Nature

Close up picture of viviparous lizard / common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

4 Comments / Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Close up picture of viviparous lizard / common lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera April 18th 2011. Click image for larger view.

The viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is the only lizard that lives in Norway. It is also known as common lizard and can be found in large parts of Norway. I’ve never seen lizards in Northern Norway, but they are found in a few places in Nordland and Troms, and in large parts of Finnmark. On Nesodden I have often observed lizards on rocks in the sun that disappears quickly when they come aware of risks. According to Wikipedia the common lizard preys on insects and spiders, but is hunted by birds and snakes.

I found this lizard under a stone where it lay perfectly still. It had not woken up from hibernation and thus I got the chance to get close in on the lizard to take this picture. I recommend you to click on the image to see it in large size.

Please check out my other close up / macro images on this page.


Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 150 mm
ISO Speed 400
Lens: Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX APO DG HSM Macro
Location: Fjellstrand in Nesodden, Akershus in southeast of Norway

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Picture of ice on the coast – Midwinter in Northern Norway

2 Comments / Landscape, Mountain, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge, Snow, Winter /

Picture of ice on the coast - Midwinter in Northern Norway
Taken with Olympus E-PL1 digital camera December 28th 2010. Click image for larger view.

This Christmas I visited the family in Northern Norway. There was a few moments where I got time for some photo shooting in the familiar surroundings in the north. Here I was walking at the coastline and I found these ice flakes to be pretty with the winter mountain (that often appears in my photos) in the background. I had to photograph the winter landscape to document another winter in the north!

The light that one can experience midwinter in Northern Norway is pretty awesome with its deep blue colors and signs of the sun coming back, but one got to remember thick clothes and gloves suited for photography.

Please see my other winter pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-PL1 digital camera
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 14 mm
ISO Speed 200
Lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6
Location: Laupstad (Andørja), Troms in Northern Norway

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Macro picture of Large marsh grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum) the largest Acrididae in Norway

1 Comment / Insect, Macro, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Macro picture of Large marsh grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum) the largest Acrididae in Norway
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera September 6th 2010. Click image for larger view.
After moving to the south of Norway I have discovered many new species of insects that I have never seen in Northern Norway. In this photograph I have found one of these new species. This is a Large marsh grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum) that is quite common around my house. It is the largest Acrididae in Norway and can be quite a sight with its up to 37mm long. This grasshopper is often found in wet grasslands and and close to beaches. Since I live to close to wet areas we have lots of grasshoppers around our house, during the summer, making a constant buzz. Our chickens love to feed on grasshoppers so maybe they taste good?

There is about 30 species of grasshoppers in Norway and I hope I can photograph more species next summer.

Check out my other insect pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 150 mm
ISO Speed 400
Lens: Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX APO DG HSM Macro
Location: Fjellstrand in Nesodden, Akershus in southeast of Norway

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Picture of old snail shell on withered thistle

Nature, Norway, Norway Norwegen Norge, Shells, Snail /

Picture of old snail shell on withered thistle
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera September 6th 2010. Click image for larger view.
If you pay attention to the nature around you you can find beautiful things everywhere. Here I have photographed an old snail house sitting on a withered thistle. The snail seems to have crawled up the thistle stem and died there.

I find snail shells to have a fascinating coiled structure that makes a good picture. Check other snail shell pictures here and here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 150 mm
ISO Speed 400
Lens: Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX APO DG HSM Macro
Location: Fjellstrand in Nesodden, Akershus in southeast of Norway

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Pictures of black trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides) mushroom also known as trumpet of death, black chanterelle and horn of plenty

Autumn, Mushroom, Nature, Norway Norwegen Norge /

Picture of black trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides) mushroom

Black trumpet mushrooms (Craterellus cornucopioides) is a very tasty mushroom that can be difficult to find. They are also known as trumpet of death, black chanterelle and horn of plenty. It is said that this mushroom grows where there are oak and hazel, and it matches well since these mushrooms were found near some large oak trees. Because of the color of the mushrooms it can be easy to overlook them on the forest floor. Some mushroom hunters has described the hunt for black trumpet mushrooms a hunt for black holes in the ground. As a specialty mushroom, sold primarily as a dried product, they are mostly imported or harvested wild. The harvesting can be extensive, and sometimes include the removal of the top layer of soil. Either excavator hire or bigger mechanics are implemented. Found under deciduous trees in the Northeast and Midwest, Black Trumpet mushrooms are highly valued and can be used for a variety of purposes including sauces, steak, soups and wild game dishes. If you look for this dark fungus so it is advisable to look straight down instead of around you like you often do when looking for mushrooms such as Golden chanterelle. Once you have found the trumpet mushrooms you may want to take a look near the site where you found them. A tip is to look where there might be streams when there are heavy rain falls. If you follow such streams it should be possible to find large amounts of black trumpet mushrooms.

Black trumpet mushrooms may not be the most beautiful mushrooms in existence, but they are very tasty. They can be cooked fresh and is excellent for drying. Before cooking or drying the mushrooms should be split in half to remove filth that often accumulates in the middle of the mushroom.

Here is a picture of a cluster of black trumpet mushroom:
Picture of black chanterelle

Note: These photos were taken in the southeastern part of Norway. This image should not be used to identify unknown fungi to see if they are edible or not. Do not eat a mushroom you are uncertain about!
See my other mushroom pictures here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Location: Fjellstrand in Nesodden, Akershus in southeast of Norway

Pictures of black trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides) mushroom also known as trumpet of death, black chanterelle and horn of plenty Read More »

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