If you enjoy following photography Instagram accounts that post pictures of countries up north, I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon Eric’s account, known as @voyagesstories. For the past year, he has taken us along on his experiences in the Faroe Islands, but he has now made his way to Lofoten, Norway. I, Chief Editor Chiara-Marie Hauser, had the chance to chat with Eric about his content, his path into photography, and his love for countries up north.
@voyagesstories
CMH: Eric, could you share your journey into content creation, especially photography?
So, my name is Eric, and I am originally from Sweden. At the time of writing, I am 31 years old and have recently moved to Lofoten in Northern Norway, where I intend to live indefinitely. A little over a year ago, I made the decision to move to a new country to pursue a long-held dream. I have always been drawn to freedom, the ability to live life on one’s own terms without too many demands and obligations. Free from an overly structured system, I simply wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side. Eventually, I decided to resign from my previous job, bought a one-way ticket to the Faroe Islands, and purchased my very first camera before leaving Sweden.
Most of your content from the past months was about your time on the Faroe Islands, what inspired you to move there?
I was also curious to know more about the differences between those who live in such an isolated place compared to the rest of us who live in a more fast-paced world with more impressions and influences. Here, it’s as if time has stopped a little bit; ancient traditions live on, and the feeling of living a more primitive life is palpable. It truly is a special group of islands out there in the North Atlantic, shaped by the sea, myths, and legends passed down from generation to generation.
What was your favourite moment while living there and what makes the Faroe Islands different from other places up north?
My goal all along during the trip was to develop myself as a photographer, partly to share my content on my Instagram, which I started at the time in connection with the move, but also to immerse myself in the culture and the people who live there. Alongside my Instagram, I also worked on a photo project called „Faroe Tales,“ with which I later had an exhibition. It focused more on the culture and the people who live on the Faroe Islands. There are many memories from the Faroe Islands that I will probably carry with me for the rest of my life, especially the moments spent with the local people, where I had the opportunity to try and live according to their old traditions, such as sheep farming, etc.
Recently you announced your move to Lofoten, why the move, and how is life there different to your life on the Faroe Islands?
After my year-long trip to the Faroe Islands, I felt that the journey had given me so much; it was as if I were truly experiencing life. Towards the end of my adventure in the Faroe Islands, the idea of living a life of full-time travel was born within me. Once settled in on Lofoten in Northern Norway, my creation of my travel stories continues through my Instagram. What I hope to convey to everyone who follows me on social media is quite simply that there is something more behind this boxed-in system that we have been pre-indoctrinated to live. While I understand it is not for everyone, I believe there are many others who may wish to live a quieter life close to nature, and it is to these individuals that I hope to inspire and encourage. For me, neither an important job nor money is on my priority top 10 list. My way of looking at life in general is about creating memories worth remembering and living in the here and now because that’s really all that counts. This particular way of thinking and living has always felt like the most reasonable to me, and it has both been confirmed and strengthened even more since my trips to these different places.
@voyagesstories
How do you think living in a northern country has shaped your perspective on nature, seasons, and the passage of time?
What becomes very noticeable when you live in places like this is, above all, how significant the differences are compared to life at home in Sweden. I might sound a bit controversial now, but I feel that society back home is moving in the wrong direction. I think we have lost ourselves a little in the time that has passed, a lot is about everything going quickly and being time efficient. We think „time is money,“ but in reality, it contributes to stress, which in turn results in us no longer being present. Instead, time is only experienced as moving faster, and everything becomes counterproductive. In a place like the Faroe Islands, you live in a more sane society where everything takes its time and stress is not present in the same way at all. You also live close to nature in a completely different way and realize the importance of how essential it is to us who live on Earth, taking better care of it. I believe we have a lot to learn from them.
Why should people visit the Faroe Islands and Lofoten and what is one thing they should all do while being up there? Or what is a place they shouldn’t miss out on visiting?
I highly recommend everyone to visit these absolutely fantastic scenic spots. Places such as the Faroe Islands or Lofoten will truly showcase to all visitors the wonders of our planet. While it may seem more natural to talk about destinations like the Maldives in this context, all these other places in the northern hemisphere have something truly special, unlike anything else. There is a unique vibe with their somewhat desolate, barren, and almost melancholic environments, reminiscent of a fairyland.
There are especially three trips on the Faroe Islands I’d recommend: 1st: Dunnesdrangar – A place with prospects to dream about! However, I want to warn you that this place can be dangerous with all the cliffs you pass, please only visit this place if you are experienced. 2nd: Saksun: A place that I like to call „Real life Fairytale“, this is an old village with small houses with thatched roofs located in a lagoon surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. It cannot be described in text, it simply has to be experienced in reality! 3rd: Visit Tjørnuvík: This is also a small picturesque village located deep in a bay with roots from the Viking Age.
And for Lofoten: 1st: The Kvalvika Beach hiking route: A hike over the mountain that leads to a lookout that is so magnificent that it is hard to take in how beautiful it really is. 2nd: Visit the top of Reinebringen: Here you get a good bird’s eye view of high mountains and fjords that stretch across Lofoten. 3rd: A road trip through Lofoten: This is the best way to experience as much as possible of Lofoten because there is so much to see here.
@voyagesstories
We thank Eric for his time and wish him all the best – we certainly certainly can’t wait to see where his journey will lead him next.
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