Lofoten light

Some locations in the world look so much better when photographed in the winter, and the Lofoten Islands are no exception

- Tom Mackie

The Lofoten Islands, in the far north of Norway, are one of those places that have so much to offer landscape photographers, especially in the wintertime. They have become so popular with photographers, I feel fortunate to have been there before the rush.

Back in 2013, Lofoten came across my radar, so I went over to investigate. What I found were incredibly rugged mountains surrounded by placid fjords, a string of barrier islands that were only accessible by boat until connecting bridges were built in 1983, and stunning landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world.

But there are a couple of downsides to this place: it's very expensive and it's difficult to get to. It took me three flights and travelling all day to get there, but it's worth it. After exploring the area for a week, I asked my host to reserve a group of traditional fishing cabins called rorbu for next winter for my first workshop.

Looking back on her response I have to laugh. She said, “Why would anyone want to come here in the winter? She was happy for the business as it's quiet compared to the summer. I told her that I felt it was only a matter of time before more and more photographers would be coming, especially in winter.