Friday Photo #233 – Helvetestind Fog

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Helvetestind - Friday Photo #233

Photo: Summer fog flowing over Vindstad from Helvetestind, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. June 13, 2017. 23:06

I wasn’t planning to post another photo from Helvetestind, but I also hadn’t planned on making my second trip up the mountain in 2 weeks. I guess these things just happen.

While guiding a small private tour over the last two weeks, decided to take some of the group out to Vindstad and Bunes beach for the evening. After a cold spring, summer had finally arrived and we were now a full week into t-shirt weather and non stop clear skies. As we caught a boat out to Vindstad in the early evening, I noticed some signs of fog out over Bunes. As the minutes passed, the fog increased, until it became a heavy cloud of grey flowing over the pass towards Vindstad.

The original plan had been to shoot the midnight sun from Bunes and some of the nearby view points. However, the beach was now fully concealed beneath a layer of heavy fog, the location of the sun barely distinguishable. ‘Should we go up?’ I asked. And with that I began my 2nd hike in the same number of weeks up Helvetestind.

Arriving at the summit, we were high above the fog, the wind was calm and it was t-shirt weather under the bright sun, now somewhat low in the northern sky. The beach was concealed, but the flowing fog more than made up for that! Just one of those magical nights in the mountains of Lofoten.

We hung around until just after midnight before heading back down again to catch our ride back to Sakrisøy at 02:00.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
24mm
ISO 50
f 11
61 seconds
WB Daylight
10 stop B+W ND filter

Friday Photo #232 – Helvetestind Camping

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Helvetestind Camping - Friday Photo #232

Photo: Summit camp on Helvetestind, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. June 4, 2017. 00:42

Continuing from last weeks photo over Bunes beach, here is my camping spot on the summit of Helvetestind. Truthfully, I thought about just sleeping out in the open for the night, though it had been a bit on the windy side. But I didn’t carry my tent all the way up mountain for northing, so I might as well set it up for some photos!

My main goal for a night on the summit was the last light over Bunes beach and Storskiva. But as the night grows late, the sun passes too far north and Bunes loses any direct light. However, high in the mountains, the sun still shines as it travels from peak to peak. It is sort of a guessing game as to what light you will get, where. Experience in the mountains here helps, but I’m still always surprised by something new. Which unfortunately makes it difficult to sleep sometimes, because as soon as you thing the light might be gone, something new happens!

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
24mm
ISO 100
f 9
1/15 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #231 – Bunes Beach

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Bunes Beach - Friday Photo #231

Photo: Midnight sun over Bunes beach from Helvetestind, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. June 3, 2017. 23:56

On my first visit to Helvetestind some years ago I wasn’t sure if it was possible to camp on the summit, so I left my backpack lower down on the mountain before proceeding up, and seeing that the summit was a perfect place for a tent! Next time I said to myself. Well finally, last weekend was the next time.

With the controversy over whether Reinebringen is closed, can be closed, should be avoided, etc. going on at the moment. I often wonder why there is so much attention paid to one or two specific mountains on Lofoten. I knew Helvetestind to be one of the best views on Lofoten, and yet it has taken me years to get back there. Why? Because there are many other, equally fantastic views across these islands which have also kept me busy over the years. And it will probably be several more years before I return again. There are simply too many mountains here!

This summer has been off to a bit of a slow, cold start. I’ve been waiting until the landscape turns a bit more green before beginning with my mountain projects for the summer – most of which will focus on Vestvågøy this year. But for some reason, I had the strings pulling me back to Helvetestind for my first midnight sun summit of the season. And so, with a promising weather forecast over the weekend, I decided to go for it.

The light had been more dramatic over the previous days, but it was also far too windy for summit camping. And while I would have liked a bit more drama in the sky, it was a fairly calm and peaceful summer night. Although, it is rare that one can ever truly escape the wind here on Lofoten, my tent was a bit noisy as I went to bed around 02:00

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 100
f 9
1/20 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #227 – Spring Snow

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Ryten Spring Snow - Friday Photo #227

Photo: Spring snow flurries over Ramberg from Ryten, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. May 19, 2016. 22:35

While the midnight sun is just around the corner and the nights are no longer dark, the last few days have seen the weather turn cold with snow flurries passing over the islands. Spring on Lofoten has a slightly different meaning than spring further south.

This image from last year in mid May, in similar type weather. These passing snow flurries, with the snow only really sticking on the higher elevations, if at all, combined with the low, late evening sun can provide some wonderful light as the long shadows fall across the mountains.

