[006] Bright Midnight 2025

This is a longer one, but I really feel like putting all that is in my head here, in this page. I thought nothing can get closer to what I've experienced just recently. And I am definitely referring to my one-year bikepacking trip from Mexico to Patagonia. But Bright Midnight got very close. Bright Midnight is a bikepacking challenge that encircles a loop in the southern part of Norway with 1,100 kilometers and over 20,000 meters of elevation to battle. Bikepackers have a total of one week to battle it.

My plane lands in the morning, just one day before the start. I already see people dragging their bike boxes in the airport. I befriend a couple of participants from Lithuania and we all head towards the train station. There, more than 40 people already await for the train heading to a small town named Tolga.

The organizer, Justinas Leveika, meets us at the train station and gives directions where the basecamp is located. There, I see Nils Laengner, a well renowned photographer from Germany. The visual author behind the very many cycling races in the whole world. Gavin Kaps is also walking around, shooting all the anxious faces. I also get to meet the rest of the organizing team. Quite a wholesome scenery - some are unpacking, others are just chatting about the route, while others anxiously wait for the start. Justinas Leveika gives the briefing speech and everyone is in-tune.

The day ends up in the neighbours' house where Justinas Leveika lives. With the media team crew, we plan out the spots where we will photograph the participants. I sit at the end of the table and think to myself "I finally get to see how media team of such big event gets to prepare". It's 00:00 and everyone heads to bed. It's still light outside, thanks to the polar nights. At this time of the year, there is no pitch-dark nights.

Day 1

We all head out to the base camp where for some participants, the journey of a lifetime will begin. I get to shoot some of the portraits at the starting line and we soon head towards our first spot, which is over 100 kilometers away. There's plenty of time. I'm in one media team with videographer Pijus, we'll share a road for the next week together.

We're at the spot. We still have an hour to wait for the first cyclists to go by. We get ready and finally see first two tiny wheels and a helmet far away in the horizon. And as always, good old adrenaline rush starts kicking in. With all the excitement, I set my camera to a high shutter speed, trying to catch, quite literally, every single frame of the cyclists. I still need to improve at this, as it adds a lot of extra work during post-production. There are around 250 participants and the action was never-ending. You often need to get creative when photographing cyclists here in Lithuania, we unfortunately don't have mountainous terains. In Norway, thankfully, the scenery all around is breathtaking.

Day 2

We sleep in a car. Four hours of sleep is never enough but you get so motivated by the cyclists who go without any sleep. Through the rain and high head winds. Add intense elevation too. On the second day, we follow the participants along the planned route. In an unplanned circumstances, one of the road gets closed forcing participants to battle hike-a-bike section close to Trollstigen. Gavin Kaps is currently covering that area and he wants to take a break. We swap and see the participants hike their two-wheeled steeds.

Day 3

The day starts in the higher altitudes where the snow is visible. The morning light glow sets a perfect scenery for shooting.

The day goes smooth until we get a call from the organizing team stating that there was accident and one participant will be sent to the hospital. The bike needs to be picked up. Later in the evening, the storm comes up and gives a doze of refreshness for the riders.

Day 4

First night in the bed. We get longer sleep and the real tiredness kicks in. It often feels like when you're sleep deprived, your body gets used to it and you simply roll with it. As soon as you get some decent sleep, your body shuts off. That mean only one thing - more energy drinks. We get to the base and have a chance to talk to other media members and witness some participants finish the race. Some people had their fanbases. Some people came all the way from The Netherlands to support the bikepackers. At the finish line, you get greeted with a medal and a personalized Bright Midnight beer.

Later in the evening, we chase down the participants who are slowly approaching the end. In the valley, we spot a bikepacker taking a break.

We ask, what does 'Bright Midnight' mean to you? He responds with such beautiful lines: 'It's so magical here. You get to taste the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises. It's tough, but the scenery makes it all worth it.' We catch the golden hour, accompanied by a bunch of cows.

Day 5

Now more than half of the participants have finished. That's the message we get from the base camp. Some stay until the after party, some head home straight away. We get a couple of shots in the morning and later stay at the base to capture the moment of the finishers.

We stick around for some time. It also gives me the opportunity to go through the photos. Because the social media channels have to be quite active while the event is rolling, media has to be quite fast with the photos. Quite understandalbe though, so many dotwatchers and family members want to see their loved ones in action. And so, as soon as you stop for a break or it's not your turn to drive, you jump straight onto the photo editing. In the evening, we head to a mountain hut where we get to sleep in beds again. What a treat.

Day 6

Some of the media crew members head back home. There is no real reason to photoshoot the bikepackers but I'm still motivated to capture more shots. I speak to Nils Laegner for potential spots and he recommends me a relatively hilly area nearby. Upon checking the tracker... Bingo. There are still participants left who are approaching the hills. I get into the car and drive straight to the spot. I'm glad I did it.

I get back to the base and I see a lot of chairs outside, people having a drink and BBQ, sharing their ride stories. Music starts playing and everyone is just so happy. It's my final night here. And those who were finishing the race now... Imagine - everyone greets you with loud applauses and you're just in for a BBQ and beer.

Day 7

I wake up slightly earlier to catch the final finishers. I still have time until 12:00 in the afternoon, might as well use the time and do some more shots.

To sum up my experience in Bright Midnight, I can truthfully state that it was otherwordly journey. I enjoyed it all, the small conversations with the participants, the landscapes, observing how the organizers work 'behind-the-scenes', seeing how bikepacking photographers approach their work. The sleepless nights do not look that bad, especially now that I'm back. If you, dear reader, are willing to explore Norway on a bike and challenge your limits, I can only recommend Bright Midnight. Thank you for reading, until the next one!