Above the Arctic Circle:
The Lofoten (Norway)
February 10 - 15, 2020
(updated 1/2/2021)

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Rorbu in Hamnøy, with Festhaeltinden (elev 1276 ft) in the background, as seen from the Hamnøy Bridge

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Introduction.  Lofoten is an archipelago and a district in the county of Nordland, Norway. It’s known for a distinctive scenery with dramatic mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. Its capital and largest town, Svolvaer, lies approximately 105 miles inside the Arctic Circle, or approximately 1,390 miles away from the North Pole, thus making Lofoten one of the world's northernmost populated regions. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.

Lofoten features a subpolar oceanic climate; therefore, winter temperatures are very mild considering its location north of the Arctic Circle – Lofoten has the largest positive temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. This is a result of the Gulf Stream and its extensions: the North Atlantic Current and the Norwegian Current. Røst and Værøy are the most northerly locations in the world where average temperatures are above freezing all year.

In February 2020, I traveled to Norway to meet up with good friend Andy Lerman to participate in a photo workshop led by John Pedersen and  Örvar Þorgeirsson.  Joining us were two other photographers, Steve Butterworth (another friend of Andy’s) and Bill Glass.  Working out of two locations, Leknes and Reine, in the Lofoten, the six of us worked well together and enjoyed exploring and photographing the stunning scenery of the Lofoten.

Updates:

  • 5/10/2020:  Updated image 42.
  • 5/9/2020:  Updated image 36.
  • 5/4/2020:  Replaced image 16.
  • 4/13/2020:  Added images 8, 9, 11, 21, 25, 27, 29, 38, and 44.
  • 12/24/2020:  Added images 50 - 52 (some additional images from Uttakleiv Strand (beach) take around the same time as Image 14).
  • 1/2/2021:  Confirmed and corrected, as needed, peak names and elevations in images 3 - 5, 7 - 9, 10, 14, 19, 24, 26, 28 - 30, 35, 38 - 42, and 47 - 52. 

Photo info.  Click the slideshow icon at left to see the photos from the trip.  The following equipment was used:

  • Canon EOS 5D MKIV DSLR camera
  • Canon EOS 7D MKII DSLR camera
  • Motorola Z4 smart phone
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
  • Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS US
  • Really Right Stuff TVC-34L Versa Series 3 Tripod with a BH-40 LR Ballhead  

All images were shot RAW (5DMKIV & 7DMKII) or JPG (Moto Z4) processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC with occasional touch up in Adobe Photoshop CC.  Additional photo data is provided below each photo in the slideshow.  Enjoy the photos!

Unless indicated otherwise, all photos are Copyright © 2020 David W. Boston