Photographer Teija Soini from Oulu is known for her atmospheric images capturing northern nature, people, and mysterious natural phenomena. Her work draws strong inspiration from the fell landscapes of Syöte.
A camera companion across the World
Professional photographer Teija Soini, based in Oulu, has travelled a long way with her camera — from Texas through Tuscany and eventually back to northern Finland. Photography entered her life in the 1990’s while she was living in Texas, USA. There, Teija studied photography at North Lake College in Dallas and captured documentary-style images of everyday life and people across different parts of the United States.
Her passion for photography continued in Italy, where the family spent five years in Tuscany during the early 2000´s. After returning to Finland in 2007, Soini found her place in the Oulu region — and at the same time, northern nature became an increasingly important part of her artistic expression.
Today, Teija works as a freelance photographer for magazines and companies, but what inspires her most are nature, people, and various natural phenomena. Her photographs combine a documentary approach with a strong artistic atmosphere.
The landscape and mystique of Syöte as inspiration
Syöte has become especially meaningful to Teija. She knows the area like the back of her hand and spends time in the fell landscapes throughout the year. Her everyday life flows naturally between her home in Oulu and her second home in Syöte.
“What fascinates me about Syöte is the constantly changing landscape, the mysterious stories, and the strange light phenomena. Nature has a strong presence there — something you can sense in the people as well,” Teija says.
Her love for the nature and stories of Syöte also led to the creation of a photography book. Published in 2020, N65°37′32″E27°36′16″ (Raw View Editions) explores the people of the Syöte region, their generations-long connection to nature, and local stories of unidentified light phenomena and supernatural encounters. The book also highlights UFO sightings from the 1970’s that have been discussed in the area for decades.
Nature, people and stories at the heart of her work
Soini’s work has been exhibited in Finland and Iceland. In 2021, she photographed a visual series for author Jenni Räinä’s book Kulkijat (Like), which tells the stories of women moving through nature. Her photographs have also been published in Räinä’s Veden ajat, a work nominated for the Finlandia Prize in Non-Fiction.
Teija’s photographs were featured in the 2025 Glimpes of the North (Välähdyksiä) exhibition, and her works will return in summer 2026 as part of the Glimpes of the North (Välähdyksiä) outdoor art exhibition along the Huipunpolku trail at Iso-Syöte.
Glimpes of the North (Välähdyksiä) is part of the Oulu 2026 programme.
