برچسب: September

  • September 2025 Photo Contest Winners: The Beauty of Everyday Life

    September 2025 Photo Contest Winners: The Beauty of Everyday Life

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    We’re happy to announce the winner of September’s competition, “The Beauty of Everyday Life.”

    For those who don’t know, the Light Stalking Monthly Photography Competition carries a $100 People’s Choice Award and a $100 Overall Winner Award. The People’s Choice Winner is selected by a vote of the community, whereas our guest judge selects the overall winner.

    The “Beauty of Everyday Life” Photo Contest

    Capturing the beauty of everyday life is a priceless thing and it is one that helps the photographer to capture even the most ordinary moments of everyday life in a very beautiful and artistic way. This could be the little fleeting moments happening in the natural world around us, the little moments happening indoors at home or candid moments in public places.

    Some ways in which the beauty of everyday life can be photographed are, finding and photographing beauty in moments that are often overlooked everyday, creatively using a particular type of light on a day because the Sun decided to peek out of the clouds at a certain time to illuminate a spot, capturing the daily life of humans, could be a hug or even a genuine smile or laughter, etc., or even capturing the intricate beauty or patterns in the subjects around us – both nature and manmade.

    Participants of September’s contest cleverly submitted their interpretations of the theme that included moments from nature, moments in public and private places, their own candid moments and so on. The photos were all meaningful, portraying an interesting story.

    When choosing the winning photos, we wanted to make sure that the decision process was based on a good interpretation of the theme, followed by other factors like light, composition, story, details, creative vision, etc. The results are entirely subjective and there are no losers in any competition as we all know.

    Here are September’s Winners:

    First Place: “Everyday on the birdbath” by Tersha

    Copyright Tersha

    Tersha’s photo of a little bird on the birdbath was a sweet moment captured and one that reminds us of the importance of looking after the wildlife around us. The head of the bird has a bit of motion blur, that shows the bird enjoying its time in the bath which may be its daily activity that it looks forward to (as the title says). Also, with the bird looking into the bath, it can make one very curious what the next moment will be.

    The composition is also spot on with a simple rule of thirds and the background blurred to make the bird and the bath stand out. The golden light at the back also helps with a good contrast in the photo – the bright sun outside and the shadier area where the bird is enjoying its time at that particular moment.

    Congratulations on capturing this beautiful photo and the win Tersha!

    Second Place: “The ride” by Robert H

    Copyright Robert H

    This photo by Robert is a clever use of the golden ratio and Robert has captured the simple joys of everyday life beautifully in this photo. The light is quite hard and there must have been a lot of colours in the photo but Robert’s choice to convert it to black and white has helped focus the attention on the moment and to remove the harsh effects of the light itself.

    Capturing the photo from the back has also introduced a kind of mystery and intrigue in the photo but at the same time complements the pattern of the seating area. Robert has made use of the right settings to freeze the moment and the details across the frame are tack sharp. Congratulations Robert on this beautifully captured image.

    Third Place: “The Beauty of Everyday Life” by Patrick

    Copyright Patrick

    Patrick chose to submit a collage that showcases the beauty of his everyday life. I think this is a clever way to portray one’s own story, if you have the creativity and patience to do so. Looks like Patrick is working on a very creative project and has captured the “behind the scenes” of the process, himself working and also chilling and enjoying the process .

    Presenting images in the form of a collage is not an easy one from an artistic point of view. The images need to work well together and they need to have some sort of connection in terms of story, theme, colours, etc. The images in Patrick’s collage look great with perfect range of tones while also telling us a bit about his everyday life. This is a very clever submission Patrick and congratulations!

    People’s Choice Award Winner

    Our monthly photo contests also come with a People’s Choice Award. The winner of this part of the contest receives $100 worth of store credit on Light Stalking which they can spend as they please on our blueprints, drills, courses or Presets.

