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Story & Photos KHANH PHAN
With dramatic weather and stunning natural scenery, the Norwegian island of Lofoten is a magnet for landscape photographers from around the globe.
Norway, located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, is bordered by the North Sea to the west and south, Sweden to the east, and Finland and Russia to the north. On this trip, I chose to visit two of Norway’s famous islands: Lofoten and Senja.
I was particularly captivated by Lofoten, an archipelago and traditional district in Nordland County, covering approximately 1,227 km2 with a modest population of around 24,500 people. The islands boast stunning landscapes characterized by sharp mountains extending far into the sea. Here, you can find open waters, sheltered bays and pristine wilderness. My journey to Lofoten from Vietnam required two days of travel, involving three flights with layovers in Doha and Oslo. After landing in Evenes, site of the closest international airport, it took another five hours by car to reach Lofoten.
I arrived eager to witness the breathtaking beauty of nature, and I was not disappointed. The scenery in Lofoten is grand and powerful, while the weather changes by the hour. Winds swirl through mountain tunnels and rattle against cars before tranquility returns in the blink of an eye, calming the waters that reflect snow-capped peaks cradling fishing villages. Vibrant red and yellow houses stand out against the magical hues of the sky in colors typical of rural Norway.
One of Lofoten’s iconic destinations is the Hamnoy Bridge, where photographers are drawn by both the thrill and challenge posed by the local weather. Photographing at Hamnoy is no easy feat; its elevated position exposes it directly to gusty winds that shake the bridge. At times, I had to tether my camera to the railings while gripping my tripod tightly to maintain stability. In front of Hamnoy lies a village with a unique name, Å. Here, a row of red houses along a rugged coastline faces powerful waves, with towering snow-covered mountains behind creating a truly majestic scene.
In Lofoten, small waterfalls such as Molneva cascade down cliffs, fed by melting snow. In winter, especially during blustery snow days, the landscape transforms hourly. The paths I traversed were covered in thick snow and icy rocks, with two hours of climbing up and down for just one moment captured on camera. Upon reaching the waterfall, my teammates below appeared as tiny specks while I balanced precariously on a slippery ledge as a mix of fear and exhilaration surged within me. The shutter click was executed with utmost care; when I returned to my vehicle, my toes were stiff and frozen together. I hurriedly turned on the heater to feel my blood rushing back to life.
A favorite tourist activity in Norway is chasing the Northern Lights. The aurora typically appears under specific conditions: extremely cold weather, clear skies, a high KP index (aurora intensity), a not-too-bright moon and solar storm activity. I spent many long nights driving along various routes in pursuit of the elusive Aurora Borealis. All elements must align perfectly; after eight unsuccessful nights, I finally found myself under clear skies filled with twinkling stars that promised a spectacular show, as greenish-purple glimmers danced on the horizon. But then – out of nowhere – a snowstorm hit; snow whipped against me like salt as I stood on Uttakleiv beach before rushing back into my car to escape the biting wind.
After the storm subsided, roads became treacherous due to thick layers of ice as we wound over dramatic mountain passes with numerous hairpin turns and tunnels. Many sleepless nights have left me frustrated under gloomy skies, while I rejoiced at sunny days. Nature presented both magnificent and terrifying displays, from auroras dancing across the sky to freezing temperatures and winds fierce enough to lift you off your feet. But when you embrace nature’s unpredictability, it grants rare and profound moments to capture through photography. Each shot taken extracts a moment from time itself – exciting, beautiful, dauntingly cold, exhausting, and all worth it. These are emotions landscape photographers like me experience. It is passion that instills courage within us; with determination comes our chance to capture our own spectacular moments.
As I boarded my flight from Evenes back to Oslo for a two-day trip home to Vietnam, my 12-day adventure in nature came to an end. It was a journey filled with unforgettable experiences that stirred my emotions deeply and I returned with a treasure trove of photographs capturing nature’s exquisite moments.
