Focus Stacking; Does it Live up to the Hype?

I FIRST began writing this post a few months back. Timing is everything. At the time I saw what I believed to be an inordinate amount of "focus stacking" commentary. It seemed like every other image I saw posted on the various sites I frequently visit would have a comment in the caption about focus stacking (e.g., "12 shot, in-camera focus stack," or similar). On an awful lot of them, my immediate question was: "why?" It appeared to me that they were altogether too often rather normal (what I would call) "landscape" images (nature, citiscape, buildings, etc.). 

Almost as if it was a hot fad that didn't last very long

THESE DAYS I don't see it (at least not commented on) nearly so often. Almost as if it was a hot fad that didn't last very long. Of course it isn't a fad at all, and properly used can be a very useful tool to achieve desired depth of field throughout an image. The concept of "stacking" images is ages old, even dating back to the days of film. Stacking can serve a myriad of purposes, and for me, since Photoshop introduced "layers" (really just a stacking concept) it has been an absolute delight to use. Not just for focus, but for other things we would like to adjust in an image (e.g., exposure).

MY FIRST exposure (see what I did there 😃) to depth of field image stacking came some years ago back in the early 2000's when third-party software and eventually mainline software (I use Photoshop) added the feature to their softwares. It was, of course, automation and it was certainly possible to "focus stack" manually, but the results were often not very good and the amount of work necessary was burdensome. I first used a stand-along software (now a plug-in) called Helicon Focus. It allowed for a series of "identical" shots (from a fixed position and a very still subject) to be loaded into it and it did the focus stacking by choosing the parts of each image that was in sharpest focus and blending them together to make one image that was presumably sharp from front to back. I didn't use it very much. Still don't. I get into why not below.

The concept of "stacking" images is ages old, even dating back to the days of film

TODAY, AUTOMATED focus stacking capability has been built into a few higher end camera bodies. An even smaller subset of those allow the processing to be done in-camera, with a focus-stacked result right out of the camera (although one should keep in mind that this processing ultimately renders a jpg image). If you are going to be doing a lot of focus stacking, I suppose this might be a pretty handy feature. For those who applaud the technology, it is - so far - only found in a handful of high-end cameras. There are a few others that will create the stack for you by making a series of exposures, focusing at intervals, but do not do the "work" of blending and combining them (which must be done in post-processing, using a software that is capable of that). Personally, at least until it can all be done as in-camera raw and raw output, I prefer it that way. And it may that I will still prefer it that way even if the raw working capability is someday found in-camera. I am a bit of a control-freak when it comes to my processing (in and out of the camera) and like the amount of control I have over the end results by doing my stacking in post.

SHARPNESS, OF course, is directly related to a lens-based concept known as depth of field. Without getting into the weeds, suffice it to say that a shallow depth of field means less of the image will be in "sharp" focus from front to back. Depth of field is largely a function of focal length and aperture on camera lenses. Generally, the smaller the aperture and the shorter the focal length, the greater the depth of field. Another variable is the distance from the lens to the subject (or the part of the subject you wish to be in sharp focus). Given those things, for years, most of us have worked with these time-tested principles to set up our shots in a manner that will give us maximum front to back sharpness - when that is what we want (it is often a goal to actually have parts of an image out of focus). In my judgment, for my own work (when I do it correctly), I have found that to yield very acceptably sharp results without any need for focus stacking. I don't engage in the proverbial "pixel - peeping," as I know 99.99% of viewers of my work don't either.

it is quite possible to actually introduce inacuracies into the process

SO. DOES focus stacking really assist in the depth of field endeavor? The answer to this depends on a number of variables, both objective and subjective. As we said, focus stacking consists of making a series of "identical" images, using different focus points from front to back, and then combining, registering, and blending them. Because this cannot be done instantaneously, it is quite possible to actually introduce inacuracies into the process. The subject (or camera) may move during or between frames, making it impossible to register two or more of the images precisely. Ironically, rather than enhancing sharpness this may well have the opposite effect of rendering the image to appear out of focus. Light conditions may change between frames. This can create visual issues which can make the image appear less sharp and well defined. Some commentators have also observed that, in their judgment, a focus-stacked image can look artificial (too sharp throughout). It is also possible that if the intervals (focus distances) between frames are too wide, the process can just simply fail to improve the image.

TO MY way of thinking, this limits the utility of this "device" to a few applications. True "macro" photography, including (and perhaps especially) product photography is the one area where I see some real gains in image quality. In close-focusing macro images, it can be impossible to have an entire subject be in sharp focus with a single image. Focus bracketing in these cases can be a real hero. But like any "tool" at our disposal, I like to follow the old adage of using the proper tool for the job. And, in my mind, a corollary to that adage is that you should not use any add-ons to the basic lens unless there is a good reason. If it doesn't truly address a specific concern or issue, and could possibly introduce negatives, don't use it. This is the same approach I take to filters, for example, on the front of the lens. 

