Anuj Sahai Photography, Hamnøy i Lofoten (2026)

17/08/2019

|| Blue Hour Drone Panorama ||

I took this image in a small town called Odda in Norway. This is a panoramic image made of out of 5 vertical images I took from my drone.

Behind the scene story: I reached Odda after a 5 hour drive early in the evening. In the evening, after getting a good nap, I started feeling anxious. All I could think was about my next day 22 kilometer hike as I had never hiked such a distance before, that too in the mountains. So, I pulled out my phone, checked few view points in the beautiful town and left my room to calm myself down.

I drove to this scenic view point overlooking the calm lake and the mountains. I just sat on a bench just staring at the view for sometime. The view started acting as a medicine and slowly I felt my anxiety fade away. Although I had my camera with me, I chose to not use it. I just wanted to take a break, enjoy the view and not spend the time behind the camera for a change.

Once I started feeling good again, the mad photographing spirit inside me woke up and started demanding a photograph of this place. This time, I also had a drone with me. So, i took out the drone, flew it at a good altitude and decided to get a pano shot because I wanted to capture the entire scene. I took 5 vertical shots from left to right and stitched the photos together to get a panorama.

This photograph is not too exciting or dramatic. To me, it only reminds me how I felt when i got there and how I felt when i left the place. This photo will always be special for me because it gave me something I desperately needed at that point of time, tranquility.

06/07/2019

|| Heaven on Earth ||

This shot is of a small fishing village called Hamnoy in Norway. Hamnoy is a small island connected by a bridge to other cluster of islands. I took this shot standing on the bridge, looking right at the mountain and the village.

Behind the Scene Story: My original plan was to capture a sunset shot of this mountain. As I reached there, it was all cloudy. I was very disappointed because I wanted to capture the golden sunlight hitting the mountain that sat right beside the beautiful village. However, as I got done with setting my camera, clouds started moving due to strong winds. Suddenly, thick cotton candy looking like cloud got wrapped around the mountain top. It seemed as if the mountain was wearing a hat made of clouds! A took couple of shots and then few seconds later, it went away.

Although I came to this spot with a different picture in mind, but went back capturing something entirely different and beautiful.

26/05/2019

|| Top of the World ||

This image is a drone selfie taken when I was standing at the top of a mountain called Segla. This mountain is located in Norway's 2nd largest island called Senja.

Can you see me?

#

11/05/2019

|| The Breakthrough ||

This place is called Tungeneset which is a gorgeous view point located in Norway's second largest island called Senja.

Behind the Scenes Story:

For a change, the story isn't super dramatic. For a change, getting to this view point didn't involve long and tiring hikes. Photographing this view point was actually a way for me to take a break from continuous hikes, long drives and super short sleeping hours.

The plan was to get an early morning flight Tromso and from there drive to Senja, which is a 3 hour drive, drop the luggage at the hostel where I was staying and drive to Tungeneset to photograph the sunset.

While driving to Senja, it was raining almost the entire time. The sky was all dark and cloudy even during noon. All I could think was that a boring cloudy sky would simply ruin my shots because there would be no colors during sunset. I was praying to God for a better sky like a little kid (yes, I do that!)

When I got to the view point, I was there all alone (thankfully). This is a very famous view point and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit this place. Finding a vantage point was a pain. The rocks were super duper slippery! the algae made it impossible (yes, impossible) to stand!

I found a vantage point, but getting there was not an easy task. I literally sat on one of the rock and tried to slide forward. But after that, I couldnt stand up! I couldnt even use my hands to push myself up! it was so slippery! Somehow, I found a trick to find the spots where I could get more friction. After making sure I could get to the vantage point safely, I brought my two cameras and two tripods safely.

I quickly setup the camera and then just sat there, waiting and hoping for sky to clear up. It was indeed an amazing view! Finally, God smiled upon me and gave me what I wanted! For few minutes, the clouds cleared up just a bit where the sun was setting, giving a gorgeous golden glow!

I was exhilarated! I had two camera's setup with different angles. I was thanking God for listening to me and was continuously shooting! After few minutes, the clouds closed up and it went dark again.

