Reine, Sakrisøy & Hamnøy Bridge
The Iconic Scenes
Reine, Sakrisøy, and the Legendary Hamnøy Bridge
From snowy red cabins to the legendary Hamnøy Bridge at sunset, this was a day of chasing the most iconic scenes in Lofoten. And the light — oh, the light delivered.
I didn't record an intro for this video. Apologies. The snow was falling, and we were already out seeking adventure.
That's the thing about Lofoten — you can stop anywhere along the road and find something wonderful to photograph. And on this particular day, we found plenty.
Our first stop was a little red cabin, nestled so neatly into the snow with a colossal mountain backdrop. The sky was dramatic, the snow was pristine, and everything just worked. I'm super happy with how that image turned out — one that would lend itself quite nicely to a print.
But the real challenge of the day? Parking. One of the harsh realities of visiting a location like Lofoten is sitting in a car park and waiting for a space to present itself. The participants on the tour were already out enjoying the scenery. I needed to join them.
Reine — The Perfect Vista
The conditions this year were wonderfully different. Drama in the sky, snow still clinging to the rooftops, contrasting so beautifully with the red rorbuer cabins. I set up at 16mm, bracketing the exposure to control the harsh highlights on the right side of the frame.
But something wasn't quite right.
The crescent moon shape of the waterfront balancing the mighty mountains — this is the view I was after.
While reviewing the images on the back of the camera, I realised that 16mm just wasn't wide enough. The original composition didn't capture the entirety of the curved waterfront I wanted in the frame. So I pivoted — I took a simple panoramic and stitched it together in post.
The result? Absolutely epic. The village of Reine across the water, the crescent moon shape of the water's edge, the mighty mountains in the background. I'm thrilled with how this image turned out.
The Telephoto — Finding Layers
As wide and epic as the scene was, I switched to the 100-400mm. Off in the distance, these massive peaks were catching the most incredible light. We had to be fast.
Using the 100-400mm like a sniper scope — layering the peaks and the cabins.
Using the 100-400mm like a sniper scope, I was seeking layers. The low cloud and dramatic weather lent themselves beautifully to isolating peaks. I turned on crop sensor mode, which took me up to about 500mm. This really helped emphasise the looming mountainside against the tiny cabins in the foreground.
One of my favourite images from the day was a simple one — the furthest mountain peak catching the tiniest last bit of light, adding beautiful contrast to the final frame. There's something so simple, striking, and beautiful about how it turned out.
Sakrisøy — Yellow Cabins and Instagram Glory
We made our way to Sakrisøy — pronounced by everyone in the group as "Sexy Roy" for obvious reasons. It's a fantastic spot, with yellow houses against the mountainous backdrops. The light was incredible, and the opportunities were everywhere.
The iconic yellow cabin — I can see why it's so popular.
There's a funny thing about Sakrisøy — it's one of those real Instagram scenes, and I can see why it's so popular. The yellow cabin framed so beautifully against the tall, spiky mountain in the background. But there's a catch — you have to contend with all the yellow hats, blue jackets, and red jackets wandering into your frame, all looking to grab a slice of that Instagram glory.
I'm very happy with how this particular image turned out. The light was lovely, the colours popped, and I understand completely why it's such a popular scene.
A Note on Crowds
One of the main things you have to contend with when visiting places like this is traffic and people. Lofoten wasn't really built for big tour buses and huge groups. You have to be super mindful of the locals and how they view everyone passing through.
When there are seven tourists trying to cross a tiny little bridge, things start to get a bit hairy. But in fairness, everyone we encountered was super nice and welcoming. I can imagine during the summer it gets incredibly busy. So if we all just be a bit extra mindful, it'll be well.
Hamnøy Bridge — The Main Event
We moved on to Hamnøy Bridge — a super iconic location for any landscape photographer. The view was incredible. A nice break in the clouds was forming, and the sun was looking to come through and light up the peak. We had the red houses in the foreground, the bridge, the mountains — the scene was set.
But it was so cold. I'd left my gloves back at the lodge. Pro tip: bring your gloves.
Wow. Wowzers. Look at this.
The light really came through for us. It was absolutely gorgeous. The last bit of light dancing across the peak, the red cabins contrasting so beautifully in the snow, a slightly long exposure dragging out the water as it crashes into the rocks in the foreground. It's an incredible scene.
This was one of the best images I think I have ever taken. I absolutely adore it. Compared to last year's conditions — which were beautiful but lacking drama — this frame delivers everything I was after. The snow on the mountains boosts the contrast against the red houses. The light is just better and better.
I'm printing this one.
Having the opportunity to revisit and get this image — I will forever be grateful. Humbled to stand in such majesty of wonder and beauty.
Reflections
What an absolutely marvelous end to such a beautiful day. I cut some really gorgeous photographs. Absolutely thrilled.
We were going to call it quits, go eat some food, and rest. But the light kept delivering. The weather was on our side. And the memories we made will last forever.
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But for now, take it easy, everyone. Cheers.
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