PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Leonardo Papèra | Parabolic

Name: Leonardo Papèra
Picture title: IParabolic
Category: People’s Choice
Nationality: Italy
Occupation: Full time photographer, been photographing for 13 years

Technical information
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G
EXIF: 1/6 sec at f/11, ISO 100

Tripod.

Leonardo Papèra says:

The island of Senja, located in the northern part of Norway, is a true hiking paradise. During the summer months, the days are incredibly long (24 hours, to be precise), and you never really experience complete darkness. This shot was taken at the end of August, and although the sun dipped below the horizon, it was just a prolonged twilight without any true darkness before it rose again.

The weather can be tricky and hard to predict above the Arctic Circle, but on this evening, it was clear I would face light rain throughout the afternoon, with the promise of clearer skies later in the evening. The big question was: would the sky clear up in time for sunset, or would I be soaked for hours without even glimpsing the mountains?

The hike to Husfjellet takes about 2 to 3 hours, depending on your pace, and it gets incredibly muddy when it rains – so much so that it’s nearly impossible to keep your feet dry.

When I finally reached the top, I could see that the horizon was clear, and it was then that I realized I was in for something special. I sat down and patiently waited for the sun to dip low enough to break through the clouds. As expected, the light slowly began to illuminate the rain on the distant clouds, casting a golden glow on some of the peaks—gifting me with a once-in-a-lifetime show.