I knew I got my shot. So I carefully got up, packed my bag and left for my room for a hot meal and a good night sleep!

Hope you like the photograph! Please share and spread the love!

27/04/2019

|| Trolltunga: The devil's Tongue ||

Trolltunga is situated about 1100 meters above sea level in a small town called Odda. It was a brutal (but beautiful) 11kms (one way) hike. The view, oh the view! So far, I havent seen a scene so beautiful. I haven't felt the way I felt standing at the tip of the rock. I haven't been so terrified and mesmerized at the same time. And I dont think think I ever will experience this ever again.

Behind the Scene Story: This 11km hike is the longest hike I have ever done. The hike started off easy and while walking on the easy part i thought meh! this is easy, I can do it!

As usual, things turned bad very soon. After about one kilometer, rugged slope was right in front of me with almost 35 to 45 degree steep climb. I could see tiny people at the top of the hill. Same question came to my mind again. How? How will I make this climb?! I told myself, one step at a time. Since I was hiking alone, it was even more difficult to distract myself. I was literally counting my steps to keep my mind off the pain and breathlessness.

After crossing one mountain, the path got a bit easy. On the way there were waterfalls made from glacier water and big glacier water lakes. Everywhere I read that it was super safe to drink that water. So I refilled my water bottle and the water was just out of the world! Yes! The water first of all was crystal clear, and had a such a different "taste" to it! It felt so pure!

I kept taking short breaks to catch my breath and give rest to my legs and shoulders. after almost 2 kms, the terrain got terrible again. Steep climbs, muddy/rocky terrain and a never ending path. Thankfully as I was getting closer to the final view point, gorgeous Norwegian Fjords started to show themselves. Every step was so tiring, even at flat terrains it was getting difficult to walk because of the weight of my back pack.

5kms, 4kms, 3kms, 2kms, 1km and there I was. After 6hours of brutal hike, I made it. I could barely breathe for a while. When I reached the view point, I just threw my back pack off my shoulders and just collapsed on a nearby rock. For few minutes, I didnt care where I was. I couldnt think about anything other than how exhausted I was. Even after watching the view, I was not feeling what other hikers around me were feeling. I had no energy left to do anything.

After catching my breath and having an energy bar, I got back to my feet and then things started changing slowly. I was there, at Trolltunga. I made it. The hike which gave me nightmares. I did it. This was the place I used to think about continuously since the day I planned the trip. I used to wonder, am i making big mistake? What if I just get too tired to walk another step? What if I give up some where in the middle? But no, I made it. Slowly all those memories came rushing back and I started feeling alive!

Finally, I started my location scouting for the perfect shot. Th sun was too harsh during evening, so after I had decided where I would setup the tripod, I decided to setup my one person tent and try to take a nap while I still had time. But, I just couldnt sleep. It was too bright for me to sleep. So, I decided to have an early dinner watching the sunset. It was the best meal ever!

Once the sun went down, the real magic started. And the best part, I was there alone, all by myself. All the other hikers went inside their tents when the most beautiful colors started showing up! I didnt have to worry about anyone coming into my frame or wait for anyone to leave! I kept trying different angles, different locations and finally went for my dream shot! A selfie, standing at the edge of the rock, watching the massive Norwegian fjords and calm river flowing through them!

Once I was done with all the possible photos from all possible locations, I went back to my tent, again hoping to get a good night sleep before I start my journey back to the civilization next morning. That didnt happen at all. Long story short, it was too cold and windy and I wasnt carrying any quilt and my jacket was not enough. So after trying for about 2 hours, I just couldnt bear the cold. So I decided to walk around to warm up my body, took few more shots from other locations and decided to leave early at around 3am. After a 5hour hike, I finally reached the parking lot!

This was the hike I will never, ever forget. So many doubts and uncertainties before even starting the hike and yet I made it somehow! Selfie at Trolltunga, Check!

27/10/2018

|| You are the Storm ||

This image is a drone selfie standing at the tip of a mountain called Segla which is in a small fishing village called Fjordgård located in the Northern part of Senja.