GIVEN THESE observations, I am skeptical of the benefits of focus stacking except for some very specific uses and circumstances. Most of the time I can make a nature or building shot very acceptably sharp from front to back using traditional depth of field principles. And at the same time, I wonder if using the focus stacking features in the cameras is worth the trouble. I have played with it for landscape shots, even with something relatively close in the foreground, and comparing the results with my "standard" technique, have not really been able to see an appreciable difference. It seems to me that image management is a pretty significant part of the process, both in camera or out. I briefly tried the function in my Sony A7cr to save "stacked" images into a new folder. Sounds simple. Not. Instead of creating a new folder only for the stacked images, it then creates another brand new folder when you resume shooting. And so on. It was an organizational nightmare when I ingested the files into my archive system. Not doing that one again, with several folders on the card without any way to easily recognize what was where.😓For Sony users, the newer system does have one pretty cool feature. I allows you to insert a frame in front and back of your "stacked" (or e.g., panoramic shots so you can identify where the begin and end. I always though the shot of my finger pointing was kind of awkward.

I USE Adobe Bridge as a viewer and organizational tool, and I do like the feature that allows you to mark files and save them into a stack. But I do that pretty infrequently. In my view, I will pretty much ignore the approach and process of focus stacking for 99% of my shooting. I personally think it has been lately overused (to little avail) and often misunderstood. If I was shooting lots of macro images, it would certainly be a tool I would embrace. There may be the ocassional landscape image that calls out for its use. I haven't found it yet.

Linear Profiles - Should You Be Using Them?

I WILL never forget the day, back in 2005, when my buddy, Rich Pomeroy and I returned to the farm where we were staying in Vermont during a fall color trip, and we were comparing our "take." At the time, Rich (now an accomplished wildlife shooter) was a fairly "new" photographer. I had been shooting film since the 1970's and digital since about 2000. Conventional "pro" wisdom strongly recommended recording images in the camera's native "raw" format. The idea is that it is the best way to record and store a digital image is in its "raw," unchanged or altered. Converting that "raw" image to a jpg (which virtually all cameras can and many only do) or similar format results in a permanent change, akin to "cooking" it. The vast majority of consumer cameras ("point and shoot") and phone cameras convert in the camera to jpg format (and don't even offer saving as raw as an option).

ALL THIS technology has come leaps and bounds forward and even a jpg made on one of today's cameras gives a lot more latitude than "back in the day," when digital cameras first came out. A few years ago, in the early days of this blog, I posted a detailed article on "Why You Should Shoot Raw." I remain a strong believer in that. But back then, Rich was shooting all his images in jpg format, even in his DSLR camera. The reason I say I will never forget is that raw images are generally very flat and dull looking. We compared our shots of some of the scenes and his jpegs looked pretty colorful and vibrant. I was using a body that was somewhat new to me and I was crestfallen to see that my image color and quality just didn't compare well to his. Or so I thought. Later, once I move the raw file into my Photoshop program and began to process them, not only did they compare favorably, but in some cases they were actually better. And because they were raw, I could make changes that were very different from the jpg renderings from his camera. On the other hand, he really couldn't. He was stuck with the "cooked" version the jpg file presented.

OLD NEWS. We both have been shooting raw format images for years now. And over time, the so-called "raw conversion" software just keeps getting better and better. The main point of this piece is really taking the theory of using raw images another step. It has to do with "profiles." I am going to only touch on this idea in a superficial way, because I cannot begin to explain it as well as post-processing guru, Tony Kuyper can, and the best thing I can do for you is link you to this very easy-to-read and understand article: Linear Profile Repository, on his website. I will quote his clear definition of a profile, and then strongly urge you to click on over and read his piece: "A profile1 is the set of instructions that tells Lightroom (Lr), Adobe Camera Raw (CR), or other RAW processing software how to display the data from a RAW file captured by a digital camera." Tony graciously offers his profiles free of charge on his website (it may be confusing when you visit because they are downloaded through his "pay" shopping cart and so it looks like there is a charge, but there is not). Note that they are camera - specific, so if you are shooting (or have historically shot with) different models, you will have to download a profile for each camera.

