Cold Hands Ruin Good Stories
Winter wildlife photography in Lofoten is not gentle. It is salt spray in your face, wind that laughs at your layers, and moments that appear without warning and vanish just as fast. When you are photographing reindeer on land or sea eagles from a RIB boat, you do not get a second chance because your fingers stopped working.
That is where Vallerret gloves quietly become heroes.
Sea eagles, RIB boats, and orcas in the Vestfjord
The first experience was out on the water with Lofoten Explorer, flying across the Vestfjord in a RIB. Sea eagles everywhere, low winter light, snow-dusted peaks, and then the bonus we did not expect, orcas have returned to the Vestfjord. Proper goosebumps moment. The good kind.
For this shoot, I was wearing the Vallerret Markhof Pro V3. On a RIB, dexterity is everything. You are bracing, shooting, adjusting settings, and hanging on while the Arctic tries to rearrange your face. The Markhof Pro V3 is warm enough for open water but still lets you work the camera without thinking about your hands. FlipTech caps make quick adjustments easy, and the grip stays solid even when everything else is wet and cold.
Reindeer encounters, quietly and respectfully
The second experience was on land with Lofoten Insight, photographing reindeer in calm winter conditions. A very different pace. Slower, quieter, more intimate. You are standing still for longer periods, waiting for moments rather than chasing them.
Here I switched to the Vallerret Senja Mitt with liner. This combo is brilliant for cold, static shooting. The liner gives you fine control when you need it, and the mitt goes back on instantly to keep the heat in while you wait. No rushed shots, no numb fingers, no excuses.
Why this matters
Good gloves do not make you a better photographer, but bad gloves will absolutely make you miss the shot. When wildlife appears unexpectedly, like orcas surfacing in the Vestfjord or a reindeer lifting its head into perfect light, your hands need to work without complaint.
The Markhof Pro V3 shines for active shooting in exposed conditions. The Senja Mitt and liner excel when you are standing still in deep cold. Together, they cover almost everything I shoot in Arctic winter.
These experiences were genuinely special. Sea eagles, reindeer, orcas, incredible people, and behind the scenes moments that remind me how lucky I am to call this place home.
Cold fingers are optional. Great stories are not.
If you are heading into winter wildlife photography, especially in places like Lofoten, invest in gloves that let you focus on the moment, not the temperature. Your hands will thank you, and your photos will too.
Use DAVEWILLIAMS10 for 10% discount at photographygloves.com
Special thanks to Åsmund Aarsand and Stine Carlsen for the BTS photos
