Darkelf Photography

Beneath the Mountain

Blue hour setting over the town of Klaksvik on Bordoy island in the Faroe Islands. Klaksvik is the second largest town in the Faroes. I took this photo on the way back from climbing the Klakkur mountain. We were making our way back into town when we spotted this view from the car. I thought it would give me a good opportunity to add an urban element to the landscape. Once we decided to stop, I wanted to catch that moment when street lights have come on but there was still decent ambient light available to reveal the surroundings and Kunoy headland rising high in the background. This is what actually made me think about a photo. If it was a bit brighter or darker, we would have probably driven on.

I have not done too much city or street photography (other than our travel photos) in recent times. I have been concentrating almost solely on landscape photography as this is the main reason why got into the this art in the first place. As I mentioned, this was a chance to add something else to the landscape and I was more than happy to give it a go. I gave myself a moment or two to think about it. We got out of the car to consider the light and composition, and there was something in the atmosphere of the evening that just clicked with me. The last deciding factor was how the clouds were dancing around the top of the mountain ahead. In addition, if I could get a longish exposure to catch their movement, it would complete the composition for me and fortunately I was able to do that.

We walked along the local streets for a while to find a good elevated spot with minimal distractions in the foreground. There was always either a car, or a rubbish bin, or some other unwelcome element in the places I found to be most suitable but finally we found one that seemed to work well for the photo. I has a great view of the town in front of me with the steeply rising mountain filling the background. I liked how the fjord added some separation between the houses and the mountain. I just felt that the overall balance felt very good.

I took multiple exposures for this image to ensure that I could keep town light under control and not blow them out too much. I brought back the brightest street lights through exposure blending in post processing. I think that they added a good touch of life to the urban part of the scene. There were only two or three spots to address, so it was not an extensive piece of work, but worthwhile in my mind nonetheless.

I was a spur of the moment decision to stop and take this photo but I find that these have often led to some of my favourite images being taken. I did not plan for this particular photo and I was very happy when conditions aligned nicely for me to be able to take it.

ISO 50 | f/16 | 1.3 sec | 70mm

Illusions and Perceptions

My apologies for taking more time that intended to post the next photo. Just busy with a few things at home and I did not get a chance to work on the next image. It is a return to Trælanípa cliffs today and the magical "floating" lake of Leitisvatn (also called Sørvágsvatn) in the Faroe Islands. Ever since our first visit back in 2019, I wanted to return there again and we did so during our last trip to the Faroes. Light was not at its best but there is always a hint of that special Faroes' atmosphere in the air and I was able to explore few different composition.

Rain was threatening on the day but we were very keen and headed out along the lake towards the cliffs. The hike, or rather a walk, is very easy but it is in the open and therefore it can get very blustery our there. It only takes about 45 minutes to reach the first cliff. When we walked there for the first time, I tried to imagine what it all actually looks like but still when I got there it surpassed anything I could come up with in my mind. That is also despite seeing photos from Trælanípa before. Second time around it was all more familiar but still exciting as we made our way. An added bonus of this hike is that we did not need a guide and we were able to do it at our own pace with plenty of time to stop and take photos.

Last time I concentrated more on the illusion created by the relationship between the lake and the ocean below. This time I was looking to work the cliffs into the image as well and to try a couple of different perspectives. I will not hide from the fact that I was looking for some ocean action with may be a bit of swell to add a bit of texture to the water but it was quite calm out there. That kept my focus on the landscape rather than the water. It is a tricky location to photography because even with 15mm width, I still felt like I needed more. My vision was to shot how the cliffs stretch form the lake towards the end point. There are also wide angle optical distortions to contend with but these days I just do not stress too much about that. I think that having a drone would be a of great benefit here (depending on the local permissions).

I did not end up taking too many photos. This is one of the images which conveys the perspective which I had envisioned. It also has the lake and the ocean in the frame which keeps the illusion of this place going. I was very happy to re-visit this location, especially since this view was still as mind bending as on the previous occasion.

ISO 100 | f/8 | 1/8 sec | 15mm

Reaching for the Light

We have returned from our latest trip and it is time to get back into posting. I started sharing photos from Faroe Islands before my little sojourn on the east coast of Australia and I shall resume with that theme at the moment.

This is a long exposure taken from the top of Klakkur mountain near Klaksvik. It was one of the hikes what we really wanted to do and set time aside specifically for that purpose. It is a reasonably steep but not a long climb. It can take around an hour to get to the top. Terrain can be very muddy and slippery though, especially after recent rain. It was more than a little muddy when we went up there but overall it was quite alright and we took our time to enjoy the views over Klaksvik and surrounding landscape on the way up.

