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Background image by Christian Hoiberg.
Norway is an iconic photography location sitting at the top of many photographer’s travel wishlist. As a Norwegian company, we may be biassed but we think our backyard is one of the best spots for landscape photographers. We may be known for our Viking history and brown cheese but for the keen landscape photographer, this country has so much to offer.
Every season is wonderful to experience in Norway but it shouldn’t come as any surprise that winter is undoubtedly our favourite season for photography. We thrive in the crisp, cold air and snowy scenes but there’s one reason that winter is far superior to summer when it comes to photography: the light.
Because of our geographic location in the far north, our daylight hours are limited. In the heart of winter, you might see the sun start to rise around 9 or 10 am and start to set around 3 pm (this, of course, varies depending on where in the country you’re located). And those hours of sunlight? They aren’t your typical midday harsh light. Winter daylight is like being in a prolonged golden hour. The shadows are nice and long, the colours are rich, and everything is ripe for photography.
Photo by Pedro Kin
Ok, this is fairly obvious the but Norway has some of to the most stunning and iconic landscapes in the world. Because of its long length, the country is home to a variety of landscapes from thick deciduous forests to arctic tundras. Most famously, Norway is home to the hundreds of rugged fjords that were carved by huge glaciers hundreds of thousands of years ago.
These dramatic fjords are often the scenery best associated with Norway but not all of Norway is nestled between picturesque fjords. Norway is also home to fertile valleys, high plains and Arctic Tundra and of course, vibrant cities and quirky towns. Not all landscape photographers take photos simply of mountains. Towns like Bergen are highly sought after for the photographer looking to capture how nature interacts with human activity.
Photo by Carl van den Boom.
To be clear, you shouldn’t travel to Norway expecting to see the Northern Lights in every town you visit. Most of Norway will not be suitable for Aurora viewings and if you really want to see the dancing Northern Lights, you’ll need to hop on a plane to Tromsø. Luckily, Tromsø is one of the most beautiful locations to end up as a landscape photographer so there will be plenty to see.
Visiting the northern parts of Norway in winter will give you the best chance to see the Northern Lights. The nights are nice and long in the winter so you’ll have plenty of time to see this natural phenomenon.
Photo by Pedro Kin.
Norway is not cheap, but it is easy! Norwegians are typically friendly and hospitable to travellers and you’ll likely be able to find someone who speaks English around so the communication barriers aren’t as difficult.
The population of Norway is only 5.3 million people so you won’t have to worry about busy metropolises and crowded roads. If you’re planning on driving in Norway, the roads are well maintained and easy to navigate. If you’re going car-free, Norway has a good system of trains and transport to help you get to your destination. They also have plenty of domestic flights in case you’re wanting to hop around the country.
If you’re travelling in winter, keep in mind that some roads may be closed depending on the weather so factor that into your planning.
Photo by Carl van den Boom
What do you think of when you hear beach photography? Picture-perfect sandy beaches in Fiji? Coastlines filled with surfers in Australia? You probably don’t think of Norway when you hear great beaches but Norway actually has one of the longest coastlines of any country in the world, second only to Canada.
The beaches in Norway might not be what you’re used to but when you visit a Norwegian beach, you’ll see jagged towering mountains pop up out of the sea, which is something you definitely won’t get in Australia!
Some of our favourite beaches can be found in Lofoten such as Vestvågøy beaches, Ramberg Beach Skagsanden, and Unstad Arctic Surf Beach. You can read all about our favourite photography locations (including beaches) here!
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Nebo | Vallerret
October 07, 2022
Hi Daniel, thank you for your question. For Tromso, we recommend Hatchet or Tinden between November and February. Markhof Pro V3 all other times.