Though this is also a time of year I consider a little hard to photograph, as for the last weeks the grass is mostly brown and lifeless looking after the long winter. This gives most locations in lower elevations a bit of a ‘dead’ look in my opinion. Thus, even with fantastic light, I haven’t been out shooting much unless I can get to the mountain, which unfortunately, hasn’t been much, with the busyness of life getting in the way. But perhaps I need to head up Hornet soon and watch sunset over my new house.

Soon though, the fields will be green, then the first leaves on the trees, and then the mountains themselves. And then, summer! I’m excited to see where my feet will take me this year.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
70mm
ISO 250
f 10
1/160 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #225 – Mannen

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Mannen Sunset - Friday Photo #225

Photo: Summit of Mannen (791m) at sunset, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. April 16, 2017. 20:04

My body still recovering after only half a day of rest from the first 4 days of my Easter adventures in west Lofoten, I found myself back in the parking lot at Å once again, with a new mountain in sight, and luckily, a light backpack this time! We were just going for a day trip…

Leaving around noon, we made good time to the end of Ågvatnet before putting on crampons and pulling out the ice tools for the 500 meter ascent of the couloir to the east of Mannen. Unlike the previous days, the snow was now firm and settled. Front pointing our way up, we made quick progress the the pass. I was confident that we’d be back to the car and I would be home in time for dinner – I was home for dinner, but not at a time I would have imagined!

One on the upper, north side of the mountain, there were many icy passages. We could have traversed out to the right and climbed up a gully towards a lower part of the ridge. But I, in my great wisdom, thought it would be funner just to go up the northern side of the ridge. So out came the ropes and we began to ascend.

Route finding was difficult, and progress was slow. 8 hours after leaving the parking lot I arrived at the summit cairn; the sun glowing orange just above the sea and a cold wind blowing across the high peak.

The sun had set by the time we began our descent, down the steep, sometimes icy gullies that we had originally though about ascending – it sure would have been quicker! There was some amazing light at times, but I was more focused on getting down safely, so my camera was stored in my backpack, out of reach.

It was almost midnight by the time we returned to my van. Utterly excused, but still exhilarated from an amazing day in the mountains. I could hardly get out of bed Monday morning, my body absolutely crushed.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
15mm
ISO 160
f 7.1
1/500 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #224 – Easter Camping

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Easter Camping - Friday Photo #225

Photo: Room with a view, Ågskaret, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. April 12, 2017. 20:16

Last week was the Easter holidays here in Norway – and in Norway, that means going outside and doing stuff, or sitting in your mountain cabin. Since I don’t yet own a cabin, my tent would have to do. Luckily, the holiday also coincided with near perfect weather on Lofoten – at least sun, the wind would become a menace a few days later.

Wednesday afternoon, we headed around lake Ågvatnet and up the pass towards Stokkvika. Our plans were ambitious, a high mountain on the western edge of Lofoten that would take us 2 1/2 days to reach; all while carrying heavy packs of climbing gear through the deep snow. Trusting the forecast, we didn’t push the pace to fast.

As we arrived at the pass at Ågskaret, we weren’t quite ready to stop, but it was evident that the next place to camp would probably be further than we wanted to go. Luckily, there was a wide enough area on the ridge, that after a bit of digging and levelling, became the perfect spot for a tent.

The weather was fantastic and we got to melt snow and cook dinner in the sun until it finally sank into a layer of clouds. The mountains full of snow but the days are so long. I really love this time of year here in the north – perfect for cold adventures…

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 2100
f 8
1/125 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #223 – Night Hiking

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NIght Hiking - Friday Photo #223

Photo: Almost midnight hiking above Vindstad, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. April 7, 2017. 23:41

The Friday evening ferry doesn’t leave Reine until 21:30. And even though it feels like spring and the midnight sun is just around the corner, winter and darkness are still fighting to keep hold over Lofoten. So when you don’t start hiking until nearly 22:00 at night, it is best to bring a headlamp along, even with a mostly full moon!

