Fish-drying rack at Reine in Moskenes

For centuries, stockfish has been an import product exported from Lofoten to southern Europe. A large quantum of stockfish is normally exported each year to countries like Portugal, Italy and probably Spain. To make stockfish, the fish has to dry. The principle is generally quite simple - although I guess it is a lot of work. The fish is hung on the racks for quite some time to be dried by sun and wind. In this photo from just outside Reine, the racks are empty. In the backround, you may see the small island Sakrisøy.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/4.0 with a focal length of 17 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter speed was 1/500 seconds.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

A closer view of Reine

This photo photo was also taken from the point where the road to Reine takes off E-10, but from a slightly different angle than the previous one. Of course, here I've zoomed a bit closer as well. I like the sense of depth the mountains in the background give. Both pictures were taken July 22nd 2008. Luckily, I had filled the fuel tank when I left Svolvær, beacuse here, petrol was really expensive.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 72 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter speed was 1/250 seconds.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Overview of Reine in Lofoten

Reine is the administrative center of the municipality of Moskenes in Lofoten. The village has a poulation of approximately 340 of the 1150 inhabitants of Moskenes. Hamnøy, Sakrisøy, Moskenes, Sørvågen, Tind and Å are other fishing villages in the municipality far out (i.e. west) in Lofoten. Only Verøy and Røst are further out. The above picture was taken from the point where you take off the E-10 highway to go to Reine. Hamnøy and Sakrisøy are both in front of the mountain to the right in the background, but I'm not sure if you are able to see them here. At least you should be able to see one of the bridges near Sakrisøy.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/4.0 with a focal length of 20 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/250 seconds. Hmm, I had my ES-S 10-22 lens available, and I regret that I did not use it here. I guess I was to much in a hurry. The picture has been slightly edited in Adobe Photoshop Elements.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Ramberg in Flakstad

Ramberg is the administrative center of Flakstad, one of the municipalities of Lofoten. Flakstad only has about 1400 inhabitants. As you can see from the pictures above, the beach at Flakstad is really nice. It's on the outside of Lofoten, so the sea is really the Atlantic ocean. Although it looks tempting, you should not expect a warm bath!

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 33 mm. With ISO at 400, the shutter time was 1/20 seconds.

The above picture shows the eastern part of the beach.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 33 mm. With ISO at 400, the shutter time was 1/20 seconds.

These two pictures are part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Nusfjord in Flakstad

When travelling west in Lofoten, after crossing the Nappstraumen in a short underwater tunnel, you arrive at the Flakstad island. After some kilometers, in the inner part of Flakstadpollen, you may take off the E-10 and go south some kilometres to Nusfjord. It is a qute little fishing village next to Vestfjorden. In the European Architectural Heritage Year of 1975, Nusfjord was declared worthy of conservation. Situated in Flakstad in Lofoten, it is the best preserved fishing village in Norway. This picture was taken August 6th in 2006, and as you can see, unfortunately it was cloudy and raining. If you would like to stay overnight, visit this link.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 33 mm. With ISO at 400, the shutter time was 1/20 seconds. Yes, it was handheld without tripod, but with IS on.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Offersøystraumen in Vestvågøy

A few kilometres west of Leknes, E-10 crosses Offersøystraumen over a small bridge, which you may see in the upper part of the picture. About one kilometer from the bridge, the E-10 has a rest place from which this picture is taken. From the rest place, you should be able to se a sculpture in the mountain just above the road.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 56 mm. With ISO at 250, the shutter time was 1/60 seconds. The picture has been slightly adjusted with Adobe Potoshop Elements.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Fishing boats at harbour in Ballstad

From Leknes, you can take off the E-10 high way and go south some kilometres until you arrive in Ballstad. It's as far south you can come in Vestvågøy, and thus it's on the Vestfjorden side of Lofoten. The above picture is taken in the beginning of August 2006. It's raining, and a bit dark. Ballstad has approximately 740 inhabitants. It's been a fishing town for around 1000 years, and fishing is still important.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 85 mm. With ISO at 125, the shutter time was 1/100 seconds. The picture has been slightly adjusted with Adobe Potoshop Elements.

