When: Since living in Sweden (2022)
Where: Various locations across Sweden
What: My ongoing quest to capture the majestic moose properly on camera
Moving to Sweden was like stepping into a dream for me, an outdoor photographer with a passion for capturing nature and wildlife. There was one creature at the top of my wish list: the majestic moose. With around 300,000 moose roaming the country, I figured spotting one wouldn’t be too hard. Well, let me tell you, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Join me in my story of how capturing a moose became a photographer's struggle.
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
The very first time I saw a moose was about six months after we moved here. Driving home one evening, one suddenly appeared right in the middle of the road. I was stunned by its unexpected, imposing presence. By the time I remembered I had a phone to take a photo, it was kinda too late. The moose had already almost disappeared into the forest, leaving me with shaky hands and a racing heart.
Since then, I’ve occasionally crossed paths with a moose. As said there are around 300,000 moose in Sweden, but they are experts at staying hidden in the dense forests and rarely make themselves visible. This makes every sighting special—but also pretty frustrating for a nature photographer like me. I always spot them while driving on the highway, which makes it almost impossible to photograph them. There was one unforgettable moment on the E18 when I saw a moose standing very close by in a field of yellow flowers. It was a photographer's dream shot, but I was behind the wheel, and stopping wasn’t an option. My heart still aches when I think about it.
COUNTRY LIVING AND NEW HOPE
Recently, we live på landet (in the countryside) near Västerås, my hope of photographing a moose has been reignited. Our neighbors tell me that moose sometimes wander through the fields behind our house. Naturally, I’ve taken every spare moment to scan the horizon for a sign of movement. I even set up a wildlife camera to see what passes by at night. So far, it captured several deer, a stag, and even a fox. But no moose.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (AGAIN)
And now, I almost had my big chance. I had stationed my camera on a tripod by the window, ready for action. But as fate would have it, I removed it temporarily while renovating. I was doing some painting upstairs. Of course, that’s when it happened.
From downstairs, I heard my partner yell, “Look out the window! A moose! A moose!” I dashed to the window, heart pounding, and there they were: a mother moose and her calf, right in the field behind our house. They paused for a moment, then trotted off out of sight. I managed to grab a few blurry shots with my phone, but they were, as expected, terrible.
A RENEWED DETERMINATION
So here I am, with a collection of grainy photos and no great moose shots to share. For now, you’ll have to make do with this little nugget of moose-related content:
But this latest encounter has given me hope. My camera is back on standby, and I’m more determined than ever to capture a moose in all its glory. Maybe next time, I’ll finally get the shot of my dreams. Until then, my moose saga continues—stay tuned for either glory or more droppings!
HELPFUL LINKS:
Increase your moose spotting luck on a Moose Safari:
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