Drying Cod Fish, a photo from Nordland, North

Photographer's Note

Lofoten | Sakrisшya

Dried fish is a traditional produce on the Lofoten. Cod (lat: Gadus Morhua, fr: cabillaud) is traditionally dried, hung on racks for a certain amount of time, depending on the size of the fish. Around 16 weeks is the average time for fish to dry, based on optimal weather and wind conditions.

Note: It seems that the dried fish has become a main ingredient in Mediterranean, West African, Caribbean, and Brazilian kitchen, an example is the the famous dish “bacalau” but there is also a demand in niche products like dry fish heads, thrown away or ingredients for animal food in the past, now exported to African countries where they are found a delicacy.

* Have a look at WS 1 for the dried fish head... :)

Dried fish:
In order to preserve the fish, it is dried on large drying racks. It doesn't need to be salted or smoked, as the temperature in Lofoten in the winter is just below freezing. The fish does not freeze into pieces, but it doesn't rot either. The fish simply dries in the sun and wind from late winter until spring. Then, it is bone dry and easy to transport, but still retains its key nutrients.
(Source: nordnorge.com)
https://nordnorge.com/EN-lofoten/?News=276

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pajaran, Royaldevon, jean113, jean113, macjake, tyro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Royaldevon (85640) 2018-11-25 2:10

Hello Viviane,

Well, this is a first photograph from this place and, I suspect a first for looking at dried fish heads!
I felt a bit like a dentist, inspecting all those teeth!

It's an interesting shot, seeing how these fish are dried in the open.
I know there is a big trade in Northumberland (and other places) where fish are hung to dry but they are smoke dried in huts.
The limited colour palette is very effective in creating a cool mood.

Have a lovely Sunday,
Bev :-)
I like fish so would be interesting in trying this dried fish ... but not the heads!!!

janneman (4037) 2018-11-25 2:11

Interisting shot!

Regards, Jan

jean113 (27639) 2018-11-25 9:11

Hello Viviane, reading your note and looking at your picture, I find it all very interesting and informative.
A lovely sharp shot with the shelter situated so near the water's edge and the mountains in the background.
Regards Jean.

macjake (98262) 2018-11-26 2:05

Hi Viviane
hahahaha, i was soooo close to posting a dried fish photo from Lofoten today, but I went a completely different route. when you were here could you smell them? I know I could, and it smelled really bad haha. excellent shot, nice to have the bright blue water in behind the structure. This one looks very clean and new. fine reportage type shot from Lofoten. cheers
Craig

emka (157280) 2018-11-26 23:38

Hello Viavine, The view of the drying cod fish in Lofoten is typical and unique. In the summer, I saw mainly cod heads, thousands of them. Here they are under the roof. impressive composition.

Kind regrads Malgo

tyro (30513) 2018-11-26 23:41

Hello dear Viviane,

I seem to remember having seen wooden racks of cod sitting outdoors in Iceland almost 50 years ago but they weren't under a roof like this - they were quite exposed. I've never tried eating this dried fish - I presume that you need to soak it and then boil it up to make some sort of soup?

This is a very fine photograph taken in lovely light with excellent colours and a fine composition, the wooden "hut" with its drying cod nicely depicted against a background of sea and high snow-capped mountains. I like your workshop image too though the spectacle of those gaping fish mouths is just a bit gruesome!

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.