Way up in the northernmost regions of northern Norway lies Nordland. Because of collisions with Greenland in the distant geological past, it’s home to innumerable fjords and fjord branches. Particularly impressive within this already amazing country is the Lofoten archipelago. It is known for its distinctive scenery with dramatic mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. Because an aerial perspective is probably one of the best ways to experience the rugged beauty, Australian image makers Alan Mathieson and Michael Fletcher took it upon themselves to get a bird’s eye view of Lofoten.
This drone flight over Lofoten’s cloudy mountains is silencing in the most positive way. It leaves you with an immensely powerful feeling of desolation, wonderfully assisted by perhaps the best choice of music. It is no wonder repeat visitors can’t get enough of this place.
Rod Thomas is one of those people, yet another Australian image maker and friend of Mathieson and Fletcher who accompanied during their Norway-trip. But how does an Australian trio end up, of all places, in Lofoten?
Its pretty simple. I was Googling away one day and a certain image caught my attention. After reading about it and finding out who took it and where it was taken, I instantly made my mind up to go to there. 6 trips later I still love the place as much as I did my first trip there.
Thomas doesn’t claim credit for the video above, but he does say that watching his two travel companions work the drone made him realize he wanted one too. While Mathieson and Fletcher were up in the air, Thomas was leading a photography trip in their wake. He gradually gravitated towards the direction Mathieson and Fletcher were taking, “and I am sure glad I did.”
Michael Fletcher was in charge of the edit [of this movie] and he finished it approximately 5 weeks after we returned. His vision for this was insane. We are heading back there next February 2017, to do a second part. I can not wait to get back there again to see this epic landscape covered in snow.
Even though Thomas keeps a strong focus on photography, but with the advent of all this new technology, he considers it to be only natural to also explore (drone) videography.
With videography, I think the viewer can immerse themselves in it deeper, giving them a feeling of being there. Moving pictures, I think, will play a huge part as well in social media trends from now on.
Would you consider Lofoten / Nordland as one of the most amazing places you have been to, so far?
It has to be right up near the top of the list, for sure. I’d love to visit Greenland too, and explore further north in Norway as well. Greenland has some amazing scenery and its always been a dream to get there. Hopefully, I’ll make it happen in 2018. I’d also love to check out The Maldives and Tahiti.
Would you recommend fellow photographers or aspiring ones to travel over there?
100% yes I would. It is a relatively small place, but with so much variety and so much beauty. Lofoten is only just becoming recognized for what it has and every trip I take there, I see a rising number of visitors. There is NO reason for any photographer not to visit this place. The beaches, the mountains, the landscape and, of course, the Aurora. All of that makes this an ideal place for any photographer.
Any other destinations on your wish list?
Slovenia. We are planning a tour there next year with Michael Fletcher and the absolute best of the local guides. It is close to all the jewels of Europe, and I have no doubt that this relatively untapped country will be the next go to destination for photographers in Europe. Other than that, I am planning things in Greenland, Svalbard and the United States.
More work by Rod Thomas can be admired on his website, but he is also on Facebook and Instagram. For more amazing videography, head over to the Vimeo-page of Michael Fletcher, or pay a visit to his partner in crime’s Outback Drones website.