    Copyright Patrick

    The most popular photo for September, voted by the contestants was “I’ll be watching you” by Patrick, which has won the people’s choice award. This is a very powerful photo, typical of our loyal friends who always keep an eye out and are always curious about what we are up to. The look on the dog’s face and the way Patrick has framed this image, works well together making it a great storytelling shot and a great moment to keep as one of the beauties of everyday life. Congratulations on the win Patrick.

    We are almost three weeks into this month’s photo contest and still have a few days left to submit photos to our October’s monthly contest. This month, our theme is, “Abstract Realities.”

    If you would like to join and enter some images into our monthly contest then take a look at your options here.



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  • 1st of August – 30th of September 2023 — Mikko Lagerstedt

    1st of August – 30th of September 2023 — Mikko Lagerstedt

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    I’m excited to announce my new exhibition, ‘In the Solitude of Nature.’ It’s an exhibition including my best photography from the Nordics of the past ten years of my photography journey.

    The exhibition is in the Redi Shopping Center, in Finnfoto Gallery in space A2-03, starting on the 1st of August 2023 and running until the 30th of September. The gallery is open 8-23, and it’s free entry. Below are the exhibition notes if you want to read about it.

    Exhibition information

    ‘In the Solitude of Nature’ is a photography exhibition that showcases Mikko Lagerstedt’s profound vision of Nordic landscapes and atmospheric moments. Capturing unforgettable landscapes from the morning mist to the darkness of night. The images do not just capture places; they capture emotions, bringing you closer to the silence of nature.

    On display are photographs from Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, revealing the hidden treasures of these places. The photos are stories created through light, shadow, and color. They are an invitation to step away from everyday life, take a deep breath, and step into the heart of the Nordic countries, where the beauty of the landscapes is untouched, and time seems to stand still.

    The exhibition photos present images from both near and far, reminding us that we do not always have to travel to the ends of the Earth to experience magnificent landscapes. The ‘In the Solitude of Nature’ exhibition beautifully manifests different seasons, weather conditions, and locations.

    Each photograph in the exhibition holds a story or message. It is up to you to find them.

    Mikko Lagerstedt (b. 1982) is an internationally acclaimed landscape photographer specializing in minimalist and atmospheric landscape images. Born and raised in Finland, the rural landscapes of his childhood in Kauhava have instilled in him a love for nature and art. His photographs are like visual poems, telling stories through light, shadow, and color.

    Lagerstedt’s initial inspiration for photography was born in 2007, on a trip to a relative’s cottage when rain turned into sunshine. It created a stunning combination of fog and light, which he captured with his compact camera— this beautiful moment sparked the desire to document and photograph such atmospheric moments. More than 1.7 million people worldwide follow Mikko’s images on social media.

    His images have gained widespread attention and recognition globally. They can be found in the book “Masters of Landscape Photography,” which features photographs from the most renowned landscape photographers. His works have been featured in prestigious publications, including BBC, Business Insider, Daily Mail, and The Telegraph. Additionally, Mikko has worked with photographer Konsta Punkka on the YLE mini-series Exploring Earth, filmed in Patagonia, Chile. One of his most famous photos, “Reflect,” gained special attention when renowned real estate agent Ryan Serhant shared it on social media.

    Lagerstedt’s style is characterized by a minimalist approach, capturing the essence of the world in all its splendor – from the peace of a foggy morning to the ethereal brightness of the Northern Lights. He aims to evoke emotions by capturing fleeting moments of nature and creating a deeper connection between the viewer and the landscape.

    The meditative nature of landscape photography is emphasized in his work, where being present in the moment and capturing the diversity of nature in his own way is vital. The goal of his images is not just to interest people but also to make them feel something when looking at them as if they were in the picture themselves.

