Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Saija Lehtonen
In the soft light of a winter dawn, a majestic saguaro stands sentinel against a backdrop of snow-dusted mountains, its arms reaching toward clouds heavy with possibility. This is Arizona as few imagine it — where desert meets winter wonderland — and nobody captures this stunning duality quite like photographer Saija Lehtonen.
“There’s just something so magical about those rare days when the desert is treated to a snow day,” Lehtonen reflects. “It’s almost otherworldly, as it’s not what you think of when you think about what a desert is.”
For Lehtonen, these precious moments when Arizona’s landscapes transform represent the pinnacle of her artistic vision. Originally from Finland, she brings a unique perspective to capturing the Southwest’s winter personality, informed by her homeland’s dramatic seasonal changes and her family’s artistic legacy.
“Coming from Finland, the land of ice and snow, I still love a beautiful winter day,” she says. “Although our winters here are much different and not as cold, they are still absolutely beautiful in their own way.”
The challenge of capturing these fleeting moments requires both technical expertise and careful planning. Lehtonen constantly monitors weather patterns, ready to move at a moment’s notice when conditions align.
“I follow the weather daily and keep an eye on what the forecast shows for the future,” she explains. “It takes planning to be in the right place at the right time to capture your vision.”
One such memorable morning found her at the Superstition Mountains before sunrise, anticipating something special.
“When the sun finally rose from behind the mountain and broke through the clouds, the desert was glowing like a diamond,” she recalls. “It just sparkled as the snow shone in the sun. The desert was blanketed in white and looked like another world with the cacti covered in snow.”
These images often elicit disbelief from viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with Arizona’s diverse climate zones.
“They can’t believe how beautiful the desert is dressed in white and how magical it looks,” Lehtonen says. “Many people around the world have one of my snow images as a conversation piece on their wall. It warms my heart to see so many others enjoy these extra-special days in the desert as much as I do recording them.”
About the Photographer
For Saija Lehtonen, art runs in her blood. Growing up in Finland, she earned her first artistic recognition at age 6 for a children’s book illustration of a Disney dragon. But it was discovering an Ansel Adams coffee table book at age 12 that sparked her lifelong love affair with photography.
“Before I ever picked up a camera, I had already been bitten by the arts,” Lehtonen shares. “I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I now paint with my lens.”
After moving to the United States, Lehtonen found herself drawn to the American Southwest, where she has lived for over four decades. Her journey through Texas, New Mexico and California ultimately led her to Arizona, where she has made her home for more than 30 years.
“Never did I imagine at that time that Arizona would end up being my home,” she reflects. “I love it here, and I don’t see myself moving anywhere out of Arizona at this time, unless it’s up to northern Arizona.”
While her portfolio spans multiple genres, including concert photography and portraiture, Lehtonen’s heart belongs to landscape photography. Her work, which has been featured in numerous prestigious publications and exhibitions, carries a distinctive artistic quality that bridges her background in traditional art with her photographic expertise.
“I come from a family of artists, so I guess I am always putting my personal flair into my photography work and try to present it the way that I see it,” she explains. “With my background in art, you could say that my photographs have a painterly quality to them.”
Rather than limiting herself to a single photographic style, Lehtonen continues to evolve as an artist.
“In the past few years, I have been incorporating more of my artistic perspectives from my drawing and painting days into my work,” she reveals. “I love learning new techniques and expanding my artistic view of the world.”
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