The Impact of Lighting In Landscape Photography: A Journey in Norway

“I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary into the magical.”

-Trent Parke

Introduction

Landscape photography is finicky. You have little control over the weather, the cloud cover, the way the sun shines; you may see the perfect subject, yet not have a telephoto lens on hand or gear to capture what you see in the way you hope. At the same time, it can provide some of the most unexpected outcomes and shots. In having little to no control, you are at the mercy of your environment. You may be given a scene that you never thought was possible. You may stumble upon a sight so majestic and powerful that it knocks you off your feet. You may walk, hike, or travel for hours to get to a location in hopes of capturing the ideal shot.

That perfect shot may not come, but you have to be open to the possibilities and the changes. I have found that some of my most powerful and favorite photographs are the byproduct of an imperfect scenario. Hiking ten miles only to come across a valley full of fog and cloud cover, when my initial goal was a clear day with an unobstructed view of the nature beyond. The key player…lighting. Recognizing that the cloud cover allowed different elements to stand out. Noticing the way the sun rays streamed through the canopy of fog and highlighted different pieces of the puzzle.

One location where lighting came into play more than I had expected—Norway.

Exploring the Impact of Lighting

One of my favorite ways to play around with editing is throwing in black and white to see if it gives the viewer a more impactful image. Does the focal point change? Are certain aspects more pronounced? Are the effects of the lighting enhanced?

Natural light has the ability to reveal textures and contrasts in monochrome images. The sun does a fantastic job at directing the attention to a particular area, and creating dramatic scenes that make the image feel alive. This, in turn, alters the mood and emotional tone of an image. Changing it from dull to dynamic. A viewers gaze is brought to areas that are highlighted or framed. These highlights and frames can occur naturally if one recognizes them. Trees, branches, shrubbery, mountains, can all create angles and provide dark elements. Rays of light from the sun, the open air of the sky, clouds reflecting light from different sources may all create lightness. Search for the balance and the natural elegance in your surroundings. It exists, though it may not always be perfect or what is expected.

The contrast that results from certain lighting can be further enhanced in post-production (editing) with the adjustment of shadows and highlights, contrast, and other effects, such as dehaze, clarity, and texture. One can also use the tone curve (or light curve) to change portions of the image with the different sliders and control points. Although it may seem confusing or intimidating, the tone curve feature is fairly simple. Even if one does not understand how the control points and alteration of the curve change the image on a logistical side, the effects are seen in real time and can be played around with until the desired effect is achieved.

Compositional Strategies

When composing an image, before the shutter is pressed, take a moment to breathe in the moment and find the balance. Search for the light and dark elements to create depth and visual interest. As you take in the scene before you, change your angle, identify the features that add and detract, notice the lighting and placement within the window.

The view through the lens should tell a story. The downward slope of a mountain and eventual rise of the one beside it create leading lines and shapes. The sun rays direct the attention to wherever they shine light. Utilizing different pieces of the environment to form natural frames for the subject creates structure and further increases focus.

Do not rush the composition of a shot. Do not waste the time and effort you put into getting there. Connecting to the theme of my other post, be still and be present. Look at your surroundings and take in the sights before you from different perspectives. Explore angles, framing, leading lines, contrast, and lighting that may not be seen from only one position. Challenge yourself to minimize the number of shots you take to be more mindful and intentional with each press of the shutter.

The Journey to the Perfect Shot

I often find myself in unique situations, typically due to my own spontaneity. I have a tendency to simply…go. I have a desire to explore a new landscape, an itch to tackle another challenge, a lack of patience to do all my research, and to the behest of my mother, a propensity to climb mountains and explore forests without telling anyone. I yearn for the sense of peace and solitude that these moments provide. Walking through the dense forest, hearing the crunch of fallen twigs beneath my feet, the sound of my own breathing, the smell of damp earth or crisp air, I feel present. I absorb my surroundings and take note of all that is around me. In these moments, I am aware.

This awareness allows me to notice the artwork within nature. I pause, catching my breath as I look upward towards where I believe the summit may be. Hearing the gentle breeze and whispers of other life around me, I am provided with a sense of calm relief. There is something so special about being surrounding by nature, walking through forests, climbing up mountains with nothing but fresh, open air around you. I love the feeling of challenging myself with no one there to motivate me. It is me versus me. Propelling my body forward with each upwards step. Feeling the burning in my legs and the strain on my lungs. Exploring the thoughts that swirl around in my mind.

