Utsjoki | 2-8 January 2023
EUR 2900
6 SPOTS LEFT!
Deposit: € 250
2-8 January 2023
Max. 10 participants
2 instructors
Cottages
(shared facilities – 2 to 4 people/cottage)
Northern Lights
Polar Night
Huskies
Winter Wonderland
Workshop information
Finnish Lapland is famous for being one of the most prominent destinations to observe the Northern Lights. But the Northern Lights are not the only marvel of the region. Try imagining snow-covered fells as far as the eye can see, the boreal forest and reindeer, all under the most magical winter light. It is also the land of the Sami people, one of the last indigenous people in Europe.
At the beginning of January, the sun never rises in the north of Finnish Lapland. This is the season of the Polar Night. It does not mean however that it is dark all the time. When the sun gets close enough to the horizon, the light displays all kinds of spectacular soft hues. Just imagine a sunset or sunrise that lasts for hours… but even better!
Join award-winning French photographer Rayann Elzein and talented Canadian photographer Monika Deviat to explore northern Finnish Lapland and push the boundaries of your creativity to produce spectacular images both during the day time hours of the Polar Night and at night.
Far away from the frenzy of Santa Claus village or from the busy ski resorts, we are heading together to Utsjoki, one of the northernmost and most remote localities in the European Union, just under 70°N. In Utsjoki, we can immerse ourselves fully in authentic Lapland and Sami culture. And for an even more varied view on the Arctic, we will also make an incursion in Norway to the rugged shores of the Barents Sea, weather permitting.
We will be based in the typical Finnish cottages of Aurora Holidays just outside of Utsjoki. Each cottage is fully equipped and even includes its own sauna. With a group of maximum 10 participants and 2 guides, you are guaranteed to receive all the one-on-one instructions that you need, on top of the group efforts.
With this workshop by a photographer and for photographers, you are sure to have the opportunity to create truly unique images.
Who is this workshop for
This northern lights photography workshop in Utsjoki, Lapland, is adequate for photographers of all levels, from beginners to the most experienced. With a small group of maximum 7 participants, there will be opportunities for many one-on-one sessions with each participant. This also avoids us to stand in each other’s way, and makes a smaller impact on the fragile Arctic environment.
This workshop is focused on field experiences and only limited time will be spent in a “classroom”. We will have at our disposal a room where we will sit together and do some editing and answer the questions of the participants.
All-Inclusive Workshop
This workshop is all-inclusive, this means that there are no hidden costs for you as participants. We want you to know fully what you are getting before your trip, and in this way, there can’t be any disappointments. So we take care of everything for you from the moment you land in Ivalo, to the moment you leave.
Only alcoholic beverages, and your flights, are not included in your workshop fee.
Itinerary
Day 1
We pick you up at Ivalo airport and drive to your cottages in Utsjoki. We stop at a large supermarket / convenience store on the way for your last minute supplies if you need any (Utsjoki is quite isolated so we do this near the airport). For the rest, your workshop is all-inclusive!
Day 2
A snowmobile takes us in a sled to the wilderness. We explore the fell area around Utsjoki and the Teno River. Packed lunch in the wilderness. We stop whenever there are good photo opportunities. When we are back, we have some classroom/editing time, and after diner, Northern Lights photography weather permitting.
Day 3
Breakfast, drive to the shore of the Arctic Ocean in Norway, where we spend all the light hours of the day photographing the totally different landscape. We pack lunches with us, and eat in Norway. Back to Utsjoki in the evening, diner and Aurora chasing weather permitting.
Day 4
We will photograph reindeer. For this we will drive to a Sami reindeer herder who will tell us everything about his job and traditions. We will be quite close to the reindeer, giving us amazing photo opportunities.
Day 5
Breakfast, and drive to meet the huskies. You will go on a tour in the sled pulled by huskies. 1 driver, 1 person who sits in the sled. You can exchange at any time, and there are plenty of stops along the way for photo opportunities. Northern Lights photography weather permitting later in the evening.
Day 6
Village tour of Utsjoki (church, old cottages, bridge). Classroom time and finale 3-course diner at the Aurora Holidays Restaurant.
