Photography workshop in Norway
Winter in Lofoten
Capture the soul of the Arctic winter
A journey to the edge of the world, among fairytale landscapes and the atmospheres of the Arctic winter.
An unforgettable journey with a small group to the edge of the world: fairytale landscapes and the most beautiful atmospheres of the Arctic winter, staying six nights in a typical Norwegian rorbu with every comfort.
The workshop takes you to the heart of the Lofoten Islands in winter: we shoot sunrise and sunset in surreal landscapes, and at night we hunt the northern lights.
A photo usually shows what a place looked like. Here we try to capture what it felt like.
Schedule
We meet at Leknes Airport (LKN) in the afternoon of the first day, and from there our comfortable cars take us to our exclusive rorbu in the heart of Lofoten.
From arrival to departure we chase the light of sunrise and sunset at the most photogenic places and beaches of the islands, such as Haukland, Unstad, Vareid and Uttakleiv. At night we hunt the northern lights, following the forecast.
In between there is time for theory, post-production and some rest in great company.
Every day we choose the best locations based on the weather, and you take part in the planning. It is how you learn location management, a key skill for any landscape photographer.
The group is small, so you get personal attention: you can work with the instructors in every shooting session.
The last session in the field is on the morning of the last day: book your flight home from Leknes no earlier than the afternoon.
What you will learn
- Scouting and planning: reading maps, tides and forecasts
- Weather: reading the clouds, and making the most of what the day gives
- Composition, and the discipline of seeing the frame before shooting
- Exposure with the histogram, in light that changes fast
- Filters: graduated, polariser, ND
- Advanced long exposure
- Post-production, on your own files, during the week
- Image review, one to one
What you will photograph
Getting there
The meeting point is Leknes Airport (LKN): you can arrive straight in the heart of the action, or add a side trip before or after the workshop.
Leknes has direct Widerøe flights from Bodø and Tromsø. Alternatively, you can land at Harstad/Narvik (EVE) and enjoy a scenic drive of about three and a half hours to Leknes.
Flights are not included: send us your flight details before you book, and we will double-check everything.
Your teachers
Francesco Gola
Seascape photographer, educator and engineer
Ambassador for ZEISS, NiSi, BenQ, Calibrite, The Heat Company and f-stop. He works with companies, websites and magazines to spread photographic culture in Italy and around the world.
About me
Alessio Andreani
NiSi ambassador
His work has been published by The Times, Digital Photographer Magazine, Traveler, N-Photo, Digital Photo and many others.
Website
What’s included
- Tuition by two professional photographers
- A room all to yourself in a rorbu by the sea
- The workshop eBook
- Transport, tolls and all entrance fees
- Photographic and logistic planning
- Fun 🙂
Not included
- Your trip to and from Lofoten
- Food and drinks
- Travel and medical insurance
- Your camera gear (we can lend filters)
- Anything not listed under Included
- Weather control 😉
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Good to know
Accommodation
A room all to yourself in an exclusive rorbu surrounded by nature and in front of the sea, in the real heart of Lofoten: our base for the shoots and for some rest, surrounded by tradition and charm.
Food and drinks
Food and drinks are not part of the fee. On the days when the weather keeps us in, the rorbu is perfect for post-production, and for cooking together 🙂
Fitness level
No special fitness is required, as there is no hiking. If you have any limitation or doubt, just ask and we will explain every detail.
Experience required
The workshop suits both beginners and experienced photographers. We suggest a good knowledge of your camera and of the basics of shutter speed and aperture. We do post-production with simple software such as Adobe Lightroom.
Photographic equipment
We suggest a mirrorless or DSLR camera, a wide-angle lens, a tripod, a remote shutter release and photographic filters.
Thanks to our sponsors we can lend you filters during the workshop: let us know well in advance.
Weather
You are in the Arctic Circle, and here Mother Nature is always in charge. In winter we expect snow, but every day is different, and in a few minutes we can go from clouds to snow, rain, wind, clear skies and storms.
Sometimes the conditions do not let us go out: we stay in our rorbu, with post-production and cooking sessions.
Will I see the northern lights?
The northern lights are in our plans: the workshop is set when nights are long and the moon is right. They cannot be guaranteed, because they depend on the weather and on solar activity: we check every day, and we go out when the chances are highest.
Can a friend or a family member come with me?
Unfortunately not. Because of the nature of this adventure, the places we visit and the very limited space, we can only welcome photographers.
Payments and cancellation
A 30% deposit confirms your booking. The balance is due before the workshop, on the date we give you when you book.
The deposit is not refundable, because it books essential services such as transport and accommodation.
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