Summer Photo Workshop around Iceland

Capture the extraordinary sights of Iceland in summer with this 10 day photography workshop. Designed to take you to the best shooting locations on the south coast, the east and the north of Iceland, this workshop will have you chasing the golden light of the Midnight Sun around some of the country’s finest landscapes. Be dazzled by the glistening icebergs in Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, marvel at the geothermal activity at Lake Myvatn and get off the beaten track in the mysterious Highlands – all while developing your landscape photography skills in Iceland under the guidance of our professional photo guides.

The adventure begins when you arrive at Keflavik International Airport, using the supplied Flybus ticket to make your way to your hotel in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik. Spend the day exploring or take some time to relax and unwind before gathering to meet your photo guides and the rest of the group later in the evening. Over dinner, your photo guides will explain the itinerary for the coming days and you’ll have the chance to get to know your fellow travellers before heading to sleep, eager for the journey that awaits you in the morning!

You’ll board our specially modified 4x4 truck and begin the scenic drive towards Iceland’s stunning south coast. Along the way, you will see vast lava fields, glorious mountains and of course, waterfalls!

The first waterfall you will visit is Seljalandsfoss, one of the best-known waterfalls in Iceland. At 65 metres in height, it’s certainly not one of the tallest, though its breathtaking beauty rivals that of many. This unique waterfall features a path that leads all the way around it, allowing you to capture it from all angles. Be prepared to get wet though and to have your lens cloth handy!

Further up the track is Skogafoss, thundering down from 60 metres in all its glory. You can walk right up to this powerful waterfall for the ultimate selfie, though you will likely find yourself drenched in all its drizzle! Don’t fret as you won’t have to get wet to capture it. Here, you will have the perfect opportunity to experiment with long exposures to create a milky effect in the water or freeze-frame the sheet of water as it plummets down to the ground.

When you have had your fill of waterfalls, you’ll continue the journey towards the small fishing village of Vik which sits in the shadow of the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier. It is home to Iceland’s famous black sand beach, Reynisjfara, and its glorious sea stacks called Reynisdrangar. Legend has it that the sea stacks are the remains of two trolls, who were towing a masted ship back to land when the rising sun petrified them in their tracks. With heavy waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto the shore and huge cliffs of black basalt columns stretching towards the sky, this beach makes for magnificent compositions beneath the golden glow of the Midnight Sun.

The light in Iceland is ever-changing, with conditions varying from day to day. You’ll have the opportunity this morning to capture Reynisfjara and Reynisdrangar in different light and to explore the black sand beach a little further. If the tide is out, you’ll be able to walk all the way to the sea stacks for unique and interesting compositions.

In the afternoon, you’ll head towards the nearby Dyrholaey cliffs, famous for their staggering views over the south coast. Capture the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier to the north, the beautiful black lava sea stacks of Reynisdrangar to the east, or the incredible 120 metre high black rock arch of Dyrholaey stretching out to sea. This area is well-known as a nesting ground for puffins. The wildlife photographer within you will jump at the chance to photograph these quirky sea birds with their black and white plumage, orange beaks and clown-like expressions as they waddle about the cliffs!

Of course, Iceland comes alive in the summertime with blooming wildflowers and there is no better place to shoot them than in the quaint village of Vik. This evening, you’ll have the chance to photograph fields of purple lupines beneath the pink and amber hues of the Midnight Sun, as they stretch dreamily into the blissful horizon.

On day 4, we’ll leave the remote fishing village of Vik and make our way towards the Vatnajokull National Park. A considerable amount of this day will be spent at the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, where you’ll have the incredible opportunity to capture glistening glacier tongues, waterfalls tumbling around black basalt columns, enchanting streams, valleys and woodlands.

