Stavern Beach At Dusk

Stavern Harbor -

Nestled securely in from the storms of the North Sea, Stavern Harbor is a national maritime attraction that invites Norwegians and tourists alike to participate in rest and relaxation, especially during the summer months. Situated along the southern coast of Norway, the town lies nearby to Fredriksvern, Norway's first and foremost naval base built in 1620 with a shipyard, a military academy and The Citadel, an outlook fort structure on a small strategic island at the mouth of the harbor. The majority of this historic site is now home to a plethora of artist's studios, cultural museums, a grass concert venue and a harbor for fishing and pleasure boaters. The town has several lagoons that invite boaters and just maritime enthusiasts to rest and relax. The photo above is one such lagoon. The buildings to the right, behind the the trees and highlighted in the setting sunset were once the naval base's shipyard dry docks but now are home to artist studios.

With the moon rising and glimmering across the glassy water of the lagoon, everything about this town calls for relaxing and enjoying the setting. Despite the hot bed of summertime activity, this serene, little southland town in Norway is one of my favorite destinations.

Photo was taken on a July evening in 2013 with a Nikon D800, 21mm lens, 1/20th shutter speed at f/11 ( handheld but steadied on a nearby lamp post ), ISO 1600, with no flash.