#2. Stillness in the Snow

There are moments when silence almost wraps itself around you. On the island of Rebbenesøya in Norway, I stood amidst the snow, feeling the cold air on my face as a herd of reindeer moved calmly past. My first photos were mostly documentary shots; I tried to capture everything, but I noticed my mind was still too full to be truly present.

Gradually, as I became more attuned to the surroundings and the animals, my gaze softened. The images began to take on a gentle quality that reflected both the snow and the soft Arctic light.

The process I follow is always the same: first, something touches me; then I start to perceive what I want to convey and how I can give it symbolic form. In this image, it was the protective gesture of a parent toward its young that caught my attention. The little reindeer, safely under the warm care of its parent, became a symbol of vulnerability and trust, captured in the soft, almost ethereal light.

While photographing, I felt my breathing slow and my thoughts settle. Capturing these moments connected me to the stillness of the landscape and to myself. Each image tells not only the story of nature but also my own encounter with calm and attentiveness. In the silence of the far north, among snow and reindeer, I rediscovered the power of simplicity and the gentle presence of life all around me.

About the EARTH-Method
This photo was captured during the Awareness and Reflect phases of the EARTH-Method. A five-step process developed by Nanda Bussers that uses nature photography as a tool for grounding, reflection, and healing. By slowing down and connecting with the natural rhythms of the Arctic, we find a visual language for our inner landscapes.