Henningsvær Harbour

Henningsvær is a small fishing village spread across a cluster of islands in the Lofoten archipelago. The harbour sits in a narrow strait between the islands. With traditional wooden boathouses lining the water's edge and the jagged Lofoten peaks rising sharply in the background, this harbour is just begging to be photographed. The combination of colourful buildings, still harbour water, and dramatic mountain scenery gives you strong reflections and layered compositions throughout the day. The harbour area rewards wide shots that take in the full scale of the setting, but there is also plenty of detail work available among the drying racks, fishing boats, and weathered structures along the waterfront. Winter and early spring bring the added bonus of stockfish drying on outdoor racks, which adds texture and context to the scene. Sunrise is the best time to shoot, with soft light hitting the buildings and the water often calm enough for clean reflections. The village is small and walkable, so it is easy to experiment with various vantage points along the harbour edge. (Henningsvær, Nordland, Norway)