"Follow your own path and let it lead you where your heart wants you to go."
Recently our path took us above the Arctic Circle to the Lofoten Islands in Norway. February might seem a curious time to travel to the Arctic, however; this time of year provides excellent photographic opportunity. The sun stays low on the horizon throughout the day, making for extended sunrises and sunsets. The low angle of the sun also makes for excellent light all day. Views of the Northern Lights this time of year are spectacular. The climate in Lofoten is influenced by the Gulf Stream and it stays warmer than one might expect. Properly dressed in layers and temperatures ranging from 28 to 38 degrees F it was an enjoyable trip. Weather changed constantly. It is the Arctic so be prepared for cold temperature, high winds, rain, snow, and ice. We experienced 40 mph plus winds from time-to-time. One day it might rain and the next snow. It all depended on a degree or two of temperature change.
Traveling to Lofoten in itself was an experience, flying from Atlanta to Paris, Paris to Oslo, Oslo to Bodo, and Bodo to Leknes in the Lofoten Islands. Once in Leknes we used ground transportation to our lodging in Hamnoy. You'll want to arrange transportation in advance. In Hamnoy we stayed at the Eliassen Rorbuer. This location is one of the more iconic locations and has been photographed many times. In our photo gallery you will find images of the Northern Lights. The red houses you see in those photos are actually hotel rooms. Our room was on the other side and not visible in the photos. The term rorbu is a simple fishing hut next to the ocean. Rorbuer is the plural form, meaning fishing houses by the sea.
The food in the Lofoten Islands is amazing. Seafood is of course abundant, but other dishes and proteins are readily available. The krone is the local currency and we carried some with us. We had no trouble with credit cards anywhere we went.
If you go take lots of photos. Take all the iconic photos you can but don't overlook the mini landscapes and photos off the beaten path. Folks at the airports are used to people with backpacks full of camera gear and tripods. It is a photographer's paradise.
Norway
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Unstad Chapel, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82592 (ISO 100, 28mm, f/11, 1/50)
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TM82592 Edit
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Unstad Chapel, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82592 (ISO 100, 28mm, f/11, 1/50)
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TM82592 Edit Edit
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Unstad Chapel, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82605 (ISO 100, 28mm, f/11, 1/50)
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TM82605 Edit
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Unstad Chapel, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82605 (ISO 100, 28mm, f/11, 1/50)
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TM82605 Edit Edit 2
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Unstad Beach, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82611 (ISO 100, 24mm, f/11, 1/40)
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TM82611 Edit
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Unstad Beach, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82612 (ISO 100, 24mm, f/11, 1/40)
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TM82612 Edit
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Rorbu at Unstad Beach, Unstad, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm82613 (ISO 100, 70mm, f/11, 1/40)
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TM82613 Edit
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The mountains call tm82614 (ISO 100, 26mm, f/11, 1/100)
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TM82614 Edit 2
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Arctic, Lofoten Archipelago, Norway tm82589 (38mm f/5.6, 1/20 ISO 3200)
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TM82637 DxO Edit
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Lonely Road tm82640 (ISO 100, 26mm, f/11, 1/100)
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TM82640 Edit9
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Road to Hamnoy tm82643 (ISO 100, 26mm, f/10, 1/100)
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TM82643 Edit6
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A stop along the road to Hamnoy tm82652 (ISO 100, 24mm, f/11, 1/6)
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TM82652 Edit
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Arctic Ice tm82674 (ISO 100, 24mm, f/11, 1/40 sec)
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TM82674 Edit
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Dora tm82684 (ISO 100, 31mm, f/10, 1/40)
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TM82684 Edit
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Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg tm82689 (ISO 3200, 38mm, f/5.6, 1/20)
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TM82689 Edit
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Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg tm82690 (ISO 3200, 38mm, f/5.6, 1/20)
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TM82690 Edit
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Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg tm82691 (ISO 3200, 29mm, f/5.6, 1/20)
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TM82691 Edit
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Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg tm82693 (ISO 3200, 24mm, f/5.6, 1/20)
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TM82693 Edit
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The Viking, Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, Norway tm82696 (ISO 100, 50mm, f/11, 1/80)
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Viking 82696
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Sunset taken from Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, Norway tm82700 (ISO 100, 70mm, f/11, 1/125)
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TM82700 Edit
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Uttakleiv Beach tm82717 (ISO100, 31mm, f/11, 1/13)
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TM82717 Edit
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Uttakleiv Beach tm82725 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 0.6 sec)
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TM82725 Edit
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Uttakleiv Beach tm82729 (ISO 64, 34mm, f/11, 0.6 sec)
