PHOTO LOCATIONS

1. Classic Hamnoy Bridge Viewpoint

The most famous photography spot is located on the bridge that connects Hamnoy to the main road (E10). From this bridge, photographers look directly toward the red cabins of Eliassen Rorbuer with Festhelltinden rising behind them. This viewpoint works exceptionally well because of its strong composition, where the cabins form a visual anchor and the mountains create a dramatic background.

One of the most overlooked factors at this location is camera position and perspective. The classic viewpoint is from the bridge, but even small changes in position can make a significant difference. Standing on the east side of the bridge aligns the mountain and red cabins more vertically, which works well for a portrait orientation, especially when including snowy rocks in the foreground. Shooting horizontally from this position often leaves too much empty space on one side. From the west side of the bridge, the mountain and cabins spread farther apart, making it better suited for landscape orientation. In landscape photography, such subtle positional shifts can completely alter the composition, so it is always worth moving around and testing different perspectives, even at well-known locations.

2. Harbor View toward Festhelltinden

From this location, a wide-angle lens allows for a complete framing of the mountain and the bay. On calm, windless days, reflections of Festhelltinden appear clearly in the water, creating a clean and elegant composition. Personally, I find this scene most appealing after snowfall, when both the shoreline and the mountain are covered in fresh snow. High tide is also preferable, as it reduces the visibility of seaweed in the shallow water and simplifies the foreground. Although I like to use long exposure to completely eliminate ripples even on calm, windless days, one needs to be careful of movement from the rocking boats and wooden platform. A few seconds of exposure is usually sufficient.

3. Harbor View toward Olstinden

This viewpoint offers a beautiful perspective toward the harbor with Olstinden rising in the background. Calm and windless conditions work best, as they allow reflections to form in the water. Again, one needs to be careful of movement from the rocking boats and wooden platform when using long exposure. A few seconds of exposure is usually sufficient.

4. View from Reinefjorden Rorbuer toward Olstinden and Reinebringen

From the parking area at Reinefjorden Rorbuer, you can capture a panoramic scene that includes the cabins of Eliassen Rorbuer, Olstinden, and Reinebringen. This location works particularly well when the water is calm, allowing reflections to unify the composition. A longer exposure helps eliminate ripples and creates a more refined and harmonious result.

5. View from Rorbuer toward Reinebringen

Walking out to the platform near Reinefjorden Rorbuer reveals a striking view of the red cabins of Eliassen Rorbuer with Reinebringen rising in the background. As with many locations in Hamnoy, calm and windless conditions are ideal for reflections. A long exposure further enhances the scene by smoothing the water and reducing visual distractions.

6. Others

There are many hidden gems in this area waiting to be discovered. Walking down over the rocks from the east end of the bridge allows for a low-angle perspective toward the cabins, with either Festhelltinden or Olstinden in the background. Exploring within Eliassen Rorbuer can also provide interesting viewpoints toward Olstinden. The area rewards curiosity, and some of the most compelling compositions can be found just a short distance away from the main viewpoints.

TIME

Good light can be found during sunrise, sunset, and blue hour, and even overcast day. The direction and quality of light change significantly with the seasons.

AURORA BOREALIS

Hamnøy is also a popular location for photographing the aurora borealis, although it comes with challenges. Light pollution can be significant, especially on the bridge where streetlights are close by, making it more difficult to achieve clean exposures. The lights from the cabins can also easily become overexposed at night. Because of this, strong aurora activity combined with some moonlight is often necessary to produce high-quality images.

The area near Reinefjorden offers slightly better conditions with reduced light pollution, and Olstinden provides a beautiful and dramatic backdrop for aurora photography.

Because of the Gulf Stream flowing past Lofoten, winters here can be relatively mild. Snow is never guaranteed, even in the middle of winter. A single snowfall can blanket the entire landscape, while a day of heavy rain and warmer temperatures can quickly wash it all away. Festhelltinden, being a steep mountain, does not easily retain snow unless it is immediately after a significant snowfall.

Tides are another important factor to consider. During low tide, rocks along the shoreline become exposed, while at high tide they are submerged beneath the water. If a snowfall occurs just before or around low tide, these rocks can be covered in fresh snow, creating a unique foreground opportunity. This is an especially good time to explore the eastern end of the bridge, where such conditions can work beautifully for portrait-oriented compositions.

PRACTICAL TIPS

Arriving early for sunrise is important, as the bridge can become crowded. A tripod, 6-stops and 10-stops ND filters are essential for low-light and/or long-exposure photography. Care should be taken when shooting on the bridge due to traffic, and in winter, icy conditions make crampons highly recommended.

If you have several days in the area, it is worth visiting these locations under different conditions. If time is limited, starting at the bridge during blue hour or sunrise and then gradually moving to nearby spots on foot is an efficient approach.

In winter, particularly from early January to early February, the golden hour can last for several hours, allowing ample time to photograph multiple locations in beautiful light when conditions are favorable.