Autumn has become an important season for me. I love the crisp days, the vibrant colors of fall, and the misty mornings. On the other hand, autumn can also be a bit melancholic, as the daylight diminishes with each passing day, and the birds head south. Nature becomes quiet, and often it’s rainy. Despite that, I cherish the autumn season.

As autumn progresses, trees undergo a remarkable transformation. Just before they shed their leaves, their colors deepen and intensify. It’s precisely the bright and radiant hues of the trees that make me long for autumn. Even on a cloudy and gray day, the colors of the trees provide a burst of energy.

Autumn colors by the water

The Land of a Thousand Lake is a popular nickname for Finland. 

Finland is known for its abundance of lakes, with over 180,000 of them scattered across the country. These lakes come in all sizes, from small ponds to vast expanses of water. 

With so many lakes, it’s no surprise that Finland is also blessed with a network of rivers and smaller waterfalls.

Personally, I’ve found these flowing waters to be a fascinating subject for my photography, and I’ve spent a lot of time capturing their beauty.

Sjundby Castle and the Scenic Sjundby River

Sjundby Castle, also known as Sjundby Slott in Swedish, is a captivating historical castle situated in Siuntio, a picturesque municipality in the Uusimaa region of southern Finland. The castle, along with the nearby Sjundby River, holds a special place in the heart of this region and boasts a rich history.

Just a few days ago, I had the opportunity to photograph the river, captivated by the stunning beauty of the area around the castle. While the river itself is a picturesque sight, this time my attention was drawn to the downstream portion. There, the trees were aglow with the magnificent colors of the autumn foliage.

Rissla, a pictoresque waterfall in Fiskars

The Rissla river takes you on an adventure with its rugged terrain—a steep slope adorned with rocks.

I ventured to Rissla yesterday, eager to capture the beauty of autumn through my lens. However, I noticed a significant change since my last visit. The area is now dotted with fallen trees and a tangle of branches in the river, which posed quite a challenge for my photography.

It’s disheartening to witness this transformation, as Rissla used to hold a special place as one of my favorite waterfalls in Finland.

In case you are interested in Rissla and Fiskars village, pleas check my previous posts: Rissla – third in my series of Finnish rapids and My favorite village, Fiskars.

Autumn colors in mist by Lohjanjärvi

Our cabin is located by the lake Lohjanjärvi in Lohja, which is a small municipality about 60 kilometers west of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

I adore misty mornings. The veil of mist lends a sense of mystery to the landscape and awakens my desire to capture it through photography. We are lucky to have our cabin by the lake Lohjanjärvi, as here the mist is present often.

One October morning in 2017, we arrived at our cabin, which was still under construction at the time. We were greeted by a stunning, cold, and misty autumn morning. As the mist began to lift, I noticed a boat departing from the island across from us. A man and his boat emerged from behind the curtain of mist, and at the same time, the trees, dressed in autumnal hues, were unveiled before us.

You can explore my previous post on misty mornings here: Mysterious misty lake and Misty mornings in May.

Swans Soaring Through the Autumn Sky

Although I adore autumn, a tinge of sadness creeps in when the birds take flight. The songs of the birds grow quieter, and the Great Crested Grepes and ducks residing on Lake Lohjanjärvi migrate southward.

Yet not all the birds, like the swans, depart as long as the lake remains unfrozen. Hence, you can still spot swans even in the autumn.

Autumn is that vibrant, in-between season sandwiched between summer and winter. It’s a time I cherish for its brilliant colors, clear and crisp days, and those enchanting misty mornings. The birds we’ve missed all summer are back at the feeding station. And as the days grow shorter, the warm glow of candles and a crackling fireplace light up our cozy evenings.

I hope you enjoyed reading my autumn post.

I’d love to hear what autumn represents to you. Please share your thoughts!

Minna from Finnish Nature