dj.tigersprout's photoblog
a Perfect Day In the Norwegian Arctic...
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 27 October 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
headed back to catch my flight, i turned around to capture the path i had come by. the water, once so expansive, was now only a thin strip of navy blue across the horizon to the left. the dry, powdery ice crackled under my feet as i walked, and the cold, motionless air kept me aware of my internal senses, a quiet awareness of my entire body. i felt alive and strong, i felt confident and connected, i felt like i was possibly growing younger.
i stopped, listening in silence -- there was no movement of wind, nor any sounds. around me the landscape lay white and frozen -- a dormant, barren wonderland. the gold and ruby twilight hung silently in the sky like an amazing fresco of soft pastel colors. i had never seen light like this before -- iridescent, the subtle colors, the ethereal clarity... it simply made everything look beautiful -- and that made me feel wonderfully happy. i was experiencing the equivalent of a bright and sunny day in the lower latitudes -- a dim but elegant display of pinks and blues, purples and violets.
all 5 days i had spent in Tromso had been just like this one -- still, beautiful, perfect and very short. there was only 4 hours each day to contemplate the glorious twilight before the long night would begin again. i had been living in a real land of dreams, a home at the top of the world.
all work protected by Creative Commons
k@ from Paris, France
Very inviting, this curve with amazing colors.
The ginger fringe catches my eye*
27 Oct 2009 5:48am
@k@: ooh -- love those two words -- ginger, fringe!! maybe its the g's? ;) thanks Karine!!! xxx
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
So were you tempted to get out and make snowmen, or snow angels or snow balls. A truly magical winter wonder land.
27 Oct 2009 6:28am
@Marion: it was lovely!! unfortunately i had no time on this day for snowmen or snow angels -- but we certainly partook in those activities earlier that week!! :) thanks Marion!
Zing from Hamilton, New Zealand
Beautiful composition, love the snow covered road.
27 Oct 2009 6:42am
@Zing: thanks mate!
callemie from Belgium
o already the snow!!!! great
and NY will be in march or april hihi I'll let you know!
grtzzzzzzzzzzzz
27 Oct 2009 6:51am
@callemie: ok great! see you early 2010!!! :) xxx
Mirko Herzner from Germany
One word: simplicity. Most people would have simply missed that shot. You took it and it turns out beautiful...
27 Oct 2009 7:11am
@Mirko Herzner: thanks heaps Mirko!! i don't seem to have too many shots like this for some reason... i seem to prefer a more angular composition... still, i like how this turned out...! :)
Aurore from Paris, France
Raod, snow and beautiful blue tones, everything we can expect from a beautiful natural trip in the North of our beautiful planet (which is blue too :)
27 Oct 2009 9:33am
@Aurore: yes!! blue all around!! :) thanks Aurore!!
MrsAmber from West Wickham, United Kingdom
Great photo full of atmosphere and your words really make it...just lovely.
27 Oct 2009 10:03am
@MrsAmber: thanks Amber -- you would love Norway in winter!! :)
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
Superb capture of this mellow light and the pastel tones in this frozen, beautiful part of the world. Reflects your text very well, obviously a matter of love! :-)
27 Oct 2009 10:30am
@MadScientist: yes indeed -- a love of cold, pristine, open spaces! thanks Manfred!
Curly from South Shields, United Kingdom
Perfect composition, I long to see some snow here this winter.
27 Oct 2009 11:02am
@Curly: thanks Curly!! i hope you get some snow this winter!
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
Yes cold and crisp just for a change ;) Beautiful
27 Oct 2009 11:17am
@grouser: lol. ;) yes i know -- i seem to have the fascination with the arctic and sub-arctic...
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Love the detail in the tire tracks along the road and the many shades of icy blue. The feeling of a long journey is upon us. Beautiful shot!
