PHOTOGRAPHING ARCTIC LANDSCAPES

3.-6.10.2024

Explore Bugøynes and Varangerfjord with your camera! The picturesque charming village by the Arctic Ocean offers a wonderful setting for photography as well as a small break from everyday life. October is a peaceful but dramatic time to capture the arctic sceneries, wind, rain, and the fragile nature. Also the evenings are full of possibilities to photograph the Northern Lights. We will visit scenic spots around the village and Varangerfjord by foot and car. Optionally, if the weather permits it, we will also have the chance to participate in a King Crab safari. Be inspired by the nature and the unique geology of Northern Norway and participate in our first ever photography course – held by Wenche Myhre, an experienced photographer who has been photographing the area for years.

Who is the weekend for?

The weekend is suitable for both beginners and more advanced photographers who share the love for photographing. We’ll be spending as much time as possible outdoors to experience the changes in weather and light over the course of the day. You’ll be given guidance and feedback on the images you create by our photography guide Wenche Myhre. But the main aim is to have a rewarding and fun weekend with like-minded people where we learn also from each other. At the end of the weekend we can gather togeher for a picture viewing evening at Bistroen with good food.

Transport during the tour

We’ll be driven around in a minibus with up to 7 passengers per vehicle and enough space for all your equipment. We will also do short hikes, so be prepared with good weather-proof shoes. Arrival and departure transfers are arranged from Kirkenes town, Kirkenes airport and Brannsletta bus stop.

Accommodation

We will be staying in rooms of Hedvig House in Bugøynes village. You can choose to share a twin room or have your own. The house has shared kitchen and bathrooms.

Food and Sauna

The package includes breakfasts. As we’ll be outside taking photographs every day, we’ll take self-made packed lunches along. Arrival lunch and dinners are optional in Restaurant Bistroen. Sauna and swimming in offered at our Barents Sauna Camp on one of the evenings.

Northern Lights in Bugoynes

ITINERARY

  • Day 1. Arrival and pick up from Kirkenes airport. Welcome to Bugøynes! After settling into our rooms and getting something to eat, our photography guide Wenche Myhre, will give info on the camera settings, lenses, filters and the program for the following days. We will also head outdoors to do some shots. We’ll take our time at the various places we stop, and our teacher will provide you with individual attention out in the field. The most important skill required to create good nature photography is the ability to “see”, and here you’ll find the inspiration you need to train your eye and become even better at observing nature in all its diversity.
  • Day 2 & 3: The program and the locations will be planned according to the weather forecast. We have stunning locations to visit on both sides of Varangerfjord, and while it can be raining on one side, it can be sunny on the other. The weather by the Arctic Sea might change many times a day so it is all about adapting and going with the flow. Photographing in windy or rainy weather is also part of the experience, and can provide the best shots. There will be many photo opportunities close to the accommodation but for some of the locations we need to drive up to one hour to reach them. We might also do some hiking.
  • In the evenings we have a chance to focus on the Northern Lights and stargazing if the weather is clear. There is hardly any light pollution in Bugøynes, so the surrounding offers the best circumstances for night photography.
  • On one of the evenings we will also experience a sauna with an opportunity to swim in the Arctic Ocean – one of the best things to do in Bugøynes!
  • Day 4: Departure day – but not until the evening! We can arrange an optional King Crab Safari for the morning, which includes a hearty King Crab lunch. And if you have an evening flight departure from Kirkenes, we can visit the Snowhotel before your flight. You can also join the Kirkenes excursion even if you are not departing on an evening flight. If you don’t have to hurry home the whole day is still available for you!
LOCATION
Bugoynes rocks at beach

PRICING

Hedvig house offers cozy accommodation with a home-feel. The rooms are private, but the bathrooms, living room and the fully equipped kitchen are shared with other guests. The house is in three floors, and each floor offers a bathroom. The twin rooms offer two single beds.

Pricing:

  • 8100NOK/person in shared twin room
  • 8700NOK/person in single room

Optional King Crab Safari (weather dependent)

  • 1300NOK/person including a big king crab lunch (normal price 1650kr/person)

Optional Snowhotel visit

  • 800NOK/person when combined to return airport transfer with evening flight departure

Weekend pricing includes

  • 3 nights accommodation in Hedvig House rooms
  • 3 breakfasts
  • 2 packed lunches on Day 2 and Day 3
  • 4 days of photographing and touring around Bugøynes and Varangerfjord stopping at scenic places
  • services of our photography guide 
  • all transfers included in the weekend itinerary 
  • return transfers from Kirkenes airport (noon arrival and evening departure – check the flights here)
  • sauna and swimming on one of the evenings at Barents Sauna Camp

Pricing does not include

  • flights to/from Kirkenes – check the flights here
  • lunches or dinners
  • insurances
  • alcoholic beverages and snacks
  • optional King crab safari
  • optional visit to Kirkenes Snowhotel

Minimum participant amount required is 4 persons

Bugoynes beach

WHAT TO BRING

Clothing

  • The temperature in the parts of Norway in October can vary from approx +10 – -5 degrees Celsius. You will need proper wind-proof and rain-proof clothing, long underwear, good trekking shoes and a lighter winter jacket.
  • Also bring gloves and a hat
  • For the evenings it is also good have a headlamp.

Photo equipment

  • A wide range of subjects will be available to us, from landscapes to reindeer and birds. Therefore it is good to bring everything from wide-angle to telephoto lenses. Lenses from 70-200 mm up to 500 mm are excellent for the birds or wildlife that we will encounter. To increase focal length you can use a teleconverter.
  • Rainfall and even snow are likely during the tour so bring some protections for your cameras and lenses. If you have two camera bodies, bring both in order not to have to change lenses as much.

Other things you should bring are:

  • Tripod
  • Memory cards
  • Batteries
  • Battery charger
  • Camera bag
  • Headlamp
  • Swimsuit for sauna & swimming!
Photography guide

Our photograpy guide Wenche Myhre, is an experienced photographer and has been photographing our area for years. She will guide you to good places and give you tips throughout the weekend.

Northern Lights & October by Varangerfjord
    • Northern lights are a natural phenomenon which we cannot guarantee. Generally, however, we do have good chances in seeing them since we are located in the aurora zone and October is one of the best times to view them.
    • October is also the season where you can experience a variety of different weather. Also stronger winds are beautiful to capture on camera and bring drama to pictures
    • October is also a silent time of year when the nature is preparing itself for winter. Additionally most travelers are not traveling in the area in October so also for this reason it is a very unique time of year.

SEND ENQUIRY

    Gunnarveien 1 B, 9935 Bugøynes, Norway

    +47 78 99 02 00

    booking@visitbugoynes.no

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