Golden Hour on Flekkerøy | Kristiansand, Norway by Kilometer 120 | René Metzinger

The low-set sun bathes the coast of Flekkerøy near Kristiansand in warm evening light. Between the rocky shores, the view opens out towards the sea, whilst red and white wooden houses nestle against the coast along the water’s edge. Small boats are moored in front of the houses, lending the scene its typically Norwegian, maritime character.

The composition draws its life from the natural opening between the two shores. It guides the eye across the calm water’s surface directly towards the low-hanging sun. Its warm light is reflected on the water, creating a beautiful contrast to the cooler blues and greys of the Norwegian evening. The houses on the right-hand side remain clearly visible without detracting from the atmospheric lighting on the horizon. The photograph was taken at 18 mm, an aperture of f/14, ISO 100 and an exposure time of 2 seconds. The longer exposure smooths out the water’s surface and renders its movement softly, without causing all the details to disappear. Thanks to the small aperture, the landscape remains sharp and rich in detail from the nearby shore right to the horizon.

With its wide landscape format, this image is particularly well-suited to larger wall spaces above a sofa, sideboard or bed. The combination of warm evening light, water and typical Norwegian coastal architecture fits very well into modern and Scandinavian-style interiors, as well as holiday homes or offices.