Nordlys over Reine. Workshop i Lofoten med fotograf Bjørn Joachimsen 2025. ©Bjørn Joachimsen
Northern lights, polar nights, and magical coastal landscapes! Would you be interested in joining a workshop where you learn to capture this with your camera? I invite you to an intensive winter workshop in Lofoten, where I will share my knowledge of photography. [Vestresand in Lofoten, 2nd-7th January 2026.]
Registration Deadline: 2nd November 2025. There are only 6 places available!
This workshop focuses specifically on the northern lights and winter nights in the north. Capturing exciting northern lights images often involves more than just capturing the play of colours in the sky. We are particularly interested in depicting the interplay between the variations of the northern lights and the landscape during this workshop.
The right place at the right time
During the workshop, you will visit the best locations at optimal times. You will learn about suitable camera settings and other practical aspects you need to know to succeed in northern lights photography. Be prepared for long evenings and perhaps some late-night hours. The unpredictable and varied northern lights will determine the agenda. If the weather becomes too poor for photography at times during the workshop, instruction in photo editing with programmes such as Lightroom and Photoshop will be conducted in the meeting room at Vestresand.
What can you expect from the northern lights?
The northern lights are generally always present, but visibility will depend on intensity and whether we have completely or partly clear skies. In previous workshops in Lofoten, we have always seen the northern lights at least one of the evenings. During the 2025 workshop, we photographed the northern lights for three evenings.
Northern Lights and Polar Night Workshop in Lofoten 2026. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
What can you expect from the polar night?
Many believe it is completely dark in the middle of the day during the polar night in the northernmost parts of Norway. This is not the case. In Lofoten, you can expect good photographic light for at least four hours each day during the time of year when the workshop takes place.
Northern Lights and Polar Night Workshop in Lofoten 2026. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
What you can expect from me as an instructor
I will be available to you as an instructor from morning until evening, sharing all my knowledge of photography. You can ask for help and guidance at any time during the teaching hours.
As a participant you are expected to
Be genuinely interested in developing your photographic skills.
Actively seek knowledge and guidance throughout the workshop. If there is something you do not understand or cannot achieve, you should reach out to the instructors for help and guidance.
Dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
What you can expect from Lofoten
Steep mountains, beautiful beaches, and rapidly changing and unpredictable weather and light. Neither we nor Lofoten can, of course, guarantee that we will see the northern lights in the night sky, but we will continuously follow the northern lights forecasts and weather reports/cloud cover throughout the workshop. Note: The workshop is not physically strenuous for participants. We will not undertake any long hikes or move through steep terrain.
Workshop med mørketidsfoto og nordlysfoto i Lofoten. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Prerequisites
You must have experience with photography and be able to operate the main functions of your own camera.
You will find practical information and the registration form under the image.
Nordlys over Reine. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Practical Information – Northern Lights and Polar Night Workshop in Lofoten 2026
Dates
2nd – 7th January 2026. The workshop starts at 18:00 on 2nd January and finishes at 11:00 on 7th January.
You must allocate all time from morning until late evening to work on photography during the workshop.
LOCATION
Vestresand in Lofoten. The course location is at Haverringen 132, 8360 Bøstad.
INSTRUCTOR
Bjørn Joachimsen
Read more about the instructor further down the page.
Tuition language
English
Individual guidance can be provided in Norwegian if needed.
Registration Deadline
2nd November 2025.
Workshop Fee
EUR 975.- (private individual, registration before 2nd October 2025.)
EUR 1075.- (private individual, registration from 2nd October 2025 onwards.)
The course fee covers instruction and guidance.
A deposit of EUR 200.- must be paid upon registration. The deposit will be invoiced via email. For registrations from 2nd October 2025 onwards, the full course fee must be paid upon registration.
The full course fee will be charged for cancellations made after 2nd November 2025.
Travel
You can fly to Leknes from Gardermoen (via Bodø), Bodø, or Tromsø. Alternatively, you can fly to Evenes and share a rental car (included). Please contact the course organiser before booking your travel.
Participants must book and pay for their own travel to the course location. We can assist with transportation between Leknes Airport and Vestresand for participants who require it. (Please get in touch immediately after you receive confirmation of your place to arrange pickup at the airport). Transportation during the workshop is included in the course fee. Participants should not book flights that arrive after the workshop start time or before the workshop end time without prior agreement with the organiser.
Accommodation and Meals
We will be staying in Lofothus at Vestresand. The houses have three bedrooms (single rooms, but double rooms can be arranged), shared bathroom, and kitchen.
The accommodation costs are not included in the course fee and will be paid directly to Lofoten Vacation. More information and prices can be found further down.
If you choose an alternative accommodation other than the offering from Lofoten Vacation during the workshop, you will be responsible for transportation to and from Leknes Airport and any additional transport during the workshop.
Cost for accommodation and meals (full board):
NOK 8700.- for the entire workshop. This covers:
Accommodation in a single room with shared bathroom and kitchen.
Included meals: Breakfast from Friday to Tuesday. Dinner from Thursday to Monday.. Packed lunch from Thursday to Wednesday.
Essential Equipment
DSLR or mirrorless camera
Extra camera batteries (preferably two extras)
Camera backpack
Charger for camera batteries
Sturdy tripod (we recommend a tripod with individually adjustable leg angles)
Computer (laptop/desktop) with photo editing software
Weather-appropriate clothing
Waterproof footwear
Head torch
Water bottle/thermos
Ice grips of this type: Snowline Chainsen Pro
Recommended Additional Equipment (not necessary, but useful):
Lens hood/sunshade for lenses
Rain cover for camera
LensPen or other cleaning equipment for lens/camera
Participants must have travel insurance.
In the event of cancellation of the workshop, the organiser is not responsible for any costs related to rebooking or cancellation of flight tickets.
More Information?
Contact Bjørn Joachimsen – bjorn.joachimsen@gmail.com
Click here to go to the registration form!
Bjørn Joachimsen
Fotograf Bjørn Joachimsen.
Photographer Bjørn Joachimsen works across many photographic genres, including portraits, landscapes, architecture, and working life. He was born and raised on the coast of Northern Norway and captures nature experiences with his camera both in the south and north of the country, as well as elsewhere in Europe. Bjørn has worked professionally in photography for over 20 years. He is one of the most active photography instructors in Norway, holding workshops in several European countries. Bjørn teaches Lightroom and Photoshop in addition to photography courses. Over the years, Bjørn has collaborated on workshops with various photographers from both Norway and abroad. In the spring of 2014, Bjørn was responsible for the artistic decoration of Clarion Hotel The Edge in Tromsø – a prestigious assignment in decoration and artistic photography.
“I consciously work to develop my visual curiosity with the camera and enjoy being surprised by what I find on my photographic treasure hunts.”
Portfolio: www.joachimsenphotography.com
Commercial: www.fotografjoachimsen.no
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joachimsenphotograpy
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/joachimsen/
Tumblr: www.bjornjoachimsen.tumblr.com/
Instagram: @joachimsenphotography
500px.com: 500px.com/joachimsen
