The Lofoten Islands

 

Welcome to my home base, the Lofoten Islands. An archipelago located 68° North, just above the Arctic Circle. Here, we find ourselves surrounded by steep mountains and angry seas, and the weather always keeps things interesting.

Being based on these beautiful islands and privileged to lead photo tours here during the winter and autumn months, I’ve experienced countless incredible moments. This Lofoten Islands photo gallery only contains a handful of them.

Scroll down, and you’ll find my favorite photos from winter to summer and, of course, the beautiful Northern Lights.

 

Lofoten Islands Winter Photography

 

Winter in the Lofoten Islands is a unique experience. If you dislike the sun, you’ll be happy here. If you like the sun, you’ll struggle. From early December to early January we have the Polar Nights; this is a period of time where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. Yes, you read that correct, a full month without ever seeing the sun. All we get is a 2-3 hour blue hour, before it’s pitch black again. This can be a mentally exhausting period, but at the same time, the light can be magical.

In early January, the sun returns and stays up with up to 10 minutes extra per day. This is my favorite time of winter. The light last for hours, and in the right conditions, you’re presented with endless of photographic opportunities.

Here are some of my favorite Lofoten winter photos:

 

Lofoten Islands Autumn Photography

 

Autumn in Lofoten is a magical time of year. The lush green and calm days are quickly changing. The foliage is turning different shades of orange, and the autumn storms are frequently paying their visits.

From a photographer’s perspective, this is a wonderful time of year. The mountains are still accessible for hiking, and the quickly changing weather provides us with a lot of exciting conditions. Snow might even pay us a visit or two before rain melts it away.

Early September is also the return of the majestic Northern Lights (see gallery further down), and with more friendly temperatures than in winter, it’s a pleasant experience to be out at night.

Here are some of my favorite Lofoten autumn photos:

 

Lofoten Islands Summer Photography

 

Summer is the time for hiking and being in the mountains. It’s also the time where it never gets dark. For a full two months, we have the Midnight Sun. This is a period where the sun doesn’t set at all. That means 24 hours daylight. For two months.

Can you imagine hiking at 2AM without a headlamp, and it being as bright as a normal day? That’s exactly what you can experience in the Lofoten summer.

Over the year’s I’ve had a lot of amazing moments in the mountains. Ironically, I often leave the camera behind this time of year. It’s the small window where I recharge my batteries, find inspiration, and simply just enjoy the surroundings.

But, when the conditions seem interesting, I make the most out of it. Either it’s in the mountain with my camera and tent, or a quick outing near home.

Here are some of my favorite Lofoten summer photos:

 

Northern Lights in the Lofoten Islands

 

The Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, is a phenomena we get to experience from September until April. If the skies are clear, there’s a good chance the green lights are visible in the sky. Even from our backyard.

I’ve seen and photographed the Northern Lights hundreds of times but it’s still just as exciting as the first time. It’s hard to explain the feeling you have when the sky is exploding in beautiful colors. It’s something you have to experience to understand.

Here are some of my favorite Northern Lights photos from Lofoten:

 
 
 

 

Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed this collection of images and perhaps even got inspired to grab your camera and head out. You can find more of my images on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to download my free eBook "30 Tips to Improve Your Landscape Photography" if you want to learn the techniques used to capture these images.