I love taking landscape photos, and one of my biggest pet peeves is utility lines and power grids. They always seem to cut right through the view at the worst possible moment. You walk around, reframe, crouch down, move to the side, and do everything you can to keep them out of the shot—but the truth is, they’re almost impossible to avoid. They’re everywhere, quietly stretching across the landscape whether you want them there or not.
These photos are from Northern Norway, as you might have guessed. The scenery there is wild, dramatic, and incredibly beautiful, and then there are these thin lines of infrastructure slicing through the sky. At first they feel like an intrusion, but the more you look, the more you realize how much they belong to the story of the place. They’re a reminder that even in the most remote and rugged landscapes, people live, work, and rely on the same basic need: power.
So while I still try to frame them out when I can, I’ve also learned to accept them—sometimes even to include them on purpose. After all, they fit the word “power” in more ways than one. We all need it, and in many places, especially in harsh climates like Northern Norway, it’s simply not possible to hide the lines underground. They become part of the landscape, whether we photographers like it or not.
My post for One Word Sunday
Such dramatic and beautiful Northern Norway scenery. 🏔️
It is so beautiful
The architecture of this street is absolutely beautiful, and that historic storefront adds so much character to the entire area. Beautifully captured! 📷”
Thanks , old sign etc have a great appeal. Sorry for late response, I have not been on my computer much.
Power lines and poles are part of the scene’s reality. If we remove them, we change reality. Beautiful images!
I know, but sometimes I rather not have them in the shot
Yes, but………
Good analysis and inclusion of the power lines. If we can’t erase them, we might as well embrace them. Nicely done!
Thanks, I am not embarrassing them, but grudgingly accepting them 😀
What a wonderful perspective! 📸 Nature and human progress often share the same landscape, and sometimes what we consider an intrusion becomes part of its unique story. I love how you have turned your initial frustration into an appreciation of the connection between people and their surroundings. The winding road and power lines seem to remind us that even in the wildest corners of the world, life finds a way to flourish. Perhaps true photography is not just about capturing perfect scenery, but also about discovering beauty in the imperfect. Beautifully observed and expressed! 🌿✨
what a nice comment, thank you Vijay
You are most welcome.
Power lines ARE distracting, aren’t they? But you have still captured lovely scenes.
you cannot beat the scenes, but I had done good job avoiding them. I had to do some digging so I could get nice ones to this post
You did well!
i feel the same about power lines and poles in photos. Sometimes they don’t distract from the main subject of the photo. Like these wonderful landscape, they seem to fit in just fine.
The photos do give a sense of remoteness
It not a vastly populated area. Thanks Brian