Buksnes Kirke

Buksnes Kirke is a striking wooden church built in 1905 in the Dragestil, or Dragon Style, an ornate Scandinavian architectural movement that gives the building its distinctive carved roofline, dark timber framing, and steeply pitched roof. The church sits against a dramatic Arctic Norwegian backdrop, making it one of the more photogenic historic structures in the Lofoten Islands region. Shoot from across the churchyard to capture the full facade with the surrounding mountains and fjord light behind it, or move in close to isolate the decorative woodwork and carved details with a 50mm or short telephoto lens. The soft, low-angle light that lingers for hours during the long summer days is ideal here, with golden hour stretching well into the evening. In winter, snow on the roof and the moody overcast skies add atmosphere. Parking is available nearby and the grounds are easy to walk. (Gravdal, Nordland, Norway)