Light Hunters
Recently I had the pleasure to spend twelve days on the Lofoten Islands of Norway with friends. Lofoten has become a popular destination with landscape photographers lately and for very good reason, as we found out. A series of scattered islands connected in the fairly recent years by bridges, causeways and tunnels. Sharp, ragged and fearsome under the right light, mountains emerging from the bottom of the sea, surrounding peaceful harbours that work as a perfect refuge for fishing villages. Extremely powerful and impressive, at times they resembled the twelve gods of Greek mythology. To the north, coves and bays with sandy and rocky beaches and breathtaking backgrounds – as some would call, a landscape photographer's heaven.
There was a reason for visiting Lofoten during May. This time of year the sun sets and stays just below the horizon for a few hours, before it rises again. If the weather stays clear, there is constant colour on the horizon – the optimum twilight photography season.
Our plan was to photograph between 10pm and 4am, as this would be the best time for ultimate light. However, as Lofoten lies at the edge of the Atlantic, and we all know how unpredictable the weather can be over there, our plans sadly did not materialise. As we have done on many occasions before though, we made the best of whatever the weather threw at us – besides, it would be impossible to return from a location such as Lofoten without some spectacular images and we certainly achieved that, despite dodging rain showers during the last three days of our stay there.
A key lesson that every landscape photographer learns was never more apt than during my trip: adapt, be content and get inspiration from the landscape, whatever the elements have to throw at you.
Until next month, be well, stay inspired and read issue 64 from cover to cover.

Dimitri Vasileiou, Editor of LPM
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