Behind the Scenes Story: The hike to Segla was my 2nd last hike during my visit to Norway. Norway's weather is known for its fluctuating mood and that day the weather didnt look so good. It could see clear skies when I started my hike, but after sometime I could see heavy clouds coming towards me, which is not a good thing if you want to hike up a steep mountain,

I started from a small fishing village called Fjordgård at around 7pm. I wanted to capture the midnight sun and according to my calculation, I had enough time to hike up the mountain (considering how slow i was) and enough time to take rest and photograph the best moment when (and if) I reach the summit.

650 meters (2000 feet), 5 kms both ways seemed ok to me since I had already completed the most strenuous hikes while I was in Norway. High on energy, praying to the weather Gods to be good to me, i started off. The initial journey was manageable and the gain in elevation was slow at the beginning. However, that didnt stay the same for very long. As I kept moving closer to the mountain, the elevation quickly changed and the hike became difficult. Gravel and muddy trails became rocky and very narrow and the elevation made it difficult to walk because there was not enough level space to walk on.

Then as I climbed the first plateau, panoramic view of Norway presented themselves. As usual, I was very tired due to the elevation, but the views worked like an energy bar! I took a 5-10 minute break to give some rest to my aching back and shoulders while I enjoyed the views. Then started the final climb to Mount Segla.

The elevation increased dramatically because I was literally climbing up the mountain. The trail was tricky to find because many hikers try to find shortcuts and they fail, thereby creating another incomplete trail which the next hiker follows. Due to this, I took few wrong routes and used to reach a point which was impossible to climb. So i had to go back few steps and try to find the correct route. This not only wasted my time, it wasted my energy with every step. Trying to find a trail just by looking up was also not working because huge rocks used to hide the narrow trail.

After total 2 hours, taking several wrong routes, hiking up all alone on a mountain, I finally made it to the top. After reaching there, I just dropped my hiking bag and climbed till the edge of the mountain first just to take in the breath taking panoramic views of Norway and to see what i used to see on my computer while planning for this hike! To be frank, my vocabulary is not good enough to explain how gorgeous the landscape was. There I was, standing at the edge of a gigantic mountain, staring at astounding fjords all around me surrounded by Norwegian Sea, realizing that I made it to the top!

At the top is a flag of Norway and a tiny box mounted there which has a notebook. Every one who makes it to the top writes his or her name, the date of their hike and the country they belong from. It was just something else to write my name, date and the most beautiful word, INDIA. After reading so much about that very notebook, watching videos about the hike and people's experiences, I finally made it and I have my name on the notebook not many people in the world will get a chance to write on.

If you have something you want to achieve, no matter how difficult the journey is, with the fire inside, you will overcome anything that is thrown at you. No matter how strong the winds are, always remember, you are the storm.

Please like, share and put down your thoughts about the photograph!

21/10/2018

|| A Drone Selfie in The lap of Nature ||

I captured this gorgeous view during my hike to a mountain called Flakstatinden. This is one of my favorites selfies! Why? Well, reason one is the view and there is another reason. This image reminds me of my struggle on this mountain. How I tried my best to conquer it and how i failed.. Yes, i gave up, for the first time.

Behind the Scenes Story: Flakstatinden is a super steep mountain in Lofoten Islands and based on my (very less) research, this was a simple hike. I was wrong. So very wrong.

483 meters, 3kms one way hike seemed simple to me. What i didnt take into account was the altitude and of course, the terrain. Initial few 100 meters were manageable. To begin with, i lost half my energy going in the wrong direction! (so did another couple i met after few hours). There was hardly any trail path or marks to follow. I had few images of the view in my head, after a while I figured out that I was going in the wrong direction, because the view was no where to be seen.

Then i started walking back, trying to find out the correct path. Crossing mushy lands, small ponds, shrubs and bushes, I finally somehow found the first landmark that was mentioned everywhere on the internet. I was already very tired because of the weight i was carrying and then i saw the beaten trail going straight up the mountain.

