#inarinightlessnight

[malloryontravel]

"So much more to discover on a hike into a nightless night" It seemed slightly surreal starting our hike up #kiliopa fell on the #inarinightlessnight #photography workshop after 9pm, but when the sun doesn't set, why the hell not? After a 45 minute hike, discovering a beautiful samoyed and two lovely #sami ladies in traditional dress wandering around the top of the fell, was even more surreal. Just to send it right over the top, they performed some traditional and contemporary songs, all under the huge sky of a nightless night. Kiilopää appears slightly bleak at first, without any trees or shrubs, just a low lying scrub, but the views are beautiful, especially in the golden glow of eternal sunset. The sun never actually setting, but low in the sky, turning everything its rays touch to gold. We didn't have the fell all to ourselves, there were ptarmigan hiding in the heathery shrubland. The small, white grouse like bird, common in arctic regions is often heard and not seen. Fortunately, an obliging little fellow stayed in view and on the ground long enough to grab a shot. It is the sky which will forever remained etched into my memory, vast, expansive with fluffy golden clouds skating across it, dramatic in the perpetual sunset. Anything set against it, just seemed filled with drama. The hike up this fell in #inarisaariselka was our introduction to nightless nights, and whetted our appetites for the dramatic landscapes that were waiting to greet us the following days #laplandfinland TIP: Photography is about visual storytelling for me, especially travel photography. Take a wide range of inages, not forgetting the details which tell the story of the destination. Your portfolio will appear much more interesting. To see more #travelphotography follow the link in my bio. (at Inari, Finland)

[malloryontravel]

"It's a long, long road which leads to nowhere" We were set a theme for the photomarathon, which was to be the climax of the #inarinightlessnight #photography workshop; the theme was "Feel the Distance". This was one of my two submissions, can you feel the distance? Driving with @jnuora my newly found Finnish friend, who is familiar with the #inarisaariselkä region and nightless nights. As a keen photographer he visits regularly. He knew of some long dirt track roads which seemed to stretch forever, we went to find them. Discovering this road which disappeared far into the distance up a hill, as if climbing into the horizon, with some 'dead' ground between us and the distance, seemed perfect. It conveyed distance in a 'classic' manner, but in an uninteresting manner. It needed something, someone to 'lift' the image and add some interest, it needed a little imagination to emphasise the distance. Jarmo @jnuora and I acted as models for each other, walking towards the camera under direction of the one taking the photograph. The concept was to appear weary, even down trodden, head down, hood up, hands in pockets as if having walked a great distance. The long, straight, undulating road was then to do its magic and complete the story. Can you feel the distance? #onlyinlapland The images had to be Jpegs, and nothing beyond basic in camera editing was permitted, as the assignment was about capturing the image, not the quality of our editing skills. TIP: As a photographer, when given an assignment the main priority is to complete the brief. If this can be done in an imaginative and beautiful way it will appear more appealing. Do not be afraid to setup a scene, using staged models, or props if it fits your own requirements or those of an assignment, and yes that can include selfies 😉 (at Saariselkä)

[malloryontravel]