Day 7
It is time to say goodbye. We have a final breakfast and drive back to the airport in Ivalo where you will catch your flight back to Helsinki.
Check out the blog posts about our 2019 workshop in Utsjoki as well as the 2020 workshop for more photos and insights on our trip.
This itinerary is given to illustrate the activities that we are included in the workshop. They are dependant on the weather, and we might (and certainly will) move them around to give you the best possible experience. We will go Aurora chasing 3 of the 6 nights that you spend in Utsjoki. This will be decided on a daily basis with the latest weather and Aurora forecast. The cottages face the north, so if we don’t go chasing and the weather is clear, you will be able to photograph the Aurora from the front porch of your cottage, or down on the shore of the river.
Note that you must bring a valid car driving license to be allowed to drive a snowmobile. We will transport all the photo gear in a sled behind the guide’s snowmobile, as well as some participants. If you wish to drive a snowmobile, please let us know when booking.
The teachers
Rayann Elzein
Workshop leader
Monika Deviat
Workshop leaderWhat's included and what do you need to bring
What is included
- One-on-one and group photography instruction from the photographers
- Editing time and instruction (Adobe Lightroom)
- All transportation during the workshop, including transfers from and to the Ivalo airport
- All accommodation in Finland from January 2 through January 8 at the Aurora Holidays cottages in Utsjoki.
- Cold weather overalls and boots for the duration of your trip
- All meals – Aurora Holidays just built their new restaurant, so we will be served breakfast and dinners there! Lunches will be packed or served at the restaurant depending on the day.
What is not included
- Flights to and from Ivalo.
- Any alcoholic beverages.
- All clothing base layers – we will send a list of suggested clothes items to take to the registered participants.
What you need to bring
- Photo camera, lenses, tripod (make sure to bring extra camera batteries)
- Warm clothes (layers)
- A laptop for the editing sessions
A detailed list of clothes and equipment will be sent to all participants after registration.
Accommodation and logistics
To organise this workshop, I have teamed up with Aurora Holidays in Utsjoki. They will provide us with the cottages, transport and all logistics to make your workshop go very smooth.
They are a family-owned company with great knowledge of the region. They are flexible, knowledgeable and just super fun to be with. Below you see a few photos from your accommodation and the view from the cottages. The cottages face North, which is ideal for an impromptu Aurora sighting if it happens outside of our chasing hours!
We will move around in a comfortable mini-van, with ample space for every participants plus all the gear that photographers usually bring along.
To reach Utsjoki, you will have to travel to Ivalo airport, where we will pick you up.
Your flights to Lapland
We will pick up the whole group in one go at Ivalo Airport on Day 1 at 1.30pm, so please make sure to arrive before this time. Please do not book the late afternoon or evening flights.
We will drop you off in Ivalo Airport again at 11:30am on the last day, so please do not book the early morning flights.
Please note that our workshop location is 2.5 hours away from the airport, so we cannot deviate from these, and the whole group needs to be picked up and dropped off at the same time.
Payment of the workshop
- Deposit: € 250 upon booking
- 1325 € four months prior to the start of the course
- 1325 € one month prior to the start of the course
Aurora Holidays terms and conditions apply, with the exception of the cancellation policy: due to the nature of the workshop, the fees already paid are unfortunately not refundable. However, your spot is transferable. This means that if you (or we) find someone to replace you, then they can take your place.
Failing to pay your installments after a first reminder will forfeit your spot.
Leave no trace
We operate this workshop in strict respect of nature and the environment. Perhaps more than anywhere in the world, the nature in the Arctic is very fragile. We ask to all participants to keep this in mind at all time. The only traces that we want to leave are our footsteps in the snow.
A Final note
You are required to have your own travel insurance, which must include repatriation, illness, etc. In order to drive a snowmobile, you must be in possession of a valid driver’s license.
We ask you to send a proof of insurance (and a copy of your driver license if you book the snowmobile driving) no later than 3 months before the start of the workshop.
Utsjoki | 2-8 January 2023
EUR 2900
6 SPOTS LEFT!
Deposit: € 250
Or contact me here if you have any questions.
