LOFOTEN · NORWAY

The Lofoten Islands are one of those places where the landscape seems dramatic in almost every direction. Steep mountains rise directly from the sea, surrounded by fjords, beaches and small fishing villages, creating an extraordinary landscape to explore and photograph.

I was fortunate to visit before Lofoten became quite the popular tourist destination it is today, and much of the experience was simply about travelling through the islands and discovering what was around the next corner. There was plenty of time spent driving, but with scenery like this the journey was very much part of the experience.

The mountains were what really stood out for me, particularly the way they rise so abruptly from the sea. Equally distinctive are the traditional rorbuer — the red-painted fishermen’s cabins found throughout the islands. Set against the mountains, fjords and often surprisingly beautiful beaches, they have become an iconic part of the Lofoten landscape and add another dimension to the photography.

Changing weather and Arctic light can transform the scenery remarkably quickly, and even travelling relatively short distances can reveal a completely different landscape. Combined with some superb food, Lofoten was a spectacular place to experience as well as photograph.

The gallery below brings together some of my favourite landscape images from my time exploring Norway’s Lofoten Islands.