Night Comes to Lofoten

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Lofoten islands panoramic landscape stock photo: view of Austvågøya and Vestfjorden in winter

View from the top of Stamsundheia above Stamsund, Vestvågøya towards the village of Henningsvær and mountains of Austvågøya.  The mountain peak in the center of the photo is about 16km away.  The second set of mountains behind that are about 35km away.  The Furthest distant peaks are the Norwegain mainland (Hamarøy I think) about 65km away, sperated by the mighty Vestfjord.

The night arrives slowly this far north due to the low angle of the sun.  In the weeks prior the the nearly 2 month long “day” of the summer months, night never really properly arrives, just a few hours of twilight.  Though here in March the night eventually comes, delayed enough that one has enough time to walk off a mountain after sunset with relative good visibility.

Storm over Selfjorden

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

snow covered boat shed on shore of Selfjord in winter, near Fredvang, Moskenesoy, Lofoten islands, Norway

Boat sheds on the Moskenesøya side of Selfjorden, the far shore being Flakstadøya.

Travel landscape stock photography: boat shed in winter snow storm, Selfjorden, Lofoten islands, Norway

Only 15 minutes between these photos.  I had been haunted by this storm for hours as I watched it slowly approach.  At times it would be held up by the 1000 meter high mountain peaks rising from the sea and I would escape its arrival for a precious few minutes, but once I gained exposure to the north it hit with a fury of snow and wind.  A bitter cold straight from the arctic winter, chilling me to the bone.   It was a wild ride that night, alone in my tent halfway up some mountain pass.

Kjerkefjord

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , /by

Kjerkefjorden and mountains in winter, Reine, Lofoten islands, Norway - Panoramic landscape photo

Not long after I took this photo of the Kjerkefjord 3 days of storm enveloped the islands. Deceptively peaceful looking here.

Lofoten Islands – Stockfish

/3 Comments/in , , , /by

Cod stockfish hang to dry in winter, lofoten islands, Norway

I think I’ve said it before, that the economy of the Lofoten islands runs off basically two things: German tourists in the summer and cod stockfish in the winter.  During the winter months, Atlantic Cod migrate into the waters of the Vestfjord for spawning, where they have been met by Norwegian fishermen since the days of the Vikings.  One would think that north of the arctic circle would not be the most hospitable place to be during this time of year, but the gulf stream keeps the Lofoten islands relatively mild temperature wise.   Though an arctic gale is nothing to laugh at, having heard stories of winds so fierce that they have literally moved houses.

Fishing boat in Kjerkefjord near Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Empty stockfish drying rack in winter, lofoten islands, Norway

Cod stockfish hang to dry in winter, lofoten islands, Norway

Cod stockfish hang to dry in winter, lofoten islands, Norway

Cod stockfish heads, lofoten islands, Norway

Lofoten Islands – An Evening Over Stamsund

/2 Comments/in , , , , , /by

One afternoon I took a hike up one of the hills above Stamsund to watch the sunset.  Wasn’t the best light I’ve ever seen, but at least it was mostly clear and the wind was relatively calm.  It crossed my mind to wait around a few hours in hopes of some auroras, but after waiting around for a little while, I decided it was far too cold for such an idea.  Maybe I will bring a sleeping bag up nextime.

Lofoten islands winter mountain photo: shadow of hiker across snowy landscape

While the hike up the mountains was mostly deep snow, the top was windswept and icy.  I made it to the top with a little bit of sun left, casting long shadows across the winter landscape.

Lofoten islands winter panoramic photo: Justadtind mountain peak at sunset

Panoramic of the mountain Justadtind (in the center of photo). 4 photos at 31mm stitched together.

Lofoten islands winter mountain photo: sun setting over mountains, Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway

In the far north, the sun never gets very high in the sky, making more of a low circle around the horizon as the day passes on.  Due to this relatively low angle of movement, the twilight time before/after sunset/rise lasts much longer up in the arctic than at milder latitudes.  In only another month in a half, the sun will set for the final time of the summer.  It’s amazing how long the days already are this early in the year.

Lofoten islands winter mountain scenic photo: Steinstind peak at sunset, Stamsund, Vestvagoy, lofoten islands, Norway

the mountain peak in the distance is Steinstind (the peak on the left is the higher one, though doesn’t appear so in the photo), the high point of the mountain ridge I was on.  this photo was from near Stamsundheia.  In summer it’s a nice easy hike along the ridge.

Lofoten islands, Norway: Person hiking along mountain ridge at sunset

panoraic photo: village of Ure and Vestfjord, Lofoten islands, Norway

View towards the village of Ure (below mountain in center of photo), with the islands and skerries off the coast of Steine on the left of the photo.

Vestfjord Morning

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

This photo is the view from Stamsund across the Vestfjord (Vestfjorden).  The mountain on the far left of the photo is at the village of Henningsvær, still part of Lofoten.  The mountains in the distance are of the Norwegain mainland, some 40-60km away across the waters of the Vestfjord.  Typical sunrise with a break in the clouds near the horizon, letting a few minutes of sun through, before turning into a (mostly) gray and overcast day.

Panoramic photo: sunrise across Vestfjorden, Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway

Nikon 85mm tilt-shift lens: 3 photos stitched.

Lofoten – Coast

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The Rugged coastline at Stamsund on island of Vestvågøy, Lofoten islands, Norway.

photo of rocky coastline and mountains, Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway

Nikon 85mm tilt-shift lens panoramic: stormy sea, Lofoten islands, Norway

Arctic Nights

/2 Comments/in , , , /by

Just walked in the door after 24 hours of travel.  Been up in the Lofoten islands for the last week.  More photos coming tomorrow and the next days.  But for a quick teaser of things to come: snow, snow, a bit more snow, and maybe some snow…

Northern lights over lofoten islands, Norway. Cody Duncan photography

Spring snow flurries over Stamsund

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , /by

One of the cool things about the north is how quickly the weather comes and goes.  One April morning after a night of snow I woke up to nice sunny weather.  First thought of mine was to head up Steinetind (the mountain in the center of the first pic) and take in the view.  Around the half way point, while I was climbing a smaller middle peak the winds picked up as some clouds blew over and brought about 20 minutes of snow.  I huddled down among some rocks and waited for it to pass.  And soon enough, as quickly as it arrived, it was over and I was looking at nice blue skies again and a gently breeze.  now back on my way up the mountain…

Lofoten travel photo: Spring snow storm over Steinetind mountain near Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway. Cody Duncan photography

Lofoten travel photo: Spring snow storm over Stamsund and Lofoten islands, Norway. Cody Duncan photography

Lofoten travel photo: Fresh spring snow covers Stamsund, Lofoten islands, Norway. Cody Duncan photography