There are journeys that leave a lasting mark. Our road trip through Norway was one of them. Above all because we experienced the midnight sun for the very first time. This phenomenon north of the Arctic Circle, where the nights simply vanish, held us spellbound. Suddenly, the sun refused to set and time itself seemed to pause. Instead of a fleeting golden hour, the landscape was bathed in warm, glowing light for hours on end—opening up entirely new photographic possibilities.

On this trip I had my Sony A7IV with me, paired with TAMRON’s fast E-mount Trinity: the 17–28mm, the 28–75mm G2, and the 70–180mm G2. This gave me everything I needed—from sweeping landscapes and van-life moments to detailed mountain compositions. I completed the set with the TAMRON 150–500mm F5–6.7. With this tried-and-tested kit, I had the freedom to capture every scene just as it felt in the moment.

The midnight sun was more than just a natural spectacle—it shaped our entire way of traveling. With constant daylight, it didn’t matter whether we started a hike at 7 p.m. or stood on a summit at 2 a.m. We could structure our days however we pleased, stay spontaneous, wait out bad weather, and still spend hours outside. Each day felt longer, more intense, and we absorbed the landscape in a way we had never experienced before.

 It wasn’t just the peaks that felt magical, but the journey itself. When we weren’t hiking, we cruised along empty roads through vast valleys while the sun hovered low above the horizon. Time and again, we pulled over, opened the van doors, and reached for our cameras. Not only the landscapes but also the fleeting views through side windows, mirrors, or the windshield helped us capture the road trip as it really was: not as “finished” pictures, but as the ongoing process of being on the move.

Of course, this freedom had its downsides. After late-night hikes, it was disorienting to go to bed in broad daylight. Real tiredness rarely set in. Instead, we felt almost compelled to be outdoors around the clock. Sleep masks quickly became indispensable to find rest despite the constant light.

Hiking in Endless Light

Whenever the weather played along, we seized the chance to explore. These hikes became our highlights:

Reinebringen

The climb up Reinebringen was a true challenge: nearly 2,000 steep stone steps that seemed never-ending. But the 360° view from the top made every step worthwhile. Below lay the small fishing village of Reine, framed by dramatic peaks and fjords glowing in golden light.

Måtind

Completely different in character was the Måtind. Here, the path itself felt magical. Over and over again the view opened up to soft, light-drenched panoramas. Small groups of sheep grazing along the trail added to the idyllic setting. We took our time, stopped often, and felt like the landscape was constantly reinventing itself.

Hesten

verlooking Segla

We reached the Hesten trail late, just as the sun was rising again. Out of breath, we hurried up the last meters—and arrived just in time to capture Segla in all its glory. The iconic peak rose like a sculpted monument in golden midnight light. To truly show its scale in photos, it helps to include people in the frame. But caution is essential—the steep cliffs here drop hundreds of meters straight down.

Litlverivassforsen

in Rago National Park

Our final highlight was a hike in Rago National Park to Litlverivassforsen—a mighty waterfall thundering through untamed wilderness. The trail led us through moors and forests, offering untouched views along the way. When we finally reached the top, we stood before a panorama that, bathed in midnight sun, felt otherworldly.

The mist of the waterfall shimmered as we crossed a narrow suspension bridge and pitched our tent by the mountain lake beyond. Sleep seemed impossible in such a surreal atmosphere. Instead, I wandered around with my camera, searching for new perspectives, capturing the play of water, light, and stone. Alone in that wild setting, the freedom felt almost limitless.

Photography in Golden Constant Light

The midnight sun completely changed my rhythm as a photographer. Instead of chasing a single fleeting moment, I could let myself drift, knowing that perfect light would last for hours. With its even illumination, it was worth experimenting more deliberately with perspectives and focal lengths.

With the 17–28mm wide-angle, I captured the vast panoramas: fjords, winding roads, and mountain ranges stretching into the distance. The 28–75mm became my most-used lens on the trip, perfect for documenting life on the road—intimate van moments, portraits, encounters with sheep, or scenes along the trail. The 70–180mm telephoto helped me compress the depth of the mountains, highlight textures, and isolate details in soft light.

Thanks to the constant daylight and the bright F2.8 aperture across these three lenses, I rarely needed a tripod. Even in the “middle of the night,” handheld shooting was effortless. Finally, the 150–500mm gave me the reach to frame distant peaks or wildlife without disturbing them.Every lens played its role—but in the end, it was the midnight sun’s light that tied all these impressions together.

When Time Loses Its Grip

The midnight sun shaped our journey through Norway in unforgettable ways. It stole our sleep, yet gifted us the freedom to roam outdoors at any hour, unbound by the clock. Hikes, drives, and spontaneous stops took on an intensity all their own in this golden, never-ending light. Anyone who has stood beneath the midnight sun will never see light the same way again.