27 Oct 2009 12:22pm
@bluechameleon: thanks BC!! actually it was only a short jaunt back to the terminal -- but i so wanted it to be a long journey!!! ;)
MARIANA from Waterloo, Canada
Fabulous scene! Trust me it looks so much like here , in Canada, but this blue is something I admire the most and do not see here :))
27 Oct 2009 12:37pm
@MARIANA: thanks Mariana!! ;) where do you live by the way? what part of Canada?
shoti from Everywhere in the, Philippines
wouldn't call it a perfect day but your composition's quite clever :)
27 Oct 2009 1:36pm
@shoti: lol -- well it doesn't get any more perfect than this in arctic winter!! this is as light as it gets and temperatures hovered just at freezing. it was gorgeous! :) cheers Shoti!
Marianne B. from Toulouse, France
Love the details on the road, tones and colours !!!
a wonderful shot for a wonderful day !
have a nice day, Jaycee !
27 Oct 2009 1:41pm
@Marianne B.: thanks Marianne!! i hope this week is going well for you!!! :)
Yvonne Simons from Tilburg, Netherlands
All alone in this beautiful part of the world? This is so beautiful, almost unreal!
27 Oct 2009 2:02pm
@Yvonne Simons: thanks Yvonne!!!
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Beautiful composition with all those bright blue and white tones divided by that small line of red! I'm glad you endured the cold to show us the beauty of this country ;)
27 Oct 2009 2:30pm
@Monique: thanks Monique!!!
@MARIANA: oh! so we are quite close then!! hello neighbor!!! :)
`Paul from Minneapolis, United States
.. nicely shot ... you know something, at first i looked at this photo and felt a shiver of cold desolation... but then i read your words, and a palpable feeling of joy, beauty, and warmth came over me... a very warmly written text to balance the frigid scene!! .. great work.
27 Oct 2009 2:51pm
@`Paul: thanks heaps Paul!! :) it definitely was a cold experience -- however, it was more of an insulated cold than an all out freezing cold!
@M@ndy: hello M@ndy!! thanks for the visit and comments!! :)
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
How atmospheric Jaycee!!! The tone, the details, the clarity and composition are all beautiful... and I just love the feel this pic is conveying - vastness and loneliness - but an enjoyable one!:-) Have a great day!
27 Oct 2009 2:54pm
@hugo poon: thanks heaps Hugo!! hope your week is well!! :)
MARIANA from Waterloo, Canada
sure. let's meet at Niagara :)) lol 3 hours from my home to Niagara Falls ! :))
27 Oct 2009 3:25pm
@MARIANA: ooh -- we may just HAVE to do that!! i have never been -- and NEED to visit!!! :D
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
The strip of brown really makes the shot.
27 Oct 2009 4:48pm
@Michael Rawluk: thank you Michael!!
@john4jack: indeed -- and it is soon to begin again! strangely though it feels like it was just here!! ;) cheers mate!!
Fred from Manila, Philippines
The lines and the contours of the land (or shall I say snow) are just so so inviting. Its ironic that its so beautiful in here yet the living conditions must be extreme.
27 Oct 2009 6:27pm
@Fred: thanks Fred!! sorry for the late reply -- the coastal artic in Norway actually has a very warm winter on account of the gulf stream. not sure exactly what the average is... but it is close to 20 degrees. not bad at all!! on my way back to california -- we had a layover in new york... where it was a miserable -5 degrees!!! :P
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Awesome shot, you can feel the cold in this one.
27 Oct 2009 7:27pm
Ken from United States
Brilliant eye and composition! My breath is feeling frosty just typing this!
✰✰✰✰✰ !!!
27 Oct 2009 8:40pm
@Ken: thanks Kenny!!! :)
PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Great light -- and nice composition! I like the feel of it
27 Oct 2009 9:06pm
Michael from Shell village, United Kingdom
Fabulous landscape, and a great narrative ! Good work dj !
