After breakfast we’ll head to the airport for our flight to Harstad in northern Norway. Upon arrival we’ll drive to the Lofoten Islands making sure to stop at various locations along the way. We’ll check-in to our hotel near Reine. If the night sky is clear and the northern lights visible, we will focus on night photography.

Reine offers one of the most photogenic landscapes in the world. The village sits at the edge of a serene fjord, surrounded by sharply rising granite peaks that catch the light in magical ways. Early October will offer us soft, low-angle light and moody skies that add depth and emotion to every frame. Autumn colors begin to appear, and the first dustings of snow on the mountains create beautiful contrast with the traditional red rorbuer cabins and dark waters below.

Photographing in Reine is an immersive experience that combines fine art landscape, minimalist compositions, and environmental storytelling. Fog rolling in over the peaks, fishermen tending their boats, or a single bird gliding over glassy water—all contribute to a visual narrative that is both peaceful and powerful. The interplay of light, weather, and rugged natural form challenges and rewards the photographer, allowing for both grand vistas and intimate, moody scenes. Whether you’re drawn to vibrant color or soft monochrome, Reine offers a palette and atmosphere that resonates deeply with those who seek emotion and depth in their imagery. You’ll fall in love with many of the images you will create. (B)

We are up early for a sunrise photo session. After we’ll grab breakfast and visit the Viking Museum of Vestvågøy to discover the history of the Lofoten Islands.

Today’s focus will be on Vestvågøy, Haukland, and Uttakleiv—three of Lofoten’s most photogenic coastal gems—the photography is defined by sweeping seascapes, sculpted mountains, and ever-changing light. Haukland Beach offers soft white sand and turquoise water framed by dramatic peaks, perfect for long exposures, minimalist compositions, and quiet moments of natural beauty. Just around the mountain, Uttakleiv Beach contrasts with its rugged, rocky shoreline and powerful waves crashing against dark stone, ideal for moody, dramatic scenes, especially at golden hour or under shifting cloud cover.

Vestvågøy itself presents a broader canvas of photographic opportunities, from pastoral scenes with grazing sheep and red barns to high mountain views and isolated beaches. The low October sun enhances the textures and tones of land and sea, while the wild weather—sun, rain, mist, and wind—all in a single day—adds richness to every frame. These locations offer a perfect balance of wide-angle landscapes, intimate nature details, and a sense of raw, untamed Nordic beauty.

In the evening we will do a sunset shoot in Haukland or Uttakliev. After dinner, if the night sky is clear and the northern lights visible, we will focus on night photography, and hopefully capture northern lights. (B)

We begin with a sunrise photo session in Hamnoy, one of the most beautiful fishing villages in Lofoten, and the image imbedded in most peoples minds when they think of the Lofoten Islands.

Next we will stop at a village called “Å” and visit the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum. We will spend the day exploring the villages along the south side of the islands. Weather permitting, we will book a Sea Eagles tour.

Hamnøy, Å, and Ballstad all reveal the heart and soul of the Lofoten Islands—steeped in fishing heritage, dramatic seascapes, and timeless Nordic atmosphere. Hamnøy is iconic, with its row of red rorbuer cabins perched on the rocks beneath towering granite peaks, offering postcard-perfect compositions at sunrise and blue hour. The interplay of light, water, and architecture here is a dream for fine art and landscape photographers alike.

Further south, the village of Å sits at the end of the road, where land meets open sea. Its rustic charm, weathered buildings, and narrow walkways offer an intimate look at traditional coastal life. Ballstad, by contrast, is one of the larger working harbors in Lofoten, with colorful boats, fishing racks, and reflections that provide compelling visual layers. Each location is rich with storytelling potential—capturing not just scenery, but the texture, rhythm, and culture of life in Norway’s far north. After dinner, and if the night sky is clear and the northern lights visible, we will focus on night photography. (B)

On day five we will photograph various locations after sunrise, have breakfast, and begin our drive to the northern side of the islands. During the trip we will make photographic stops and have lunch in one of the villages along the way.

Andenes, located at the northern tip of the Vesterålen archipelago just beyond the Lofoten Islands, offers a unique photographic experience shaped by its remote location, Arctic light, and rich marine life. This windswept coastal town is known for its dramatic ocean views, black sand beaches, and the ever-present rhythm of the sea. We will find striking compositions of lighthouses standing against turbulent skies, waves crashing over volcanic rock formations, and the quiet isolation of Norway’s far north.

What truly sets Andenes apart is its connection to the ocean and sky. In early October, the low sun casts long shadows and rich, golden light across the landscape. On clear nights, Andenes is an excellent spot for Northern Lights photography, with unobstructed views over the sea and little light pollution, making it a powerful and lesser-known Arctic destination for photographers seeking raw, elemental beauty.

After check-in, and depending on the time of our arrival, we will have dinner and explore several nice locations around the city of Andenes. If the night sky is clear and the northern lights visible, we will focus on night photography. (B)

We begin our day with a sunrise photo shoot on the beautiful beach of Bleik, just south of Andenes, a striking and serene photographic destination. Its long stretch of white sand meets the wild Norwegian Sea, with the dramatic Bleiksøya Island rising just offshore like a sentinel in the mist. This beach is ideal for minimalist compositions, moody seascapes, and long exposures that capture the movement of waves under soft Arctic light. Bleik’s solitude and raw beauty offer a peaceful final chapter to any photographic journey through the north. And if we are lucky, we may find sea eagles on the rocks.

After sunrise we will move to the harbor for a whale watching tour / weather permitting). And after lunch we will photograph a nearby lighthouse, and if time allows, take a tour of the Andøya Space Center – Spaceship Aurora.

In the afternoon we drive back to Harstad and check in to our hotel. In contrast, Harstad provides a final taste of coastal town life before we return to Oslo. Set among gentle hills and fjords, it offers scenes of harbor life, colorful homes, and distant mountain reflections on calm water. With softer urban textures and scenic surroundings, Harstad invites quiet, contemplative photography—an opportunity to reflect on the adventure while capturing the everyday beauty of Norway’s north before flying south again.

In the evening we’ll enjoy a wonderful “Farewell Dinner”, discuss the events of the trip, share our favorite photos and enjoy the fun and laughter. (B, D)

At breakfast we have our final group discussion, review our past week’s photos, trade contact information and depart for our flight to Oslo where we will bid you farewell. 

We urge you to extend your stay in Norway or elsewhere in Scandinavia or Europe and make good use of everything you will learn on our photo adventure. (B)