Arctic lights over Telegrafbukta

In this Saturday morning of December, a day without clouds (yeepeeee!). I decide to be courageous and get up early, around 9:30 … , to take some pictures of sunrise-sunset (with the hidden sun). Outside, weather is not especially cold. After a few minutes of walk, I open my coat. I’m starting to really get hot! Dammit! is that the famous Arctic winter!? Aftersomething like a one hour’s walk, I finally arrive to my favorite destination on the island of Tromsøya: the area around the beach Telegrafbukta. I know that here I can find good spots to take pictures, because I’ve already been there when the sea level has risen about 50 cm last month. This is the opportunity to see what it looks like when it is not flooded!

It is around 11am when I arrive on site. The light of the Arctic sunrise-sunset is already present since a few. These beautiful lights between yellow and orange are just what I need. I hurry to unfold my tripod to start as soon as possible to take pictures … But that’s without thinking that the ground is completely frozen in some places. Not frost, but a very thick ice, result of a thick layer of snow that has already melt and freeze again for several days already. I almost fall a couple of times but faith is much stronger and I continue to run, spot after spot, to take pictures.

Here the wind is cold… even freezing. The ground, when not covered with a thick layer of ice, is cracking under my steps. My ears and fingers cry (yes! of course it’s possible! ^^). But the spectacle unfolding in front of me is so magical that no matter the pain, I will be victorious! I am almost alone. A few walkers and joggers can be seen here and there, but they are so few that they do not break this peaceful moment.

After an hour, I begin to feel a strange feeling. Until now, when I want to photograph sunrises or sunsets lights, those lasts about half an hour maximum. After it is too late. But here I have been shooting for an hour and light has barely changed. It’s pretty strange to live, but quite nice actually.

One thing is for sure: I’ll be back!

-ju