagle, with a walk of about 1 km in the snow.
Depending on the conditions, we may evaluate extra sessions or specific focuses on particularly active species.
Every moment is designed to offer you the maximum photographic immersion, with the ongoing support of a professional photographer.
During the whole trip we will stay in a characteristic wooden cabin immersed in the silence of the forest, overlooking a suggestive frozen lake. A welcoming, warm, and enveloping place, ideal for soaking up the Nordic atmosphere and recharging your batteries between sessions.
The property has nine double rooms, three bathrooms, hot water, heating, electric current, Wi-Fi and a big one fireplace This will become the heart of our breaks. Here you can rest, edit photos, interact with other participants, dine on traditional dishes, and experience moments of authentic conviviality.
This type of accommodation allows you to maintain constant contact with the surrounding environment: looking out the window, it's common to see the soft snow falling, hear the silence of the forest, or spot some small animal moving among the trees.
The only nights outside the cabin will be those dedicated to the capercaillie, when we will sleep directly inside the huts to be, at dawn, already in the heart of the arena.
An intense, special and truly unique experience, which represents one of the most memorable moments of the entire tour.
Our Base Camp is not just an accommodation: it is a authentic Nordic refuge, an integral part of the experience and perfectly in line with the Just Explorers philosophy.
Find out how the days will unfold and which activities make up the experience
Our journey takes shape already from first day, when we will meet at the airport in the early afternoon Kuusamo. From here, we'll begin our journey to a small village nestled in the forest, where our wooden cabin, completely reserved for the group, awaits us. Once we've settled into our rooms, we'll have time to get to know each other and receive a detailed presentation of the program. In the late afternoon, one of the most fascinating experiences of the entire tour will begin: we'll move to the arena. capercaillie, where we will enter the huts where we will spend the whole night, ready to witness the incredible ritual that will come to life at dawn.
The morning of second day The day will begin with the return to the cabin after the capercaillie session. A hot breakfast and a few hours of rest will allow us to recharge after the night spent in the cabin. At midday, we'll enjoy a lunch of typical local products before preparing for another photographic outing. In the early afternoon, we'll reach the snow-capped hills, where we'll spend several hours in the cabins dedicated to the’golden eagle, positioned in a spectacular location that offers excellent opportunities for dynamic and close-up shots. After sunset, we'll return to the cabin for a traditional dinner and a well-deserved rest.
The third day It will start even before dawn. Around two in the morning we will reach the arena of black grouse, one of the most evocative moments of the trip. Here, inside strategically placed huts, we will witness the males' first movements and the courtship rituals that enliven the clearing with sounds, running, and wing beats. After returning and a hearty breakfast, the morning will be dedicated to rest. In the afternoon, we will move into the forest, where, with a little luck, we may encounter elusive species such as the’Ural owl, theLapland owl, the white partridges, stoats, and mountain hares. This itinerant activity will allow us to explore different environments and capture the most authentic essence of the Finnish taiga. As evening falls, we'll return to the capercaillie huts, where we'll spend the second night dedicated to this species.
The morning of fourth day The trip will begin, as planned, with the return to the cabin. After breakfast and a few hours of relaxation, lunch will be served. The afternoon will be dedicated to photography, depending on current activity: if the owls are active, we'll continue searching for them in the most promising spots in the forest; otherwise, we can spend a session in a hut reserved for small Arctic passerines such as bullfinches, bramblings, redpolls, tits, and woodpeckers. It will be a quieter afternoon, ideal for alternating photography with moments of relaxation. Upon returning, a dinner featuring local delicacies will conclude the day.
The fifth day will be dedicated to the second release on the black grouse. We'll repeat this session to increase photographic opportunities and capture different behaviors: light, atmosphere, and climate change rapidly in the North, and dedicating multiple mornings to the same subject allows for a wider and more complete variety of shots. After returning to the cabin, a hearty breakfast will await us before we say our final goodbyes. Around mid-morning, we'll leave the lodge for the final transfer to Kuusamo Airport, where our experience in the Great North will end.
The official meeting point will be at theKuusamo Airport, in the early afternoon of day 1.
To facilitate the organization and reduce waiting times, it will be necessary to fly on the Finnair flight departing at 8:40 AM from Helsinki and arriving in Kuusamo at 10:20 AM.
