Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800
Its been a dream for some time to go to photograph arctic ducks in the sheltered harbour of Båtsfjord, a small fisherman's village on the rough Varanger coast on the northern tip of Norway. With initiative and great company from / with photographer colleague Bjørn Erik Hellang we went there in second half of March 2020. The trick with the birds is to feed the local Sea Urchins (kråkeboller) with fish leftovers, the urchins come in big numbers and cover the bottom ... and arctic ducks like King Eiders (Prakærfugl), Longtailed Ducks (Havelle) and Stellers Eider (Stellerand) + Common Eiders come in big numbers in early mornings to revel on the urchins. Best time of year to go there for this purpose is February & March ... after the mid winter permanent darkness is gone and before the birds go to their arctic breeding grounds in (mainly) russian Sibiria .... A great photographic experience !! ... and the new manager has creative ideas for next years shooting !!!
Accommodation, food & service : First Class !!!
All bookings of hide & accommodation is done through Båtsfjord Hotel (post@baatsfjord.com)
A winterly visit to Båtsfjord can easily be combined with artic seabirds colonies at Hornøya nearby the city of Vardø and with possible owls, Willow Grouse & the Pine Grosbeak feeding place in Pasvik. (Pine Grosbeak contact : Ben-Arne Sotkajærvi).
TEST : Reflections in the waves from a "planted light" on the nearby harbours edge gave ideas for King Eider photography in the morning twilight.
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 1000
Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2000
Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800
Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a harbour light
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800
Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a permanent harbour light
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 5600
Male King Eider shot in the morning twilight with the reflections from a nearby red building .... highlighted by a red fender hanging on the pier`s edge
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/400, ISO 2800
Portrait of male King Eider
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/2500, ISO 5600
Male King Eider
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640
Male King Eider
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640
Sunrise with male King Eider
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/3200, ISO 1000
Male King Eider
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/5,6, 1/2500, ISO 1400
"Gull blandt gråstein" ? Male King Eider swimming with Common Eiders
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/2500, ISO 5600
Male Longtailed Duck / Havelle
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,0, 1/1600, ISO 200
Male Longtailed Duck / Havelle in reflected colours of a harbour building
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 640
Portrait of male Longtailed Duck / Havelle
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/4,5, 1/1600, ISO 500
Touchdown ! Female Longtailed Duck / Havelle
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/5,0, 1/3200, ISO 1100
Male Stellers Eider / Stellerand
Nikon D5, Nikkor 600 4,0, f/6,3, 1/1600, ISO 1600
The floating hide for arctic ducks inside Båtsfjord`s sheltered harbour
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Inside the floating hide for arctic ducks in Båtsfjord. Each blue XPS plate is a optional shooting opening with possible low angle with both backlight and frontlight.
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