“Water is the most perfect traveler because when it travels it becomes the path itself!” Mehmet Murat Ildan, Turkish writer and playwright

Norway has dramatic fall colors in its forests and fjords. Those colors lure landscape photographers there in September and early October despite variable weather.

For the two weeks before last October’s Norway fall color trip, the weather was perfect. Sunny, mild, scattered clouds, and light breezes were the norm.

But it didn’t stay that way. The day I left for Norway, an atmospheric river began flowing inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It produced a week of rain, rain, and even more rain.

What to do? When life gives you rain in the mountains, look for waterfalls.

The Shot

On October 12, it was raining (of course), but we weren’t discouraged. Our destination was the picturesque Lake Eikesdalsvatnet. Eleven miles in length and surrounded by mountains, it’s the largest lake in the area.

After emerging from a long tunnel on the eastern side of the lake, our photography group pulled off Highway Fv191 and launched our drones. The weather had improved, and small patches of blue were visible.

I flew the drone up the eastern mountain slope, gaining 2,600 feet in altitude. When I found an area between two peaks with beautiful fall color backlit by the sun to the west, I knew it was the spot.

The rain had done its magic. The colors were vibrant. And there were waterfalls everywhere. I instructed the drone to take a panoramic image capturing the 180 degrees of spellbinding beauty in front of me.

I captured a few more backup images, then lingered to take in the bird’s-eye view. When the drone’s “return to home” warning sounded, I navigated back to the launch site following temporary streams, marveling at the colors and seasonal waterfalls along the way.

On the lakeshore in the distance, you can barely make out the Vikeelva River emptying into the Eikesdalsvatnet. The beneficiary of all the rain in my vicinity, the river would be our next stop as well as next week’s Friday Photo.

Thanks for looking,

Chuck Derus Zenfolio | Chuck Derus