Juhannus Magic: A Finnish Midsummer Tale

Hyvää Juhannusta! Happy Midsummer! The 21st of June means only one thing every year for me: a trip to Finland and my friend Virve’s lakeside cottage in the Finnish Lake District for a weekend of friends, sauna, food, and good times amidst Finland’s unspoiled nature.

The Golden Hour Beckons

Midsummer in Finland holds a special significance for photographers: the golden hour light extends from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. While this dream scenario delights landscape photographers, it can also be overwhelming to choose shots when surrounded by a 360° visual feast of perfect scenes.

The view from Virve’s cottage is breathtaking. The lake stretches ahead, interrupted only by uninhabited islands to the west. The serene waters become a perfect subject in the golden light as the sun sets behind them, casting reflections on the surface.

Virve’s cottage, located on the shores of Puulavesi just outside the municipality of Kangasniemi, was built by her father and his friends. This charming log cabin nestles among birch and pine trees, with a balcony and living area overlooking the lake. It’s an idyllic setting that captures the essence of Finnish tranquillity.

Lupins, Islands, and the Island of Two Trees

Upon arriving at the cottage, we were greeted by a vase of stunning lupins. These purple and white flowers are a common sight in Finland, lining the entire two-and-a-half-hour drive from Helsinki airport to the cabin.

The cottage stands on a plot of land where Virve’s father grew up. In front of his childhood home—a traditional wooden Finnish house with a steep slanting roof and yellow walls. Although it has been uninhabited for several years, nature is gradually reclaiming the building. There’s a poignant beauty in this old cottage left to the elements, reminding us of our fleeting existence compared to the eternal natural world.

In the woods behind the house, surrounded by purple spreading bellflowers, an old woodshed with a log-built barn-like structure serves as a secret store. It’s filled to the rafters with logs ready to fuel the lakeside sauna.

Capturing Tranquility: Kahden Puun Saari

The highlight of every midsummer is the time spent in the sauna, followed by a refreshing dip in the lake. Floating in the cold water after a sauna session is incredibly relaxing. Being at water level, with the low sun casting a clear view across the lake, I noticed a small round island to the left. I’ve named it Kahden Puun Saari, or the Island of Two Trees. This single granite rock island is crowned with a birch tree and a fir tree—a microcosm of the surrounding environment. Despite capturing it from the shore with direct sunlight in previous years, I was never satisfied with the results. This year, I decided to try something different.

Loading my camera into a small rowboat, I circled the island. The evening sun cooperated perfectly, and the lake was almost mirror-flat. Perhaps this time, I would do justice to Kahden Puun Saari.

Being in the boat allowed me to shoot the island from every angle, utilizing the golden light to accentuate its beauty. As I drifted around the backside of Kahden Puun Saari—the side opposite to my usual vantage point—everything aligned perfectly. The setting sun backlit the two trees, and the larger island to the left completed the scene. The sun’s yellow glow reflected in Puulavesi, creating a sense of tranquillity unique to this special place.

Tranquillity of Kahden Puun Saari

For me, this shot of Kahden Puun Saari encapsulates why we return to Finland every Midsummer. Spending time with good friends in such a calm, peaceful, and natural setting provides a reset—an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the beauty life offers