Typically, I do not have a specific image in mind that I plan to capture. I simply explore the beautiful places that Earth has to offer, and see what the planet and nature provide. How blessed I am to have captured some of the moments I have seen with my own two eyes. The journey, the process, is what matters. The photographs captured are simply a byproduct of my experience.

The Land of Fjords

Norway is a stunning country, full of untouched nature and preserved lands. The power that emanates from places such as this can be felt when one is fully present and still. Standing alone at the top of a mountain, overlooking the water, the towns, the life that continues on without you, is a humbling experience. It reminds one of both their significance and insignificance. The fact that the smallest changes can have a domino effect on the lives of others and the mere smallness of oneself in comparison to the world are felt simultaneously.

It was during one of my adventures that I truly felt this on a grand scale. I had driven my camper van along the western fjords for three days and had come upon one of the hikes listed on my loose itinerary. Pulling into the small parking lot, I saw no other people to ask where the trail began. Taking my chances, I started on the path I felt was right. Seeing what I believed was the summit in the distance, I hiked along the trodden ground. Feeling my heart rate quicken and my lungs beginning to burn, I took a look ahead and behind. Seeing the distance I had covered and the mountain top that seemed to constantly stand far away, unwavering in its grandness, I hoped to be near to the top. I came to learn that the location I believed was the summit, was in fact not the true end. A false summit, some may call it. I had experienced it once before, and it is quite the wake up call.

We often live life reaching for the finish line. Expecting it to be in the distance waiting for us. More often than not, what we believe to be the end is only the beginning of another race, another challenge, another lesson to be learned. We believe we have all the answers, that we know where the end is, but the truth is that the mountaintop is not always seen along the journey. One must believe in their abilities and trust in the process that the summit will be reached, without knowing when or where (unless you are using a trail tracker…).

I came across two other hikers on their way down the trail, back toward the parking lot. Asking them if the crest I saw before me was the top, I was humbled to learn that the summit was much farther than what I assumed. Silly me to assume in the first place. On I went, hoping with each step that I would be able to reach the summit and return to my cozy van and dinner before the sun fell below the mountains in the distance.

Cresting the false summit, I finally saw the rest of the path. Navigating the rocks and residual snowpack that coated the ground, I carefully made my way to the flag waving up ahead. Walking the final steps before the ground fell away back down towards the water, I realized I was completely alone. Free to take in the sights that stood before me without a single soul in my presence. It was a gift. To stand there, wind whipping my hair to the side, the sun beginning its slow descent, boats navigating in the waters far below, and no other sound than the breeze moving around me. I contemplated staying there for hours. I had felt this way once before, in Iceland. Laying on the grass while overlooking the ocean crashing against the cliffs with birds flying up and around far beyond. It is a feeling of stillness and of energy. It is a feeling worth chasing after.

Reflections on the Experience and Lessons Learned

It is always said: trust the process. I apply this mindset to many areas in life. Recognizing that the end may not always be seen, but to continue pursuing your goals and chasing your dreams regardless of what you see in the distance. Challenges and obstacles will present themselves, but you have to navigate them to grow and to learn. The same applies to photography, especially travel and landscape photography. There is only so much that one has control over in these settings, and you have to ‘go with the flow’ more often than not.

When using nature and the great outdoors as your subject, lighting and composition are key aspects that should be understood. Through hands-on practice, photographers are able to develop deeper knowledge of both the technical and experiential aspects of landscape photography. One must value patience, perseverance, and mindfulness to achieve their goals and capture the most unexpected moments.

There is a dynamic relationship with light and composition in the realm of photography. Black and white photography further highlights these factors as you take away a component that can add or detract from the essence of an image. Removing color highlights the other elements, enhancing the structure, directing one’s eyesight to the brightness in the whites and the depth of the darkness.

Experiment with light. Explore how it shapes the landscape and subject, bringing focus to certain areas, highlighting features that may typically be overlooked, creating depth in an otherwise unremarkable scene. The experience of hiking in the western fjords was transformative, as it impacted the way I noticed frames in the natural world. I recognized the nuances in the scenes before me and the silent journey that the lighting took me on. It showed me how silence can be just as loud. Be accepting, be persistent, and be open to the blessings before you.

-Alicia Rose

Norway 2025. A journey in the western fjords—endless, challenging, worthwhile. Titled "The Highlight", by Alicia Rose.