Troja, an Irish setter, and her human companion, George Rotan, have captured the hearts of the internet with their photogenic and picturesque travels in the mountains and forests of Norway.

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As a child, George Rotan escaped to the forest to realign himself on a bad day. “The calmness and the soothing sounds of birds [chirping] have always been therapeutic to me,” he told weather.com. His go-to place of peaceful refuge is now one for Troja, his 6-year-old Irish setter he calls his “better half.” 

The pup’s name comes from the Trojan horse, a mythical ruse of war that helped the Greeks enter the city of Troy. “[Troja] is the only one who gets behind my defensive walls and logical thinking,” Rotan said. 

Rotan started taking Troja out the day he brought her home in 2012. “[She] was weak and insecure as a pup, so it was important to challenge her right away to build a strong foundation for her adult life,” he said. And his training and patience paid off: she now joins Rotan in nearly all his adventures out in nature. 

Though Rotan is known for photos of Troja set amidst a moody landscape, he actually started in photography by taking macro photos of plants and insects. 

(MORE: A Wolfdog's Mountain Adventures) 

“Troja was always with me on the hikes, but I never had the thought of taking photos of her until people I met on the hikes complimented her looks,” Rotan shared. Irish setters are famous for their long, rich coats that are either deep mahogany or chestnut color — something you’ll note when scrolling through the duo’s Instagram account @George_and_Troja. 

He eventually gave it a try and grew to enjoy taking photos of his pup. “It created more interaction between her and me during our hikes, which has led to a very strong companionship,” Rotan said. 

But his hikes aren’t all about coming up with the kodak moment. “I try to enjoy being in the moment and capture what captivates me.” 

One of Rotan’s favorite moments with Troja happened in the winter at an icy blue river. “The only sound we could hear was the soothing sound of trickling water,” he said. 

But the four below zero temperatures quickly drained his camera battery. With his camera blinking red due to low battery, he had to quickly set up and hope that the camera would stay on for a photo in front of the river. 

“The camera managed to take two shots before it turned off, so when I came home I was praying that they came out right and one of them luckily did,” he said. 

To see more of Troja, check out their Instagram.