Realm of the Eagles Autumn Colours 2027

Absolutely world-class eagle photography on Ole Martin's boat in a dramatic coastal setting. This time we run three full days on the boat and four overnight stays. In September the low mist becomes striking for the images, often called "sea smoke". During the day we might photograph squirrels, tits, finches and jays in the newly built forest hide, whose pond gives a striking reflection. Some evening we might also look out for moose, near Lauvsnes, the village where we stay. But of course it is the eagles we come here for.

"FISH IS OUT, EAGLE IS COMING" shouts Ole Martin Dahle from his position at the helm. Ole Martin handles the boat with a practised hand, he knows where the eagles are, he checks the wind direction and after throwing the fish he positions the boat so that we get the eagle either from the side, at an angle from the front, or at best almost straight from the front. Everything depends on the circumstances: the direction and strength of the wind and the position of the sun, but also on which eagle it is.

In Ole Martin Dahle's eagle realm in Nord-Trøndelag there are more than a hundred eagles, if you also count the younger ones. The white-tailed eagles recognise the boat and Ole Martin. Usually it is enough for us to approach a territory for the eagles to "know" that extra fish is on offer.

When Brutus first visited Ole Martin in 2003, Ole Martin had only three photographers there during the whole summer. Brutus visited him for a week, and they were out morning and evening. A successful day meant seven dives, something that then felt absolutely fantastic. Between the dives Ole Martin and Brutus fished up more "eagle fish" in a Norwegian sea that is still alive, especially compared to what we Swedes are used to.

Today the white-tailed eagle nestings are far more numerous, and a really good day can mean tenfold as many dives, that is sixty to seventy dives! More than 100 dives in a day is not unusual either.

Over the years Ole Martin has refined his photographic skills and his home-made technique. No matter which direction the eagle comes from, Ole Martin always makes sure we "shoot" on the left side of the boat. We never need to hesitate; when the eagle approaches, the boat will lie with its port side towards the direction where the eagle will make its dive to take the fish. The photographers can concentrate on getting the images.

We can have special requests, we want front light or back light. Often it can be arranged for a few dives, but the wind and sun direction determine what is possible on each occasion (and only in exceptional cases do we want to take the pictures of the dive and the eagle catch from behind).

The white-tailed eagles are at the centre, but we also spend time on some close and hyper-fast Arctic skuas, and during breaks we do "creative" photography with gulls, gull and larger gull species. Herring gulls and great black-backed gulls are the most common, but there is usually a fair number of both lesser black-backed gulls and kittiwakes.

We run two trips, morning and evening. We have three action-packed days with opportunities for fantastic images, which we may previously only have dreamed of.

We are out for up to four hours at a time, morning and evening. Since the days are long – it does not get dark at this time of year – there are many free hours in the middle of the day. Those who wish can then photograph from a newly built hide where birds drink and bathe and the water gives a beautiful reflection.

In the evening when we arrive Brutus will give some advice and tips, both regarding focusing and exposure, both a little extra tricky. The same on the boat. And if you are a beginner, don't worry, you can discard 90–95% of the images and you will still come home with pictures you perhaps never thought you would get.

We stay in Ørnehuset, a modern, airy and pleasant house beside one of the fjords down on Ole Martin's land. Here we cook some meals ourselves, arrange a "frukostpakke" or visit the village restaurant.

The forces of the weather are beyond our control. If Ole Martin judges the situation on the sea to be dangerous, we may not be able to run one of the sessions. However, this happens quite rarely. And the weather changes quickly here on the coast.

Photograph white-tailed eagles in action in a setting that is utterly magnificent. When you come out between the islands or into the fjords among the mighty mountains, it is wilderness, or wilderness sea.

Incredibly many opportunities for action images you may not even have dreamed of getting.

In the breaks between the eagle dives we do a lot of creative photography with gulls, gull and larger gull species.

Now it is the photography that is at the centre, but at its core it is a nature experience of the very highest order.

Six trips in Ole Martin's aluminium boat specially built for this purpose. As long as the weather allows. We go out in the morning and after the evening meal. In early September the sun sets a little earlier than around midsummer, and with luck we get sunset images. And the sun rises later than in high summer.

Ole Martin Dahle knows most of the different eagle individuals and every corner of the archipelago. And he knows exactly how to position the boat so that we always get both the best light and the most action opportunities. Each participant can fully concentrate on just getting the images.

Brutus has been here at least seventy times and helps with settings and tips.