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TM82729 Edit
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Uttakleiv Beach tm82733 (ISO 64, 48mm, f/11, 1 sec)
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TM82733 Edit
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Uttakleiv Beach tm82744 (ISO 64, 52mm, f/11, 1/2 sec)
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TM82744 Edit
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Roadside stop near Ramberg tm82784 (ISO 64, 70mm, f/11, 1/8 sec)
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TM82769 Edit
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Roadside stop near Ramberg tm82790 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec)
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TM82790 Edit
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Spruce Tree, Norway near Ramberg tm82831 (ISO 64, 34mm, f/11, 1/20)
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TM82831 Edit Edit7
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Spruce Tree, Norway near Ramberg tm82839 (ISO 64, 34mm, f/11, 1/20)
TM82839 Edit 3 Resized 2048 px WEB
TM82839 Edit 3 Resized 2048 px WEB
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On the road near Ramberg tm82874 (ISO 64, 24mm,, f/16, 1/20)
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TM82874 Edit
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Lofoten Mountains near Ramberg tm82891 (ISO 64, 28mm, f/16, 1/250)
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TM82891 HDR Edit
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Footprints in the Snow near Ramberg tm82909 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 1/20)
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TM82909 Edit 2
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Snow Capped Mountains near Ramberg tm82926 (ISO 64, 62mm, f/11, 1/320)
TM82926 HDR Edit
TM82926 HDR Edit
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Arctic Sunrise near Ramberg tm82943 (ISO 64, 32mm, f/10, 1/50)
Arctic Sunrise
Arctic Sunrise
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Arctic Shore near Ramberg tm82943 (ISO 64, 32mm, f/10, 1/50)
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TM82943 Edit Edit
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On the road near Ramberg tm82968 (ISO 64, 60mm, f/10, 1/400)
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TM82968 HDR Edit
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Moskenesoya, Lofoten Islands, Arctic, Norway tm83002 (ISO 64, 32mm, f/11, 1/50)
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TM83002 Edit
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Floating Ice tm83103 (ISO 64, 42mm, f/11, 1/80)
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TM83103 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83132 (ISO 64, 36mm, f/11, 1/160)
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TM83132 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83149 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 1/40)
TM83149 2 Edit
TM83149 2 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83162 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 1/160)
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TM83162 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83171 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 1/250)
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TM83171 2 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83176 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 1/60)
TM83176 2 Edit
TM83176 2 Edit
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Nusfjord Norway tm83180 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/20, 1/250)
TM83180 Edit
TM83180 Edit
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Unstad Beach, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Norway tm83185 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/20, 1/60)
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unstad
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Unstad Beach, Haukland, Lofoten Islands, Arctic, Norway tm83237 (ISO 100, 52mm, f/11, 1/20 sec)
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TM83237 Edit
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Haukland Beach tm83251 (ISO 64, 24mm, f/11, 2 sec)
TM83251 2 Edit Edit
TM83251 2 Edit Edit
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Hamnoy Eliassen Rorbuer tm83297 (ISO 100, 19mm, f/11, 15 sec)
TM83297 Edit Edit1
TM83297 Edit Edit1
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Reine tm83322 (ISO 100, 27mm, f/11, 1/30)
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TM83322 Edit
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Reine tm833333 (ISO 100, 35mm, f/11, 1/30)
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TM83333 Edit
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Reine tm833335 (ISO 100, 16mm, f/11, 1/30)
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TM83335 Edit
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Reine tm833351 (ISO 100, 14mm, f/11, 1/160)
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TM83351 Edit
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Reine tm83355 (ISO 100, 28mm, f/11, 1/160)
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TM83355 Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83462 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 3 sec)
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TM83462 Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83504 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 2 sec)
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TM83504 Edit Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83508 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 1.6 sec)
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TM83508 Edit Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83510 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 1.6 sec)
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TM83510 Edit Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83511 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 1.6 sec)
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TM83511 Edit Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83515 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 1.6 sec)
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TM83515
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83518 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 2 sec)
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TM83518 Edit
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Northern Lights, Eliassen Rorbuer, Hamnoy Norway tm83524 (ISO 1600, 14mm, f/2.8, 2 sec)
TM83524 Edit
TM83524 Edit