Haukland Beach

Haukland Beach is a strikingly beautiful arctic beach on the Lofoten Islands, where white sand and turquoise water sit framed by dramatic mountain peaks, making it look almost tropical despite its far-north location. The contrast between the soft beach and rugged peaks gives you a lot to work with compositionally; try shooting from the water's edge to capture reflections at low tide, or move toward either end of the beach to use the curving shoreline as a natural leading line into the mountains. A wide-angle lens works well here to take in the full sweep of the scene. Because Haukland sits above the Arctic Circle, summer brings the midnight sun with warm, low-angle light lasting for hours, while autumn and winter offer chances to capture the northern lights arching over the peaks. Parking is available directly at the beach, making it easy to arrive early or stay late for the best light. (Leknes, Nordland, Norway)