I was here exactly 8 years ago – 6 February 2015. There is quite a bit more water now, perhaps 1,5 to 2 meters deeper. There are few signs of the powerful cyclones Chapala and Megh that followed after my visit in 2015 and the following years. But I did not see any of the […]
I was here exactly 8 years ago – 6 February 2015. There is quite a bit more water now, perhaps 1,5 to 2 meters deeper. The sand-washed, very bright surfaces are looking the same as in 2015. Perhaps reaching a bit further away from the water now. During a cyclone or wet winter, the water […]
I was here exactly 8 years ago – 6 February 2015. There is quite a bit more water now, perhaps 1,5 to 2 meters deeper. The sand-washed, very bright surfaces are looking the same as in 2015. Perhaps reaching a bit further away from the water now. During a cyclone or wet winter, the water […]
These towers are made by the male Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan). The crabs are found on the coast throughout Socotra, but they are only able to make these castles where the tides do not regularly reach. Here in Erissel they dig deep to reach the wet sands, and thus these towers reach pretty […]
These towers are made by the male Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan). The crabs are found on the coast throughout Socotra, but they are only able to make these castles where the tides do not regularly reach. Here in Erissel they dig deep to reach the wet sands, and thus these towers reach pretty […]
Socotra is full of extraordinary geological features, and when water is in the mix it is even more spectacular. Here the layers of cascading rock gives the appearance of running water, or even ice forming in a waterfall. Without the people in the mix the scale of the place would not have been easy to […]
Although much of Socotra appears bone dry, the island is like a huge water reservoir. First and foremost the Haghier mountains are rainmakers in their own right, but whenever the is rain, the water flows through millions of cracks in the ground. Some flow to underground aquifers, others appear as seepage in mountain and canyon […]
The moon, two days to full, hanging above the crown of an old and damaged Boswellia elongata in Homhil. This is one of very few remaining trees of what was once a forest of Boswellia elongata. It is a sad state, and the future is uncertain. The damage to the crown is from past cyclones, […]
This is Homhil at its most beautiful – green and vibrant after the winter rains. Unfortunately this is but a faint echo of past glory, when the land was in fact a forest of Boswellia elongata. The distance between each tree is huge, compared to what it should be, and once was. Only photos from […]
This is Homhil at its most beautiful – green and vibrant after the winter rains. Unfortunately this is but a faint echo of past glory, when the land was in fact a forest of Boswellia elongata. The dead wood in the foreground is a fallen member of this forest, and in the background one that […]
This is Homhil at its most beautiful – green and vibrant after the winter rains. Unfortunately this is but a faint echo of past glory, when the land was in fact a forest of Boswellia elongata. The distance between each tree is huge, compared to what it should be, and once was. Only photos from […]
This is Homhil at its most beautiful – green and vibrant after the winter rains. Unfortunately this is but a faint echo of past glory, when the land was in fact a forest of Boswellia elongata. The distance between each tree is huge, compared to what it should be, and once was. Only photos from […]
A beautiful specimen with lush foliage accessible to behold up close. Many of them them grow on vertical cliffs with very few ways to reach, so close encounter like this is most welcome. Some grow on hillsides, but getting close to the foliage is difficult as the trees are usually several meters tall with foliage […]
The mighty Dirhur canyon is perhaps most impressive when seen from Dixam. From here you can see the fringes of Firhmin Forest on the other side of the canyon. Firhmin is a forest of dragon blood trees (Dracaena cinnabari) – the only forest on Socotra, and the world. It is a spectacular forest of otherworldly […]
With more than 30 000 dragon blood trees, Firhmin forest is the largest and densest group of dragon blood trees on Socotra. There is an estimated total of around 80 000 dragon blood trees on Socotra, which might seem a lot, but the regeneration has been non-existent for a very long time. Firhmin forest is […]
Here I’m photographing Acridocarpus socotranus, one of many endemic species of plants in the middle of the otherworldly Firhmin Forest. Find more about the status of the dragon blood tree here. Find more information about conservation efforts and studies.