LIKE THE raw image looked to me back in Vermont in 2005, the image displayed with a linear profile looks blah on its own - quite dark, kind of grey, and flat. That is because it digitally represents the actual, "raw," linear data recorded by the camera sensor. It is up to you (or your processing engine) to create your own version of the image by making adjustments. In reality, ditigally recorded files are camera-sensor specific. Every camera model yields slightly different raw data and therefore a slightly different "curve," because every different sensor will record differently. Every manufacturer records the "raw" files recorded in the camera in their own proprietary "raw file format" (e.g., Nikon = NEF; Canon = CRW; Sony - ARW, and so on). And from what I understand those proprietary "raw files" are actually some variation of a .tif file, in order to make them visible on screen. Those "flat" images I saw in my laptop from my raw shots back in 2005? Those were Nikon NEF fies. So they had already already had a curve applied to them, to make them viewable.

BUT WAIT. There's more. 😆 Our "higher end" cameras that record "raw" images, actually apply two different curves. For those who didn't already know this, the images that show up for review on your camera's rear screen are actually jpg thumbnails produced by the camera. As we have said elsewhere, without a digital conversion through software, you cannot see the recorded data on a screen. The second "curved" image is different and is applied to the recorded data by your processing software at and after the time of conversion. This is where profiles come in. Raw conversion software (I use Adobe Camera Raw, but Light Room uses the same raw conversion "engine," and the other popular raw conversion software all has this feature) has a utility that applies a profile to your raw file. In the Adobe products, there is a drop down in the conversion engine that offers you a choice of several different profiles, and gives you the ability to upload your own profiles (like the profiles offered by Tony Kuyper). Each of these profiles is a "curve" applied to the straight-line (or "linear") data recorded by the camera sensor. And each is someone's "interpretation" of the best looking rendition of the data - or at least the starting point. The linear profile offered by Tony is his best shot at showing you the actual linear "curve" (theoretically a straight line) results on screen. This gives you the opportunity to make your own interpretation of the data, applying your own curve (profile) - more or less from "scratch." Pretty cool. It is probably worth the exercise to take a look at this part of your software, and play around with the different "looks" each profile gives you. Adobe, for example, pre-loads several, including "Adobe Standard," "Adobe Vivid," "Adobe Neutral," "Adobe Landscape," and a few others. There are also some creative ones available. In the end, though, what these are are just a suggested set of adjustments to that flat, linear profile. A starting point.

SHOULD YOU be using them? My best answer is that I don't really know. It is going to depend on many factors. I like to "play" with my raw images. I process each one individually. I have the time and enjoy the "ride." For me, the processing is as much a part as the making of the original images. But I know I am not "typical," if there is any such thing. I know many shooters who primarily enjoy making images and will want to spend minimal time processing them later. For you, though I would still highly recommend you shoot raw, if for no other reason than archival purposes, you are probably going to be more satisfied choosing one (or a couple) of the provided profiles in your software and leaving that as the default application.

IN MY own case, it has become one of the many "tools" in the digital toolbox. My buddy, Rich Ennis, pointed them out to me last fall during my visit to Vermont.  For a time, I appled the linear profile to every image. Rather than working completely from scratch, Tony suggests using the "AUTO" button on LR and ACR after applying the profile, and then making your own adjustments from there. I will let him explain (see the link above) why that may be a better approach than just using one of the other profiles offered in the software. I know Rich uses the profiles for a lot of his post-processing. And he is far advanced from me (both as a photographer and processer). But after a trial period, I found myself going back to one of Adobe's profiles: "Adobe Color", and preferring it. It just seems to come closest to the look I am seeking in most of my images. Which is why I am considering the Linear Profile a "tool in the box" at this point. Something I will use on occasion, but do not currently see enough utility to go through all the steps required.

I SUPPOSE that in the end, that is "using" them. I do suggest that if you do any degree of processing of your images, you download the profile for your camera model(s); load it into your software (it works in LR and PS - ACR; I am not sure about other processing software - but he does make an offhand reference to "other raw processing software), and try it. At the very least it will give you an eye-opening look "under the hood," so to speak. And, as Tony so generously offers these profiles as a no-charge item. What have you go to lose? 

Trondheim

Celebrity Apex at its Trondheim, Norway berth
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

IT WAS hard to believe, but after a final "at sea" day, here we were at our final port stop: Trondheim. In retrospect, Trondheim was probably the only real "city" we visited (maybe Alesund, also). From our pre-cruise research, we knew Trondheim was not only a very walkable city, but with its population of nearly 220,000 people, would have some things we could see on our own. As I have noted, these northern Norway destinations offered very little in the way of excursions. It seems like walking tours (like "tours by foot" and similar) are simply non-existent in that part of the world. Probably a function of lack of demand? Anyway, we simply planned our own "general" walking tour.