After having an energy bar, i started climbing. There was literally nothing to hold on to. The path very steep and it was all loose mud. I tried my best to be very careful, holding anything I could for balance. As i kept going forward, the path went from bad to worse. It went more steep. So steep that on looking down, I couldn't see the path i just climbed. My legs were in agony, my shoulders wanted to get rid of the bag i was carrying and I couldn't breathe. This was by far the toughest hike i did. After climbing almost half the mountain and lots of breaks, I was running out of time. I wanted to capture the midnight sun, and i barely had 30 minutes to reach at the top.

After almost an hour of treacherous climbing and giving my everything, i was hardly 200 meters short from the summit. My body had given up. It was windy, cold and i was drenched in sweat. Now, to make to the summit, I had to climb big loose rocks. All my energy reserves were depleted and more than photography, I was concerned about my safety. For the first time, I was so tired, I knew I wouldnt make it to the top and even if I had energy left, I didnt want to climb loose rocks which could slip anytime. One wrong move and I cannot even imagine where i will land.

So, i dropped my bag, lied down there for a while to recharge and catch my breath. After a while, i got up and found a very good vantage point to photograph the midnight sun. I couldnt believe the view I was looking at. I decided to photograph the best I can and once i was done using the camera, I started using my drone. I brought that thing all the way up, there is no way I wont use it!

It was very windy at that altitude. I didnt stop. My camera was continuously working. I didnt want to miss anything! The light kept changing and I wanted to capture everything. Standing at such an altitude, all I could think was how tiny we are!

I photographed till 11.30pm (yes, that is how 11.30 pm looks in Lofoten Islands during first two weeks of Summer!) and then decided to start climbing down. This was by far the toughest hike I did. Was it worth it? Hell Yeah!!

Please like, share and put down your thoughts below about the view!

13/10/2018

|| Tranquility in a Storm ||

This water body is basically a part of the Norwegian Sea in a very small and secluded fishing Village called Gryllefjord. This location was never in my bucket list. This was something i saw while driving back to the hotel.

Behind the Scene Story: After an excruciating 6 hour mountain hike and about 3 hours of photographing the landscape at a chilly tip of a Norwegian Fjord, I was driving back to my room.

While driving, (to stay awake) I was thinking about my journey in Norway and the experience this amazing country offered me. It was the last day in Norway and I finished my last hike. I was super happy as it was an achievement for someone like me who is not in a good shape and has almost no hiking experience. It was 3.30am and all i could see was a warm bed i could crash on.

I thought I was done photographing Norway. I was mistaken. I was about 5kms from my room and was driving on a bridge. On my left I saw this beautiful lake surrounded by Norwegian Fjords. I knew i had enough juice left in my camera battery. So i stopped.

It was very windy and heavy clouds were flowing through the fjords. It was dead silent, the water was calm. So calm, i could see a mirror image of the fjords. My body was aching and I really wanted to sleep, but this view made me stand there in awe.

While I was there, I had this weird feeling inside me. I was silently praying to the weather Gods to make it rain so that I could quit and go to my room and sleep. But at the same time, i wanted to stay. I wanted to take in everything. My heart was begging me to stay for few more minutes. It said Why not stay a bit longer, experience anything else that is left, anything that would stay inside my head for the rest of my life. I went with what my heart said and now as I look back in time, I am so happy with what i did!

Please like, share and put down your thoughts! Cheers!

06/10/2018

|| A view I will never forget ||

This beautiful view is actually on the way to (a.k.a Devil's Tongue) which is a 14km hike one way from the car parking lot. This was the longest hike i have ever done and the views were absolutely breathtaking! This view was visible when i was around 5Kms from the Trolltunga.

Behind the Scenes Story: To be frank, I was very nervous before staring the hike. I had never done such long and brutal hikes before. 14kms one way, stay for couple of hours and come back 14kms. I just told myself, I will be slow, i will struggle but I will make it to the end!

2pm: I took a bus that dropped me off at 2nd starting point covering the first 3 Kms. Sunny sky, light wind, high on energy, i started my hike. The first 2 kms was a simple rocky terrain, nothing too difficult. I was feeling motivated and I thought, this is simple, I am going at a good pace!

