Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre

Yesterday, I left the Kuusamo tourist information centre, 3 hours after arriving, with flushed cheeks, bright eyes and a bounce in my step –  I desperately wanted to become a nature photographer.

Such was the effect that the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography centre had on me.

I had gone in thinking it was just going to be another exhibition, a few photos hanging on a wall and an over priced book on sale afterwards, that I’d probably be in and out in 20 minutes.  I was weighing up whether the 4€ entrance fee was worth it.

Boy was I wrong.

In quite a small space, 150 square metres, there was just so much to do and see and none of it in a mind numbing, staring at endless photos, kind of way.

The centre is dedicated to the life works of Hannu Hautala, Finland’s most famous nature photographer, who lives in Kuusamo and has produced over 30 nature photography books in his career.  He is an expert on both nature photography and the local area and through this centre he imparts a lot of knowledge and wisdom.

In the first corner was a display of photography tips from Hannu on how to take a good photograph, which, fully illustrated with pictures of Hannu going about his work as a nature photographer, gave an insight into how challenging it must be sometimes waiting for the perfect shot, or what lengths these photographers have to go through to find the best angle.

Alongside this exhibition of tips is Hannu’s Map, an electronic touch screen map highlighting Hannu’s favourite photography spots around Kuusamo.  When a location on the map is selected, a screen on the wall brings up a picture taken from that spot as well as the GPS coordinates should you wish to find the spot and take your own pictures.

In the lobby they also sell GPS coordinate cards with over 40 of Hannu’s favourite spots, each with a picture taken there, the GPS coordinates, map sheet numbers and the camera used.  An excellent tool for anybody planning to take their camera along the Karhunkieros (Bear trail) hiking route.

In the next corner was the book nook.  A reading area with comfy rocking chairs and 4 nature photography books, hand picked by Hannu, to sit and browse through or just sit and contemplate the art work that adorns the room.   As I sat there and did just that, losing myself in the books and the quite peaceful atmosphere of the room and accompanying music, I didn’t once feel hurried, watched or scrutinised.  Just at peace.

Around the room, both hanging on the wall in frames, in giant print format  and painted on the walls themselves, are examples of Hannu’s life work.

Hannu’s Desk dominates one side of the room, a touch screen electronic table that holds four of Hannu’s books for you to browse through plus two short films to watch.

The film , Happy Land, on Hannu’s desk, is a must watch for anyone about to venture into the local countryside either to just enjoy it or to photograph it.  Hannu talks about his book, Happy Land, that was photographed in Kuusamo and about the local area and why it is such a meca for nature photographers.

Next to the desk is Hannu’s chair.  A comfy rocking chair with built in speakers and sensors for watching a slide show of Hannu’s most celebrated works.  As you rock backwards and forwards in the chair, the slideshow progesses, if you want to stop and study a picture you simply stop rocking and start again when you want to continue.

Sat in Hannu’s chair, with the ambient sounds accompanying the photo series, I watched the slideshow through twice before reluctantly getting up to look around the rest of the centre.

The next step was upstairs to the kids den.  I am such a child I couldn’t resist going in for a look.  Inside, one wall had three huge scenery prints of Hannu’s, with large soft magnetic birds and animals to place around the scenes.

The other wall was a giant white board with one of Hannu’s winter scenes printed on it for the kids to draw and doodle on.

Back downstairs there was one place left to look at, the exhibition room.  This is the place that visiting photographers display their work.  Again, I wasn’t expecting much, maybe a few pictures hanging on the walls.

Wrong again.

The visiting photographer was Jorma Luhta showing work from his book, Starry Nights, in which he depicts and describes ‘unforgettable moments spent in the forest at night, examining the wonders of nature and the depths of the human mind’.

Some of the work hung on the walls but the other wall had four large TV screens hung on it.  I pressed the big red ‘go’ button and sat down.

Several minutes later, my mouth still gaping in awe and surprisingly choked with emotion, I pressed the button again.  I couldn’t get enough.  I expect it is the clever use of photographs coming onto a blank screen that makes each one pop out at you, but as the pictures appeared, sometimes in sequence over the four screens, sometimes the same picture appearing on them all at the same time, I gasped and muttered to myself about the amount of stars in the sky, the beauty of the northern lights or the amazing detail in which he had captured an owl, each feather crystal clear.

The accompanying music was a perfect match and far from jarring my nerves like so many exhibitions’ music does, it fed the mood and created a spine tingling environment to watch these photos.

It was with both reluctance and excitement that I left the photography centre, reluctant at leaving such a tranquil and inspiring place and excitement at going outside and and taking some of my own photos.

Would I recommend a visit to the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre?  You betcha!  It’s worth every one of your 4 euros, and then some.  Seriously, if you are in the area and even remotely interested in nature or photography, then go and visit.  I promise you, you wont be disappointed.

There is a new exhibit at the photography centre, open until 8th September 2010, Petteri Törmänen’s Spring of My Life

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 9-17
Sat 10-14
Sun closed

Tickets:
Adults 4 €
Children, 7-15 yrs 2 €
Children under seven years free of charge under adult supervision
Family ticket 10 € (parents and children under 16 years)

Visit their website

Located inside the Kuusamo Tourist Information Centre

Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre Photo album.

Click on a picture to enlarge it and browse the album