As a teenager, I often wandered around with my bike, exploring the forest trails near my home to get some everyday excitement. Doing that, I started to notice nature around me. At first, sunsets amazed me the most, and when I had my first smartphone, I tried to capture these views. It was fun to try to create something. The more time I spent in nature, the more I realized that there is so much to discover. All these birds and animals I had never seen before caught my interest.
At some point, taking pictures of them was my way to identify the species and learn about them.
One day, I found a DSLR camera in my father's closet, and thought that with this thing, it would be possible to create better pictures than with my phone. I asked my dad if it was okay to take it with me to nature, and he agreed.
And from that day on, I never left the camera behind.
My first “This is it” picture was of a wild animal, which happened to be a Roe Deer. I had just bought my first telelens (55-250mm) and was trying to find something to photograph. The photo wasn't any good, but the feeling of catching a wild animal in the frame made the adrenaline go up.
Usually I just take my camera with a telelens and go out. There's not much physical preparation unless I'm going for a longer hike or visiting some of my photo hides, which need some extra equipment like a sleeping bag or waders. More important than gear is the experience and knowledge I've learned in all these years.
This is how I know where and when to go.
Without these, it's like playing bingo, which of course, sometimes is not such a bad idea at all.
The emotional impact of a picture gives the first wow effect, although I never share a good moment if the technical side is weak. So, for me, it's often 50/50. The audience usually doesn't notice the technical quality, and I often have to remind myself of that.
On the other hand, too much professional cretinism in me is still holding me back, so I need to work on that.
The most unexpected moment I've captured happened when I was actually doing fieldwork in an islet in Saaremaa. We were counting bird nests, but unfortunately, there was also a Red Fox and its puppies on the islet who had eaten all the eggs.
And suddenly out of nowhere White-Tailed Eagle came and caught one of the puppies.
I will never forget the view of the puppy hanging between the eagle's claws and disappearing into the distance.
So surreal and brutal, but it's nature.
Usually, I know if there is a chance for a better photo or not, and if there is, then this patience comes from somewhere.
But of course, you just have to be this kind of person who is patient by nature.
Patience is one of the main characteristics of being a nature photographer.
I really like water and waterbirds. The reason behind it probably goes back to my childhood. The best memories from my childhood all involve water, sea, lakes, or rivers, and deep inside, I'm still that boy who likes to play in the water.
Or maybe it's because I live on an island, and it's where I feel at home. Water always looks great in the pictures, too, so it's a win-win for me.
I've always been in awe of the sea. It reminds me how small we are in this world.
Photography is the reason I became interested in nature, and also the way I started to learn about it. At first, I didn't know any of the names of birds or animals, but if I took some pictures of them, I went home and tried to identify the species and read about them. If I got more information about their habitat and behaviour, I challenged myself to take more photos of them - photos that tell stories about their lives.
Unlike the first years, when I always had my camera with me, I now often go out without my camera to just watch and learn about nature. This is my time when I am present and don't have to worry about something else.
Of course, sometimes I wish I hadn't left my camera at home if I see something extraordinary, but then I just try to enjoy the moment.
Most of the time, I use different hides to photograph. For example, a floating hide, which is basically a bottomless floating tent, and requires me to wear waders. At first, I analyse the weather and choose the location where I feel I have the most chance of getting something.
Floating hide is quite an extreme way for photographing, because you float on the lake with all your expensive equipment, but the results are worth the risk.
You can get really close to waterbirds on the same level as them, which is important in wildlife photography. And the best part about it is that they have no idea that I'm hiding in that tent, which means minimal disturbance to them. If I get pictures without disturbing birds, it increases the value of the shot.
As an experienced wildlife photographer, it's possible to tell from the photo if the bird or animal is disturbed or not.
I’m a guide, educator, storyteller - all of the above, because every role is connected to other roles.
However, as photography was the first step in my path, people know me as a nature photographer, although today I spend more time playing other roles.
The most magical place in Estonia for me is my home island, Saaremaa. I've never been interested in mainland or even other countries.
It’s downright funny that I can't be away from the island for a long time; the connection is just too strong. One of the most magical places in Saaremaa is Harilaid.
And I'm not the only one; most of the islanders feel the same. It's hard to explain it, you just have to go there to feel it.
I guarantee you'll like it.
“Close” is often the keyword in nature photography. Luckily, all my close encounters have been safe for me. Once, a red fox puppy stole my glove next to me, and then I realised that there is a line in “close” where it's too close, not because of me, but more because of them.
The young puppies have to have a fear of man; otherwise, it may be dangerous to them at some point in their lives.
All the things I do today are somehow connected with nature, so I have the opportunity to learn something new about it every day. Nature teaches me that complicated systems work on simple parts. It's like organized chaos.
Simple things come first. It's impossible to see the big picture if you don't know simple facts and do not have knowledge of different species.
Nature functions in a logical way, and unfortunately, society today has grown distant from it.
Nature gives me true welfare and good vibes. But as being out in nature is my everyday life, I'm really used to it. Unlike others, I sometimes need to be among people to “rest”, to get energy to go back to nature.
My favorite birds are grebes and avocets. Grebes were the birds that first caught my attention with their behaviour, the first ones I really got to know well. It created some kind of connection.
And avocets are just cool birds, because they look exotic and don´t fit in our landscape.
As I've learned about them too, they are also very interesting-behaving birds.