Ice Fishing

The white surface of snow and the warming rays of the sun of early spring accompany the buoyant fisherman while he expects the fish to bite the bait. Pulling nourishment thru the ice is not the main motivation anymore, but relaxation, sense of peace and physically experiencing the arriving summer are the factors driving people to gather around holes in the ice.

This winter ice covered waters also in the south part of Finland, after a couple of iceless winters. However, some 300 kilometers north, the ice is guaranteed, and ice fishing from the moment of first sun shine on, is very popular.

When shooting this episode late April in Central Finland, to our surprise, there were no other people on the lake. People started to come drilling their holes only after we finished shooting and were ready to leave, quite late in the afternoon. Being alone on a big flat hard surface, and hearing only the sound of melting ice, is quite an extraordinary experience.

New York, Pallas, Skibotn

The source of happiness and peace is often found between trees and water, the two archetypal Finnish elements. However, sometimes trees on both sides and water underneath just don't do it, but the solution might be found where there is no trees at all.

For a Finn, the Central Park of New York is really an oasis in the middle of busy city life and noise. It seems, however, to find the true peace and quiet, one must travel up North.

In a city one can loose themselves in the action and fury, that signifies nothing. On the other end of the scale, one can also loose themselves in the openness, silence and desolation. that signifies everything.