14th-16th March 2017
Through Storms and Dreams: Reaching the Lofoten Islands
Reaching the Lofoten Islands felt like a dream coming true.. one I had been carrying with me for years. As a photographer, Lofoten had always held a special place in my heart. Its dramatic landscapes, wild weather, and surreal light made it one of those mythical locations I had only seen in pictures, hoping one day I’d see it through my own lens.
We got there by a massive ship, one of the biggest I had ever been on, eight or nine floors high. But even a ship that size couldn’t tame the sea that day. We passed through a powerful storm, and the boat was rocking so much it felt like riding a mountain on water. I already had a cold, and the motion made me feel worse, but I couldn’t resist stepping outside. I stood on the deck, face to the wind, watching the wild sea crash around us, the sky glowing in strange, shifting colors. It was cold, chaotic, and absolutely beautiful.
When we finally reached Lofoten, we rented a car and set out to explore... knowing we only had one full day. It wasn’t the calm, golden-light fairytale that some people get. It was pure Lofoten: wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable. We had everything in one day, howling winds, heavy clouds, bursts of rain, thick fog, and then suddenly, stunning windows of light breaking through, lighting up the dramatic peaks and crashing waves.
It wasn’t peaceful, but it was real. And I loved it. I did my best to photograph everything I could, every moody shadow, every fleeting sunbeam, every storm-swept vista. That day, despite the rushing and the weather, is burned into my memory. I’ll never forget it.
And as if Lofoten hadn’t given us enough intensity, leaving was just as dramatic. The storm hadn’t calmed, and we were told the boat to Tromsø might not come at all. That boat was crucial for us since we were on a tight schedule, carefully planned with trains and connections, and missing it would’ve thrown everything off.
In the end, the boat did come, just in time. We left Lofoten the same way we arrived: surrounded by wind, water, and awe... and with a camera full of moments I had only dreamed of capturing.
We got there by a massive ship, one of the biggest I had ever been on, eight or nine floors high. But even a ship that size couldn’t tame the sea that day. We passed through a powerful storm, and the boat was rocking so much it felt like riding a mountain on water. I already had a cold, and the motion made me feel worse, but I couldn’t resist stepping outside. I stood on the deck, face to the wind, watching the wild sea crash around us, the sky glowing in strange, shifting colors. It was cold, chaotic, and absolutely beautiful.
When we finally reached Lofoten, we rented a car and set out to explore... knowing we only had one full day. It wasn’t the calm, golden-light fairytale that some people get. It was pure Lofoten: wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable. We had everything in one day, howling winds, heavy clouds, bursts of rain, thick fog, and then suddenly, stunning windows of light breaking through, lighting up the dramatic peaks and crashing waves.
It wasn’t peaceful, but it was real. And I loved it. I did my best to photograph everything I could, every moody shadow, every fleeting sunbeam, every storm-swept vista. That day, despite the rushing and the weather, is burned into my memory. I’ll never forget it.
And as if Lofoten hadn’t given us enough intensity, leaving was just as dramatic. The storm hadn’t calmed, and we were told the boat to Tromsø might not come at all. That boat was crucial for us since we were on a tight schedule, carefully planned with trains and connections, and missing it would’ve thrown everything off.
In the end, the boat did come, just in time. We left Lofoten the same way we arrived: surrounded by wind, water, and awe... and with a camera full of moments I had only dreamed of capturing.