    In Finnish – Suomeksi

    Luonnon hiljaisuudessa

    ‘Luonnon hiljaisuudessa’ on valokuvanäyttely, joka esittelee Mikko Lagerstedtin syvällisen näkemyksen Pohjoismaiden maisemista ja tunnelmallisista hetkistä. Aina aamun usvasta, yönpimeyteen taltioiden unohtumattomia ja ajattomia maisemia. Kuvat eivät vain vangitse paikkoja, ne vangitsevat tunteita, tuoden sinut lähemmäksi luonnon hiljaisuutta.

    Esillä on valokuvia Suomesta, Norjasta, Islannista ja Ruotsista, jotka paljastavat paikkojen piilotetut aarteet. Valokuvat ovat tarinoita, jotka on luotu valon, varjon ja värin avulla. Ne ovat kutsu pois arjesta, hengittää syvään ja astua Pohjoismaiden sydämeen, missä maisemien kauneus on koskematon ja aika tuntuu pysähtyvän.

    Näyttelyn valokuvien tarkoitus on esitellä kuvia läheltä sekä hieman kauempaa. Muistuttaen, että aina ei tarvitse matkustaa maailman ääriin, jotta voi kokea upeita maisemia. Eri vuodenajat, sääolosuhteet ja paikat näkyvät upeasti ‘Luonnon hiljaisuudessa’ -näyttelyssä.  

    Jokainen näyttelyn valokuva kätkee sisäänsä tarinan tai viestin. Sinun tehtäväsi on löytää ne.

    —  

    Mikko Lagerstedt (s. 1982) on kansainvälisesti tunnettu maisemavalokuvaaja, joka on erikoistunut minimalistisiin ja tunnelmallisiin maisemakuviin. Syntynyt ja kasvanut Suomessa, lapsuuden maalaismaisemat Kauhavalla ovat luoneet hänen rakkautensa luontoon ja taiteeseen. Valokuvat ovat kuin visuaalisia runoja, jotka kertovat tarinoita valon, varjon ja värin kautta.

    Lagerstedtin ensi-inspiraatio valokuvaukseen syntyi vuonna 2007, matkalla sukulaisten mökille, kun sade muuttui auringonpaisteeksi. Tämä loi upean sumun ja valon yhdistelmän, jonka hän taltioi kompaktikamerallaan. Tämä kaunis hetki herätti halun tallentaa ja valokuvata tällaisia tunnelmallisia hetkiä. Sosiaalisessa mediassa Mikon kuvia seuraa yli 1,7 miljoonaa ihmistä ympäri maailmaa.

    Kuvat ovat saaneet laajaa huomiota ja tunnustusta eri puolilla maailmaa. Niitä löytyy kirjasta ”Masters of Landscape Photography”, joka sisältää tunnetuimpien maisemavalokuvaajien valokuvia. Töitä on esitelty arvostetuissa julkaisuissa, kuten BBC, Business Insider, Daily Mail ja Telegraph. Lisäksi Mikko on työskennellyt yhdessä kuvaaja Konsta Punkan kanssa Ylen lyhytsarjassa Exploring Earth, joka on kuvattu Chilen Patagoniassa. Yksi suosituimmista valokuvista, “Reflect”, sai erityistä huomiota, kun tunnettu kiinteistövälittäjä Ryan Serhant jakoi sen sosiaalisessa mediassa.

    Lagerstedtin tyylille on tunnusomaista minimalistinen lähestymistapa, joka vangitsee maailman olemuksen sen kaikessa loistossaan – aina sumuisen aamun rauhasta revontulien eteeriseen kirkkauteen. Pyrkien herättämään tunteita tallentamalla luonnon ohikiitäviä hetkiä ja luomaan syvemmän yhteyden katsojan ja maiseman välille.

    Maisemavalokuvauksen meditatiivinen luonne korostuu työssä, jossa on oltava läsnä hetkessä ja taltioitava luonnon moninaisuus omalla tavallaan. Kuvien tavoitteena on, että ihmiset eivät vain kiinnostu niistä, vaan myös tuntevat jotain katsoessaan niitä, aivan kuin he olisivat kuvassa.



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