The snow was deep and route finding difficult, especially as waves of snow passed over us, reducing the already limited visibility. We only had 500 meters to ascend to where we would make camp on the pass, but this took over 2 hours of effort. I don’t think I finally zipped up my sleeping bag until just before 01:00.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 2000
f 3.2
.3 second
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #218 – Ryten Aurora

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Friday Photo #218 - Ryten Aurora

Photo: Northern Lights fill sky from summit of Ryten, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. March 2, 2017. 19:54

My plan for the day had just been some easy afternoon ski touring with some friends. However, as I was heading into Leknes run some errands, and with a good aurora forecast for the evening, I knew I had to be up in the mountains at night. So I quickly headed home and packed my bag for a night in the mountains. The sun was low on the horizon as I began my way up Ryten.

What had been calm weather down below was a pretty strong wind up high – I think I’ve only been on Ryten once when it wasn’t windy. Arriving at the summit in evening twilight, I attempted to set up my tent. Unfortunately, in my haste of packing, I had forgotten the guy lines with my other tent. So after a bit of testing, it became obvious that I wouldn’t be sleeping on the mountain this night.

Too cold and windy just to sit around, I found a slightly sheltering rock and pulled out my sleeping pad and sleeping bag to sit in while waiting for the sky to darken. Seeming just after I took my boots off and got in the bag, I noticed a faint glow of green beginning to appear, the sky not even dark yet. I waited around a bit longer before getting out again.

By now, around 19:00, a nice green arch was crossing the twilight sky. Some time later, things really got active and the aurora was so bright that I could have walked down the mountain without needing a headlamp! It was simply huge, bright, and dancing across the sky in every direction. One of the best displays I have ever seen.

Unfortunately though, I don’t think the composition quite worked for Ryten on this evening, and my main original plan had been for the aurora over Kvalvika, but they didn’t appear much in that direction. This is always the gamble with northern lights – they might not show up where you want them to, even if they are otherwise spectacular!

This image consists of two photos, one for the foreground and one for the sky. I found this necessary, as point just towards the sky left not enough compositional elements in the foreground, just some vague snowy hills of no apparent importance. And point down for a nice composition of the landscape left out too much of the sky.

Overall, it is an image that took a bit of effort, and the aurora was fantastic. But I probably might have gotten something better compositionally had I just gone to one of the beaches. Though there were probably hundreds of other photographers down there all shooting the same thing, so at least I captured something somewhat more unique.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 2000
f 3.2
3 seconds
WB Daylight
2 images – top/bottom

Friday Photo #217 – Bunes Aurora

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Friday Photo #217 - Bunes Aurora

Photo: Northern Lights over Bunes beach, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. February 6, 2017. 19:43

Photographing the northern lights over Bunes beach is an something I have tried to do several times over the last years, and despite otherwise perfect conditions, I was always unsuccessful. So Finally, in early February I decided to make another attempt, and at last, got something close to what I was looking for.

Unfortunately though, the winter thus far had been warm and rather snow-less. Thus, the scene looks more like April, than the middle of winter!

I timed the trip to be around the full moon, needing the light to illuminate the landscape so it would be more than just a dark silhouette against the horizon. And with the bright moonlight, I was able to keep the shutter speed fast and the ISO relatively low. Though the aurora was not too active this night, so a longer shutter speed would have been okay.

Perhaps I will make another attempt before the winter is over, though with a somewhat full schedule, and some plans for bigger mountains, I’m not sure it will happen. But it is always good to have plans for the future, so this is something I will likely work on for years to come…

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 1600
f 3.5
6 seconds
WB Daylight

Friday Photo #216 – Reine Winter Dawn

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Friday Photo 216 -Reine Dawn

Photo: Winter dawn over Reine, Vindstad, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. February 6, 2017. 09:29

This weeks photo is not so much about the image, but more about the importance of location in winter. Or to say it another way, if you want to see sunrise or sunset in winter, it is important that you know where you are going.

In the first week of February I took the ferry to Vindstad and Bunes beach for a couple nights of camping as the weather forecast was good and I was hoping for some northern lights over the beach at night. However, snow conditions were unfortunately quite thin, giving a much more spring like look than that of the fleshly snow covered landscape. But that is beyond my control.

Even a full month after the sun has returned to Lofoten, it still remains quite far to the south and still relatively low in the sky. From my location for sunrise each morning, I would see the sun rise over the mountains of the distant mainland around 09:00 and by around 09:25, the sun was disappearing behind Reinebringen – gone for the day! Bunes beach itself received no direct sunlight during this time, while the mountains high above would have sun at various points through the afternoon and until sunset.

So that was it, 25 or some minutes of direct sunlight each day while I was camping. Not very much!

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 70-200mm f/4
150mm
ISO 100
f 9
1/125 second
WB Daylight