Monday, November 19, 2012

Winter in Norway

Wintertime in Norway is a beautiful season. Lots of snow most places and when the sun is shining on the pristine white snow, carpeting the landscape, it makes for some amazing images. The cold creates lots of interesting ice formations, which in combination with snow and water is always intriguing to photograph.
And of course we get the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis which is the scientific name. For the most part it is the Northern parts of Norway that gets the Aurora, but if the outbreak on the sun is powerful enough and it's a clear sky, we can be lucky enough to see them down south too. So far this winter, I haven't seen them here in the south yet, but hopefully that will change soon. And in February I will head North to Tromsø and I'm crossing my fingers that we'll have lots of Northern Lights and that the sky will be clear the whole week my friend and I will be there. :)

The Hallingdal River lying still on this overcast, but still beautiful winters day

The Hallingdal River

A gorgeous winter day perfect for cross country skiing



Sunshine through an ice crystal

ski tracks in the forest

The Golden light of winter caused by sunshine through frost smoke at -4F



Friday, November 16, 2012

Sunset and Night time images

Shooting images at night is basically a whole new ball game to me, with the exception of an occasionally Aurora Borealis shoot. But as I have started to try out this kind of photography, I think I'll actually do more of it. It's quite fun and interesting and it requires a different mindset than shooting during the daytime hours. More images to come throughout winter and spring.


Sunset over Oslo and the DFDS Seaways ferry

Oslo Nov. 16

Oslo, Nov. 16

Seagulls in sunset, Oslo

The Opera in Oslo


Oslo by night

Oslo by night

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Birds of Norway


Birds are fascinating creatures. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Some are predators, some are prey, some are migratory birds and some are staying all year round.
Here I will try to show you some of the birds we have here in my country, starting with the birds that are closest to were I live and then as I travel around Norway, I will add birds from other areas. Hope you enjoy them....




White-Troated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

Mute Swan, Male (Cungus Olor)
The Mute Swan is a species of swan, and this a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) North of Africa. It is also and introduced specie in North America, Austrailasia and Southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal then other swan species.

White-Troated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
The White-troated Dipper, also known as European Dipper or just Dipper, is an aquatic passerine bird, found in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The White-troated Dipper is Norway's National Bird.

Mute Swan, Female (Cyngus Olor) and Eurasian Wigeon ( Anas Penelope)
The Eurasian Wigeon, also known as Widgeon or Eurasian Widgeon, is one of three species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Anas. It s common and widespread within its range. This species was first described by Linneaus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes Caeruleus)
The Blue Tit is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. The bird is easily recognizable by its blue and yellow plumage, but its scientific classification is disputed.


Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
The Bullfinch, Common Bullfinch or Eurasian Bullfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. In Anglophone Europe it is known simply as Bullfinch, as it is the original bird the bear the name bullfinch.

Great Tit (Parus major)
The Great Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia and parts of North Africa in any sort of woodland.

Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
The Coal Tit, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is widespread and and common breeder throughout temperate to subtropical Europe and Northern Africa. 

Goosander (Mergus merganser) female

Goosander (Mergus merganser) male
The Common Merganser (North America) or Goosander (Europe), is  large duck, of rivers and lakes of forested areas of Northern Europe, northern and central Asia and North America. It eats fish and nest in holes in trees.







Sunday, November 11, 2012

Nature

Nature holds incredible diversity, and I love to try and capture this diversity. Whether it's sunshine, overcast, rain, sleet or snow, I'm out there trying to find great images.

Here's some of the images I've captured; 


The Reinsvoll pond wrapped in fog, Reinsvoll Norway


Canoeing with my niece on a wonderful Fall day, Trevatn Norway

The fiery colors of fall, Lena Norway

Early evening moon

Golden sunset

Colors of Fall

Frostbitten leaves

Kayaking under a Fall sunset, Femunden Norway

Gold sunset on an August evening, Vestre Toten County, Norway

Lom Stave Church surrounded by the colors of Fall, Lom Norway