I have got to strenuously disagree with my friend who remarked, “When you’ve seen one fjord, you’ve seen them all.” As a photographer, I find the clouds and the angle of the sun have a significant impact on the atmosphere of any landscape, and of course the winter snow can be the “icing on the cake.”
This panoramic view from the Lofoten Islands of Norway features a harmonious blend of direct sun, snow-capped peaks and deep blue waters in the fjord.
Warmer hues in the foreground contrast the cool blue tones in the sea, the mountains and the clouds in the panorama of a Norwegian fjord.
Having a photographer’s eye helps me enjoy Nature to the fullest. A tolerance for cold weather and international travel helps too.
The location of this fjord is shown on this Google map, which I pulled up on my iPhone that frosty morning in February.
On our last day visiting the Lofoten Islands in Norway, we experienced bursts of sunshine and high wind. The wind blew the fresh snow on the mountaintops, while the sun provided the backlight. It was time to pull out the 400mm lens.
An Arctic blast sends snow aloft in the Lofoten Islands of Norway.
I find that artists, particularly painters, inspire me in ways that I feel but struggle to explain. When I arrived at this remote location in Eggum, Norway, I looked down the rutted road and immediately thought of the Pennsylvania fine art painter Andrew Wyeth. I thought of the worn and dilapidated barns and the painting “Christina’s World,” which as always captivated me with a sense of loneliness. While there is no hill and no human figure in this scene, I thought of the feelings that Wyeth’s works evoke for me.
I had to ask one of my fellow travelers to step out of the road so I could frame this scene. She gave me some attitude (oh, please!). Making this image was important to me. Today I shared this photograph with a friend who is a painter from New England. She said, “Yes, I get it. Your vision is like mine.” I think it would also work in black and white.
Lonely boathouse in Eggum, Lofoten Islands of Norway. My image is inspired by American painter Andrew Wyeth.
This heart-shaped balanced rock is a playful accent to the Uttakleiv Beach in Norway. This beach on the Lofoten Islands is also known as the Arctic Surfer’s Beach. Think ice-cold ocean, wind, crashing waves and wet suits.
Heart-shaped balanced rock overlooks the Arctic Surfer’s beach at Uttakleiv.
There are numerous “balanced rocks” in the American Southwest: Arches National Park, Colorado’s Garden of the Gods and Idaho come to mind. This heart shaped rock in Norway is smaller, but its shape makes it special. It is located near the popular photography location, “the dragon’s eye.”
Location names in Norway are as long and confounding as the names in Iceland. Norway scenes in winter are accented by snowy mountains and seascapes, similar to Iceland scenes. I enjoy winter photographer in both countries. The Gulf Stream keeps Norway a bit warmer, even though the Lofoten Islands of Norway are much farther north, above the Arctic Circle.
I climbed up on these rocks to capture this view of the surf around these coastal rocks in Flakstadoya, Norway.
I captured this image in a long exposure in order to make the moving water look milky and smooth. Do you like the effect?
Shooting a sunrise photograph of the fishing village of Hamnoy is a bucket list experience for most visitors to the Lofoten Islands. Our group was excited to arrive that morning and climb the bridge with our tripods. Conditions in late February were cloudy and very windy.
Hamnoy’s dramatic mountains and swirling seas are scenic on their own, but the red fishing cabins add an exceptional color pop.
Do you think you would rather visit Norway’s Lofoten Islands in the winter or summer? Do you prefer snowy mountains or green fields?
After Hurricane Ian in September 2022, the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge was closed. Having taken a direct hit, the flooding and tree damage all across the barrier island were devastating. While the causeway was repaired very rapidly, enabling relief vehicles to reach the island, the rest of the recovery has been and continues to be slow. Nearly two years later, I found car and bike traffic very sparse, where it used to be bumper-to-bumper — requiring a generous amount of patience even on Sunday mornings.
The White Pelicans continue to migrate from the Great Lakes to “Ding Darling,” for the winter season, undeterred by the natural disaster. They cluster on the sand bar in a crowded flock of perhaps thirty, preening themselves in the early morning sun. Osprey soar overhead, and roseate spoonbills bob and weave as they feed at low tide.
White Pelicans continue to migrate from the Great Lakes to Sanibel Island in winter. They preen their feathers while standing as a flock on the sandbar in the J. N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.
Nearby, an immature reddish egret scratches the sand with his feet and slowly stalks small fish while looking for his prey. He holds his head like a statue until he sees a target and plunks his head into the water to grab it. Gracefully, he uses an outstretched wing to block the sun and the water’s bright reflection.
Immature Reddish Egret feeding on Sanibel Island. Its grey coloring and size identify the species.
I was aided by another veteran photographer in identifying the species as Immature Reddish Egret. To see a mature Reddish Egret, see my previous blog post from Sanibel Island.
We faced rain and wind on this beach, but a long exposure I made with a tripod allowed me to feature the receding surf. I held the tripod firmly so it would not shake or blow over.
My photography workshop leader, Don Smith, commented that I found a great foreground and great background and made them work together with a leading line. I have taken workshops with Don for ten years now.
Skagsanden Beach, Norway in the Lofoten Islands. Braving rainy and windy conditions.
Stormy weather in Norway can create some threatening skies and angry seas. These scenes are sometimes more interesting than picture-post card sunny days that you see on the Internet. Surely, I was able to capture some more unusual views of the coastline of Norway.
This image seems to work well in black-and-white:
Arctic surfer’s beach at Unstad, Norway in rain and high wind. No surfers today.
After this hour and a half working in harsh conditions, it was time for a hot latte and a cinnamon roll.
I’m always thankful for clouds to make a sunset colorful. I adore snow in my photos to simplify the landscape. I never complain about sun, although I prefer it low in the sky. Rain? Usually it keeps me inside and cancels my plans for another day.
When all you have is rain during your week-long visit to the Lofoten Islands, you learn to work with it. Rain on the lens, rain on my glasses, rain blowing in the wind — we had it all. However, rain does make puddles, and puddles make reflections.
Rain followed by some afternoon sun created the reflection of the church in Gimsoya, Norway.
Blog: Cathy Kelly Photography 