The Firhmin Forest is the largest collection of dragon blood tress in all of Socotra, with an estimated 32 000 trees. To walk in this forest was incredible and to look out at the forest from this vantage point was like standing in a different time and place, as these trees do not look like […]
This individual has an amazing view over Firhmin Forest. Being near the Haghier mountains the sky is overcast, but in a few days the sun will win over the clouds and this location will be baked in sunlight and heat until next winter. Between now and then only sporadic night fog will provide moisture to […]
An evergreen species common in Firhmin Forest, where it’s found as a shrub to trees 3 meters tall or more.
The iconic dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), found only on the island of Socotra. Here they grow in the tens of thousands (Firhmin forest is estimated to hold more than thirty thousand trees) and make the only forest of dragon blood trees on Socotra and in the world. They can live for 700 years or […]
The dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) is undoubtedly the most famous of all plant species on Socotra, and you will know immediately this is a unique tree found only on this very special island. The plant is used as a logo and symbol of anything Socotri, and travel companies, foreign and Socotri, will have this […]
The mighty Dirhur canyon – the deepest of all canyons on Socotra. I’m standing on Dixam, looking towards the Firhmin Forest on the other side. Firhmin is the only dragon blood tree forest on Socotra, with more than 32 000 trees. It is estimated there are around 80 000 dragon blood trees in total on […]
Denne vakre prikkperikumengen har nå blomstret en stund og det er færre knopper å se på blomsterstandene. Det kan godt hende det er noen firkantperikum innblandet her, men det er prikkperikum som er den dominerende. Dette er en av flere plantearter som danner vakre enger på den skrinne øya Fyrsteilene. Blomsterengene starter fra våren med […]
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time.
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time.
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time. Here you can see the snowdrift flowing over the boats and […]
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time. Here you can see the snowdrift flowing over the boats and […]
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time. The owners of this blue shed, my favorite building in Hokkaido, […]
During my visits to Notsuke Peninsula I experienced, snow, blue sky, and a lot in between. This is shot when the wind was battering the landscape, making it very cold and unpleasant to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time.
The colors of the houses in Hokkaido are rather bland, dominated by beige, grey and off-white. Very different from what you encounter in the Norwegian country-side, where you’ll find buildings in bright red, blue, yellow and white. This blue shed was standing very much out in it’s unique color, which brings down the color of […]
The colors of the houses in Hokkaido are rather bland, dominated by beige, grey and off-white. Very different from what you encounter in the Norwegian country-side, where you’ll find buildings in bright red, blue, yellow and white. I found only one shed, and these fishing net floats in bright colors. Here the daylight is coming […]
The colors of the houses in Hokkaido are rather bland, dominated by beige, grey and off-white. Very different from what you encounter in the Norwegian country-side, where you’ll find buildings in bright red, blue, yellow and white. I found only one shed, and these fishing net floats in bright colors. Here the daylight is coming […]
The colors of the houses in Hokkaido are rather bland, dominated by beige, grey and off-white. Very different from what you encounter in the Norwegian country-side, where you’ll find buildings in bright red, blue, yellow and white. This blue shed was standing very much out in it’s unique color, which brings down the color of […]
Notsuke Peninsula is a beautiful stretch of open land and sea, with wetland on one side and pebbles and stones on the other side facing the Pacific. There is much wildlife here, and few buildings. During winter the wind and snow can be brutal, and any building must be able to stand against the storms. […]
The colors of the houses in Hokkaido are rather bland, dominated by beige, grey and off-white. Very different from what you encounter in the Norwegian country-side, where you’ll find buildings in bright red, blue, yellow and white. I found only one shed, and these fishing net floats in bright colors.