"Reaching the top, isn't the end of the journey, but the start of another" The final day of the visit to #inarisaariselkä on our #inarinightlessnight adventure was spent making the hike from the #sompiojärvi forest road to the peak of Pyhä-Nattanen in #sodankylä A sacred mountain to #sami people, "the holy mountain of the gods", which legend tells was once a sacrificial site. Fortunately, nowadays it merely provides vistors outstanding views of the surrounding area and temporary shelter for "taukotupana"; the outdoorsmen. There are a couple of small wooden huts, one with beds and a wood burning stove and the other serving as the privvy. Large, flat granite "pancake" like rock platelets known as "tooreja" which serve as natural viewing platforms for visitors mark the summit. One of six fells which form the #nattastunturi it served as a german gun post during WWII, hence the compass, which now is an attractive addition to the peak. This military usage seems to contrast with it's more ancient heritage as a spiritual place. Exploring the revered fell it's easy to understand it's spiritual place in Sami culture and why many have stated they would choose this as the last place they ever see. However, the military pragmatist can also see the strategic importance, providing clear views for many miles. The hike takes about 45 minutes, along a well marked and trodden path, through cloudberry carpeted fir forest. Towards the top there is some easy rock hopping to regain the path, but it's not difficult to navigate with care. The weather had begun to change, we'd been treated to several endless days of sun, azure blue skies, marbled with streaky or large, fluffy clouds. This day, the weather was slightly more foreboding, a blanket of thin grey cloud. There had even been a rain shower, the light was less flattering than it had been, yet there wasn't any disguising the wild beauty of #arctic #laplandfinland #onlyinlapland TIP: Make use of man-made artifacts to add interest to an image, even using 'props' which were carried with you. A map and compass, or a knife, possibly even a backpack can all be added to a scene, transforming plain landscapes into dynamic images. (at Sodankylä)

[malloryontravel]

"You've heard of zebra crossings ....... they do things differently in Finnish Lapland" Driving around #inari on the #inarinightlessnight photograohy workshop was a pleasure. The wilderness area looks totally different in the summer months than we might imagine it, usually picturing it in full winter regalia. There is so much green, the pine and fir tree forests, interspersed with birch and other deciduous trees are suprisingly lush. Even the forest floor is a thick, green velvety carpet of moss, laced with a variety of coloured berries. Some are already in fruit, while most are just beginning to blossom, pale flowers identifying the berry they will become. The roads seem to stretch for miles, and although many are little more than dirt tracks, with little traffic on them, totally different than the roads back home, they're a pleasure to drive. There's always the opportunity to see some wildlife, red foxes, moose and of course reindeer are regular roadside visitors. The reindeer are often small group, with a male and a couple of females, maybe even a calf. At times, it's possible to come across a whole herd, often crossing the road, a traffic jam, #laplandfinland style. This big guy was catching some evening sun in a quarried out area, of course we stopped and that disturbed him, attempting to make a quick getaway. A dash to the road, once he was there however, he stopped to check us out, as curious about us as we were of him. After a few moments he was soon bored though, and traipsed away, making a beeline for the forest, possibly on the lookout for some female reindeer companny. Oo la la Rudolph ..... or possibly more accurately donner und blitzen? #onlyinlapland TIP: Driving around a natural wilderness like this, it's necessary to be ready for anything. It is impossible to predict what maybe around the next bend, so have a camera set up with a siitable lens and settings to suit the conditions, ready for whatever mother nature throws your way. (at Inari, Finland)

[reppujareissumies]

Sunset @ fell Kiilopää, Saariselkä Finland #inarinightlessnight #exploreinari @exploreinari @eventsinari #inari #Camping #outdoors #outdoorfinland #campvibes #nature #campfire #finland #lapland #hiking #outdoor #outdoorlife #nature #travel #forest #reppujareissumies #suomenlatu #saariselka

[reppujareissumies]

Finnish-Australian tapaspicnic...red wine & reindeer snack @ fell Kiilopää. #inarinightlessnight #exploreinari @exploreinari @eventsinari #inari #lapland #reppujareissumies #instafood #kuksa #nature #travel #urhokekkosenkansallispuisto (paikassa Kiilopää, Saariselkä)

[reppujareissumies]

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Food Fotography Workshop by @laurenepbath Inari Finland #inarinightlessnight #exploreinari @exploreinari @eventsinari #inari #food #photo #instafood #reppujareissumies #lapland (paikassa Laanilan Kievari)

[reppujareissumies]

Kelo (an old & dead pine tree) visitlapland #visitfinland #luontoonfi #finnishlapland #suomiretki #justgoshoot #hiking_official #outdoorfinland #ourfinland #inarinightlessnight #exploreinari @exploreinari @eventsinari #inari #reppujareissumies #lapland #hiking #outdoor #outdoorlife #nature #travel #forest (paikassa Laanilan Kievari)