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Meanwhile, this 3 day tour is with some great local photographer. The schedule and locations are close to my workshops and includes photography instruction.
Photo workshops are a great way to learn landscape photography with like minded people. These 5 day photo workshops are set in the stunning landscapes on the edge of the Vatnökull Glacier in South Iceland. Special things happen here during the Winter. We can expect a variety of weather systems and eye witness their effect on the Landscapes and Creatures of South East Iceland. The area has good access to the Jökulsarlon Glacial lagoon and various other geological wonders.
These Iceland photo workshops are scheduled to improve the chances of photographing Northern lights, because they are run during Winter months and avoid full moon phases. The season is from October through March to increase the likelihood of Winter conditions. October is rich with Autumn colours and often has snow on the mountains. Er Ekki Pad?
Landscape Photography Tuition is included for all levels of photographer. There is something for beginners & advanced photographers. Tuition in the Magic Cloth Technique will also be included in the workshops, so read this and bring your dark filters. General photography instruction is always available in our small groups. Expect to be immersed in photography during these five full days of photography.
Tours to Jokulsarlon
Diamond Beach
The Jökulsarlon diamond beach is often littered with beautiful crystal ice which has been further sculpted by the Ocean. Winter mornings can offer unique opportunities to catch the first rays of sun behind the glacial ice chunks. We spend quality time at the Diamond Ice Beach on these Winter Workshops.
Glacier lagoons
There are many Lagoons in the area and each offer new challenges and opportunities for the photographer. The photography workshop will offer several chances to see floating ice in a variety of settings and conditions.
Carved by retreating glaciers, these lagoons offer tough composition challenges. They are highly rewarding if you catch the light, colours and reflections successfully.
Glacier lagoons, ice caves and the diamond Ice Beach often have glacier ice that you can get right up close to. This photo workshops gives you fantastic opportunities for both stunning wide angle work or close-up ice abstracts.
Ice caves
Early November – Mid-March we may include a trip to an ice cave with a qualified guide. The opportunity to venture under the Vatnjökull ice cap cannot be missed!! These mystical places are showered with strange blue which gets even stranger and even bluer as you go deeper into them. The occasional windows offer challenges and opportunities for some creative photography. We book you on a Blue Ice Cave Adventure for a hike & climb up to a glacier ice cave. This can involve a long hike and ice climbing, so we always have other options if you don’t want a challenging journey.
There are easier access caves (with lots of tourists) if you are concerned about hiking & climbing. You can enjoy extra time at Jokulsarlon & Ice beach if you don’t want an ice cave tour.
Itinerary | Booking info | Location guide
Northern Lights photography
Night photography can be a great learning experience for the beginner and in Iceland this experience could include the Aurora Borealis. The Aurora Borealis is an amazing light show that is on many people’s Bucket list.
The northern lights depend on both earth weather and space weather to ensure a good view. They are always occurring, but at different strengths according to the sun’s cycle. They can be predicted with relative accuracy if a sun spot (solar storm) is observed. There are several other scientific instruments which can measure the incidence of solar activity and magnetic storms around the earth. We take our workshop guests out for northern lights photography in the evenings if conditions are good. All photo workshops take place around the new moon to further increase our chances.
Landscape Photography
If I haven’t convinced you already, Iceland has many beautiful landscapes even without the ice and auroras!! The land has been shaped by huge glacier, powerful volcanoes, the weather and man.
Iceland Mountain lakes offer unique opportunities for strong landscape shots. Incredible beaches offer sea stack and mountain combinations with tempestuous swells and endless foregrounds.
This photo workshop allows plenty of time to perfect your shooting skills with a real variety of landscapes and one to one tuition in the field.
Location info
This Iceland Photo workshop includes the following locations:
- Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- Skogafoss waterfall
- Vik – black sand beach
- Fjaðrargljufur – river canyon
- Skaftafell – Vatnjokull
- Jökulsarlon – Ice Beach
- IceCaves (Nov-March)
- Vestrahorn Mountain
Iceland Workshop Focus
Iceland photo workshopsThe main subject of our Workshops will be Ice. The learning objectives are skills relating to landscape composition, exposure and focus. Looking and seeing involves psychology and philosophy skills. Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop along with printing and presentation are also discussed.
Physical: easy – moderate.
Fairly easy access at most locations which require just a few minutes walk. One or two locations require a moderate hike (4KM up and down hill), but this is optional. Most customers report around 7KM (5 miles) per day. Hiking is strictly optional because we do welcome everyone and can be flexible. If you are concerned, please send a message.
Photo workshops objectives
What will I learn?