A very popular location in Hokkaido to watch red-crowned cranes roosting is Setsuri River from the Otowa Bridge. This is a long time favorite of both cranes and people alike, as the cranes feel safe here and come in a decent number, and humans get a beautiful view of the river, cranes and the surroundings. […]
This morning started with lots of rain, defying the forecast of sunny skies and making the journey here somewhat in the unknown. But lo and behold – the clouds gave way for blue sky and sunlight, making this capture possible, capturing the immense beauty of this stretch of Bruny Island. I was in luck to […]
This road is built on a very narrow stretch of land, where one side has an amazing beach seen here, and the other facing Tasmania. As you can see there is barely a place to park you car. How this place is during the high season I can only imagine. I enjoyed every minute of […]
Humanity has always been inspired by nature, and tried to express their experience of nature through art. Although there are countless incredible human productions, nature simply cannot be beat in any way. Be it microscopic or on cosmological scales. Nature is always more. Every moment of every day there are shapes, patterns and colors for […]
A very brief, but stunning part of sunset on a beach I visited many times during my stay here. Every hour of the day provided a uniquely beautiful experience, and particularly so with the presence of only nature and wildlife, as this was autumn and the low season for visitors.
This is such a beautiful beach I’m sure is pretty crowded in summer, but this is autumn and this couple were the only other humans I encountered here during my several visits during my time here.
The Bicheno blowhole can be magnificent if you come during optimal conditions of high waves and tide with a partly cloudy sky as seen here. Better stick around in Bicheno if you are unlucky in regards to the weather and tidal conditions on your first attempt.
A beautiful lighthouse in an amazing natural setting, and I had it almost all to myself! As I visited in autumn, there were hardly any visitors and the landscape was all natural sounds and sights. Elevation: 18 meters
This was perhaps the most “crowded” of all the waterfalls I visited during my trip to New Zealand And Tasmania this autumn, and I can only imagine how crowded this place would be during the high season. During my visit it was all nature and only the occasional visitor. I even saw a sleeping wallaby […]
This was perhaps the most “crowded” of all the waterfalls I visited during my trip to New Zealand And Tasmania this autumn, and I can only imagine how crowded this place would be during the high season. During my visit it was all nature and only the occasional visitor. I even saw a sleeping wallaby […]
There were no swans on this lake during this brief and wonderful time of sunset, but several ducks. Elevation: 590 meters
On the way to the Purakunai Falls you’ll find this mini-version of the main attraction about half-way between the main road and the falls. In North America and Eurasia the landscape is on fire with reds and yellows in autumn, but here there are no such decidious tree species. Europeans longing for that special sign […]
A beautiful waterfall I had almost to myself. As I visited in the autumn there were very few visitors around and that made the place that much more amazing. Elevation: 75 meters
Perhaps the most famous tree in the world, in an ever changing environment. This time it was extremely windy and cold, and not at all pleasant, but visually it was amazing as the sky was filled with dramatic clouds in layers, each moving in a different pace and direction. Elevation: 282 meters
Perhaps the most famous tree in the world, in an ever changing environment. This time it was extremely windy and cold, and not at all pleasant, but visually it was amazing as the sky was filled with dramatic clouds in layers, each moving in a different pace and direction. Elevation: 282 meters
Even though I visited here in autumn, this site was exceptionally popular and crowded, and not pleasurable at all, except for the geyser. Left to its own devices this is a mellow geyser, but drop some detergent into it, and it steadily increases its outward pressure until it reaches a considerable height and then steadily […]
This is a hidden gem that’s easily missed and not visited by many compared to other waterfalls in New Zealand. The river turns 90 degrees here, and has a short run before it flows into the bigger Ohinemuri River running alongside Highway 2.
For a brief few seconds these two kids chose to stand in front of the waterfall, providing an excellent scale of this magnificent place.