27 Oct 2009 9:33pm
@Michael: thanks Mike!! :)
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Love this capture with the winding road, which adds nice depth to this great composition. Your comment about stopping and listening in silence with no wind movement or sound would start to freak me out. :-)
27 Oct 2009 11:05pm
@Steven: thanks Steven!! actually the silence was simply beautiful -- it felt really clean, like a strong meditation. it is hard to describe, but it was a very pleasant experience -- you would certainly love it!! cheers!
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Great shot dj, you definitely captured the silence and atmosphere with this superb composition. A fascinating image of this amazing land.
28 Oct 2009 12:46am
@John Maslowski: thanks heaps John!!! all the best to you!! :)
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Beautiful composition of the winter and snow. Just the traces of cars...
28 Oct 2009 12:52am
Ivar from Indianapolis, United States
Beautiful landscape and blue tones... just as I remember it too... up there int he north during the winter months.
28 Oct 2009 2:02am
@Ivar: i want to LIVE up there!!! i am jealous that you have already had that wonderful experience!!! i need to move there for a year or something -- so i can experience a year of radical light! :) thanks Ivar!!
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
excellent composition DJ - my eyes just follow the curve of the road right in towards the wonderful landscape ahead...
28 Oct 2009 2:39am
@DarkElf: thanks mate!!
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
There are so many subtle color variations in every element of this image such that it draws the eye in - and keeps it. A wonderful photograph Jaycee.
28 Oct 2009 3:29am
@Stephen Phillips: thanks heaps Stephen!!!
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
such a lovely landscape, but your words make me feel like i was there with you my friend :) tho you may have felt like you were getting younger, i might just have felt COLD lolol... but i'm kind of sucky about the weather!!! a million kisses to you too!!! xoxooxoxxooxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoox
28 Oct 2009 8:11am
@Elaine-: right back at you darling!!! :) xoxoxoxo
Carlos from Riva de Ruesga, Spain
thanks for your comments, love your photoblog. five stars.
28 Oct 2009 8:19am
@Carlos: thanks heaps Carlos, loved your photoblog too! cheers! :)
dan from paris, France
You describe very well your sensations in front of this show; We owe the respect to the nature.
28 Oct 2009 12:32pm
@dan: isn't nature wonderful? :) thanks Dan!!
@Ana Lúcia: thank you Ana!!! :)
@Veronelle: Merci a toi Veronelle!!!
@Alun: thanks Alun!!! :)
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Hi DJ - haven't had time to look at all the comments, but gave this 5 stars even before I scrolled down. This is just exceptional, my friend - but after your comment the other day - don't even try to choose between mono or colour photography - there's a definite place for both!
28 Oct 2009 6:58pm
@dobbino: thanks heaps Rob!!! :D yes -- this latest batch of color is having some effect on me... just when i thought b/w was the only answer!! lol. :P never fear, i certainly won't give up on color... i just NEED to get a new camera!!! :P cheers to you!!
Dana from St. Louis, United States
I so enjoy your description to accompany the picture. I can almost feel like I too am standing on that path. what a beautiful place to be.
28 Oct 2009 9:59pm
@Dana: thanks Dana!
@See The Light: thanks very much!! :)
grant from kansas city, United States
what a great road! i can hear the sound of snow under car tires.
29 Oct 2009 3:22pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Stunning landscape. I love the sky how the color progresses from hopeful to dark. Good shot.
29 Oct 2009 6:49pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Love the light and the lovely rendering of the texture of the snow.
30 Oct 2009 3:40pm
Reno from Madrid, Spain
Des mots qui expriment des sentiments que nous parvenons à partager en nous laissant couler dans cette atmosphère dj...une ligne de douceur enneigée emmène notre regard vers la droite, qui en même temps veut se diriger vers les herbes fines de droites, aux couleurs attendrissantes..puis se fond de bleu autour de la neige...super! belles impressions bleutées qui rendent le rêve proche.
1 Nov 2009 1:42am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/80 second
F/7.1
ISO 800
18 mm