In the evening, you’ll visit the magnificent Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where you’ll be able to wander over the sandy hills along its shoreline, photographing the large icebergs that float within its enchanting blue depths. With the Midnight Sun circling overhead, the glacier lagoon makes for absolutely stunning landscape photography. At the nearby ice beach, you’ll find chunks of ice from the lagoon that have drifted out to sea and washed back ashore, dotting the black sand like diamonds glittering brightly in the sun. These make for perfect subjects in long exposure as the waves slide in around them before retreating back into the horizon.

There is so much beauty to be captured at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and the nearby ice beach that you’ll no doubt be grateful to return to them in the morning on day 5, capturing each beneath different light and with new and exciting compositions.

In the afternoon, you’ll travel around the Stokksnes Peninsula to photograph the imposing Mount Vestrahorn. This incredible spiky mountain provides a stunning backdrop to landscape photos in the east of Iceland, with undulating black sand dunes, wildflowers and surreal reflections of water in the foreground. There is enough here to keep you shooting for hours beneath the Midnight Sun, though you’ll have to move on for a chance to see the rest of Iceland.

This will be your final day spent in the south east of Iceland, so you will have the chance to return to any sites that you missed or would like to see again in different lighting conditions. Later on, your photo guides will take you off the beaten track to lesser known spots within the heart of Vatnajokull National Park, giving you the opportunity to get away from the crowds and to capture a part of Iceland that is rarely seen, as the Midnight Sun casts a golden glow over the largest glacier in all of Europe.

On this day, you’ll head back towards Vestrahorn in the east, before making your way through the lush and beautiful Eastfjords where you’ll stop for many photo opportunities along the route as you head towards the north. This little-travelled area is brimming with charming fishing villages, a splendid coastline of black sand beaches, stunning mountains, puffins, reindeer and the biggest forest in all of Iceland.

The drive is extensive but the surrounding scenery will keep you occupied and before long, you’ll arrive at Lake Myvatn. This area is filled with gems for landscape photography beneath the Midnight Sun: from geothermal areas to volcanoes, waterfalls and geological sites, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with shooting opportunities.

On this day, you’ll explore all of the wonders that the Myvatn region has to offer. We’ll begin at Lake Myvatn, capturing its reflections and unusual basalt pillars that surround it as birdlife chatters around us.

Nearby is the dramatic site of Dimmuborgir, a true wonder of the Myvatn region consisting of huge lava structures that resemble a dark fortress. It’s no wonder that this impressive area was used as a filming location in Game of Thrones. We’ll also photograph the hot spring cave Grjótagjá, which was also featured in the series.

Next, you’ll have the chance to capture the colourful cracks in the earth at the geothermal areas surrounding Námaskarð Pass. With steaming mud pools and fumaroles, this area will give you a glimpse into what life was like at the beginnings of time.

Not far from the lake are two of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland – Godafoss and Dettifoss, which are beautiful in long exposure beneath the light of the Midnight Sun.

This morning will be spent at Lake Myvatn before heading down the Kjölur Highland Road towards the mysterious Highlands of Iceland. You’ll notice the surrounding scenery changing as you head further inland, into something that resembles being on the moon.

Your main subject on this day will be the haunting Kerlingarfjöll mountains, with their volcanic rhyolite peaks of orange, green, yellow, blue and black hues surrounded by rivers and steaming hot springs. After making the most of these otherworldly compositions on offer, you’ll slowly make your way back to the capital city of Reykjavik.

We strongly recommend you to get a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.

75 days or more: 75% refund

60 days or more: 50% refund

Less than 60 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the Icelandic weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, visits to ice caves are dependent on favorable conditions, and indeed the ice caves themselves are not permanent. When it comes to the Northern Lights, while they are most likely to be seen between September and April, there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.

Total price: 4900 USD

New 2023/2024 Dates

Day 1 - Arrival

Day 2 - South Coast

Day 3 - South Coast

Day 4 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 5 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 6 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 7 - Myvatn Region

Day 8 - Myvatn Region

Day 9 - Reykjavik

Day 10 - Departure

Included:

Not included:

Cancellation and Refund Policy

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