There was a lot to enjoy because the views from the summit were spectacular. You get pretty much a 360 degree overview of the area around Klakkur. Mountains, cliffs, fjords, city of Klaksvik, and sheep -what else could one want? We could see a few of the other isles in every direction. It was the kind of a view that one could not get enough of. It looks great in the photos but it is just something else altogether in real life. If the weather did not deteriorate overnight and we did not have many other places to visit, we would have definitely climbed up there again.

Conditions were very much on the moody side but while it was overcast, the visibility was very good in all directions. It was also very quiet with just an odd fellow traveller around at the time we were there. Light was just teasingly hinting at bursting through the small gap over the horizon. Standing at the top of the ridge felt like I was reaching out for it but it just slowly faded away. However, the view and atmosphere were well worth the steep climb and getting dirty in the mud.

There were many composition possible from many great points on the mountain. Reaching the very end offered best views towards the north with islands of Kalsoy on the left and Kunoy right ahead. I went for wider perspective with this composition to get the foreground cliff in the frame as the anchor point, to get the entire Kunoy headland without cutting it off, and to have enough space for the clouds for long exposure to work its magic up there. With moody light and blue hour setting in, it was an easy choice for me to go for extended exposures to align with my "artistic" vision for this location.

It is amazing how much these "little" islands have to offer. This was one of the highlights from our last visit. I have more highlights coming up soon. Stay tuned!

ISO 50 | f/16 | 240 sec | 15mm

Piercing Light

Something a little more minimalist today. This was the morning view from our accommodation in Gotugjogv on Eysturoy in the Faroe Islands. That was about as much sunlight as we were going to get that day. Thick clouds rolled over the Faroes during the night and darkness lasted long into the day with only brief moments when sun was threatening to break through. I took this photo from our hotel. I actually noticed very faint light and colour a bit earlier and took few even more minimalist images. I will consider posting one of them in the future. Then we sat down for breakfast when I once again noticed this scene outside our windows. The camera was already prepared with my longer lens attached, and I was able to quickly take a few more shots. Because of the brightness of the light, I exposed for the sunlight, and I was happy to keep the cliffs and foreground water silhouetted. I love this kind of a scene and light, and I like a bit of contrast and darkness in the final image to emphasise the mood of the moment.

I am taking a short break I will be back in two to three weeks.

ISO 100 | f/9 | 1/250 sec | 170mm

Land of the Sheep

Hopping between various islands in the Faroes is quite simple. Distances are small even though one often needs to drive around fjords and mountains. Sometimes there is an underwater tunnel which connects the islands. This is coastal scenery with the ever present local inhabitants near Elduvik on Eysturoy island. Misty cliffs of Kalsoy are also visible in the far distance. It was a rainy and windy day. First half was completely washed out. Luckily, the conditions improved a little later on for us to head out and explore.

I remember stopping on a small headland reaching into Funningsfjordur to have a look at the views. The tip of the headland was right in the path of all the biggest winds gusts. The winds were not of the most dangerous quality but it was bitterly cold and there were odd showers passing by. I loved the view but I had to muster additional motivation to make myself get out of the car. On went my beannie and gloves and out I went. The wind was coming directly from the side I was facing to take photos. I could often see the next gust as it was travelling over the water, so I always had a moment to prepare myself for it and either turn away or steady my camera.

Did you ever have a situation when you were all good and cosy while you were busy taking photos, not really thinking too much about how cold or wet it was, only to instantly snap back into reality as soon as you finished with your camera? I find that once I set up for a photo and during the process of taking it, I am somewhat isolated from everything else. I do not feel cold or wet. I am just in my zone. Then suddenly I realise that my face is cold, my hands are almost freezing, and there is water dripping left right and centre over my rain gear. It is just such an unreal feeling. What follows is usually a very quick dash to the car, dumping of gear in the boot, and turning on the heather inside the car. It was much like that when I was taking this photo. The moment I finished I thought "damn, it is cold out here".

I took the photo hand held. I did not really get a chance to get my tripod out (and there was not need for it anyway). It was not easy taking it against the wind with my eyes watering up constantly because of it. There were also water drops floating about to contend with. I had to wipe the lens often to be able to take a clean frame without drops visible. I had to also pick the moments between wind gusts to press the shutter button when my camera was at its steadiest. A couple of times I was about to press or even already pressing the shutter when wind would push the lens up or down unexpectedly.

