My Nordland aurora photography workshop is eight days in Northern Nordland, Norway, based around Narvik — a small group photographing the aurora, frozen fjords, the Lyngen Alps, Stetinden, and ice caves. It's made for intermediate to advanced photographers who want to come home with Arctic images that don't look like the Lofoten postcard everyone else shoots. Northern Nordland sits at the same aurora latitude as Lofoten with a fraction of the tripods, so you photograph iconic Arctic scenery with the locations to yourself — six photographers maximum, March timing, and every session driven by conditions instead of a checklist. I'm Michael Schultz, an Alaska-born photographer with over two decades in the field, and I lead this workshop alongside local Norwegian guides who have worked this coast for years.
The Workshop
$6,950 per person
FTOP alumni rate available
A $2,000 deposit reserves your spot.
Dates March 19–26, 2027 · 8 days / 7 nights
Group Maximum six photographers
Included Lodging, ground transport, and guiding · airfare and meals separate
The Setting
Why Northern Nordland, not Lofoten
For 8 days in March 2027, we're photographing a region of Arctic Norway that most workshops drive past. Northern Nordland sits above the Arctic Circle, well inside the aurora zone, with fewer crowds than Lofoten and a landscape that's just as dramatic — frozen fjords, granite peaks, ice caves, and boreal forest buried in snow. Most Norway workshops funnel everyone through the same Lofoten spots — Reine, Hamnøy, Skagsanden — where ten tripods line up for one composition at blue hour; we work the same Arctic latitude with a fraction of the photographers.
The schedule is built around conditions, not itinerary checkboxes. If the aurora forecast looks strong, we shoot all night. If a storm clears at dawn, we're out the door before breakfast. That flexibility is only possible with a group of six.
This isn't a drive-by tour. It's a working photography workshop — slower pace, fewer locations shot deeper, with time to read the light and actually think about what you're making.
Most photographers only know the Lofoten Islands, so here's how the two regions compare side by side:
Northern Nordland
Narvik · Lyngen Alps · Stetinden
Crowds
Six photographers; most locations to ourselves
Signature Locations
Stetinden, the Lyngen Alps, frozen fjords, and boreal forest around Narvik
Landscape
Granite peaks, frozen fjords, ice caves, and deep snow
Aurora
Above the Arctic Circle, same aurora latitude as Lofoten, with dark-sky sites well away from any light dome
Access
Mainland, Narvik-based; remote sites larger tours can't reach
Best For
Photographers who want Arctic Norway images that don't look like everyone else's
The Famous Circuit
The Lofoten Islands
Reine · Hamnøy · Skagsanden
Crowds
Reine, Hamnøy, Skagsanden and Uttakleiv beaches with ten-plus tripods lined up per composition at blue hour
Signature Locations
The Lofoten archipelago — Reine, Hamnøy, Nusfjord, and the colorful fishing villages
Landscape
Jagged peaks and icy fjords; stunning photographic opportunities year-round
Aurora
Same Arctic latitude, but heavily photographed
Access
Island photo-tour circuit; the same well-known stops on every Lofoten itinerary
Best For
The classic Lofoten postcard
The Lofoten Islands, Norway are spectacular — that's exactly why they're crowded, and why most Lofoten photography workshops run the identical island circuit. This workshop trades the familiar Lofoten archipelago for the emptier mainland at the same Arctic latitude.
A note on the aurora
March is one of the most reliable months for aurora activity in Northern Norway. While we can't guarantee auroras (they're a natural phenomenon), our success rate is very high. We monitor space weather forecasts and position ourselves in the best locations when activity is predicted. Most participants see multiple aurora displays during the week.
In the Frame
What you'll photograph in Northern Nordland
Northern Nordland packs frozen fjords, alpine peaks, ice caves, and aurora-friendly dark skies into a two-hour radius from our base. Expert instruction throughout — I'll help you identify what's working in a composition and improve your images in the field.
Northern lights illuminating the night sky through snow-covered boreal forests
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
Multiple nights dedicated to aurora photography, covering camera settings, composition, and post-processing
Frozen Fjords & Coastal Landscapes
Dramatic shorelines, sea ice, and mountain reflections at sunrise and sunset
Mountain Landscapes
Jagged granite peaks, windswept ridges, and snow-covered valleys under dynamic skies
Ice Formations & Caves
Intricate icicles, frozen waterfalls, and blue ice caves with otherworldly light
Winter Forest Scenes
Snow-laden trees, quiet streams, and intimate forest details
Abstract Winter Patterns
Wind-sculpted snow, ice textures, and minimalist compositions
The Region
Discover Unexplored Northern Nordland
This workshop is based around Narvik and reaches north into the Lyngen Alps and the Stetinden region. You'll spend most days within an hour or two of our lodging, photographing locations I've scouted with local guides who've worked this coast for decades. Some days we're at sea level on a frozen beach. Other days we're up in the alps or deep in boreal forest.
What the workshop delivers: world-class Arctic landscapes with almost no other photographers, frozen fjords and quiet valleys far from light pollution, and hands-on instruction in Arctic landscape photography — composition, night work, and the advanced techniques that aurora and winter shooting demand. These are locations that don't show up on Instagram tour circuits.
Small group photography workshops are designed to provide personalized instruction and intimate experiences in stunning locations. This Nordland aurora photography workshop is limited to a maximum of 6 photographers — not the 12–16 most tours run — ensuring a 3:1 participant-to-instructor ratio that allows hands-on guidance, individualized feedback, and the flexibility to adapt to changing weather conditions.
