Photo: Dark and cloudy July sky over Storsandes beach, Flakstadøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. July 16, 2026. 23:18

This years feels like a summer of two Norways. Down south, Norway is baking in 30˚ C temperatures and endless sunshine, while up north we’re struggling to get into the mid teens and have only a couple hours of sunshine – per week! With the 24 hours daylight of the midnight sun ending this weekend, I think I’ve only seen it a handful of times this month, and my bbq still sits unused in the cellar.

Earlier this week, it was 34˚ C somewhere in southern Norway, while Lofoten was 12˚ C. That is quite a difference. But that is often the case, that northern and southern Norway have completely opposite weather each summer. Though usually there is a bit more of a balance. This year it feels like there has been an endless cloud over all of coastal northern Norway. And it doesn’t seem like it will go away anytime soon, unfortunately.

I took this photo late last night, between passing showers of misty rain. Again, like last week, I could have posted a photo of what could have been, but again decided on a photo of what is. This looks like a photo that would be taken on an autumn photo workshop, there is nothing ‘July’ about it for me. Even with the sun still technically above the horizon all night long for a few more days, the clouds are so dark and heavy that I have to turn the lights on in my house during the evening. And this is the first summer in recent years which I’ve had to keep the heating on – And I generally prefer a cool-ish house anyhow, even in winter.

If I was on a road trip in Norway this summer, I would take a close look at the weather forecasts, and most likely remain south in the fjords. While there is that saying, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.’ It is not really true. At least for me, there is nothing enjoyable about sweating your way in a rain jacket up the side of a mountain, only to have views of the misty clouds surrounding you.

As of now, Lofoten is still waiting for summer to arrive…

Camera Info:
Nikon Z8
Nikon 14-30mm f/4
21mm
ISO 32
f10
0.8 Second
WB Daylight

Photo: Midnight sun over sea, Lofoten Islands, Norway. July 11. 2025. 00:35

The Midnight Sun season is well underway here in Lofoten and the farmers are already out cutting the fields – which is a few weeks earlier than last year. Though for some reason, it feels like summer itself is off to a slow start this year. Besides a handful of days in June, the temperature has remained on the cooler side this year – no beach days yet like the previous years.

And while I might want some warm sunny evenings under the midnight sun, this cool weather is actually completely normal. And after several good summers, Lofoten is due a cooler and wetter one, which might be this year. I remember in 2021 when July was so wet, grey, and cold that I actually went north to Svalbard for better weather! Hopefully I don’t need to go that extreme this year! With many house projects needing attention, I won’t be getting far from Lofoten for a while anyhow.

Hopefully there are still more night like this, with the midnight sun hanging quietly over the sea. Though this year, with myself running some day trips for cruise ship guests, I can’t fully switch to my normal midnight sun schedule and sleep until noon each day.

Camera Info:
Nikon Z8
Nikon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6
20mm
ISO 64
f7.1
1/1250 Second
WB Daylight

Photo: Willow Ptarmigan – Rype in Norwegian – enjoying the evening summer sun, Flakstadøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. May 18, 2026. 23:05

With Lofoten’s roads filling up with motorhomes and the mountains with hikers it is good to remember that most of Lofoten’s breeding birds are ground nesting. And in the case of the common gulls – sometimes this nest can be in the middle of a parking lot. Not always the best of locations.

When out hiking or camping at this time of year it is important to be mindful of where you walk. Even when I’m going out to take photos of the flowers in the fields outside my house, I have to be careful where I step, even though I’m generally aware of where most of the nest are, some can be extremely well hidden amongst the growing grass and flowers.

The Ptarmigan in this photo is just a visitor. What you can’t see because of the lighting is a common gull – Fiskemåke – sitting on a nest in the grass on the edge of the rock. Even knowing it’s there, I have to look closely. Though as soon as I walk out into my backyard, I’ll receive a close dive-bomb by one of the parents – which trade of pooping on the roof of my sauna as they keep watch from the chimney.

The Ptarmigan here was a tolerated visitor on an otherwise claimed piece of property. Had ravens or crows made a visit, they would have quickly been mobbed away. But for now, most of the birds are at peace with each other. Once the chicks hatch in a another week or two, then all peace ends and the fight for survival begins.

Camera Info:
Nikon Z8
Nikon 180-600 f/5.6/6.3
250mm
ISO 280
f5.6
1/1000 Second
WB Daylight

Photo: Arctic skua flies low over moorland, Flakstadøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. June 18, 2022. 00:22

This week’s photo is one from the archives as I’m fully concentrated in ebook editing mode to get my hiking guides updated for the upcoming summer season. West Lofoten Hikes has already been updated, and the Kungsldeden guides are up next; hopefully finished by the end of next week.

But this photo, an artic skua flying at midnight over the moorlands of my valley is not completely random. It should be sometime soon in which the skuas hopefully return to Lofoten. Every time I see a flutter of bird activity over in the moorlands I give a quick scan with my binoculars looking for a dark shape flying swiftly through the sky. No luck so far, but maybe soon.

Though the last years I haven’t had much luck with my neighbourhood skuas. They were here, as I’d see them flying right outside my windows once a week or so – obviously with no camera nearby. Or on several occasions they were sitting on some rocks down on the beach as I would drive by. Again, with no camera nearby.

On the random occasions I would head out into the moorlands with a bit of purpose, nothing. Well, plenty of gulls of course, but no skuas to be seen. Hopefully this summer I have a bit more luck.

Camera Info:
Nikon Z7 II
Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6
360mm
ISO 250
f5.6
1/4000 Second
WB Daylight