Norway

NORTHERN LIGHTS

2018

Northern Lights erupting from mountain, Norway
Northern Lights erupting from mountain, Norway

Eruption.

The northern lights were already visible when we reached our accommodation on the first night.

Northern Lights reflecting on ice and with town lights, Norway
Northern Lights reflecting on ice and with town lights, Norway

Generally, it's better when there's no light pollution, but I quite like the town's illumination.

Northern Lights reflecting on water, Norway
Northern Lights and person standing on wall, Norway
Northern Lights reflecting on water, Norway
Northern Lights and person standing on wall, Norway

Beam Me Up, Scotty!

I love this photo! This is what I call a happy accident. It was only supposed to be a 20s exposure but ended up lasting 40s. As I was standing on the wall for only half that duration it looks like I'm only half there.

White-Tailed Sea-Eagle flying over sea
White Tailed Eagle flying over sea

White-Tailed Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).

The lovely thing about being far north during winter is how the sun never rises very high in the sky, so the light is always lovely for photography on a sunny day and you never get the harsh shadows in the midday sun. I love how the light shines on its wings. This was my first sighting of this species.

Beach with rocks and slow motion effect with tide
Beach with rocks and slow motion effect with tide

Rocky Tide.

I've used a neutral density filter so I could use a slow shutter speed in daylight (with a tripod). Without it, this image would be completely over exposed and look washed-out.

Snow covered mountains and jetty at twilight
Snow covered mountains and jetty at twilight

The light at twilight can be gorgeous. Whilst a photo of just the mountains would have been lovely, the jetty covered in snow and the tall lamp light, for me, make the image more interesting.

Snow covered mountains reflected in water at sunrise
Snow covered mountains reflected in water at sunrise

The First Peak of Light.

Despite being up late at night photographing the northern lights I also got up for sunrise every morning. It was so peaceful. Usually, I was the only one out so early. It was lovely having the place to myself to explore.

Intertwining young trees by frozen lake
Intertwining young trees by frozen lake

Intertwined

Frozen lake and sunburst behind mountain
Frozen lake and sunburst behind mountain

Frozen Sunburst.

I'm standing on a frozen lake to get this shot. Most of the group tried some ice fishing but I was more interested in photographing our beautiful surroundings.

Glass ball with snow covered mountains and ice
Glass ball with snow covered mountains and ice

Topsy-Turvy

One of our group had a glass ball. It can be a fun way to create some more interesting photographs, seeing the world the right way up and upside down at the same time. I also like how the snow has turned into ice in the foreground.

Moose on snow with copper coloured trees
Moose on snow with copper coloured trees

Moose (Alces alces) or Elk.

You can tell it's a female because she doesn't have palmate antlers (like an open hand).

Boats by jetty and broken ice on water with mountains
Boats by jetty and broken ice on water with mountains

Fractured Serenity

Northern Lights strobe from block of ice, Norway
Northern Lights strobe from block of ice, Norway

It looks like the northern lights are being fired from the ice in the foreground.

Ripples of Northern Lights with fisheye lens
Ripples of Northern Lights with fisheye lens

Just Look Up.

There was so much Aurora activity, I didn't know which way to look, so I just tilted the fisheye lens up!

Northern Lights highway with road, Norway
Northern Lights highway with road, Norway

Northern Lights Road.

I love the symmetry in this photo and how the road leads you right in. It's simple, but effective.

This is one of my favourites from the trip.

View of snow covered mountains from inside cabin
View of snow covered mountains from inside cabin

Cabin With A View

Rocks and ice with mountain in background
Rocks and ice with mountain in background

Noticing Stepping Stones.

Let the eye be drawn from the seaweed covered rocks in the foreground surrounded by ice, to the boulder that looks a little more out of place, to the man-made forest in the distance and finish at the jagged peak. The image may not be remarkable, but sometimes it's good simply to notice things. That was what my walk was all about on this outing.

Thin ice natural sculpture
Thin ice natural sculpture

Natural Ice Sculpture

Bewick Swans curled up like lumps of ice
Bewick Swans curled up like lumps of ice

Swan Boulders

Bewick Swans standing on ice on one leg
Bewick Swans standing on ice on one leg

Bewick Swans (Cygnus columbianus bewickii).

Many birds in cold climates will stand on one foot to conserve heat.

Stones in ice leading to snow covered mountains at sunset
Stones in ice leading to snow covered mountains at sunset
Northern Lights and hot tub, Norway
Northern Lights and hot tub, Norway

It was pretty cold at night. Temperatures were below -10°C. One way to warm up was to relax in the hot tub. The only problem was coping with the cold as you got in and out of it!

Northern Lights with person standing with arms outstretched, Norway
Northern Lights with person standing with arms outstretched, Norway
Photographer and tripod with bands of Northern Lights and moon, Norway
Photographer and tripod on ice with moon and bands of Northern Lights above

As photographers it's very easy to spend your whole time watching something from behind the lens. It's worth remembering to put the camera down and stop taking photos for a minute to enjoy the moment.

Multi bands of Northern Lights coming from mountain
Multi bands of Northern Lights coming from mountain

The Final Movement.

This was one of the best moments on my last night, with so many bands of light moving through the night sky at the same time. When looking at photos of the northern lights, it's easy to forget the light was never static, but constantly moving and changing.

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