Flåm Railway, Berekvam Station, Norway

If you read my rant in ‘A road less travelled’ then you’ll see from this image I managed to find a seat with an open window for the return trip. This is the midway passing point at Berekvam Station and the only section of dual track.

Tags:   Flåm Railway Berekvam Station trains mountains fjords landscapes Andy Rouse andyrousephotography Canon 5DMkiii EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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Fløibanen Funicular Railway, Bergen, Norway

Timed it perfectly to grab the front row seat in the downward carriage. Took a load of images through the glass window on the way down but as we approached the base station, exposure times lengthened through the tunnel… still, I like a good ICM image and something a bit different to post.

Tags:   Bergen Norway Mount Fløyen Fløibanen Funicular railway tracks tunnels ICM LE long exposure abstract Andy Rouse andyrousephotography Canon 5DMkiii EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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Flåm Railway, near Myrdal, Norway

One of the highlights of our trip to Bergen was a day excursion to the Flåm Railway and a cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. This is well worth visiting and naturally a honeypot location for worldwide tourists.

However, a word of caution for you togs… it’s a bloody nightmare photography wise if you don’t secure one of the half-opening window seats. The train pulls about 6 coaches and can accommodate 400 passengers at best guess so it doesn’t take many bus coaches to fill each train (we had 3 full coaches in our tour convoy). I was beaten to said window seat by an elderly couple who obviously took the window seats. Out of the remaining 4 seats at that window 3 of us had SLRs. I asked the lady, who was sat in the prime seat looking forward if we could open the window at periodic points to shoot through. All was well for the first couple of views but then she started to complain about the noise and wind from the open window. Then when the window was open she complained that the bottom of the window frame obscured ‘her’ view!

Needless to say, us togs got bugger all images from the outbound trip, and what made it worse, she couldn’t operate her 'smart'phone and missed both shots she attempted due to tunnels.

I changed seat and compartment for the return leg of the trip. Luckily with a group of like-minded togs who took turns to shoot from the permanently open window. I didn’t get many but a few to post. This is taken somewhere just North of the terminal station Myrdal. It’s taken some time to find on the map but I think it’s a hiking/cycling trail between Myrdal and Vatnahalsen stations.

Tags:   Flåm Railway mountains fjords trails tracks hiking cycling switchbacks Myrdalsvingane Myrdøola Rallarvegen Rallarvegen I Andy Rouse andyrousephotography Canon 5DMkiii EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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Bergen, Norway

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Bergen was to photograph these houses – Bryggen, a harbour district of Bergen. They are not the easiest of buildings to capture especially from the roadside due to all the table and chairs and bus stops right in front of them, so in my opinion, the other side of the harbour probably produces the better overall image.

As usual, by the last day I’m in panic mode thinking I’ve not quite got the shot I had in my mind’s eye. As fortune would have it we got seated at a window table for breakfast and behold I could see the houses directly across from me – perpendicular and perfect for architectural shots! Since we were getting picked up for the return trip to the airport in 90mins time (which didn’t turn up causing another panic but that’s another story) breakfast was a rushed affair for me and I dashed back to the room for my gear.

The hotel staff were very accommodating and unlocked the doors so I could shoot outside from the waterside quay that runs along the length of the hotel (Clarion Hotel Admiral if anyone’s planned on going to Bergen – highly recommended).
A hundred images later and I think I’ve got my shots.

Tags:   Bryggen Bergen Norway UNESCO World Heritage Site historic harbour buildings wooden architecture city views cityscapes Andy Rouse andyrousephotography Canon 5DMkiii EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

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Voss Municipality, Vestland, Norway

The second stop-off of the day excursion stopped at this impressive waterfall. Just had to risk being last back on the coach to get a tourist free shot!

Tags:   Tvindefossen waterfall Voss Municipality Vestland Norway E16 Andy Rouse andyrousephotography Canon 5DMkiii EF17-40mm f/4L USM

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