Trondheim's Canal - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

TRONDHEIM IS a cool city. It doesn't necessarily rank up there with places like Barcelona, Porto and London, but as smaller, lesser known cities go, it was a fun place to visit. I was surprised to learn that it is Norway's third largest city. We found a few things to do, including a visit to a spectacular cathedral, lunch in a local gastropub with local food, and a walk along some of Trondheim's quiet streets and their canal. We also thought the cruise port was pretty impressive. There is a marine research institute facility that is housed in a basin just inside the cruise pier. I believe it is associated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway's largest university. Formerly known as The University of Trondheim, it was changed to NTNU in 1996. There are satellite campuses in two other Norwegian cities (one of them Alesund). There are two other small universities in Trondheim and the total number of students in the city is nearly 42,000. So there is a bit of that "university town" atmosphere. There were some very interesting looking research vessels moored in the basin. But for my purposes, the basin served and even more useful function: a nice photographic reflecting surface. 😊

Trondheim's main canal, looking across to Bakklandet and the colorful houses on that side of the Canal - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

PROBABLY THE best route into the city from the cruise port is to the right as you walk away from the ship, and then straight up some stairs and into the city. The stairs take you up to a walking bridge that spans the multi-track railroad facility right next to the port. Of course we didn't see that at first, and following our maps, and "noses," we instead turned to the left and eventually back right and into town. It probably turns out that our path served our own touring plan better, as it took us along a quiet street that paralleled Trondheim's main waterway, The Nidelva River (apparently often mistaken as a canal), and to the Old Town Bridge, a footbridge across to an area known as Bakklandet.

Old Town Bridge - Honningsvag, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

FOR THE life of me, I cannot figure out what happened here, but I could have sworn I took a couple photos of the bridge. Back home, I couldn't find any on my card, and only a very small thumbnail in the dredges of my phone. Thanks, Photoshop, for the ability to "salvage" awful photos - at least enough for illustration purposes (and the careful observer will see obvious signs that I "worked" it a bit). Noted for its older, 18th century buildings, Bakklandet was actually built as a "suburb" of Trondheim. Today, it is touristy, with lots of shops and cafes. We were a bit disappointed, as the main center as you exited the bridge was under substantial construction. We didn't really stay there very long, but headed back across the canal and on into the city.

Thomas Angells Hus
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

AS WE walked along, we came upon a monument to Thomas Angell. Other than that he was somebody important in Trondheim, I had no idea who he was. But as I turned to look across the street, I saw a building with the name Thomas Angell's Hus. It seemed to me that "Hus" was most likely Norwegian for "house." Man, these famous figures are vain. I don't think the thought has ever ocurred to me to put a sign on the front of any house I have ever owned: "Andy Richards' House." 😀 Just kidding. After I returned home, I did some post-visit research. Thomas Angell's Hus, it turns out, was never his personal residence. Angell was a wealthy Trondheim Merchant and at his death, he donated his fortune to a trust. The "hus" is actually housing for the elderly.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

YOU PROBABLY wouldn't fault me if you were along with us, for assuming Angell had something to do with the Nidaros Cathedral given its proximity to his statue. The church was just a few hundred feet further up the street (as far as I am aware, there is no official connection). From the side street we approached it from, it was pretty obvious that this was a major church. Its gothic lines and details made for a handsome structure, and I lingered along the side for a bit, making some photographs.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

AT THE front and main entrance to the church there is a large, open courtyard and from the back of the courtyard I was able to make a passable wide-angle shot of the front facade. The courtyard, by the way, was full of people, but my crop takes them out of the picture. To the left of the courtyard as you face the church, there is a concession building, where you can purchase souvenirs, limited food, and tickets for admission to the interior of the church. Perhaps most importantly, there are bathrooms in there.

The organ pipes in the Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
(my friend and former law partner, David Meyer, would admire these - if he is reading this)
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

IF YOU get to the cathedral, I highly recommend that you do purchase tickets and see the interior. In my view, that is where it is at its most spectacular.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

MY RESEARCH tells me that this cathedral is the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world. Like many of these huge churches, it wasn't all built at once. Beginning around 1070, it was substantially completed in 1300. Numerous additions and rennovations have ocurred of the years with the most recent (a major reconstruction project) completed in 2001.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

THE CHURCH is built over the burial site of Norway's King Olaf II, the Patron Saint of Norway. In addition to its important religious history, the church is the traditional location for the consecration of new Norwegian monarchs. Originally designated as the Archdiocese of Nidaros, for the Roman Catholic Church, it was changed in 1537, to become part of the newly formed Church of Norway during the Protestant Reformation. Today it is the seat of the Bishop of the Church of Norway.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

I DON'T always overpopulate my posts with images of the same place, but I was so impressed with this church's interior, that I just kept making images - and feel compelled to display them.

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

OF THE many churches and cathedrals we have seen over the past 15 or so years, I think this is the most impressive that I have visited!

Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

WE LEFT the church in an appropriately reverent frame of mind. But biology can have a way to influence the circumstances, and we walked on, into one of the city's primary squares, with food on our minds.