"Head" at Eggum in Vestvågøy

"Sculpture landscape Nordland" is a series of art placed in the nature around the Norland county of Norway. This one is called "Head" and made by an artist called Markus Raetz It is placed nearby Eggum in Lofoten, on the western "outside" part of Lofoten, in the minicipality of Vestvågøy in the norhtern part of Norway. I found this head really interesting. It looks quite different on each side. This view is toward the sea. The background is the Atlantic ocean.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 59 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/13 seconds. The picture has been slightly adjusted with Adobe Potoshop Elements.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Moving horse

Just outside the Chieftain's house of the Loftr Museum at Borg, several horses were enjoying the grass. This one was moving, and I tried to photograph it. As you may see, the shutter speed was low (1/13 seconds) and without tripod or any support, it's not easy to get it sharp. However, it should be clear that the horse really is moving!

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 59 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/13 seconds. The picture has been slightly adjusted with Adobe Potoshop Elements.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Loftr Viking Museum at Borg

At Borg in Vestvågøy, Loftr Viking Museum was opened in 1995. Here, a group of Scandinavian archelogists between 1986 and 1989 discovered the remains of a large (67 m long) building dated back to around year 500 (i.e. 1500 years ago). The main building of the museum is the Cieftain's house - a recontruction based on the archeological studies and how one believe the old building was. The museum seems to be popular among turists, and from what I've heard (and seen the two times I've visited), has a lot of visitors each year. Yoy may find more information here.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.0 with a focal length of 38 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/80 seconds. The picture has been slightly adjusted with Adobe Potoshop Elements.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Harbour of Henningsvær

Beginning of Augst is not a busy season regarding fishing, and as you see, it is quite calm in the harbour as well. At this time of year, tourism is more important, I guess.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/10 with a focal length of 35mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/125 seconds. In this case, I used the "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

Here is another part of the harbour. It's not a busy season, so I guess the boats is at harbour for some time. January and february has a lot more activity.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/9 with a focal length of 56 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/200 seconds. In this case, I used the "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Fish-drying racks at Henningsvær

Henningsvær is one of the places in Lofoten where cod fishing is important. In the picture above you see some fish-drying racks, where they actually hang cod to be dried by the sun and the wind. This picture was taken from the bridge to Henningsvær in august 2006. On my way to Henningsvær, the weather was nice, but now it was a bit cloudy. I parked my car on one side and walked to the highest point of the bridge.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/8 with a focal length of 38 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/125 seconds. In this case, I used the "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Festvåg

This picture is taken nearby Road to heaven between Henningsvær and Rørvik in the municipality of Vågan in Lofoten. I went by here august 5th in 2006. The weather was nice and the view beautiful, so a just stopped for å moment.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/10 with a focal length of 22 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/200 seconds. In this case, I used the "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Road to heaven?

I don't know why, but when I saw this scenary on my way to Henningsvær in July 2006, I just had to pull over to take this picture.
Whatever the reason, there is something here that appeals to me, and no, it is not the road to heaven. The picture is taken on road number 816 in the community of Vågan, about halfway between Rørvik and Henningsvær.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/11 with a focal length of 70 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/250 seconds.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Beach at Rørvik

In Lofoten, you will find many beautiful beaches. One of them is Rørvika in Vågan. It is easily accessible where road number 816 to Henningsvær takes off E-10. I did a small test, and it was actually not very cold. The picture (and the test) was taken in late July. Now, of course, it is too cold for bathing - although some people enjoy bathing.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/7.1 with a focal length of 68mm. With ISO at 200, the shutter time was 1/100 seconds.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Seals at Lofotakvariet

In Storvågen nearby Kabelvåg, Lofotakvariet is located close to Galleri Espolin, Lofotmuseet and Nyvågar Rorbuhotell. Inside, you will find many aquarium tanks with different kinds of fish species and educating exibitions about fishing and oil industries. A simple, yet impressing self-service point and click multimedia "table" attracted both children as well as older people.

