Terhi Paavola
Behind the Valokeilassa.fi website is Terhi Paavola, a journalist, communications and project professional, as well as an active nature photography enthusiast. She is deeply passionate about nature conservation and exploring animals’ natural behavior while capturing it in her photography.
“I strive to photograph nature in a way that does not disturb the animal,” Paavola explains. “Instead of focusing on eye contact, I aim to capture moments where the photographer remains entirely an outsider.”
The Valokeilassa.fi website stems from Paavola’s vision of highlighting the skills, offerings, collections, and tips of Finnish photographers. Her goal is to provide value to both photographers and those interested in nature photography around the world. Blog posts feature some of the world’s best destinations for nature photography, but they also emphasize that fantastic photography opportunities can often be found close to home—no matter where you live.
“Personally, I take many of my photos at our summer cottage and in the surrounding areas,” Paavola says. “Even the most ordinary subjects can lead to intriguing photos.”
Paavola finds joy in photographing with more experienced photographers and learning techniques from seasoned experts. For a long time, she used her camera on automatic settings, as she found the technical aspects intimidating. During a photography trip to India in 2018, organized by Suomen Kuvausmatkat, she realized how much potential she was leaving untapped. Her more skilled travel companions were able to make significantly more of the same encounters. That realization sparked her determination to master the technical side of photography.
“In wildlife photography, moments arise quickly and are often fleeting. Automatic settings are simply not enough; mastering aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings is essential. And that’s really just the beginning.”
Paavola took basic photography courses and attended workshops led by professionals. Gradually, she also began investing in equipment that could meet the demands of diverse scenarios. Her camera bag now includes Canon mirrorless models, such as the R3, R6, and the RP for city tours, as well as lenses including the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L, 70-200mm f/2.8, 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1, and 200-800mm F6.3-9.
“The latter lens has been somewhat criticized, but it offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio for getting close to subjects without disturbing them.”
Nearly all the photos in Paavola’s Pantanal collection were taken with this lens, whose wide zoom range makes it highly adaptable to rapidly changing situations. However, in low-light conditions, it’s beneficial to have a sharper lens with better light sensitivity.
Paavola’s equipment also includes tripods, filters, studio lights, and a remote trigger system, most of which she has yet to fully utilize.
“I’m an amateur photographer still in the process of refining my style,” Paavola explains. “I’ve experimented with many different things, but I haven’t mastered any of them yet. That’s why collaborating with experienced professionals is such a valuable experience.”
Photography is a craft where one can continue developing throughout a lifetime. Equipment, methods, and techniques are constantly advancing, and there is always something new to learn.