Trondheim's Courthouse - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

MARKET SQUARES or plazas are called torgs in Scandinavian languages. We were seeking Trondheim Torg, which is a large, retail/commercial plaza in the heart of the city. Using Google Maps, we took kind of a roundabout path to the Torg. Looking now on the map, if we had taken the straightest shot, we would have walked right by Trondheim City Hall. But then we would have missed the Trondheim Tinghus. And you know, you don't want to miss seeing a tinghus when you have the chance. As I walked by, the unique decorations on the entrance caught my eye, as did the unique (to and English language speaker) name on the building. I have to admit, my mind went somewhere else when trying to think what a tinghus might be. 😅 Turns out (perhaps thankfully for all involved) it is a courthouse. Once I realized that, the figures on the walls began to make some sense.

McDonald's in the heart of Trondheim Torg
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

ONE OF the things you can count on these days is finding a McDonalds (and usually Burger King, too) in almost any city in the world. I have made it a point to photograph them when I see them, and have a collection in my archives. Here it was, right in the middle of things on Trondheim Torg. Eat there? Not on your life. I do my best to avoid them even here at home. I wouldn't dream of visiting some place  in a different culture and going to McDonald's. Ironically enough, literally across the street, we found something much better: Phoenix Gastropub. We learned a bit about Scandinavian cuisine that day. Other than a lot of seafood (and things like sardines and herring), their food isn't particularly "ethnic." But they way the eat it is unique. I ordered a corned beef sandwich. My wife ordered their Skagen, which was kind of like a shrimp salad. For the table, we had an order of Nordic Sardines and of Marinated Olives. for my corned beef, I was thinking sandwich. The two-fisted variety. I think she was thinking traditional salad. To our surprise, all of our entrees were sandwiches and all of them were served open-faced! That is apparently a very common Scandinavian presentation. Worked just fine for me. Used a fork. The upshot: very tasty! Todd and I also shared an "appetizer" which was sardines and crackers, served right in the tin. They were good, as was the local popular lager beer. Interestingly, the pub gets some mixed reviews on TripAdvisor (which is too bad, as it might dissuade folks from giving it a try. We think that would be a mistake. The 4 of us were unanimously in the 5-star camp! Sometimes, I think people's reactions and comments are a product of their expectations. When you are in an unfamiliar and new country, I think you need to be adventurous and put those expectations aside!

Thomas Angell's Gate - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

SATED, WE moved along. There was more. About 3 blocks in the general direction of the cruise ship terminal, we came upon a retail shopping street: Thomas Angell's Gate. Sound like a familiar name? That guy who was the wealthy merchant who donated his fortune to a foundation. Same guy.

Thomas Angell's Gate - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

WHAT WAS really cool about Thomas Angell's gate though was for me a photographic opportunity. This was one that has become a recurring motif around the world. My first exposure with The Pink Street in Lisbon, Portugal, some years back. More recently, I discovered a much smaller, but equally colorful and photogenic display near our home - in Dunedin, Florida. in just a couple weeks we will visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, where it is my understanding that there is yet another "umbrella street." The colorful, hanging umbrellas are a magnet for a color street photographer, and this was no exception. It is the largest such display I have seen yet, which gave me multiple compositional chances.

Thomas Angell's Gate - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

ANOTHER LONG day in the books. We could say that our self-made walking tour of Tronheim was a great success, and we had a lot of fun exploring. We were ready to head back to the ship and take a load off. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and we were looking forward to sitting on the Sunset Bar deck with cigars and cocktails, and a sunset sail-away.

Only this canal from the Nidelva River out to the ocean, and some railroad tracks separated us from Trondheim and our Cruise Ship -Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

FROM THE end of Thomas Angell's Gate it was only about 3 city blocks, in a straight line, back to the cruise port. We had only to cross the canal in front of the port, and find our way across the railroad tracks. This time, we did it by the book, and took the pedestrian walkway back to the port. It was good to see our Celebrity Apex in sight in the nearby background.

Footbridge from the City to the Cruise Port - Trondheim, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

WE WOULD have a couple more days at sea to get back to Southampton, and then a ride to LHR, where we would bid our great friends goodbye. But only for now. We already have a couple future cruises booked together. And perhaps we will do a visit somewhere before then. In the meantime, we made the best of those last two days.

Cigars on the Celebrity Apex
Trondheim, Norway - Southampton, England

Honningsvag and the North Cape

Fishing Harbor near Honningsvag Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

HONNINGSVAG's POPULATION is 2250, and though its primary industry is fishing, it has also become a significant tourist destination, as "the gateway" to the North Cape. While there are a couple other very small towns north of Honningsvag, it is really the northernmost community with any real port facilities. We arrived in the port at 10:00 a.m., and shortly were able to disembark. Our meeting place for the tour we had booked was literally steps from the ship area, so getting there was easy.