I am glad I persevered though because this was one of my favourite spots in the Faroes outside of the iconic locations. I repeated the dose next day at the same location when taking a photo of a town on the other side of the fjord in opposite direction. We stopped by this place again, in fact, to see whether I could improve on the current photo with different light and conditions but this was the mood and light I liked the most. Another bonus of making the decision to come out of the car a day earlier.

ISO 200 | f/8 | 1/50 sec | 24mm

Just Around the Corner

Back in 2024 we visited Faroe Islands for about two weeks which gave us a chance to thoroughly explore these small volcanic islands in the North Atlantic. I was especially keen to discover all the coastal spots accessible by roads, and there was much to find there indeed. Weather can be quite fickle in this region so having two weeks gave us enough time to wait out any adverse conditions, and that extra time was definitely needed.

At the beginning, we stayed in the capital, Tórshavn, on Streymoy island and it was only natural that we would start our exploration around there. When we went to Streymoy previously in 2019, weather was very dreary and we only skimmed the main parts of the island before moving on elsewhere. Later on weather improved and we did manage to return, but still there were places which we had to leave for another time with a solid promise to return. Small village of Sydradalur was one of these locations and this is the road leading up towards the settlement which is hiding somewhere ahead between the sharp edges of the mountains.

The road was not frequented by vehicles on the day so we had the freedom to stop almost everywhere to take in the sights and a few photos as well. Every corner and every bend in the road would bring a new perspective and something different to discover. It was windy with passing showers with the odd moment of sunlight as the light pushed past the clouds. I liked the atmosphere that these conditions created. When I think of Faroe Islands, this is what first comes to my mind. Cliffs rising over the fjords into the distance, cool air, clouds hanging over, and also feeling of peace and silence. Very much like it was on that day.

When we saw this view, I immediately knew we had to stop.There was a little bay on the side just up the road where I was able to safely get my camera out and walk down the winding path to find an interesting composition. This scene offered good leading lines, as well as wonderful depth created by the light and shadows over the mountains. Because the clouds were moving fast, I had to wait for the right light. I was especially looking for a bit of sunlight on the distant mountain just to provide nice separation between the cliffs. No tripod or multiple exposures were required here. Beautiful landscape and light did most of the work for me in this instance. Then it was time to get back on the road and find out what the next corner would reveal.

ISO 400 | f/8 | 1/400 sec | 63mm

Outback Encounters

You might have seen some photos of Australia with a caption "there is a thousand things hiding in this scene that can kill you" or something to that effect. This is in reference to belief that every insect and animal in Australia is out to get you. Somewhat of a misconception but still, the outback remains an unforgiving and dangerous place to the unprepared. I thought this photo was somewhere in that category. Plus, I just always wanted to post an image like this but never really had a chance as it is a bit of a cliché :-)

ISO 200 | f/8 | 1/320 sec | 24mm

Underworld

Gloomy and damp afternoon seemed like a perfect time to divert from lakeside scenery and visit the Cathedral Quarry in the Lake District in England. We spent the morning driving between the lakes to explore this beautiful area. We had heard a lot about it and seen a lot of great photos before visiting, so we were looking forward to seeing it with out own eyes. It was only a short visit, on the back of our Scotland trip, but it gave us a good idea what Lake District is all about.

The weather cleared up in the morning, however, it became more gloomy and wet as the day went on. I remember stopping on the shores of Derwentwater and checking out local maps to see where we could head out in these conditions. We really did not want to go back to the hotel half way through the day. As I was looking at the maps, I spotted a place marked as 'Cathedral Cave'. The name stirred my interest immediately and we proceeded to find out about it. When it turned out is was a complex of tunnels and caves in an old slate mine, we decided to go straight there.

It turned out to be a great decision. Short walk through the countryside to the quarry was lovely and exploring the old mine site was even more interesting. The main chamber which you can see in this photo was spectacular. It is about 12 metres tall and there is an 80 metre tunnel which leads into it. There were a few other people around but the atmosphere was very quite and peaceful. I had plenty of time to take out my camera and take a few photos inside the cave. Because it was rather humid, there was a think veil of mist around which created a haunting mood inside the cave. I also loved the soft light seeping through the main opening in the rock.

