There are few places on Earth as awe-inspiring as Norway’s Lofoten islands. With its dramatic mountains, crystal-clear waters, and the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights, it’s a photographer’s dream come true. Recently, I had the privilege of leading a photography workshop alongside our partner Skarpi Thrainsson in this stunning Arctic archipelago. While the weather was unpredictable and often challenging, the moments of perfect light—and the magical aurora borealis—more than made up for it.

Lofoten is one of those landscapes that almost doesn’t feel real. Imagine a place where mountains rise so dramatically out of the sea, towering above like sculptures. That’s Lofoten. This archipelago in the northernmost part of Norway is everything a landscape photographer dreams of—rugged mountains, calm fjords, traditional red fishing cabins, and dramatic skies. This trip is expertly crafted to make the most of these grand landscapes. The trip is broken into two regions. First we would be staying toward the southern end of the islands, in the small village of Sakrisøy, then moving back north to Ballstad. This would allow us easy access to all the best photo locations in Lofoten.

Despite being so far above the Arctic Circle, Lofoten is right in the path of the Gulf Stream bringing a milder climate compared to similar latitudes. Most of the time I was there, the temperatures back home in Montana were colder than in Lofoten. It is still winter and still cold, but the Gulf Stream makes life a lot easier on the outdoor photographer. That doesn’t mean the weather in Lofoten can’t be unpredictable or challenging. The storms that roll across the North Atlantic mean we had to be extra flexible and willing to roll with the punches of mother nature. Any seasoned landscape photographer knows that the best light comes on the edges of the worst weather. Despite some snow, rain, and wind, we were able to find those moments of beauty.

Our first home base would be the iconic yellow fishing cabins of Sakrisøy. In my opinion, these are some of the coolest lodges we use on any BCJ trip. Once traditional fishing cabins, these have all have been converted into modern cabins, rustic yet comfortable. Each cabin has multiple rooms as well as a large common area. Nothing is quite as nice as getting a fire going in the wood burning stove after a long day out in the cold. Oh, and it helps that they are so centrally located to so many iconic photo locations.

We spent the first half of the trip working our way around the villages of Hamnøy, Reine, and Ramberg. After a few warm days, I was excited to open the cabin door in the predawn light and see a few inches of fresh snow. This landscape just sings when it is covered in snow. We made the most of it, shooting iconic locations and lesser known spots. We had some really nice light punctuated by some delicious meals in these small fishing villages.

After a couple of snowy nights, we were anxious for some clear skies and a chance at the aurora borealis. Lofoten lies in the heart of the aurora band, so it is visible most nights, it is the clouds are always the challenge. I felt like I was checking the cloud forecast every thirty seconds for the entirety of the trip. In the end, our patience paid was rewarded with a few nights of clear skies and active aurora!

Chasing the northern lights is always a mix of excitement and suspense. You check the aurora forecast every hour, as if it’s some sort of cosmic game. The lights tease you with their faint glimmer and sudden bursts of brilliance. You rush to set up your camera, only to realize you forgot your gloves or left the lens cap on. But when those lights finally take center stage in the sky, you forget about the cold and the chaos. Silence falls and the only sounds are the clicks of the camera.

I love taking guests out who have never seen the northern lights. You can feel the excitement as they first witness the colors, the movement, and the photos they are able to capture. The aurora is always a mesmerizing experience, especially when seeing it with your own eyes for the first time! We were treated to a pretty amazing aurora display as the colors danced and made interesting structures in the sky. The clouds held off well into the night and we were able to make many nice images in perfect conditions. We all went to bed happy that night (or early morning I guess it was).

The second half of the trip is spent in the quaint fishing village of Ballstad. We stay in similar modernized fishing cabins that were really nice. The huge advantage here is we are perfectly set up to photograph a lot of the northern beaches and fjords. We spent the next few days shooting sunsets, sunrises, and aurora throughout this section of the islands. We lucked out and got some really nice conditions with fresh snow and soft sunlight.

As the workshop came to a close, we found ourselves looking back with great memories and full cards. The Lofoten islands aren’t always an easy place to photograph. The weather, cold, unpredictability can be challenging. But it is those challenges that make it so rewarding when you are able to create a photograph you are proud of. I can confidently say we were all able to do that during this trip. Lofoten is a special place, the kind of location that should be on every landscape photographer’s bucket list.

 Thank you to all the participants of our trips for making the trip great, already looking forward to the next adventure.