There’s something magical and unbelievably calming in old forests. It’s fascinating how some trees can live up to several hundreds or even thousands of years.

Photos are from the Isle of Ruissalo, Turku, in October 2014. Autumn colors prevailed the landscape, and the forest was preparing itself for the winter. Migratory birds had started their journey.

The forest was quiet. It had seen countless walkers and seasons, and it had changed with the time. I never got to meet my grandparents and I wondered whether they had once walked under these same trees.

I stopped in front of an old oak. I was mesmerized by its sheer size and I couldn’t estimate its age nor did I dare to take a photo out of it. I admired the tree and gazed at the top of the tree. I wondered whether it had met my grandparents. I stood still and I breathed. Maybe the forest would also remember me walking under the trees.

Part of this oak’s tranquility stays with me forever.