The Realm of the Eagles 2027

"FISH IS OUT, EAGLE IS COMING" shouts Ole Martin Dahle from his position at the helm. Ole Martin steers 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 head-on. 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, we're talking about more than a hundred eagles, if you count the younger ones too. Some thirty breeding pairs lie within reach of the boat. We're a long way from the nesting sites, but the white-tailed eagles recognise the boat and Ole Martin. It's usually enough for us to approach a territory and the eagles "know" that extra fish is on the way, and at this time of year the eagle pairs need to feed their young often.

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

Today there are even more white-tailed eagle nests, and on a really good day we're talking about ten times as many dives, that is to say seventy dives.

Over the years Ole Martin has refined his photographic skills and his homemade technique. No matter which direction the eagle comes from, Ole Martin always makes sure that we "shoot" from the left side of the boat. We never have 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 shots.

We can have special requests, we want front light or backlight. Often it can be arranged for a few dives, but the wind and sun direction determine what's possible at any given moment (and only in exceptional cases do we want to take pictures of the dive and the catch from behind).

The white-tailed eagles are the focus, but we also spend time on some close and lightning-fast Arctic skuas, and during breaks we do "creative" photography with "måker", gulls. Herring gulls and great black-backed gulls are the most common, but there are usually quite a few lesser black-backed gulls and black-legged kittiwakes too.

We run two trips, morning and evening. We have three full days with opportunities for fantastic images, the kind we may previously only have dreamed of.

We're out for up to four hours at a time, morning and evening. Since the days are long – it doesn't get dark at this time of year – there are many free hours in the middle of the day. Boat trips can be varied with photography from a newly built hide where birds drink and bathe, and at best a sparrowhawk or goshawk comes down.

And if you're a beginner, don't worry, you can throw away 95–97% of the pictures and you'll still come home with images you may never have thought you'd get.

Six trips in Ole Martin's aluminium boat, specially built for this purpose, weather permitting. We go out in the morning and after the evening meal. Here the sun doesn't set until around 11 pm and it never gets truly dark. Even in bad weather it's usually possible to rearrange the times so that we get the most out of it.

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" (breakfast pack), or visit the village restaurant Zanzibar, where Pål, the owner, sneaks around.

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

An incredible number of opportunities for action shots you may never even have dreamed of getting.

In the breaks between the eagle dives we do a lot of creative photography with "måker", gulls.

Now it's the photography that's the focus, but at its heart it's a nature experience of the highest order.

Six trips in Ole Martin's aluminium boat, specially built for this purpose, weather permitting. We go out in the morning and after the evening meal. Here the sun doesn't set until around 11 pm and it never gets truly dark. Even in bad weather it's usually possible to rearrange the times so that we get the most out of it.

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 simply getting the shots.

Brutus has had over 100 groups here and helps out with tips and advice.