Kannesteinen is a fascinating example of geology. It’s a mushroom shaped rock on the coast near Maløy on Vågsøy, Norway. The strong winds from the North Sea blowing in to the shore has eroded and shaped many rocks over time, including this one. Waves crashing around its base, combined with this wind, have given the Kannesteinen the appearance of a mushroom or a goblet, or even a heart if you look from the right angle. The rock is considered a protected location under Norwegian law and it’s a sought after spot for photographers. High tide envelops the surrounding rock so care should be taken. 

Facts:

• Distance – 100m 

• Difficulty – Very easy

• Time - Sunset

• Season - Any

• Elevation – Sea level

Access

There is a small lot with enough space for a few cars at the roadside, which is a very short walk on a wooden boardwalk to the sea. When you get to the end of the boardwalk you’ll be standing at approximately the height of the top of the Kannesteinen, and to get to the level of the water will involve a little scrambling down the rocks.

Photo location

This photo was taken from a void in the rock at the end of the boardwalk, below the level of the boardwalk (which was up to my shoulder height) and there were some shallow rock pools there at low tide. When the tide comes in, particularly on a spring tide, this area will be flooded.

Map

Outline 

This is a very easily accessible location in terms of its lack of requirement to hike, however it is not close to many other things. The Kannesteinen is on the western edge of the island of Vågsøy, which is reached by a bridge from neighbouring Måløy. There are lots of fjords in the region and you may have to cross them by ferry. The ferries do not all operate 24/7 so be careful not to get stranded overnight if your accommodation is elsewhere. Navigation apps do not always account for ferry times so plan your route carefully. There is enough space for a few cars to park at the roadside in a small pullout, complete with a picnic table and trash can, but there are no toilet facilities.

Detail 

The walk from the parking to the Kannesteinen is a gradual slope down on rock and grass until you reach the wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk goes right the edge of the rocks, looking down over the Kannesteinen and the small cut-out it’s contained within. There’s a clear sea-view to the right of the rock, and a distant low mountain to the left in the background. It’s possible to climb down the rocks with a little agility and walk right to the Kannesteinen itself on a low tide. The rocks are smooth and grey, and combined with the rock pools there aare options for a variety of slightly different foregrounds.

How it feels 

The Kannesteinen is a geological masterpiece, demonstrating the power and creativity of nature. Countless years of ice, water and wind erosion have caused this peculiarity. Some popular locations are underwhelming once you’ve seen them in photos versus seeing them for real, but the Kannesteinen is certainly not one of these locations. I stayed staring at it for quite some time, then began to discuss it (and other things) with Norwegian photographer Espen Grimstad who was also shooting the location that day. The thin slice of rock upon which the hammerhead appears to be balanced is actually quite deep, so from various angles there is a slightly different appearance to this mushroom-shaped oddity. It’s a great lcoation to shoot during the golden hour and blue hour of sunset.

What to bring

When shooting the Kannesteinen the short walk from the parking to the location itself negates the need to carry a lot of gear to protect from the weather when it can easily be stored in and accessed from your car.  

Gear

I shot the Kannesteinen using my Nikon Z 6 with Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 and Lee Filters 10-Stop filter, stabilised on my Platypod Ultra and 3LeggedThing Airhed. 

Settings

This photo was taken using a 10-stop ND filter. It’s a long exposure of 5 minutes, with an ISO of 100 and Aperture of f/16, shot at 14mm.

Accommodation

AirBNB hosts are spread throughout Norway, and it may be wise to stay nearby for a night after shooting this location due to its remoteness.

The information in this post is geared around how I got the featured shot, and as such the information may or may not be true to other seasons.