The delight of a macro-photographer

Urmas Tartes

Heathrow Airport in London is the largest international airport in Europe. Every year, the paths of 50 times more people than the population of Estonia cross in that airport. However, in terms of natural conditions, it is quite difficult to find such a small piece of land located in the “crossroad” of species as Estonia anywhere else in the world. In spite of its small territory, the nature of Estonia is extraordinary and relatively rich in species. Due to good road connections, it can also be easily reached and photographed.

Estonia is a crossing point for the paths of probably thousands of plant, fungus, insect and animal species. The habitats of several species originating from European broad-leaved forests and beaches reach their eastern or north-eastern boundaries in Estonia. Estonia is also abundant in species characteristic of the taiga or the steppe belt, the northern or western boundaries of which cross Estonia. Several northern species spread in Estonian raised bogs and cannot be found south from us.

As compared to the rest of Europe, Estonia has many natural areas and biotic communities, i.e. meadows, raised bogs and natural forests, which have disappeared or are disappearing in several other areas. Therefore, it is possible to photograph several species that are rare elsewhere in Europe. Thirty-six species of orchids grow in our forests and meadows. Our forests rich in fungus species are a real delight for any mushroom fan.

More intense activity of insects can be witnessed in snow-free seasons. The Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), and the Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album) that usually spend the winter as imagos let us know that the spring has arrived. The months richest in insects are June and July. During that time, the Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) that has been named the most beautiful butterfly in Europe, the Purple Emperor and Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura iris, Apatura ilia), the Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), and the Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) as well as many other wonderful insects can be seen flying around. August brings along the wing buzz of various dragonflies and the hatching of the second generation of several butterfly species.

The work of a macro-photographer never ends in Estonia. For a nature photographer, Estonia is just as important a target as the Heathrow Airport for keen travellers. Fascinating photography trips start from the old Mooste distillery.

Phototourism and a vacation in Estonia

In the Phototourism Centre of Estonia we combine your vacation with sufficient amounts of relaxation and self-perfection, adventures, extreme experiences and excitement as well as nature, piece and comfort. The keywords of the holiday are photography and nature.

We offer interesting and gripping courses and theme days for people interested in both photography and nature, in cooperation with Estonia’s well-known photographers. All of the places that You will visit during your vacation, i.e. photography course, are located in South Estonia. Some of those places will have already been discovered, but smaller groups will also have the chance to hike on secret and more mysterious forest roads.

We offer our guests the possibility to experience nature with someone at hand who knows much about nature, understands its language well and knows how to move around without disturbing the wild animals, but still being able to spot them and capture them on photographs.