The above picture is taken outside and shows two seals showing off to get food. The water looked clean and in general the animals seemed to have it quitee nice although not free to go entirely where they want. In addition to the seal pond, there is an otter pond with a few otters. Inside, there is also a cafeteria as well as a souvenir shop.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 85 mm. With ISO at 200, the shutter time was 1/80 seconds. The picture has been cropped using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Storvågan

Just outside Kabelvåg, and close enough to be considered part of Kabelvåg, you will find Storvågan with Lofotmuseet, Galleri Espolin, Lofotakvariet and Nyvågar Rorbuhotell. 

The picture above shows the main building of Nyvågar Rorbuhotell, which offers you to stay in hotell rooms or small apartments. I haven't stayed at the hotell, but I've "tested" the restaurant, which I found to be quite good with excellent service and well-tasting food. I had a fish dish, but they also offer meat if you prefer (although you should eat fish when in Lofoten).

Galleri Espolin is just nearby, and has an extensive exibition with paintings of Kaare Espolin Johnsen, well known for his paintings of the sea, Lofoten and fishermen.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.0 with a focal length of 41 mm. With ISO at 200, the shutter time was 1/160 seconds.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Kabelvåg

Kabelvåg was historically the first and biggest fishery town ("fiskevær") of Lofoten.  The commercial "Lofotfiske" (meaning approximately fishing in Lofoten...) started here around 1000 years ago when the stockfish (dried cod) became a product of trade.  Until past 1900, Kabelvåg was considered the centre of Lofoten and had a lot of activity related to fishing. The harbour is not very deep, and when bigger boats became more usual other places took over.

The above picture shows part of the square. Most of the town is in the opposite direction.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/5.6 with a focal length of 24 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/60 seconds. In this case, I used the "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

A small hotel in Kabelvåg

In Kabelvåg, you may also stay at Kabelvåg hotell. It is a bit more expensive than the summer hostel of Lofoten Folkehøgskole, but still not very expensive - at least in Norwegian sense. I stayed here once on my way back from Lofoten, and I found it to be a nice hotel with clean and nice rooms. The hotel is situated pretty much in the center of Kabelvåg, which of course is not very big.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM at f/4 with a focal length of 16 mm. With ISO at 200, the shutter time was 1/1000 seconds. I probably should have used a slower (narrower) aperture.

Lofotkatedralen

When you leave Svolvær by car and go further out on the E-10, you will soon arrive in Kabelvåg. Just before you do, you will see Lofotkatedralen on the left side of the road. Lofotkatedralen (or the Curch of Vågan) was opened in 1898, and is said to be the largest Norwegian wooden church north of Trondheim. In fact, it is said to be the largest Norwegian wooden building north of Trondheim. It has a capacity of 1200 people. Kabelvåg has around 1600 inhabitants (2006), so there should be room for everyone. The church was probably sized for the busy fishing period around 1900 than todays need.

The picture above is taken from the road towards Lofoten Folkehøgskole, which offer inexpensive overnight stay during the summer. The weather was a bit misty and I didn't take enough time. To be honest, I think the picture was taken sitting in my car with the window rolled down. Thus, I am not too happy with the quality of the picture.

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/6.3 with a focal length of 41 mm. With ISO at 100, the shutter time was 1/80 seconds. In this case, I had used "landscape mode", i.e. one of the more automatic "newbie" options of the basic zone.

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.

Lofotcruise - sightseeing

The picture above shows one of the small tourist boats at the harbour of Svolvær. During the summer, you may go onboard small ships like this one to take a trip nearby.Tickets may be bought at the harbour or most likely at the tourist information in the white building in the background. It seems like the most popular trips go to Trollfjorden where you can watch eagles and other birds - or the Hurtigruten ship turning in the really narrow fjord. At least in Norway, Trollfjorden is famous for "The battle of Trollfjorden", an "incident" in 1890 when fishermen of small rowing boats attacked bigger steam boats that tried to keep them off fishing in the fjord. In the summer, Hurtigruten takes a small detour inside Trollfjorden.  I haven't been there myself, but Trollfjorden is said to be very beautiful. 

Photo details: EOS 30D with my EF-S 17-85 mm at f/7.1 with a focal length of 20 mm. With ISO at 400, the shutter time was 1/500 seconds. 

This picture is part of my Lofoten set at flickr.