Travel Scandinavia: Tannforsen falls in Sweden - First impression - Ice Age!
Hello Friends!
In my photographic journey I left many frames untouched behind me... now, when I am gathering the photos for sale - I am slowly walking through the past galleries searching for new jewels.
First visit to Tannforsen waterfall in Sweden was one of the best winter trip that year (2014).
Here I would like to show You some of the shots and tell You more about the place and waterfall itself.
Sit tight and relax! Ice age is here! ;)...
1. The Trip
This trip was one of my longer ones after I bought my first car here in Norway. I was so excited that finally the scandinavian land is on reach of my hand... and car. I dreamed about my own car since I came here and start work, it is expensive stuff to buy it and to pay all the things after, but for me - as a photographer/traveller/explorer - I was dying being here wothout my own transporatation.
Together with wife and our friends we hit the road to reach the city called Åre. From Trondheim in Norway where we live to Åre is not much more then 2,5 hours slow driving. On the way I was searching for any interesting place we can visit and I found THIS,
But one more detail - why to Sweden? When You live in Norway You really like to go to Sweden sometimes - believe me, everybody, even locals, going there - for shopping of course! Norway is expensive and the variety of products is limited. It is good to eat something different from time to time...
2. Tannforsen
Tannforsen waterfall - as I read later in Wiki - is the biggest swedish waterfall... - I was really surprised, because it isn't really big - in fact, I have a feeling, that in Norway You can find bigger falls everywhere - but it is a fact.
But don't take me wrong! - It is not small either. The amount of water in the falls are huge. The sound is great. The feeling of natural power is also present! And - they looks great!
"In springtime the volume of the river Åreälven can increase to an enormous volume of 740 m3/sec (measured in 1995). I think the average flow is 455m3/sec"
"Tännforsen is one of Sweden largest waterfalls. The total drop is 38 meter of which 32 meter is a single drop. The width of the waterfall is appr. 60 meter."
Source: [ http://www.europeanwaterfalls.com/waterfalls/tannforsen/ ]
Situated between two lakes, one is much higher then other, so the water from the upper lake is flowing to the lower lake creating the roaring Tannforsen. All the area is surrounded by beautiful boreal spruce forests.
I remember when we were leaving Trondheim - it was something about 10-15 degree? I didn't take any warm jacket, just a rainproof thin one. On the place was like -10 or lower! I borrowed the winter jacket from my friend who has also warm sweter. It was a good lesson, that in Scandinavia - You never know what weather conditions You can meet 100 km from You... Always have to be prepared for the worst!
We explore the area quite fast - I mean, they explored the area fast - I stayed on place shooting... couldn't really stop doing that! I was so amazed of the views before me...
3. The place
On the location we have to leave the cars next to a visitors center - the parking plays is paid during high season. Tourist center in Tannforsen offers Cafee and shop with souvenirs. You can buy there everything - from swedish flags to albums, pocket knives, plastic trolls and clothes. The restaurant offer hot drinks and some snacks, not sure about something REAL to eat ;)... but is cozy and very much - scandinavian.
From parking area we can take two paths leading to the falls - one longer and one shorter but steeper. Both lead us through nice boreal forest. On the place we can reach several great viewing points - first on the top - where You can see the falls from the position where the river ends:
Second on the middle is a platform build just above the raging waters - this is the best one! :
And the third one is at the bottom, where the falls are ending and flowing into lower lake:
As You can see - every angle on the falls showing its beauty in a different way. All of them are worth visiting!
The whole area is not really big, You can spend there a whole day when want to walk all the paths, enjoy the views, visit the cafee and shop... well, maybe not whole day.. couple of hours for sure.
I think it is really worth visitng place!
4. Shooting techniques
I haven't got many time for experiencing a lot - it was great I had my tripod with me, so closing the aperture able to slow down shutter speed and make the water more smooth and vibrant.
It was a lot of steam and water drops in the air around, so I had to be careful when walking on icy ground and when shooting agains the falls, especially in lower view points.
Freezing air and moist made my tripod got frozen very quick, good I had a gloves with me.
I was using polarizing filter - really fantastic tool when You are shooting water and ice - You can avoid surface reflections and get nice, deep colours.
I also made a lot of panoramas - In such narrow location, when You are standing so close to such big object and want to show it in a whole form - no other technique will allow it.
Using FishEye type lens will only make huge distortions destroying the beauty of the place.
5. View on the falls some other winter
You think that winter was unique and the look of the waterfall is not so good every winter?
Just check the shots below which I made in 2016 - 2 years later.
What do You think? Epic? Oh yes! I love this place in winter time!
I was also once in summer - nice, but nothing special - just a falls - but in winter time - it is a real Ice Age there - water is building real Ice Castles around itself.
Hope You enjoyed the gallery and this short storry.
See You in next post!!
SteemitWorldMap: [//]:# (!steemitworldmap 63.444220 lat 12.735172 long d3scr)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Any photo available as Digital Files. Join my Discord channel for details: https://discord.gg/ApdDcNh
If You like my work, check my portfolio site asphotovisions
Calendars from beautiful Norway on 2019 available to Pre-order on my site.
Thanks for watching and have a great day!
Upvoting, Resteeming and Following are the best way to show the authors that You like their work, it supports them not only finacially but what more important gives a huuuge amount of positive energy to create more interesting posts and work on future projects!
This is so fascinating! Waterfalls in the winter definitely do hold its magic. I love how magnificent and over the top these photos are, the ice all around it, the trees frosted with ice etc all adds to the beauty. these aren't photos of waterfalls I have seen before.
Where there a whole lot of tourist out there to enjoy this beauty?
