Fanal Forest, located in the northwest of Madeira, is a mystical place that beckons landscape photographers with its ancient, twisted trees and fairytale-like atmosphere. We visited this enchanting forest three times, each visit revealing new magical scenes. From the moment we arrived, I knew it would be the perfect setting for the moody, ethereal photographs I had envisioned—both of the landscape and of self-portraits I wanted to create.
One of the highlights was capturing my friend posing gracefully under one of the old trees, and later, I wore a long red gown to add a dreamy, fairytale element to my own self-portraits.
As we wandered deeper into the forest, the fog rolled gently between the trees, casting an otherworldly veil over the landscape. The mist created an enchanting mood, making the centuries-old trees appear almost ghostly, as if they were from another world. Each twisted branch seemed to tell its own story, and the entire forest felt alive with mystery and magic—offering endless inspiration for creating mystical landscape photography.
The self-portrait session was a deeply creative moment for me. With the red gown flowing against the backdrop of swirling fog, I aimed to craft images that felt as if they belonged to a fairy tale. My friend’s elegant pose under one of Fanal’s iconic trees added to the dreamlike quality of the photos, capturing both the human connection to this magical place and the forest’s timeless allure.
Throughout the day, the forest constantly shifted between moments of soft light and thick mist. This fluidity was where the magic truly lived. Each minute brought a new opportunity for composition, as the fog moved and revealed new perspectives. Using my Nikon Z8, I captured the haunting beauty of the scene, where the balance of light, shadow, and fog created a mystical atmosphere in every shot.
Fanal Forest is more than just a location—it feels like a place out of a storybook, a realm where time stands still and imagination takes over. Whether capturing the landscape or creating dreamlike portraits, this enchanted forest in Madeira is an unparalleled destination for any photographer looking to create moody, magical images.