I don't know this guy, but he is clearly excited about being at the northernmost point in Europe 😆
North Cape Visitor Center - Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

IT MAY have gone downhill from there. I guess I have to qualify that statement, though (and explain "may"). Over the years we have been doing cruises around the world, we have had mostly very good luck with high quality, well-organized tours. But most of ours have been private tours with participant numbers between 4 and 12. We have observed that as those numbers get larger, the tour quality tends to go south - no matter where in the world you are. As we began our planning for the Nortwegian Fjords cruise nearly a year in advance, I was struck by how few private excursions seemed to be available. Partly, I am sure, because these destinations were so far north and often in very small areas. It did seem there would be more available in the more populous cities in the southern part of Norway. We only found a couple and they seemed to us to be uniformly expensive. The North Cape Tours all seem to be run by the same company and although they did have some smaller ones available, they again seemed awfully expensive for the experience offered. Ours was a large busload. We did get up to the North Cape Visitor Center, and we can say we saw the northernmost land spot in Europe, so there is that. It wasn't a terrible experience.

North Cape Visitor Center - Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

BUT IT wasn't really as advertised. Unfortunately, there was a certain level of hyperbole in their advertisement. "A visit at a Sami family with traditional Sami outfits and a reindeer.'" There was a house along the road, and across the road, a Tee-Pee, a chained up reindeer, and a tent with "souvenirs." When the bus stopped and unloaded a guy came walking across the road from the house. He was dress in apparently native garb. He walked over and stood with the reindeer what a crowd of tourists shot selfies with him." So, yeah. It was a stop. But a visit with a family, and the implication of reindeer plural? Not so well executed. Or, "A visit to a picturesque fishing village with its harbour and fishing boats." Right. The bus drove into the parking lot of the the harbour, and never even stopped, as the narrator described the fishing village and pointed out the boats. 😒 That's a "visit?" "View stops overlooking fjords, ocean and the monumental North Cape Cliff." Nope. No stops. None. We stopped at the reindeer selfie op, and at the North Cape Visitor Center. No place else. And finally, "Sightseeing through the arctic town of Honningsvag with its sights and attractions." Well. if driving down a couple of the streets, pointing out the church and park as we drove by is "sightseeing" then I guess I have to give them that. All in all: Underwhelming. But such as it is, it appears to be the only "game in town," so if you want to see the sights, that's your choice.

This was the "traditional Sami family with reindeer" stop. I did a bunch of retouching of this image to try to give it some semblance of what could have been scenic natural surroundings. In reallity, he was tethered. He was not the one being used in the selfies. But he sure looks like he could be majestic there. Instead, I felt kind of sorry for him
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

I DON'T want to dissuade people from going to Honningsvag - or from taking a trip up to the North Cape Visitor Center. It is one of those things where you want to check it off your list. We did and we don't regret that. But just don't set your expectations too high. And in fairness, maybe I did do just that. It was not a particularly expensive excursion, and maybe I was being unrealistic with my expectations based on the reading of their advertising, rather than my perception of what might be realistic in that price range.

The Picturesque Fishing Harbor we "visited" - somewhere between Nordkap and Honningsvag
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

WE ALSO thought the little town of Honningsvag was, itself, kind of cool. We found the local "craft brewery." It was appropriately "rustic" for its size and for the size and nature of the town (and really felt more like just a local bar). That was actually fun. The bartender was friendly and we enjoyed the stop. I also liked the harbor and fishing boats and made a few images I liked. And Heather pointed out an image I very likely would have missed that was part of the brew pub and was really a great find! In all, it may have been one of our better stops on the cruise, ironically. We still had one more ahead of us, after another "at sea" day. It would prove to be perhaps the most enjoyable of any of them - with some of my better picture opportunities. Next up: Trondheim.

Honningsvag, Norway
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THOUGH OFTEN more travelog than photography these days, this is a photography blog. And in that context, I will say this was a pretty successful outing. Colors. Reflections. Marine subjects. Whimsical images. I did find some pretty nice ones.

Tromso and The Huskies

Huskies - Tromso, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

FOLLOWING OUR adventures in Flam, the next day, Saturday, was a day at sea. We were headed well north, up into The North Sea, and the Arctic Circle. By Sunday, when we reached Tromso, we were closing in on as far north as we could get - but not quite. We scheduled our only ship-sponsored excursion of the trip for this day. Our only organized excursions for the entire cruise were a trip on the Flam Railway,  and an independently sponsored excursion up into the North Cape (Nordkap) - the furthest North one can travel by land in Europe; above the Arctic Circle. And today's ship-based excursion, which was a trip to a facility where they birth, raise, and train sled dogs. They are all a type of Husky breed, bred to withstand the cold weather and harsh environment, as well as their seemingly endless energy for running and pulling. They absolutely love to run.