Hahaha, good question - it is scandinavia - so... there was few that time, maybe one or two cars in parking place - but it is normal here outside summer season. That is great and I love it, because there is nothing worse for landscape photographer than crowded landscapes ;)
Hahahah! Yeah, less crowd means great photos. I guess everyone wants to stay warm in their houses in times like this. Lol
This is quite unique in Scandinavia , but people are really enjoy winter time! They celebrate first frost and snow, they love all the winter sports and are very active when the dark days are coming - but I totally understand that - in such dark, cold places - If You wont fell in love to dark and cold - You will die! or at least will be very unhappy person ;).
That is also the reason why Scandinavia is not for everyone....
Hahahah! If you wanna fall in love with such a place, then you may need to go alone. Lol! Not everyone will be willingly to go, so yes, maybe a bit unhappy...
But it has great scenery though....
yay @photovisions, finally saw your snowy scene as you mentioned. Just like your previous "when winter and autumn meet" It took my breath away again. I especially like the waterfall. It so nicely taken, and as if I heard the sound of waterfall close by. Couldn't imagine how you took the photo in such a weather. But everything worth it. Do you still have more photos to show us? I love to see it more..
A lot more my friend :) and still shooting new stuff, so stay tuned, I will post little less but I will try to keep the high quality. Thanks for comment, I am happy You enjoy watching my works.
The landscape photography is all about being in the right time and right place.
Take care and have a good day!
Your photo really high quality and can be printed into post card. Maybe you should consider that :P Now i would wait and see, and I cannot wait to see your Christmas shooting, with your skill, I can imagine must be very colorful
Thanks, if it could be possible, I would sell it everywhere, but it is not so easy to sell image these days. More shots and posts on the way!
That ice landscape is SOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!
Really happy You liked my gallery! Winter paradise, one of best winter scenery I had last year.
Yes an ice age!
That was an ice age!
So much beautiful photos indeed!
But I notice this photo, is that a cow buried on ice, have you seen it?
Hi! Thanks for comment! I think it is not a cow, just a stone in shape of it, but to be honest - who knows... in the land of vikings ;)...
Oh yeah!
I thought that was an animal like a cow lol
But we still don't know and maybe some were buried themselves there because they couldn't survive on ice.
Anyways, is that place inhabited still by people there?
There are some villages few km from the location, it is not totally in wilderness - the place is well known touristic attraction.
Oh that's great!
I never experience snow or very cold as ice ever since. It dooesn't happen here in our place. But there was one time I could remember when I was still s kid, the rain turned into an ice, as if stones were falling in our roof.
OMG! The first thing I thought about when I started reading and you say "ice age is here" was "WINTER IS HERE" the army of the king of the night is coming.
wonderful photos. a spectacular place that few have the joy of seeing. and thanks to you sharing this post now I have the same happiness.
Winter is coming! - for sure! It could be a great scenery for Game of Thrones next season :)
Thanks for comment, my pleasure You liked it!
Beautiful! Amazing Ice and colours. Gosh this is awesome. scenarios is so peaceful and dreamy.
Great job!
Thanks a lot for the comment, dreamy is a good word to describe it :)
Oh my...! You got amazing and stunning shots there! Indeed, ice age is there so thank you for sharing these epic photos! They are breath-taking. I also agree that the photo with the platform looks the best.
I wonder why the ice formations look smoother after two years. Did you use the same camera with the same settings with the 2016 photos? Or are those the effect of post processing the photos?
Hi, thanks for comment.
You have a good eye - forst of all, the conditions were different, second - I used different camera, and third one - I used some darkening filter to longer the shutter speed so the water and air around it may seems to be more smooth. Good question. I think all above decide that the whole scenery looks little different.
That explains the differences. Cool... While I like the smoother versions because of the finer "finishing", the 2014 versions look more realistic.
Is it possible at all to get "into the woods" with ice that thick? Or are viewers limited to something like a roadside and the platform?
It is Scandinavia so You can go anywhere You want to ;) all You need is proper equipment and strenght ;). The place is open for exploration. There is something called Allemansrätten - all the people have equal acces to nature and can use it in many different ways and forms. If You want to explore nature - Scandinavia is the best place to be!
Whoah! That sounds so exciting and promising. I wish I can explore the place one day... Thanks again for sharing all of these and clarifying my inquiries.
Wow.... this is lot ICE .... and I like this nature photos ...it makes me feel cold... but same tame I feel how this nature is very strong :) Cool photos and cool post . And you also get Big Upvote ... I hope this makes your day happy :)
Great thanks for the comment! I am happy reading such stuff and of course, I am happy from the upvotes too - it always helps a little to run my photographic project... hope the steem will be worth little more in future...
Have a good day!
Here is the patience needed that steem go up :) And it was 8 $ ... and it all happen just 1 month in last year end... so it can happen more ... :)
I believe this steem can long run go more then just 8 or 10 ... it can go 15.. or 20 $ ... this what I see.
Just now try build your pages up and be read when it starts move :) When BTC start move ... All coins start move a lot.
We all can just hope and be patient :) Steem platforms are too great just to die in a natural way... too much great projects already running so it is good sign.
"Always look at the bright sight of life" as the Monthy Python sang... ;)
Yes :))
Dear @photovisions,
Your story attracted our attention and we would like to introduce our tag #archisteem that could provide you with some extra support. For your information, we are currently running the project – 1001 Places to Remember. Your content is a fit for the project and could be qualified for the 10 Steem reward biweekly contest.
It would be great if we can have this story of yours included in the project. If you agree, please reply to us.
Do drop by and take a look :) Hope to see you around soon.
Stay tuned and Steem on!
@archisteem and team
Hiya, @livinguktaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made the Honorable mentions list in today's Travel Digest #362.
Please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider upvoting the Travel Digest if you like what we're doing.
Thanks a lot for the mention and for the support!