Lofoten in Motion: Exploring ICM Photography in Norway’s Arctic

September 28, 2025 Lukas Riedl

Text & Images: Kaisa Sirén

Lofoten must be one of the most visited travel destinations in Norway — and also one of the most photographed. Instagram is overflowing with iconic views of Henningsvær, Kabelvåg, Nussfjord, and Svolvær. But during my week there in April 2025, I wanted to see it differently. Instead of chasing postcard shots, I immersed myself in the Arctic landscape through ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) photography, transforming the famous views into my own impressionistic expressions.

Impressionistic photo of Lofoten’s seagulls with shifting clouds and soft motion blur.

The dramatic landscapes of the Lofoten Islands were in constant motion. Shifting clouds, melting snow, gravel slopes, and the roaming Arctic Ocean created an atmosphere that felt alive. Waves mixed turquoise with golden sand, while mountains blended earth tones with icy whites. Every frame was already a painting, my camera simply became the brush.

I didn’t need to look up Monet, Cézanne, Seurat, Pissarro, or Renoir for inspiration. The Arctic itself carried the same mood as their canvases. Lofoten was Impressionism in real time—ever-changing, full of color, and impossible to capture in a single still image.

Soft, painterly landscape of the Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway using impressionistic camera techniques.

My path to this way of seeing began long before. In 2001, I left my travel industry job to start painting, guided by Impressionism and Claude Monet. Over time, I realized that those same principles could live inside my photography. By embracing ICM photography, I learned to transform ordinary details into soft, moving images—where light, color, and feeling matter more than sharpness.

ICM impression of colorful Lofoten fjords and seascape under dramatic spring skies.

This creative freedom is what I brought with me to Lofoten. Rather than focusing on traditional documentation, I let the Arctic light and shifting weather dictate the rhythm of my movements. Photographing without pressure—just listening to the landscape—was pure joy.

For me, Lofoten became more than a destination. It was an Impressionist feast, a chance to connect deeply with nature, and to create images that are less about what the Arctic looks like, and more about what it feels like.

Abstract ICM photography of Northern Norway’s mountainsides revealing snow and gravel textures.

Kaisa Sirén is a Rovaniemi-based photojournalist and photographic artist specializing in Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) to capture the changing seasons and delicate landscapes of northern Finland. Her work has been widely published in Finnish media and exhibited across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Kaisa is a co-founder of the ICMPhotomag Network Community and ICM Photo Academy, where she also teaches ICM photography. Her studio, Villa Vinkkeli, hosts art exhibitions and events.

Want to dive deeper into ICM photography? Join the community at ICM Photo Academy for courses and inspiration. Stay connected on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK for more creative insights.

Discover Kaisa Sirén’s artistic journey on INSTAGRAM and explore her work at her website.