Norway is known as one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, where people, nature, and animals all live in harmony. To find out more about what it’s like, we spoke with Stian Samuelsen, a nature photographer based in what he calls “the top of Europe, at 70° 11' 57''N,” in the subarctic part of Norway.
Stian is inspired by the raw nature around him, the spectacular Varanger peninsula, the inland, and the woods of Pasvik. Through the photographs, Stian tries to show the rest of the world the spectacular beauty of the northern lights and the midnight sun.
“It's spectacular when you can't get enough of the aurora, and the lovely midnight sun. Or when you just want to hide from the storms, or the extreme cold we get here, with -40C almost every winter, luckily it doesn't last for long, but it bites you when it comes!”
“My interest in photography started in my first real job when I worked with printing plates and film at a printing company in Alta in the late '90s. I was around great photographers and looked at their great works, and I remember I wanted to be as good as them. But, my job paid little, so I decided to change direction and got a job with my father-in-law, as a truck driver, and that is what I did for the next 20 years, and still partly do,” Stian recounted.
In 2016, the photographer was going through a difficult time. “I suffered from serious depression, and things were pretty bad. A good pal of mine, who is a photographer, picked me up, took me out on photography trips, and inspired me to regain the interest that had been slowly gone over the years.”
Stian said it changed when he was reminded of his great talent for photography and decided to get his first DSLR, a Canon 760d. “And suddenly I got a hobby that I really enjoyed, and at the same time I was able to get out in nature and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me.”
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Being in nature, Stian realized, had a healing power on him. “Slowly, my head started getting better, focusing on something other than the bad things in life. And now I am a semi-pro photographer, working with what I enjoy the most, nature, and capturing it,” he told us.
More than anything, Stian enjoys the calmness in nature, the sounds, “whether it’s the birds or waves, or wind.” He added that “being outside with a campfire, under the northern lights is just magic for my soul.”
On the other hand, Stian believes that many people in Norway are growing more distant from nature than the previous generations. “But it might just be that social media is telling a false story,” he added.
Stian explained that at least in his part of Norway, being out in nature is a very common thing to do. “The hunt and fishing culture is strong up here in the north. Being outside, using nature is a part of our culture, especially in the Sami community.”
We also asked Stian what was his most memorable moment while taking pictures in nature. “It was in the summer when we had this whale invasion in the varangerfjord. I saw these fountains blown by tens of humpback whales and fin whales. I watched them feeding and jumping out of the water, just 100 meters from the shoreline. That must be the most memorable moment for me.”
