Stora Karlsö – A Photographer’s Island of Light, Birds and Ancient Stories

Some razorbills are also interested in people - which is a nice thing for a sea bird portrait photography.

A Timeless Island in the Baltic Sea

Stora Karlsö, rising quietly off the coast of Gotland, is one of Sweden’s oldest nature reserves and a sanctuary where time seems to slow down. The island is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs, rich biodiversity and centuries of human history woven into its rugged landscape. For nature photographers, it is a place where every direction offers a new composition, every hour a new quality of light.

This summer, I travelled to Stora Karlsö to explore its wildlife, landscapes and photographic potential—and returned with a clear decision: this island deserves a place in Nordic Wildscape’s future adventures.

Seascape brings new elements and ideas to landscape photography

Arrival and Warm Welcome

We arrived on the island by boat from Gotland in the late morning, greeted by soft sea wind and the calls of seabirds echoing from the cliffs. The staff guided us to a comfortable accommodation building, showed us the restaurant, showers, and all the facilities that make a stay on this remote island surprisingly pleasant.

After settling in, we grabbed our cameras and binoculars and met our guide, who led us to the island’s small natural history museum. There we learned about Stora Karlsö’s geology, wildlife, and conservation work—an inspiring introduction to the world we were about to step into.

Sheep have been part of the island’s landscape for hundreds of years, long before it became a nature reserve. Today, the practice continues under careful ecological monitoring. Sheep help maintain biodiversity by preventing dominant plants from taking over

Walking Through History and Wild Beauty

Our guided walk took us across the island’s trails, where every stop revealed a new story. We heard about the people who once lived here, the scientists who studied its ecosystems, and the birds and mammals that have shaped the island’s identity.

Around the lighthouse, the landscape opened into sweeping views of the sea—and into the heart of Stora Karlsö’s birdlife. Vast colonies of Razorbills and Common Murres (etelänkiisla ja ruokki) nest on the cliffs, their calls filling the air. Some birds were so curious that they approached us at arm’s length, offering rare opportunities for intimate portraits.

House for the research near the sea and the bird cliffs.

In the island’s interior, we explored its diverse flora: herbs, wildflowers and small trees thriving in the sheltered valleys. Warblers, pipits and other small birds flitted between branches, adding movement and sound to the quiet green world.

Dry, open, almost savanna‑like feeling on Stora Karlsö is not my imagination—it comes from a unique combination of geology, climate and grazing history that creates landscapes you rarely see elsewhere in Scandinavia.

From Forest Trails to Coastal Drama

As we descended toward the shoreline, the scenery shifted again. Wooden steps led us through lush forest to a rocky beach where the sea met the land in a mosaic of stones and driftwood. Here we photographed Red-breasted Mergansers and other waterbirds in the glowing afternoon light—scenes that felt both wild and peaceful.

Red-breasted Mergansers. Behind the birds are tens of grey seals.

Golden Hour Magic

When evening arrived, the island transformed. The sun dipped low, painting the cliffs and sea with warm tones. I found myself photographing swan territorial battles and the dynamic behaviour of seabirds in the last light of the day. It was one of those rare evenings when everything aligns: light, subject, mood.

ICM-photography on the sea shore

Morning Experiments: ICM and Multiple Exposures

After a restful night, I stepped out from my room—just a few meters from the shoreline—and began experimenting with ICM (intentional camera movement) and multiple exposures. The conditions were perfect: calm air, soft morning light and gentle waves. The images I created felt fresh, abstract and deeply connected to the island’s atmosphere.

Red-breasted Merganser on the coast line.

It was in that moment I knew: Stora Karlsö is not only a paradise for wildlife photographers, but also a playground for artistic expression.

A New Nordic Wildscape Adventure in 2027

Inspired by this experience, I’ve decided to offer Stora Karlsö as a new photography destination for Nordic Wildscape. Next summer, in June 2027, I will guide a small group to this extraordinary island for a journey focused on bird photography, nature exploration and creative image-making.

Common Guillemot enjoying the Baltic herring lunch on the cliffs.

If you want to join us—stay tuned. More details will be announced soon, and I can’t wait to share this magical place with you.