Chasing the Northern Lights in Lofoten Islands

Lofoten Islands adventure was my most special trip after Japan. Neither it was long, nor far.. On the contrary it was quite enough to make me miss right after it. And actually, it did.

I was there in February, so it was one of the harshest months in winter. I have been in Lofoten in 2019, just a month before Covid surrounded the whole world. I had decided to join to a Norway photography tour belong to successful landscape photographer Ilhan Eroglu, at the first time I saw it. Another dream of mine was stepping into Lofoten archipelago.
So I did go and explore it. And I am very glad that I was able to make this happen and it is simply amazing to write these words.

However, the part of arriving Lofoten was not super easy. Since there wasn't any direct flight, we had to take 2 extra flights from Oslo and Bodø for reaching Leknes. Even though we had a pretty tough journey, we’re well sure that we’ll have an awesome journey on our way to our Rorbuer!

After having a dinner and sleeping, the next day we got up like a soldier at the earliest times in the morning, it was still dark. As a sunrise classic, we were on our way without having our breakfast! First stop was Reine, the famous village that we know from many international magazines and websites as the promotional face of Lofoten.

So yes, the one I’ve seen lots of photos of, Reinebringen was looking at to me with all its glory! However we didn’t have the chance to enjoy the sunrise we want.. Actually there was no sun at all. Little foggy and cloudy weather, that was all we got. I don't even need to mention how cold it was. Anyway we took our blue hour pictures and drove to our hotel for breakfast.

Well, no lies, Norway is exactly like that.
So let me warn you about planning a trip to Norway. Especially in a place like Lofoten, in the northern Norway, the possibility of running your car at -30 Celsius will be way more than your chance to see a piece of sun. Also, it really doesn’t make a difference whether winter or summer. While I was flying to Oslo, I was having a conversation with the passengers next to me, and I was literally shocked, when the time they told me the suicide numbers in the whole country were quite high. I was pretty sure that Norway is also in the top 10 list of the world’s happiest people (And still it is!)
But right after they said the reason behind it, I had started to realize.
Then I have arrived to Norway, spent a couple of days in Oslo and finally confronted the real deal in Lofoten. There was no sun. So the weather might be a drastic factor for you.
But as a person who enjoys cold weather like me, it was absolutely magical.
Our trip had lasted for 4 days, we have visited many beautiful locations and came across to stunning views. We never ever saw the sun, just once, we were able to enjoy and photograph a piece of light which appearing suddenly at sunset.

However.. I quite understood something while traveling.
Well yes.. I would really want to enjoy the sun during my trip and look to the lovely photos I took. However, being in Lofoten, breathing that fresh air, accepting the sceneries granted..
To respect nature. This is the only thing that matters.

So in that way, Norway didn’t disappoint me.. On the contrary. Exploring the fresh snow on the mountains.. Inhaling the clear air as much as possible.. Stepping into eternal whiteness..

Finding peace in the clear blue waters.. Running around while chasing the northern lights, waiting hours in the cold with the cameras & tripods and in the end, feeling that unique gratitude and pride when the nature rewards you...Yes.. It was priceless.

If you decide to travel Lofoten in winter, probably your first reason will be to catch these supernatural greenish-purple lights, known as Aurora Borealis.
So what is that Aurora Borealis? How does it occur?
Let me explain this quickly. It is a natural phenomenon, displays in the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere that is caused by the electrically charged particles from the sun interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, which are generally green colored, rarely purple and red. Just a few seconds after watching them, they will simply make you feel like in another planet.

So this is how I have gained my best memories in Lofoten.
It was totally another experience to photograph the lights as well as watching them! We jumped to one rock to another, got wet up to our knees..
We tried to live the moment as much as we can. It was an otherworldly unbelievable experience. A magical arctic adventure.

Well I say, if you don't hate the cold, discover this fantastic land as soon as possible!