On day 5, we will be back at the airport around 10AM, compatible with the 11:35 AM return flight to Helsinki.
To ensure maximum coordination and avoid inconveniences, we invite you to send a screenshot of your chosen flight before purchasing, so as to check its compatibility with the program.
Before purchasing any flight, please contact us and send us the information for double confirmation.
Originally from Northern Italy, he has always lived near the Western Alps, an environment that fueled his passion for nature from an early age. After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, he realized that his true serenity wasn't found within walls and technical equipment, but in the woods, backpack on his back and camera in hand. He began photographing small passerines, then expanded his interest to all life forms: from the tiniest insects to large alpine mammals. His images are characterized by clean light, essential compositions, and meticulous attention to detail, elements with which he enhances every nuance of the subjects he encounters. After years spent in his native mountains, his desire for discovery led him to travel abroad, driven by curiosity, a spirit of adventure, and a deep connection to nature photography.
Discover all the places and views that you can admire during this trip. All the material shown here comes from our trips
Signing up will be very simple!
Just follow the booking procedure by clicking on "Book now".
Once you have entered your personal data, you will only be asked to pay a deposit, not the full price. At the end of the operation the registration will be confirmed. You will then receive a confirmation email once the procedure is completed. The balance will then be requested according to the terms reported at the top of the page, usually 60 days before departure.
Prime lenses: At least a 300/400mm is recommended to allow you to get excellent images of most subjects.
500/600mm lenses will allow you to take some great portraits and more detailed shots.
Zoom lenses: It is recommended to have a zoom that covers at least up to 400mm.
We will often shoot in low light conditions, for this advice bright optics.
The use of a tripod is not required inside the huts, but it is mandatory to bring your own photographic head to insert into the appropriate compartment located in the huts.
We will be dealing with very sensitive subjects and it will not be possible to change the optics during the sessions.
After registering, you will have access to support from the Just Explorers team for any questions. Also, about 30 days before the workshop, you will be added to a WhatsApp group with other participants, where you will receive detailed instructions on what equipment to bring.
The huts are not heated except for the one for the eagle where we will have a small stove at our disposal.
There are often quite cold mornings with temperatures below zero, which is why it is advisable to wear very warm and thermal winter clothing.
We will have to walk in the snow to reach the huts, so waterproof boots are recommended.
We'll be spending the entire night inside the grouse hut. I recommend bringing a sleeping bag. If you don't have one, you can rent one on site. subject to availability. In this case, please communicate the need as soon as possible.
The official meeting point will be at theKuusamo Airport, in the early afternoon of day 1.
To facilitate the organization and reduce waiting times, it will be necessary to fly on the Finnair flight departing at 8:40 AM from Helsinki and arriving in Kuusamo at 10:20 AM.
On day 5, we will be back at the airport around 10AM, compatible with the 11:35 AM return flight to Helsinki.
To ensure maximum coordination and avoid inconveniences, we invite you to send a screenshot of your chosen flight before purchasing, so as to check its compatibility with the program.
By booking by paying the deposit to the organizers you accept the following clauses:
1. Since this is a pre-registration, the organizer will endeavor to promptly communicate any possible change in the price of the tour, characterized by cost fluctuations. An annual price fluctuation of around 5% is highly likely if booking is made more than one year in advance. in relation to potential changes in prices of ground services (for example changes influenced by fluctuating costs of electricity, fuel and more).
2. The price of the entire workshop will be paid via the payment methods offered by the organizer, such as bank transfer, PayPal, credit card or cash according to the procedures and deadlines established by the organizers, taking charge of the transaction costs.
3. In the event that the tour does not take place due to the organiser, the entire amount paid will be refunded.
4. In case of cancellation for personal reasons of any kind and in any case not dependent on the organizer, the deposit and any other registration fees will be retained as a reimbursement of expenses.
5. In case of cancellation for personal reasons within 60 days of departure, the entire balance of the tour will be required.
By registering, paying the deposit and sending your personal data you again accept clauses 1,2,3,4,5.
We will reply to you by email as soon as possible
JUST EXPLORERS SRLS
VAT number: 01708500556
Address: Via G. Verdi 86 Castel Viscardo 05014
PEC: just.explorers@pec.it
+39 328 856 6896
info@justexplorers.com
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