View larger. | Winter light image by Jan Inge Larsen in northern Norway. View Jan Inge’s Fotoblogg

After the long Arctic winter night, the sun is beginning to return to high northern latitudes. Jan Inge Larsen captured the beautiful image above of the winter sun in Norway, which shines only briefly each day. He wrote:

The sun has begun to move just over the horizon and creates a beautiful winter light here at the Arctic Circle in northern Norway.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 85mm f/1,8

Post-processing via Photoshop and Efex pro

And what’s it like in daytime now, at the latitude of northern Norway? Check out Jan’s image below.

View larger. | Winter light image by Jan Inge Larsen in northern Norway. View Jan Inge’s Fotoblogg

Of this image, Jan wrote:

This is taken in the mountains “Snøfjellet” (snowy mountain). This is taken at the brightest time of day now when the sun is below the horizon. It’s almost like we have only blue hour at midday.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 24mm f16, 1/15sec

Post-processing via Photoshop

Thank you, Jan, for this glimpse of the far north in the weeks after solstice!

Map of the Arctic with the Arctic Circle in blue. Map via Wikimedia Commons

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.