This particular area was absolutely stunning in the soft light of early morning – a savanna with beautifully colored dead grasses and a clutch of three small trees clinging onto life. Elevation: 403 meters
What better way to experience a sunrise than in the air – silently flowing on the invisible layers of moving air, soon to be heated up by the sun. As the sun rises, the air becomes turbulent and a trip much less pleasant and unpredictable. Elevation: 719 meters
A single tree has survived years of heat, drought and very occasional rain. Elevation: 993 meters
A single tree has survived years of heat, drought and very occasional rain. Elevation: 993 meters
A rare moment with gorgeous puffy clouds creating crepescular rays during the golden hour, by one of the enormous sand dunes. In the desert the sky is almost always without any clouds, making the sky dull and featureless. But this precious morning was touched by magic, in a magical landscape! Elevation: 620 meters
A single tree has not only survived years of heat, drought and very occasional rain, but thrived to become a mature giant. Elevation: 620 meters
Prior to my visit unseasonal rains had turned trees, shrubs and plants green and in bloom, but the water was long gone from this particular and iconic clay pan. I was told that all of this was under water for many days and looked otherworldly, as the otherwise dry ground had become a mirror of […]
Out of season, rain has made trees and plants grow foliage and flowers, and this seemingly dead tree is now surging with flowers and bees pollinating them, and this just meters away from many ancient dead trees. It’s amazing to see how insects are able to take advantage of even the most irregular of seasons. […]
Some tea plantations are like artwork, with countless shapes, patterns and variations of green, creating a living gallery of abstracts to the beholder. Although tea plantations are absolutely stunning in some places, like here in Kerala, they are lifeless and silent as it supports very little life. Elevation: 1959 meters
Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India There are countless small and large waterfalls in Meghalaya. Some stunning beyond description and impossible to miss, except when the clouds kiss the ground. Which happens very often. Others are small and inconspicuous, even hard to see, like this one in Jaintia Hills, which is at first a mellow stream which […]
There are so many waterfalls in Meghalaya that I wondered if mega refers to numbers of rapids and waterfalls. Only the largest and most accessible waterfalls are known and visited by tourists, but there are so many waterfalls with no names and utterly unknown except to the locals. This particular waterfall got my attention in […]
One might think it is a bad idea visiting the wettest place on earth during the monsoon, but this is the time when all the hidden waterfalls reveal themselves – even though some might still be just a little stream flowing over the edge. The north-eastern state of Meghalaya is home to some of the […]
This landscape is like nothing I’ve ever encountered and is so intensely beautiful and otherworldly! From dawn till dusk the ever changing weather, light and color hues provided the most stunning show. During my time the visual was seasoned with regular and amazing thunder from neighboring valleys. At night the sky was partly starry with […]
A true valley of flowers! From afar the valley looks like a green carpet, but as you come closer you notice more and more color hues. When you finally reach the valley floor you will see an incredible density of plants and an amazing diversity of species – each blooming at a different time of […]
When you first get a glimpse of Dzukou valley you are mesmerized, as it is so different from all the valleys, hills and mountains surrounding it. It is a verdant treasure box. However, it is not until you go all the way to the valley floor that the floral diversity unfolds, as on the surrounding […]
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and holds so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and hold so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
9 out of 10 evenings during my stay on Lord Howe Island I walked the Little Island Track along the beach to the outcrop called Little Island. At first to experience the sunsets, but after just one sunset I was completely hooked. Hooked on experiencing the large numbers of seabirds. I visited in April, the […]
Minutes ago this water came off the edge of a high cliff as one of several impressive waterfalls on the small island of Principe. Think of miniature versions of Salto Angel (Angel Falls)! As with most of Principe the mountain tops are densely forested and during the rainy season plenty of rainfall replenishes the streams, […]
For a small island, Principe has an impressive array of waterfalls, some can even be seen from far out to sea – that is how tall they are! On a previous day I had passed this side of the island on the way to Caroço Islet and noticed an impressive waterfall standing out in an […]
On Principe’s little sister This is a tiny speck of volcanic rock rising more than 300 meter high with sheer cliffs on all sides except areas on the north-western side where huge boulders have come off the mountain to form a fertile slope with dense forest and a rocky and dangerous shore with no beach. […]
This evening I was hoping to encounter many interesting fungi and perhaps even flowers in the forest west of Bom Bom islet where I had found so many amazing species so far. From the islet the forest looks pristine and untouched, but as I walked the trail I soon realized it was second growth forest […]