3pm: Now came the difficult part. The first mountain that i had to climb was in front of me. Not being very accustomed to high altitude hikes and mountain terrains, i started running out of breath in the first 20 minutes. Looking up, i could see few hikers at the top looking so tiny, i couldn't believe i had to climb all the way up and that was the only the beginning of the hike! Every step was tiring and the weight i was carrying was making things more difficult. I kept telling myself to go slow, take breaks and that kept me going forward.

5pm: After continuously walking on steep rocky terrains, followed by a steep downhills, crossing small rivers, climbing slippery muddy and loose gravel slopes, I covered almost 5kms. I was dead tried. My legs, shoulders and back were in agony. I wanted to give up. All alone, i was walking on a beaten rocky terrain and then as I saw towards my right, beautiful Norwegian Fjords presented themselves. I could see a gorgeous blue lake in the middle of the Fjords and looking at that view, I knew i have to stop.

As I was standing on the edge, staring at the view, all the pain and tiredness simply vanished in a second. There was so much tranquility, it calmed my racing heart. The cool fresh air filled life into my lungs and for some reason i felt free. May be because the view made me forget everything. I just sat there and I couldn't think of anything but mesmerizing landscape in front of me.

After a much needed break, few sips of water and an energy bar, i continued my last 6kms to the Trolltunga. The remaining story (and the photo) will come soon!

Please like, share and put down your thoughts about the view! Cheers!

29/06/2018

Hello World! I have to start with an apology for not being active and not posting new photographs. I got caught up in some personal photography projects and hence couldn't get a chance for a long due landscape photography trip.

So, finally after weeks of planning and location scouting, i am leaving for one of the most beautiful countries on the Planet, Norway!

2 cameras, 2 tripods, 1 drone, 4 lenses,some extra batteries, memory cards and lots of energy bars!

Looking forward to long hikes on Norwegian Fjords and Mountains! In this trip, i will get a chance to photograph the Midnight sun and much more amazing landscapes of Norway! Cheers!

08/07/2017

|| A Film on Photographing ||

Note: Crank up the Volume, hit the HD option and enjoy! If you like it,please put your thoughts below and help me make this video viral! :)

So guys, finally it is here! My first Film. After months of learning, planning and practicing, i ended up with this, my first movie using my .

I always wanted others to see what i experience from going to a spot to capturing a photograph. While a photograph is a brilliant way to show the beauty of a scene, a video is just unbeatable when it comes to connecting with the viewer.

I always travel alone, so getting good photographs and capturing videos with the drone was really challenging because of time constraints and of course the weather. In my 4 day trip, i could just use my drone for hardly 2 days (that too when i was not driving or running around to find a vantage point). My plan was to give the top priority to my photographs. After i was done capturing good photographs with different compositions, i used to take out my drone and capture the scene 500ft. above the ground. It looks simple enough, but it took me a lot of effort to do that. Connect the drone first, plan how to take the shot, set the camera settings and then start recording. While recording, i had to make sure the drone movement and the camera movement is absolutely smooth. Many times i used to send my drone more than 2-3kms (about 2 miles) away and at 500meters altitude, completely relying on the satellite connections. Those were the scariest moments for me because the wind and the weather was so unpredictable there! On one hand, i used to see incredible footage of the drone live through my ipad and on the other hand i had a constant fear of loosing my drone! i slowly started relying on our satellities and took risks with the weather,continuosuly praying to God to take care of my drone! :P Once i knew what i wanted to show and how i wanted to show it, i used to remove my gloves to get better control of the drone and start shooting. Many times, i had to make multiple attempts to get a perfect shot. You make one mistake, and you have to do it again!

are phenomenal machines that give us a bird's eye view. Since childhood, i always used to wish i could fly and see the world from above. Thankfully, now i can (almost) do that and not only that, i can actually show everybody how it looks! :)

So guys, again, please help me make this video viral! Please share and put down your thoughts! Every compliment is a huge motivation for me!! Thanks and have a great weekend!!

Anuj Sahai Photography

17/08/2019

06/07/2019

26/05/2019

11/05/2019

27/04/2019

27/10/2018

21/10/2018

13/10/2018

06/10/2018

29/06/2018

08/07/2017

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