- In camera
- Winter Landscape techniques
- Composition Consideration
- Focus and DOF
- Exposure techniques
- Filter use
- Long Exposure
- Night photography
- Aurora photography
- Milkyway photography
- Magic cloth technique
- Postprocessing*
- Lightroom
- Photoshop
*optional and dependent on unfavourable conditions and weather.
Testimonials and Reviews
“I was fortunate enough to go on an Iceland Aurora photo workshop in February 2015 with a great group and two excellent guides.
We encountered a few other (massive) groups while we were there and I’m very glad I wasn’t rammed into one of those! Two vehicles, two guides and five other photographers was a good size group.
While we hit a number of popular spots we also managed a few locations all to ourselves. Overall, a good balance of locations without feeling rushed. The days were loosely structured to make the most of the light. Some locations we did a couple of times under different conditions for different shots.
Evenings were a relaxed affair. Dinner then lounge with or without laptop or retire to room as you liked. A good chance to review shots.
Tony would give as little or as much individual help as you wanted and was keen to ensure everyone was getting good shots. Composition and local-knowledge based shot suggestions as well as some impromptu Lightroom tips helped improve my “keeper ratio”.
Overall a great trip and one I hope to repeat in better weather. And yes, we did manage an Aurora.
Thoroughly recommended.”
Adrian Steller
Trip Advisor
Read real tripadvisor reviews from our photo workshop customers.
Iceland Workshop Itinerary
Note: Weather and road conditions can affect the itinerary.
Day 1
Our photo workshop starts with a pick-up from your Reykjavik Hotel and drive to the South coast waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is the waterfall you can walk behind for infinite compositions. This could be the first or the last photo stop on the tour depending on the conditions. Then Skogafoss which works so well in the Winter light. The afternoon could include Dyrholaey with a sunset at Vik (mid Winter) or heading East with short stops to catch a Sunset at Jokulsarlon (longer days). We check in to our hotel near Jökulsárlón and enjoy a traditional Icelandic evening meal with an eye on the Sky hoping for Northern lights. If aurora conditions are good at a reasonable time in the evening, we could go out to photograph them in the surrounding landscapes including Jökulsárlón. If they appear in the middle of the night when you should be sleeping, it is possible to photograph them from Hali hotel.
Day 2
The day could start with a sunset on the diamond beach, glacier lagoon or an Ice cave tour. The diamond ice beach has incredible photographic opportunities and forms the basis of the photo workshop. One full morning there will leave you yearning for another. Dividing the morning between Jökulsárlón and the ice beach can be very rewarding After a warm lunch, we can explore other glacier lagoons and the incredible glacier landscapes in the afternoon. Then we hopefully catch the Sunset at Jökulsárlón. A second night at our Jökulsárlón hotel where we can enjoy a tasty fish supper, some local beer and go through some of our pictures. Northern lights hunting if conditions are good.
Mid-Winter could include a hike to Ice caves. These glacier adventures can require several KM hikes over rough terrain. These are optional and we can arrange alternative activities for workshop guests who are not up for the hike.
Day 3 & 4
Head out after breakfast to a sunset on the diamond beach or glacier lagoons. When the sun is well and truly up, we will head either West to explore the glacier landscapes of Skaftafell Ntional Park which might include a hike up to Svartifoss waterfall. Or we will head to East Iceland to explore the mountains, waterfalls and beaches including Vestrahorn mountain for late afternoon or Sunset. If conditions are clear in the East, we may find a local restaurant and wait to see if there is any aurora activity. Relax for the evening at our Jökulsárlón hotel where we can enjoy a traditional Icelandic meal, some local beer and share pictures. Northern lights photography at Jökulsárlón or surrounding landscape if conditions are good.
Day 5
After breakfast we attempt a final sunrise at the glacier lagoon or ice beach, we head back along the South Coast with stops at some top Icelandic waterfalls and lava landscapes. After lunch in we head to wards Vik or Dyrholaey for afternoon light or sunset (shorter days), or we visit Skogafoss in afternoon light and then Seljalandsfoss for the sunset (longer days). The workshop finished with a drop-off at your Reykjavik hotel a few hours after our final photo stop.
Why book with us?
- Established 2010 – at the same time as the Eyjafjallajokull Volcanic eruption
- All our guides are experienced photographers and tour operators. They are fully licensed and registered with the Icelandic Tourist board.
- We are connected to many other Iceland tour companies, so we can really tailor your tour to suit your needs.
- We use well established Icelandic hotels with private bathrooms and 3 star facilities.
- All Winter tours provide micro-spike style crampons for slippery surfaces.