Tromso, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

ALTHOUGH I was hopeful for some good photo opportunities, the facility - perhaps disappointingly - did not really lend itself to good photography. All the dogs were either in fenced enclosures or on leads. Understandably, as they might otherwise run, and things would certainly be out of control. Lest the images I included here mislead you, the dogs did not appear to be under poor conditions. The accomodations were clean and well maintained, the dogs all appeared happy and enthusiastic. They get regular exercise during the day, also. There were several busloads of people, so it was crowded. I really hadn't had high expectations. The dogs, though, were very friendly, if a little frenetic. One of the things you will want to be prepared for if you do make one of these visits, though, is the dogs are not particularly clean - they are not bathed regularly and they smell. Not that they are dirty (as you can see from the photos, they seem healthy and well-kept), but they need to keep a certain amount of their natural body oils, in order to ward off the cold. It will get on your hands and clothes. In a way much like being on a livestock farm. As I like to say, "first world" problems.

Tromso Harbor, Tromso, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

BUT COMING into the port at Tromso did present some of the best photography opportunities of the trip. The morning light was really beautiful, and there were a few nice scenes with snow-capped mountains and fishing boats. These northern countries can be dreary - with lots of cloud cover, rain, and cold temperatures. I have noticed that one of the things they do to make things more cheery is to paint their buildings and boats in bright colors. That makes it nice for us photographers. So thanks Norway, for that! 😃

Tromso Harbor; Tromso, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

SURPRISINGLY, TROMSO is the 12th largest city in Norway, with nearly 80,000 inhabitants. We didn't really spend much time in the city, though we did stop at a museum and see a movie after our visit to the Huskies. We did a "drive-by" of the famous Ice Cathedral, but I never really go a great shot of it.

Those eyes! - Tromso, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

Flam and the Picturesque Flam Railway

View from the Celebrity Apex; berthed in Flam, Norway
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FLAM IS perhaps one of Norway's most iconic spots. A recreational haven for residents of Scandinavia, there are wonderful camping, hiking, biking, skiing and fishing locations up in the mountains around Flam. Once a tiny little agricultural village deep in the end of the Aurlands Fjord, its scenic and recreational offerings have transformed it in modern years into a primary tourism destination. There are approaching a half million visitors to Flam each year. It is one of the sought after destinations by tourists and particularly by cruise ships. The keystone is probably the Flam scenic railroad, which also serves as part of a transportation hub for other rails and locations in the fjords. Norway considers itself one of the more "green" nations of the world, and in keeping with that philosophy, they impose guidelines and standards for the impact that tourism has on the natural environment. In no industry is this more the case than the cruise ship industry. Over the past few years, we have read that Norway will be banning large cruise ships from the fjords. This is not entirely correct, though they have announced much tighter standards for certain  fuel-powered large cruise ships. Originally targeted to begin in 2026, these restrictions would essentially exclude many of the large cruise ships in the cruise industry. When we booked our cruise, it was with this deadline in mind, believing that it would be our last chance to visit the fjords on our favorite Celebrity Cruise ships (or any competitors, for that matter). Shortly after our confirmed booking, they announced that the deadline for newer, stricter, standards would be moved to 2032. But I have not doubt it is coming. Honestly, once we decided to book it, especially with the chance to cruise with Todd and Heather, we wouldn't have changed it for the world. Flam was rainy for the most part, but we were also indoors (on the train, in buildings, etc.) for most of the day.

Flam Cruise Port - Flam, Norway
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THE PERMANENT population of Flam is somewhere from 300 - 500 people. Many, if not most, of them today service the tourism trade. There is one very nice resort in the village and then a few very small establishments and campgrounds. There are a couple restaurants that service the entire area. We made reservations in one of the "Viking" restaurants, knowing that with the influx of cruise passengers, it might be hard to get a table.

Flam countryside from the Flam Railway - Flam, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

LIKE SO many of the cruise ports these days, there was a certain "Disney" feel. The train platforms were crowded with 100s of passengers waiting to get on board for the approximately 30 minute ride up a steep mountain and through several tunnels on the narrow gauge train. There was a large store at the port/train entrance that was so crowded it reminded me of the Friday after Thanksgiving in a Best Buy Store or the local mall. It was packed full of what I can only characterize as "trinkets" and I have very serious doubts that they were locally made. Putting the commercialism aspect aside, however, there is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful - and picturesque - places in our world.

