In the heart of north-eastern Finland, Martin Steenhaut finds himself in the unique position of sharing his garden with elusive wildlife. “I’m incredibly fortunate to spot wolverines here,” he muses. “In all of Finland, there are only about 300 wolverines. To have two of them in my garden, considering the vastness of this country, is quite special. We see them daily; this is their territory, and they have graciously accepted our presence.”
While most people in Europe might casually encounter hedgehogs, foxes, or neighborhood cats, Steenhaut’s garden offers a radically different experience. A Belgian native, he stumbled upon a remote house for sale in 2020, nestled in Hossa, an area characterized by its pristine wilderness in Finland’s Kainuu region, just 200 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle. Having never set foot in Finland, he took a leap of faith. “It felt like a child’s dream come true,” he recalls. “The listing popped up on Facebook, three kilometers from the Russian border. It seemed like a wild place to live, especially for someone passionate about nature photography. I thought, ‘Why not give it a shot?'”
Despite the travel restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Steenhaut managed to visit due to his work as a tour operator. “It was a bizarre time,” he remembers. “I flew on nearly empty planes and walked through desolate airports. The house was in pretty rough shape, but I knew that going in. I viewed it as a renovation project—a rustic cabin in the woods. The property extends to the Russian border, which adds an interesting dimension. It leads into a ‘border zone,’ about a kilometer wide, that remains off-limits.”
The property originally included 10 hectares (25 acres) of land, but with additional purchases, it has grown to 100 hectares (250 acres). “As a wildlife photographer, I’ve always been captivated by images of bears, wolves, and wolverines. I dreamed of seeing these creatures in the wild but had never ventured to such remote areas. Owning a home here has made everything feel tangible.” He describes the landscape as a labyrinth of endless forests and swamps—quintessential Finnish wilderness. “Remarkably, just 500 to 600 kilometers into Russia, there’s absolutely nothing: no towns, no roads, just unspoiled nature.”
From the very beginning, Steenhaut planned to construct wildlife hides that would allow him to observe and photograph the wild inhabitants that share his garden. Alongside wolverines, he frequently encounters brown bears, wolves, and moose. “The area has a ‘Big 5,’ with the lynx being number five,” he explains. “We often find their tracks, particularly in winter when snow covers the ground. But they’re elusive; they are the ghosts of the forest. I’m hopeful that one day, I’ll finally spot one.”
As for bears, they are often spotted at surprisingly close range. “Encountering a bear in the forest is an awe-inspiring experience,” Steenhaut tells me. “It’s not intimidating at all. People often ask if I’m afraid being out here with all these bears, but when you see them up close, there’s a sense of peace. You lock eyes and realize that you’re in their territory, just as they are in yours.”
From the hides, Steenhaut also observes a variety of birds, including the stunning black grouse and Capercaillie. “Their mating displays in the spring are a spectacular sight. We also host golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, and a host of smaller birds.”
He rents out his hides to visiting photographers and conducts workshops on his property. Presently, there are four hides, with plans for additional ones. These structures serve a dual purpose—not only do they provide photographers a unique vantage point without disturbing the wildlife, but they also create a calm environment where animals feel safe enough to approach. “The beauty of these hides is that they enable photographers to capture authentic moments,” he says. “The animals don’t see or smell you, allowing them to behave naturally.”
“You have complete control over the setting when you design the hides,” he adds. “You can tailor them to specific lighting conditions, such as morning or backlit scenarios.”
Steenhaut believes these hides serve as essential conservation tools. “By purchasing or renting lands for photographic tourism, you can protect forests from logging and hunting,” he notes. “The forest industry dominates Finland’s economy, as the country lacks oil reserves. When I acquired this land, I halted all logging and hunting activities. The value of terrain is often based on timber, but land near the Russian border—characterized by swamps—was fairly affordable because few people sought it. Investing in these areas is an intriguing way to preserve nature.”
This path is a far cry from the one Steenhaut started on. Born in 1977 in Brussels and raised in Antwerp, he felt stifled by Belgium’s dense population. “Living there, you seek out small pockets of nature,” he says. His love for wildlife photography was sparked by his older brother, Daniel, who introduced him to the wonders of the outdoors. “He took me into the woods and taught me everything he knew. We would venture into his darkroom after our walks, developing photographs together. Experiencing an image materialize on paper was magical—just thinking, ‘I saw that animal, and now it’s captured forever.’ It left a profound impression.”
Steenhaut pursued this passion academically, earning a Master’s degree in Photography in Antwerp before delving into a commercial career. “Initially, I dreamed of focusing solely on wildlife photography, but reality demanded I take on various commercial projects.”
His company, Wild Pix Travel, now organizes photographic tours and workshops in destinations ranging from Botswana to Spain and Sri Lanka, alongside Finland. Each year also finds him embarking on personal expeditions; this year, he has plans for adventures in Panama and Brazil.
In every setting, Steenhaut seeks to push the boundaries of his creativity, which he considers essential not just for distinguishing himself as a photographer but also for the sheer joy it brings. “Creativity is paramount,” he insists. “Simply capturing an animal in a conventional way doesn’t inspire me. My instinct is always to ask, ‘How can I interpret this scene differently? What happens if I shift my position?’ I revel in viewing the world from new perspectives, which is why I enjoy techniques like backlighting and silhouettes.”
He often embarks on long-term projects. During the early restrictions of Covid, while still in Belgium, he dedicated his time to photographing foxes at night. “Since travel and work were off the table, I thought, why not explore this field I knew where foxes frequented? I wanted to document them at night, and then I thought, why not experiment with backlighting?” This endeavor became an eight-month project.
Now, in his Finnish garden, Steenhaut is developing a photography series focused on an overlooked species: the ermine, or stoat. “I see it almost daily, roaming around. I found it a thrilling challenge to capture it in an interesting light, so I constructed a special hide and moved ten tonnes of stone to create an ideal setting. That project took a year, but now I have stunning backlit images of the ermine, all born from daily sightings outside my window.”
Steenhaut prefers capturing creativity in the field rather than relying on post-processing. “My editing philosophy is straightforward: minimal intervention.” He reflects on his schooling, where film photography necessitated precision; there wasn’t room for error or extensive edits. “Every shot had to be on point. I still apply that principle today, striving to get it right in-camera. I want to inspire others to embrace this mindset, rather than relying on the idea that they can just fix things later.”
In addition to his hides in Finland, Steenhaut has collaborated on projects across Europe, including two hides in southern Spain dedicated to the Iberian lynx. “I’ve also consulted on projects in Hungary, Belgium, and the Netherlands.” When I ask him about his dream location for a new hide, he chuckles, revealing, “The list is endless. We once contemplated building hides in the Guatemalan jungle for ocelots and jaguars, but that fell through. I’d love to revisit that idea or perhaps find a new opportunity in Central America.”
However, Steenhaut’s enthusiasm for his Finnish land remains palpable. “One of my dreams here is to construct a moose hide,” he says excitedly. “I plan to initiate that project next year, targeting an area abundant with moose. This hide could be one of the only ones of its kind in the world and the first in Finland. Capturing them up close would be an extraordinary experience.”
To learn more about Steenhaut’s photography projects and workshops, visit his websites at www.martinsnature.com and www.wildpixtravel.com.
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