Workshop sizes are kept small to guarantee a high instructor-to-student ratio, and the workshop features hands-on learning and image reviews — Arctic photography workshops like this are highly immersive and adaptive. Photographers of all skill levels — from intermediate enthusiasts to advanced professionals — benefit from the small group format, which fosters a collaborative learning environment and creates lasting connections among participants.
The small group also enables access to remote Northern Nordland locations that larger tour groups cannot reach, including frozen fjords, the Lyngen Alps, and dark-sky aurora viewing sites well away from any light dome.
The Season
Northern Lights Photography: March in the Arctic
March sits in the sweet spot for Arctic Norway aurora work — long dark nights, more stable weather than midwinter, and some of the most reliable geomagnetic activity of the year. We build the schedule around the forecast: if the Kp index spikes, we shoot all night. If clouds move in, we reposition. The reason March works so well is the spring equinox: around the equinox, geomagnetic activity statistically peaks — the Russell-McPherron effect — and it's the same boost that makes both spring and fall prime for the aurora. Early in the month you still get long, usable darkness, so March equinox timing in Northern Norway is one of the strongest windows of the year for aurora photography.
Northern lights photography in Arctic Norway requires specific gear and conditions for capturing magical aurora borealis displays over Arctic landscapes. Photographers should bring a wide-angle lens with a fast aperture (f/2.8 or wider), a sturdy tripod, and extra batteries for cold-weather operation.
The aurora borealis appears most frequently between September and March, with peak activity during the winter months when night skies stay dark for extended periods. Arctic landscape photography in this region also captures dramatic mountain peaks, frozen waterfalls, and Arctic wildlife — reindeer, sea eagles, and moose — at the nearby Polar Park reserve, where you can document Arctic species in naturalistic settings on a dedicated wildlife photography day.
High aurora activity
March regularly produces strong geomagnetic storms and sustained auroral displays.
Equinox timing
These dates span the March equinox, when geomagnetic activity statistically peaks — a documented seasonal effect (the Russell-McPherron effect) that aurora chasers plan around.
Long dark nights
8–10 hours of usable darkness for aurora photography.
Clearer skies
Statistically better weather than January and February.
Strong foregrounds
Deep snow, ice formations, and frozen fjords make for compelling aurora compositions.
Manageable temperatures
Typical range of -5°C to +3°C (23°F to 37°F) — cold but workable with proper layering.
We'll dedicate multiple evenings to aurora photography — camera settings, composition, and post-processing — working with fast lenses in the field and reading forecast data in real time to position for the best conditions. For what actually performs at -5°C or colder, see my Arctic Camera Gear Guide.
The Route
Where you'll shoot over eight days
Over 8 days, we'll move through the major photographic regions of Northern Nordland — the fjord coastline around Narvik, the Lyngen Alps, the granite peaks near Stetinden, and the boreal forest in between. Here's what's on the schedule:
Frozen Fjords & Coastal Landscapes
Sea ice, wind-carved shorelines, and mountain reflections at sunrise and blue hour.
Stetinden Mountain
Norway's national mountain — a dramatic compositional anchor, especially under aurora.
Lyngen Alps
Sharp, dagger-shaped peaks and frozen forests. One of the strongest backdrops for aurora work in Arctic Norway.
Northern Lights over wild terrain
Multiple dedicated nights in dark-sky locations well outside any urban light dome.
Polar Park visit
Arctic wildlife — lynx, bears, wolves, moose — in a naturalistic reserve setting. A wildlife day for contrast.
Working with local guides
Klaus and Christian know this coast better than any outside photographer could. They find locations no tour circuit knows about.
Weather & conditions
Arctic conditions change fast — that's part of what makes the region photographically rich. Detailed clothing and gear lists are provided after registration. In the rare case of dangerous travel conditions, clear rescheduling and refund policies are in place — see the cancellation question in the FAQ for specifics.
The Curriculum
What you'll learn
This isn't about collecting locations — it's about how you work. Daily field coaching, paired with image critiques and editing sessions back at the lodge, builds across three areas:
Technical Skills
Long exposures for water, cloud, and aurora. Exposure in high-contrast Arctic light. Focus in the dark. Cold-weather camera operation and battery management at -5°C and below.
Creative Development
Composition and depth. Working a scene from several angles instead of one postcard frame. Reading light and weather as they shift, and finding a consistent editing voice across your work.
Professional Workflow
Field organization and backup strategy. Shooting efficiently in harsh conditions without losing frames. Culling to your strongest images, plus editing tutorials in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Your Instructor
Michael Schultz
I'm Michael Schultz, founder of Face The Outdoors Photography. I was born and raised in Alaska, and I've spent years photographing this state professionally — its aurora, its bears, its coastlines, its weather. Face The Outdoors has been featured in National Geographic, and I've led photography workshops from Alaska to the Arctic coast of Norway. The skills I've built chasing the northern lights and working hard winter conditions at home are exactly what I bring to Northern Nordland — reading the forecast, keeping gear alive in the cold, and finding the frame when the weather turns.
I didn't start as a photographer. I started as someone who loved being outside — where silence has weight and every moment feels fleeting. Photography became the way I could hold onto those moments — not to prove they happened, but to remember how they felt.
"Patience over pressure. Presence over perfection. Emotion over algorithms."
