I just returned home from a fantastic trip to Lofoten, Norway. Lofoten is absolutely beautiful in the winter. I love the snow-covered mountains with soft arctic blue skies; there is a sense of peace to the scenery that is hard to describe. Aside from beautiful vistas around every corner, there is a night sky that can explode with color and dancing lights. Each night as the sun set we checked the weather for news of an aurora; It’s a thrill to even hear the words aurora.

During our visit we had a hell of a snowstorm on our first morning shoot. The situation was bleak as we pulled up to the beach area. With strong wind gusts and near blizzard-like conditions, we looked at each other with doubt.

What fun it turned out to be even though the photography was difficult. The mountains continually faded into the background and it was a true challenge. Not only did we have trouble just standing our ground, we struggled with our cameras and tripods. It’s amazing how hard every small task becomes with gloves on.

On one quiet, early morning we were treated to pink mountain peaks as the sun rose over an incredible cracked ice extravaganza. I told my guide the day before that it would be nice to get some reflections. Then I added that it would be nice to get some reflections with the cracked ice. Because he knew I liked pink morning light he said, “so you want reflections, cracked ice and pink light, right?” I answered of course, so you can imagine my face that morning…

My group and I stayed in traditional red fishing cabins that have been updated to accommodate tourists. It’s a small waterfront setting with a quaint Norwegian flair. These cabins are part of the charm of this tour. They are quite spacious with three en-suite bedrooms that are connected by a large foyer with a shared kitchen and living area.

During our visit we went to shoot the famous Hamnoy village scene from the bridge. It was darn cold! We also went to Reine (it’s not pronounced like it looks) for an incredible panoramic scene. We walked around Sakrisoy and shot some of the well-known scenes and hiked up a snowy hill for another overlook shot of the village. We ate at one of the local restaurants that is famous for their fish burgers. I had a pulled salmon burger- yummo!

In addition to the many peaks and beaches that we photographed we made time for things like a small red boat house in the snow, a church at blue hour, fishing cabins, harbors, and tide pools, and so much more…

On our last day in Lofoten- -jackpot! We hit the mother load with an Aurora that went on and on and even had the corona show above our heads. Epic is the word I’m using to describe that night.

As I reflect on my time in Norway I can’t help but look forward to my next visit. Our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and lots of fun to be with. We experienced a bit of the culture, tasted some of the local cuisine, saw many gorgeous landscapes and got some great shots along the way. What’s not to like…

All images shot with my Sony A 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera and Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 lens or Sony FE 24-105mm f/4, G lens. Manual mode and manual focus for most.