Tromso, Norway
Climbing a mountain on a whim wasn't exactly what I envisioned for my first month of combat deployment aboard the USS THOMAS HUDNER (DDG 116). In early June 2023, we docked in Tromsø, Norway, for a routine port visit while conducting operations in the region. My research had revealed Tromsø’s stunning scenery and a mountain with hiking trails. I had planned to tackle this hike on our fourth day there. However, my friends had other ideas.
Unprepared, poorly dressed, and somewhat misguided, our hike turned into quite an adventure. There were two routes to the summit: a lengthy series of steps or a more challenging, rugged trail. Naturally, being Navy sailors, we opted for the latter, making our journey all the more thrilling and difficult.
As we ascended, I snapped photos at every major elevation, armed with just one camera and one lens. Before you judge, this was before I took photography seriously. Nonetheless, I believe it’s not the gear but how you use it. Some of my best shots to date were taken with a decade-old Canon 7D Mark II and a less-than-stellar Tamron 24-70mm f/3.3-5.6 lens.
I was determined to capture great photos during this hike, despite my limited knowledge of landscape photography. The photo above was taken at 1/2000s, f/4.5, and ISO 100. I’m sure any seasoned photographer would cringe at those settings. Given what I know now, I would approach it differently: perhaps with a 1/300s shutter speed, f/8 aperture, ISO 100, and a tripod, possibly even stopping down to f/11 to avoid blown highlights and capture more detail.
While I’d love the chance to revisit and re-shoot that mountain with the improved technique and equipment I now have, I know that life isn’t about dwelling on the past. It’s about learning from experiences and moving forward.
