Common Murre at Varanger

Out on the Varanger Peninsula, where Finnmark's treeless tundra meets the wind-scoured cliffs of the Barents Sea, Common Murres gather along the fjord edges in a landscape as stark as it is dramatic. Photographing them here means working with the raw Arctic light of April, using the exposed cliff faces as a natural stage for tight portraits or wider shots that place the birds against the open fjords. Those joining the Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger holiday should come prepared for the cold, wind-battered conditions typical of this far northeastern corner of Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. Patience & sturdy weatherproofing are essential companions for capturing the murres against this uncompromising tundra backdrop.