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Hi all, after a number of people suggested that I post some of the Lapland photos I have taken during our trip, I have finally gotten around to do it.

So here they are, well some of them anyway. This was the first real test for my newly aquired D200 and Tokina 12-24 and I am very happy with the performance I got from both the camera and the lenses I used. Zooming on auto was just as fast as in normal temps, the only thing I noticed is that the LCD display on my D200 was a tad slow - but considering the temperature was -25 C it's no surprise really.

For some situations, like me sitting on the back of a snowmobile taking photos of my wife and her dogsled behind me in full speed, I would have liked the 70-200VR instead of my 80-200 but the shots still came out nicely.

Overall a fantastic holiday and plenty of photos to jog our memories. I may post some of the other shots of our Europe holiday in a few weeks or so.

Photos are only slightly altered (apart from frames) in that I corrected the exposure on some photos a little. C&C welcome!

Tim, excellent photos. What sort of trip was it, were you roughing it in the elements?

Thanks Glen. The whole Lapland part of the trip was 6 days. Our base was a guesthouse on our guide's property and from there we took off on the dogsleds. The first day was only a daytrip to get us used to the sled and the dogs. Then afterwards we camped in a tipi overnight in the wild somewhere and the night after that we stayed in a hut in the mountains.

Then we returned to base and the remaining time was spent going out on snowmobiles through the mountain areas.

It was quite a rough time for the gear I had, at some stage my Lowepro Slingshot bag was completely covered in ice and my camera was VERY cold to touch, but the batteries and gear in general performed outstandingly.

Tim, sounds like a once in a lifetime trip. The photos alone look worth it

First shot is a stunner! Looks like an awesome trip.

Tim,

Great images, and I especially love the first. I suspect that I'd love it even more if you cropped the feet.

And the light in the second ... Magic!

gstark wrote:Great images, and I especially love the first. I suspect that I'd love it even more if you cropped the feet.
And the light in the second ... Magic!

Thanks very much, and I have cropped the foot

Hey,

Great images, lovem.....

Mark

Tim,

cawdor wrote:Thanks very much, and I have cropped the foot

Much better.

I think that in losing the foot, the image loses nothing.

Great shots, fantastic light. Must have been a great holiday, not one that many would take.
I remember doing a school project on "The Laps Of Lapland" about 50 years ago and it has stayed an my mind as a place I would like to see, moreso having seen your shots.
What breed of dogs? I would have expected them to have thicker fur. I know I would if I had to sleep in the snow.

Rick

Awesome. The first is brilliant. I look forward to seeing some more...

Thanks everyone for your comments so far. I especially value them coming from fellow photographers, not just family and friends

Rick wrote:What breed of dogs? I would have expected them to have thicker fur. I know I would if I had to sleep in the snow.
Rick

Well it's a common misconception that sleddogs are the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute type - you know, the ones you see in the movies
For a while now these "traditional" breeds have been replaced, partly because due to breeding for the showring they have become too heavy and lost the drive to pull.
They use a breed called Alaskan Husky, which is a lot leaner and long legged, they even cross these with breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer so get the kind of body type best suited for speed and endurance.
As for the fur - you can't really see it in the photos but their fur is superthick, even though it's fairly short.
In fact, when it's fairly mild (around -5 to -10) the dogs get too hot when they run for a while. Minus 20 to -25 is the best temperature for them to run.

As for the light - you gotta be quick or you miss it There is really only an hour or so where the light is really nice. It gets light at around 9 to 10am and at about 2.30pm it starts getting dark. The best light I found between 1 and 2pm. We were lucky in that we got a lot of really clear days and the scenery was just breathtaking. And when you stop and the dogs have settled down, it is absolutely quiet. Beautiful silence.

It was definitely the trip of a lifetime. Now on the list are Canada and Alaska

Hi Tim,

I enjoyed your images from your Lapland trip a lot.
Thanks for sharing these.

Cheers,
CD

Wonderful shots Tim.

They will certainly be treasured memories I'm sure. I especially like #2 and then #1. And the shots of the dogs will certainly bring back memories too.

Great work. Hope to see more soon.

Cheers, Mick

Wow, what wonderful shots, from a beautiful location. I'm glad to hear your equipment stood up to the extreme conditions. Now I really do need a D200.

Bob

Although all shots are great one has to agree with others on #1 being a standout image worthy of printing and hanging with pride

I absolutley love that first shot. Looks like an awesome trip. I'd love to do something like that.
Every time i hear about a D200 using it's weather sealing I wish i hadn't bought the D80! I must say, i was a little scared using anything less than a D200 in the snow in Switzerland. Thankfully the 80 stood up to it.

I envy you!

Harry

Agree that #1 is a standout image. Must have been a wonderful experience.

Thanks guys for all the replies, much appreciated. I will probably get number 1 blown up to poster size and framed