I remember the exact moment I first saw a photograph of Lofoten. Nothing I had seen before even came close and I found it hard to believe that it was a real place. This was years ago, when I wasn’t even dreaming of becoming a photographer. I wasn’t sure about many things at the time, but one thing I knew beyond any doubt: that one day I would explore the Norwegian archipelago. Having seen it in hundreds of photographs throughout the years had not prepared me for the beauty that nature etched into this land. Green mountains rising from the depths of the Norwegian sea carry the stories of the last 2 billion years. Peaks bearing the black scars of ancient earthquakes, shores covered in wildflowers and turquoise clear waters are cradles of life where you can find elks, foxes, stoats, whales, seals, fish and numerous birds.

The avian species found in Lofoten include sea eagles, arctic terns, black guillemot, puffins, grouse, oystercatchers, eiders and kittiwakes and whether wintering or migratory, all birds need protection when nesting. The increased human footfall has significantly reduced their numbers in recent years. Most encounters end with parents and chicks getting separated, rendering the little ones incapable of surviving.

Lofoten: Arctic Flyway aims to tackle this issue by showcasing the beauty of the archipelago through landscape photography prints and by donating 25% of the proceeds to BirdLife Norway, a wildlife organisation dedicated to the conservation of bird species.

Andrei Stance is a landscape photographer based in London, with conservation as the core focus of his work. Through his work he hopes to inspire others to protect nature’s beauty and to take action against deforestation, the destruction of natural habitats, human encroachment on wildlife territories and climate change.

Instagram: @andreistancephotography YouTube: @andreistance