Gear
Michael shoots mainly with Canon R3 with different lenses and Fuji GFX100 medium format.
BIOGRAPHY - MICHAEL AHLÉN
Meet Michael, a photographer who finds solace and peace in the heart of nature.
He has always been drawn to black-and-white photographs' timeless qualities and power. Something about the contrast and simplicity of black and white captures the emotion and tells a story in a way that color often cannot. However, nothing is really just Black and White, some stories deserve to be shown in color.
In his photographic journey, he's drawn to the raw and untamed beauty of the wilderness, seeking out the moments when wildlife is most intense and authentic. Michael seeks to capture the mood and feeling of these moments, whether it's the fury of a snowstorm, the howl of the wind during a storm, or the stillness of the night in the forest.
He finds tranquility in minimalistic monochromatic landscape photography when he's not out to photograph wildlife. He's drawn to the serene qualities that this style of photography exudes. By limiting the color palette, he can accentuate specific aspects of the image, such as texture, pattern, or contrast. This approach allows him to emphasize the elegance of simplicity and minimalism, which he values in stark contrast to his daily life.
When he's not indulging in photography, you can find him on the MTB trail or hitting the slopes in the winter season.
He often hit the trails on the mountain bike. There's nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of speeding through the forest, navigating steep inclines and hairpin turns.
During the winter months, He enjoys skiing with his family. It's a great way to stay active while enjoying the beauty of the snow-covered mountains.
Overall, these three pursuits keep him active and fulfilled, allowing him to express his creativity and spend quality time with his loved ones while recharging the batteries.
SUPPORTING CONSERVATION
North Impact's founders, Michael and Catharina Ahlén, strongly believe entrepreneurs are the only ones who can solve the ongoing wildlife and climate crisis. We aim to do our part and make an impact from the North part of the globe.
www.northimpact.com
SUPPORTING WITH MONTHLY DONATIONS
Protecting over 1.6 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa, Big Life partners with local communities to protect nature for the benefit of all.
Since its inception, Big Life has expanded to employ hundreds of local Maasai rangers—with more than 30 permanent outposts and tent-based field units, 14 patrol vehicles, 2 tracker dogs, and 2 planes for aerial surveillance.
Co-founded in September 2010 by photographer Nick Brandt, conservationist Richard Bonham, and entrepreneur Tom Hill, Big Life was the first organization in East Africa to establish coordinated cross-border anti-poaching operations.
www.biglife.org
Lewa serves as a safe refuge for the critically endangered black rhino and the endangered Grevy’s zebra, as well as the elephant, lion, giraffe, wild dog and other iconic wildlife species in Kenya. The Conservancy is also home to more than 450 species of birds.
Lewa envisions a future where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife. This future depends on communities being able to derive their day-to-day livelihoods in ways that are compatible with thriving wildlife habitat. As a result, Lewa invests heavily in the livelihoods of its neighbours through programmes in education, healthcare, water, micro-enterprise, youth empowerment and more.
Lewa has combined the techniques of world-class anti-poaching operations, including cutting edge monitoring technology, with the engagement of the surrounding communities as critical partners in conservation.
www.lewa.org