Photo Journey

My photo journey begins in Finland—my birthplace and the land of my earliest memories. These moments remind me of the simplicity and wonder of those early years: snowy winters, fetching water on a summer’s day, and the quiet presence of history and ancestry all around me. More from my journey—across continents and through the years—coming soon.

Reija as a child playing in the snow in Finland, capturing the wonder and joy of winter in her early life.

Winter in Finland

The quiet joy of playing in the snow was both magical and memorable leaving within me an imprint of what I now recognize as the divinity of life.

Reija as a child pumping water from her grandmother’s well in Finland, symbolizing care, connection, and belonging across generations.

Fetching Well Water

That’s my mummo’s hand in the corner, "helping me" pump water from her well. The memory contains feelings of being deeply cared for as an integral part of my extended family.

Reija as a child sitting on the lap of the Elias Lönnrot statue in Finland, representing the hidden roots that shaped her path.

On the Lap of Elias Lönnrot

The man who gathered the stories of the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. Until recently, I had no idea who he was. Now it feels symbolic—as though storytelling was destined to be part of my path.