Photo: Helvetestind moonlight reflection, Bunes beach, Lofoten Islands, Norway. February 25, 2015. 19:45

False aurora alarm during my second night camping at Bunes beach.  There had been a faint green glow which stirred us from the warmth of out sleeping bags to head out to the headlands beyond the beach, with better views across the sea. But alas, it would not be our night, and after an hour of waiting in the cold and wind, we decided to give up.

The moon, however, was shining bright across the snow covered land landscape.  I had taken nearly this exact same image only a few hours before at twilight, and now I decided to make a night version.

After Olstind, Helvetestind must be one of the most iconic mountains on Lofoten. A 600 meter, nearly vertical chunk of solid granite rising from the sands of Bunes beach. It is an impressive peak to stand below, with a scale that is hard to capture in an image. It’s only due to its location at Bunes beach – and hour walk from where the ferry drops you off, that it doesn’t get photographed more. Were this scene near a road, it would, no doubt, be one of Lofoten’s most photographed. Though it’s good that some places in the world at least require a minimal amount of effort to be reached.

Camera Info:
Nikon D810
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 1600
f 4.5
20 seconds
WB Daylight

Photo: Winter mountain reflection, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. January 17, 2015. 13:21

The Fredvang bridges are one of my favorite winter locations as they provide a variety of unobstructed views towards the wild mountains of Moskenesøy. In early and mid winter especially, the sun sets behind the mountains, filling the sky with light if the conditions are right.

This particular day, while leading a group for Muench workshops (keep an eye out for another tour in 2017), we had almost perfect conditions.  With sunset arriving in the early afternoon in mid January, I saw that the calm conditions and light layer of clouds might result in some good light.  I think so!

Even looking in the other direction, where a soft pastel filled the sky over Ramberg, there were numerous scenes to be photographed within a few minutes walk from the vans.

Camera Info:
Nikon D810
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
70mm
ISO 100
f 9
1/60 second
WB Daylight

Photo: Stormy winter mountain sunrise, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. January 31, 2015; 10:46

Following on last weeks image, here is a wide angle view of the same scene a little while later.  Quite a difference and hard to even tell I was at the same location. And even though 30 minutes or so had passed, the slowly rising sun of the arctic allows for a lot of time to work with the light – assuming no clouds get in the way.

Though I was only part-way to my goal of Ryten for the day, the wind was already beginning to pick up as I gained elevation.  I thought the shadows formed from the wind sculpted snow created an interesting foreground element to the scene, while the sun just rising over the distant hill adds a bit of balance to an area that would otherwise feel to dark to me.

Camera Info:
Nikon D810
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
14mm
ISO 250
f 16
1/80 second
WB Daylight

Photo: Winter sunset at Å, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. February 4, 2015. 14:59

The coastal cliffs at the end of the road, past the village of Å have been one of my most visited winter locations over the last years.

Particularly from late January to mid February, the sun meets the sea over the mountains at the ‘end’ of Lofoten, making it a perfect sunset location.  Later in the year, the sun moves too far to the west/north and this location doesn’t work as well, as a majority of the light gets blocked by the mountains.

Additionally, there is often sheltered sections of the cliffs to be found on especially windy, camera blowing over days. And even without a fresh layer of snow, on all but the calmest days, the crashing waves add a nice element to the scene – but don’t get too close!

Camera Info:
Nikon D810
Nikon 24mm f/3.5 tilt-shift
24mm
f 11
ISO 31
10 seconds
WB Daylight

Photo: Toppøy in winter, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. February 14, 2015. 08:28

A fresh layer of fallen snow at dawn – perfect! Though the heavy sky kept much color from appearing, a layer of snow covering the coastal rocks down to the tide line is one of my favorite types of winter scenes on Lofoten, and one that has to be taken advantage of when it appears.

I have shot many versions of this scene over the years, more often turning 90˚ to my right and looking across the fjord the the rising pyramid of Olstind, across the fjord. However, on this day I turned my attention to the Rorbu cabin, as the light was slightly more interesting in this direction, with a bit more contrast behind the mountain. And I have plenty compositions of Olstind in better light anyhow…

I think this is a nice ‘winter on Lofoten’ type scene: Rorbu, mountains, sea, and snow.

Camera Info:
Nikon D810
Nikon 24mm f/3.5
24mm
ISO 125
f 11
20 seconds
WB Daylight