The contrast between the bright light out side and the dark rocky walls was significant and I ended up taking multiple exposures. I later combined them through Lightroom's merge to HDR feature to achieve an exposure which allowed me to process it further from there. Composition wise, I tried a couple of different angles to see what would work best. The big pillar was the main feature of the chamber but I also like the rocks on the right hand side with the light illuminating them nicely. That added nice depth to the scene.

I was not aware of this location prior to visiting Lake District, so it was a wonderful find along our journey. I was quite glad for poor weather in the end, as that allowed us to looks for alternative places to visit. Otherwise, we might have missed the Cathedral Quarry altogether.

ISO 800 | f/8 | 1/4 sec | 15mm

Light Will Find a Way

Autumn in al its glory in a woodland near Krakow in Poland. We went for a walk through the Prądnik Valley with some friends on a lovely autumn's day. It was more of a casual stroll through a very picturesque area, knows for its streams and forests, as well as for some stunning rock formations and caves. On this day, we were just happy to enjoy open areas as the weather was just about perfect.

Of course, no stroll through autumn woodland would be possible without me taking my camera along for the rise.There are possibilities along the way to sneak off the beaten track to see if anything interesting can be found in the woods. This spot immediately resonated with me. I loved the filtered light coming through the trees. I also liked the fantastic array of colours on the forest floor. Greens, yellows, oranges, and reds as far as the eye could see. As usual in a forest, there was a certain degree of chaos with stray branches and tree trunks scattered everywhere. However, I did manage to find a composition and minimised the clutter which allowed for the light and colours to find their way.

I did not really plan for the sun star but I did position the sun in the gap between the two trees, and I am glad that it came out the way it did. I remember checking the settings as I was working on the photo and I was expecting to find f/11 or f/16, thinking I must have stopped down quite a bit. However, it turned out to be f/4, which makes it even more surprising that it worked out so well. From memory, it was quite dark in the woodland and a bit windy too, so I was looking for a fast shutter speed to counter these conditions. I do not have the most steady hands with a camera and I did not want to keep my friends waiting by setting up a tripod in this instance.

It really was an amazing autumnal display and I am hoping to visit this area again in the future during autumn for further exploration and photography. I have been missing this kind of colourful autumn where I live, for a number of years, but recent travels gave me wonderful opportunities to enjoy the golden season in various locations, including here in Australia. Hopefully, more autumn photography awaits for me down the road.

ISO 1600 | f/4 | 1/800 sec | 24mm

Highland Citadel

Time for a black and white photo. I have looked at this image of Castle Stalker in Scotland a number of times when going through in my collection and kept thinking about doing a black and white conversion. When I was choosing a photo to post today, I came across it again and finally I decided to work on it for a bit, and this is the resulting impression.

It was a spot which we missed visiting a few years earlier and we allocated more time to be able to stop there when we went back. It was high on my list of places to photograph. We planned an afternoon/evening session and also went back again in the morning. Today's post comes from the afternoon visit. There is a number of different spots from which to photograph the castle and having the extra time allowed us to explore a few. Some are tide dependent and that also had to be taken into consideration. Having good side light was also an important factor as it allowed to add dimension and depth into the scene.

There were two main options for composition which I considered given the light and conditions which we encountered. One was to find a spot closer to the castle, and try to use the foreground as the leading element. Second was to find a composition which would set the castle against the mountains in the background and use a telephoto lens to photograph the scenery. The latter option was what I went with here and we decided to explore the areas to the south and east from the castle. While we did that, we spotted a small wooden bridge which cut across the inlet, and discovered that it offered good views of the castle with mountains in the background. This photo was taken from that location, just past the bridge on the south end.

I already mentioned the light and its direction which was another consideration when composing the photo. While the view from the bridge was great as well and it could work nicely, I wanted to catch the light illuminating one of the walls of the keep. I felt that it would add a bit of additional separation between the castle and the mountains. Final composition took a few fine adjustments as I was working out how much of the surroundings and mountains to include in the frame, as well as the angle which would work best for my vision. I think I quite liked that shadow line in the background pointing towards the structure. Keeping the castle set against the shadow part of the mountains further enhanced the depth in my view.

Sunset and sunrise did not produce anything overly exciting and I also did not get foggy conditions which I was hoping for, but it was still a fantastic experience to visit and discover this area. Afternoon light was great and it sculpted the landscape beautifully. I thought of a black and white image immediately but it took a bit of time at home for me to finally give it a go. I think it just took time for my mind the settle and a specific vision.

ISO 400 | f/8 | 1/500 sec | 200mm