This is one of several beautiful waterfalls on the north-facing slopes, now a mellow trickle compared to during the monsoon several weeks ago. It’s running down to the Chandra river (Chenab river is also used) in Lahaul valley, reached by the Rothang Pass from Manali to the south of this position and is at the […]
The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins over winter. I got a reminder of how close […]
A very different experience when all colors are removed. The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins […]
The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins over winter. I got a reminder of how close […]
The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins over winter. I got a reminder of how close […]
Today we can enjoy a leisurely car drive to this amazing monastery and village – Dhankar Gompa, and move on within minutes in the summer months. But think about how this kind of living was all the hundreds of years prior to any road or motorized vehicles! Winters as cold as can be – centuries […]
Clouds always add mystery and dynamics to any landscape, but Spiti is mostly without any clouds as it is a mountain desert with cloudless skies for long periods, and during my travel here I did not expect any clouds in my landscape captures. But microclimatic conditions provide exceptions to the norm, and here I found […]
I had a wonderful time at this spot, watching the remaining light of the sun fade and being replaced by the rising moon behind me. There is not much vegetation in this dry valley, so wherever it is it gives such beautiful colors of autumn to the otherwise dry and barren landscape, and I was […]
I was very fortunate to come here in time for the sunrise with a cloudless sky. Very slowly I had a growing idea of the magnificent snowcapped mountains to the north and west, and as the light increased I was greeted with a completely clear sight of the tallest mountain peaks in Bhutan. This shot […]
The sunrise is almost over, and I was having a hard time deciding which direction to point the camera. Focus on the sunrise in the east above the stupas, and capture the moment the entire disc has climbed above the horizon, or focus on the north-west where the amazing hues of the sunrise colors the […]
There are countless amazing rivers, streams, creeks and waterfalls in Bhutan, but many are inaccessible due to the extremely steep terrain. Most of the larger rivers are torrents in the rainy season, and thus the rocks are without any moss as they are sand and rock blasted by the friction of what the water brings […]
Sometimes things happen in the blink of an eye, and is in addition completely unexpected. I had stopped at this location to capture an amazingly beautiful Rhododendron growing out of a sheer cliff – almost dangling in the air – like a Bonsai tree. Twisted trunk and full of red flowers. No matter which angle […]
During my stay on Silhouette Island I experienced many amazing dawns and dusks, with dramatic cloudscapes and beautiful colors. But just days before, the island had experienced weeks of heavy rain and grey skies! The day I arrived seemed to be the last of it, as it poured down during my check-in. As the days […]
More than 90% of this island is protected, and only a small slice of land on the eastern shores is developed. Walk the trails or alongside the shores and you will be completely alone and in a truly amazing setting. The foreground in this image is a reminder of what is the very foundation of […]
The majority of the Seychelles islands are made of hard granite that has been shaped by the elements for aeons, and are still being changed before our very eyes. Except that our eyes and or perception of time is based on the heartbeat of our bodies that makes us think of a lifetime of 80 […]
Every moment is unique. Every sunset is unique. My moment on this beach right outside my room in Praslin was that of “I’m so tired I simply have no energy to carry my gear to a sunset location with awesome granite boulders, only to take a quick look right outside my room. Just me and […]
A very different experience when all colors are removed. Once upon a time Seychelles was part of the Gondwana supercontinent but now the granite islands are resting on the isolated North Seychelles Bank. All around is an abyss thousands of meters deep. Indeed Seychelles is an island domain above as well as below the ocean […]
Once upon a time Seychelles was part of the Gondwana supercontinent but now the granite islands are resting on the isolated North Seychelles Bank. All around is an abyss thousands of meters deep. Indeed Seychelles is an island domain above as well as below the ocean surface. The granite boulders look smooth and inviting from […]
Blue Mountains is mostly known for its waterfalls and sheer cliffs, but is so much more. Wherever you go, wherever you look, there is something amazing and unique. It’s all about being present! As I was driving down towards the valley from Blackheath, I was amazed by the lushness of the forest and the beauty […]
A trickle today – a torrent tomorrow. There are many majestic waterfalls in this park. But those are only so during times of plenty. During my stay, at the beginning of autumn, water was rising ever so slowly in the rivers and streams, but not enough to make amazing waterfall vistas. That said, there are […]
Blue Mountains is famous and visited by many, and now by me. I expected to see mountains, but was disappointed as the landscape was just hills – even as I entered Katoomba. Elevation-wise it’s not really very high, around a thousand metres, but with mountains in its name I had expectations of peaks. It is […]