Flam countryside from the Flam Railway - Flam, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

AND ALSO in spite of commercialism, there are always opportunities for the photographer (though it sometimes requires leaning to isolate compositions). My worst case has always been shooting from a moving vehicle through glass windows. You have to shoot fast and understand that you are going to "waste" a lot of frames as you quickly move past your subject. There is always glare and reflections to deal with through the vehicle windows. But with some patience, it is possible to get some reasonably nice imges. The Flam scenery from the train is beautiful, and the local famers and landowners have accomodated us by painting their homes and buildings in bright colors that stand out in the lush, green landscape. Our day in Flam was a rainy, mainly dreary day. But that also made for clouds and fog, which always ads interest to images, in my view. I got a couple that I liked.

Flam Countryside from the Flam Railway - Flam, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

Norway at Last

Alesund, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

MONDAY AND Tuesday were a bit of a blur for me. A 90 minute ride to the port from our hotel. Check in and boarding was Celebrity's usual quick and efficient process except for the luggage dropoff. That area was a 3-ring circus. I don't remember it being that way back in 2021, but then we were at Princess Cruises terminal, and it was during Covid-19, so things were very regimented. Anyway, we were basically quickly boarded, obtained our room keys, and found our way to the Magic Carpet Bar. Let's get this show started! We were pretty familiar with the ship by now. This was my wife's and my 4th time on Apex, and Todd and Heather's second.

Alesund, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

SOMEWHERE ALONG the way, I began to feel the effects of the cold that Heather had gotten on our last day in London. By dinner time, it was full on. I medicated, went to bed, and begged off of our first shore excursion. Sadly, because it was Bruges, which is a beautiful place. Fortunately, we had been there back in 2020, and it is small enough that we had really seen most of it. It was the only repeat for me, and was as good as any one to miss. The following day was an "at sea" day, giving me a pretty good period to just relax and recover.

The City of Alesund from our Cruise Ship deck
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

ON THURSDAY, as we docked in Alesund, Norway, I was (mostly) back among the human race. There have been some cruises where I have taken hundreds of photos during our excursions. And then there have been some where I have taken very few. This cruise was one of the latter, for the most part, which will probably make this post seem relatively shorter. Much like my takeaway from Iceland, I would say that the primary draw of the fjords of Norway are the natural beauty of the environment. Except for Trondheim (our last stop and a very fun city), most of my images here were made from the ship, or from high vantage points at the ports.

Alesund, from Aksla (the highest point in the city)
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

BY NOW, we had seen a lot of the kind of scenery we saw on this cruise, beginning way back in 2010 along Alaska's Inside Passage, and then again in the fjords of Iceland. Each of these 3 spots had their differences. In Alaska, we never saw any evidence of human occupation on land except close to the towns we stopped in. In Iceland, it was almost the same, but not being as vast, there were the occasional fishing boats and cottages and villages from time to time. The Norwegian Fjiords showed more evidence of habitation. Still pretty desolate though. Norway and iceland were more "green" than Alaska, but that probably was a function of the time of year.

Another view from Aksla - Alesund, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

NORWAY, SWEDEN and Finland are the countries that make up the Scandinavian Peninsula and together cover the vast majority of the north shore of the Baltic Sea. Except along the seacoasts, they are relatively sparsely populated. But they did seem to have a couple cities that were more populous than what we saw in either the Alaskan Inside Passage, or in Iceland. Alesund, for example, has a population of nearly 70,000; over double the population of Juneau (the most populous city on the Inside Passage by a magnitude). The metropolitan region in and around Reykjavik, Iceland, on the other hand, approaches 250,000. But that is where everyone lives in Iceland. You won't find anything close to that outside the Reykjavik area. Akureyri's population was about 20,000 and Isofordjur aobut 4,000. Trondheim, Norway was over 200,000. Tromso was nearly 80,000. However as we got further north, those populatiun numbers really dwindled. Honingsvag, our most northern port, was only around 2,000.

Alesund, Norway
Copyright Andy Richards 2025

IN THE fjords and northern areas of Norway, it seems that the primary industry is fishing, with other types of agriculture being important, but lagging well behind fishing. Tourism, as seems to be true worldwide, has grown to be another significant economic piece for Norway.

Restaurant sign in Alesund, Norway
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A FUNNY little anecdote: Just before we all left the U.S. for London, Todd confided to us that Fish & Chips, possibly the most popular meal in the British Isles, was something that just doesn't work for him. My first lunch in London at the Olde Thameside, was fish & chips and it was delicious. Of course, I had to send Todd a photo. 😋 I wanted to let him know we had found a great place for us to get fish & chips. Whenever we went anywhere and I saw evidence of them during the trip, I made sure to point them out. With that, some readers here know I like to collect images of "eclectic" signs. When I saw the sign above, I knew it was a must-have image. I love the passive-aggressive confidence the sign exudes! Probably. 😏