Mia Surakka

In nature photography, I have specialized in a specific niche—bird photography. This allows for incredibly diverse ways to capture these magnificent creatures. — *“In nature photography, I have specialized in a specific niche—bird photography. This specialization allows for incredibly diverse ways to capture these magnificent creatures.”*

Mia Surakka has been traveling with her camera since she was young. Originally from the Finnish countryside, she moved to London after high school. After working there for two years, she embarked on a two-year journey around the world. Upon returning to Finland, she worked in her family business, which produced dancewear collections and competition costumes for gymnastics and figure skating. This provided her the opportunity to photograph dancers and gymnasts. Her love for photography took over, and today Surakka is a full-time photographer. In nature photography, she specializes in birds.

Internationally awarded Surakka has a skillful and insightful approach to bird photography, which can be admired in her exhibitions and learned from in her workshops. Additionally, she maintains wildlife hides in the Pirkanmaa region and is known for her unique floating hide photography. Surakka, based in Tampere, is deeply passionate about capturing the diversity and beauty of nature—especially birds, which fascinate her with their visual elegance and intriguing behavior.

When photographing birds, Surakka prioritizes ethical practices by avoiding disturbance to their natural behavior. She uses various types of hides, including floating hides for waterbirds, which allow her to blend into the environment and document the birds in their most authentic moments. Each spring, during April and May, she offers private workshops focused on photographing waterbirds from a floating hide. Preliminary bookings can be made for the upcoming season, but the exact timing of the shoots depends on the birds’ courtship season and weather conditions, as calm weather is essential for this specialized technique.

We are honored to share Surakka’s insights on hide photography and to publish her stunning photo collections on this site. Read also about Terhi Paavola’s first floating hide experience with Mia.

Mia Surakka’s Collections:

Piilotteleva palokärki -collection (Elusive Black Woodpecker)
Eagle collection
Dance (Great crested grebe collection)

Learn more on Surakka’s own website at www.miasurakka.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mia.surakka.