Gallery: seeing the Norwegian landscape in black and white
Black and white photography is truly quite a ‘departure from reality’, and the transition from one aspect of visual magic to another was not as complete as many imagine.
Ansel Adams
To be honest, much of the Norwegian landscape looked a little unreal to me even in its natural colours. The drama of its mountains, the almost eerie light around midnight, even the snow and rain. All these lent it a magical air.
Some of these sights I have already shared in my Midnight Sun post; others will no doubt appear in future. In this Monochrome Madness gallery I have assembled a selection of landscape shots that I felt worked as well (and in some cases better) in black and white than in colour.
All these shots were taken originally in colour and edited with Silver Efex Pro. They are presented in chronological order, travelling north from Trondheim to Tromsø and then around the latter city.
Mountains on Austvagoy Island, Lofoten (taken while on a bus excursion from the Hurtigruten ship)
At the Lofoten Museum, Austvagoy Island, Lofoten
At the Lofoten Museum, Austvagoy Island, Lofoten, just after it started to snow (on the last day in May!)
Near the entrance to Trollfjord, taken from the Hurtigruten ship MS Nordlys
The entrance to Trollfjord; we had hoped to sail into the fjord but the weather was against us
Passing the entrance to Trollfjord, at three minutes to midnight
At Telegrafbukta, Tromsø Island; the name means ‘Telegraph Bay’ and this is where the first line connecting Tromsø to the mainland arrived
Also at Telegrafbukta, Tromsø Island
Near Tromvik, a small fishing village on Kvaløya Island which is linked to Tromsø Island by a bridge
The beach at Tromvik, Kvaløya Island; the name means ‘Whale Island’ and it is the fifth largest island in Norway
View of rain approaching, taken near Tromvik, Kvaløya Island; my feature photo was also taken at Tromvik
A view of Grøtfjord on Kvaløya Island
I visited Norway in May 2023
34 Comments
wetanddustyroads
I love seeing Norway through your lens Sarah. The drama, the cold, the beauty, the night that looks like day … it’s all quite amazing!
Sarah Wilkie
It really is stunning – I’m glad you’re enjoying it 😀
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equinoxio21
Very nice. Though the temperature did drop a few degrees C.
Sarah Wilkie
Definitely on the chilly side!
equinoxio21
❄️
grandmisadventures
The black and white really bring out the dramatic landscape of mountains and sea to make some stunning pictures 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I did hope it would do that, although the landscapes were stunning in their natural colours too of course!
maristravels
On Catch-up again and I’ve quite a lot to catch-up on, obviously you’ve been to Norway recently and the posts are all very enjoyable. Later, I will get round to reading them all properly (just skimmed today).
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Mari – yes, I was in Norway for a week end of May / early June. It was wonderful but very cold!
Anita
Impressive scenery, amazing photos, very special in b/w. I like what I see, although I usually prefer color.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anita – if someone who usually prefers colour sees something special in these monochrome images I am happy 😊
Heidi-Marie
Really awesome! Great photography too!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much!
Heidi-Marie
You’re welcome 😊
restlessjo
Sombre but beautiful, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jo 😊
Monkey's Tale
Love the black and white pictures, you’re right they do add a bit of magic to an already amazing scene. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie, I’m so glad you felt the magic 😀
bushboy
Brilliant B&W Sarah 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Brian 😊
thehungrytravellers.blog
There really is something haunting and spectacular about this part of the world, and you’re right about the B&W shots adding a certain element to the mystery of it all
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, ‘haunting’ is a good word for these landscapes – easy to see why people believed in trolls and such-like
Image Earth Travel
Wonderful photos in my favourite medium of B&W!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m happy you liked them 😊
Mike and Kellye Hefner
Stunning shots, Sarah! I find the mountains intriguing due to the fact that some of them look like solid rock with no plant life. In the one where you’re passing the entrance to Trollfjord at three minutes until midnight, is that a tower or lighthouse in the middle or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Kellye 😊 Yes, many of the mountains are completely bare – the Arctic climate combined with their height I would assume. The small buildings you can see are boat houses. You can also see them in the shot above that one but from a different angle, and in that shot you can also see the house they belong to, which is hidden by trees in the lower of the two photos. What a place to live, eh?!
Mike and Kellye Hefner
I’m not tough enough to live in that climate, but I sure would love to visit!
Sarah Wilkie
Same here – and bear in mind this is summer!
Mike and Kellye Hefner
No coats for me in the summer!
Sarah Wilkie
I wore my winter jacket throughout this trip, and winter boots, hats, gloves and jumpers!
Anne Sandler
Beautiful black and whites Sarah. I like the way you can almost feel the mountain’s rocky texture.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 😊 I’m really pleased you picked up on that as it’s something I was trying to convey!
Anne Sandler
You conveyed it well! I saw it right away.