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HERE to go to the exact spot where this shot was taken.
Norway, leaving the best for last.
Of course it did, wouldn't you know it.
I got some of the best and most spectacular shots of the Norwegian landscape as I was leaving Norway, go figure. Something to do with the light, or rather lack thereof up north in Norway at this time of year, but heading down south toward the Finland border the sun became visible for the first time in nearly two months for me. Goodness gracious, a great ball of fire.
It didn't do anything in terms of warming me up. It was still -15 out and the windchill brought that down even lower, but it sure was nice to see. Everything had a warm glow to it like liquid honey. I was told that there's nothing much down here, and there isn't. Unless you're a nature lover like me and also happen to be a photographer as well. Then, in all honesty, you're in a photographers paradise is how I would best describe it. Provided you like winter of course.
I've only ever seen photographs or postcards of these snow covered, gently curving tree branches and bushes in snowfields like this in southern Norway and northern Finland, otherwise know as Lappland. I was limited to my imagination and to other photographers images of these snow covered deserts, a landscape that looked to me to be out of this world. Crisp, white, snow crystals shimmering in the sunlight. The magical landscape of Lappland, conjuring up images of Santa Claus and reindeers, a land full of wonder and enchantment.
A Winter Wonderland.
And now, here I was, right in the middle of it.
Nature. There are times when it takes my breath away and leaves me speechless. Pinch me.
I have always loved and been romantically enchanted by snow and snow covered landscapes. Growing up in Dublin Ireland in the 60's and 70's we had a white Christmas every three or four years, and I vividly remember it was the highlight of my life back then. It completely transformed the inner child in me and made living in dull, overcast and dismal Ireland feel like a really wonderful place to be. For a few weeks anyway. One year we even got so much snow I made my first snowman.
Snow and it's magical qualities was one of my escapes back then, so when I left Ireland for my first big backpacking adventure in December of 1977 at 16 yrs old, where did I go?. Zermatt, Switzerland of course, another one of my favorite winter places on this planet.
And here I am now, in Lappland, and not surprisingly feeling right at home.
Some more wonderful images from Lappland and the rest of this post can be seen
HERE on the blog.
Take a moment, have a read, leave a comment if you're so inclined.
Murph.
). I finally opened it tonight and read the entire thread and some of your blog.
