Flakstad, Lofoten Islands, Norway.
In summer under blue skies, this is a wonderful beach that is often crowded with people. In early January it is a cold and windswept place – which is perfect for me because there are no footprints.
Nikon D700, 24mm tilt-shift lens.
Unstad beach, Lofoten islands, Norway.
An unrelenting storm had been hanging over the islands all day, but the weather on the islands can be quite localized, so I took a gamble that the north side might have some better weather, and indeed it did. Emerging from the tunnel to Unstad, the snow had stopped and been divereted around the mountains that surround the village. I wish I had arrived earlier as the day was already late and darkness – and more snow – was soon to come.
Kjerkfjord as seen from near Reine, Lofoten islands, Norway.
This is the light at around 1:30 pm on the afternoon of January 6, the first day since mid December where the sun once again appears on the horizon at 68˚ north. Got lucky to have calm winds and mostly clear skies on this day. Imagine more or less the same light like this lasting for hours. Magical.
Haukland Beach winter, Lofoten islands, Norway.
When the sky is clear, the light as this amazing diffuse glow to it. Due to being so far north, the sun travel at much more of a horizontal angle than what occurs as one approaches the equator. So due to this, the period of ‘sunset’ or ‘sunrise’ light is extended into hours, not just minutes. In early January, the sun barely rises above the horizon so there is not really any direct sunlight, more like a 4-5 hour sunrise-sunset until the darkness of night comes by about 2:30-3:00 pm.
Autumn snow on rocky coast at Stamsund, Lofoten Islands, Norway.
Utakleiv, Lofoten islands, Norway.
On a nicer day, the Norwegian mainland would be visible in the distance. The Vestfjord as viewed from Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway.
last light at Unstad, Lofoten islands, Norway.
Coastline near Stamsund, Vestvågøy on a rather cold and dreary evening. Lofoten islands, Norway
Three years ago out on the coast near Kvalnes. Unsuccessfully hunting the midnight sun with a German and two Norwegian’s. We were a day or two too late in reality, had there been no clouds. The cool thing about this time of year in the north: you can shoot sunset, sunrise, and then go to sleep for the night and not have to worry about setting your alarm.
