Iceland in Winter

December 27 - January 4, 2022 - 2023

Iceland is one of the most exciting places to visit for a nature photographer. The landscapes are absolutely wild -- active volcanos, thunderous waterfalls, crystalline glaciers, rugged coastlines, geothermal pools, powerful geysers, and sculpted blue ice caves that are among the most incredible natural subjects to photograph in the world. In addition, the Icelandic horses make awesome subjects, and historic turf churches and quaint villages are also photogenic. In winter, this incredible island nation is even more dramatic. The cold climate allows us to safely explore ice caves, and the snow shrouded waterfalls are partially frozen. The reduced hours of daylight allow us to capture the stunning aurora borealis in all its glory. Join Jim for a most remarkable experience in photography.

You will arrive and depart from Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik, Iceland (airport code is KEF).

What you will learn on this photo tour

How to expose for snow and ice

How to photograph the aurora borealis

Best camera settings for action photography

Using long exposures for waterfalls

How to use neutral density filters to soften the ocean's movement

How to deal with extreme contrast

How to create a hi res panorama

Techniques for improving your compositions

ITINERARY

Day 1, December 27, Tuesday. Thingvellir National Park and Vik

Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland this morning. We are met by our local guide, and then we travel to the south coast of Iceland, starting our photography within the first hour's drive. Thingvellir National Park is a great introduction to Iceland's stunning landscapes and waterfalls. From Thingvellir we travel to the southern most point of Iceland which is Vik. We stay one night in the Vik area which has some of the best frozen waterfalls and dramatic seascapes such as Seljalandsfoss and the incredible Skogafoss. We explore a black volcanic beach that offers brilliant opportunities for seascape photography with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and Dyrholaey rock arch. Overnight Hotel Vik I Myrdal, Vik.

Day 2, December 28, Wednesday. Vik - Skaftafell - Glaciers and ice caves

After our sunrise shoot at the coastline of Vik, we continue east to the glacier area of Vatnajokull. We will be based in a great hotel with a glacier view and just a few kilometres from the famous and very beautiful Glacier lagoon. For the next 2 days we explore and photograph glaciers from all angles including inside a crystal ice cave formed by a river within the glacier. We visit Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon and Vestrahorn mountain. Many different shooting locations allow us to move around as the weather dictates. Should the Northern Lights decide to make an appearance, our options for foregrounds are truly endless. Overnight Hotel Smyrlabjorg.

Day 3, December 29, Thursday. Glaciers and ice caves

Today we travel into some remote glacier areas for more great landscape photography. After breakfast we capture the sunrise on the famous Ice Beach on the south-east coastline where huge chunks of blue ice lie on black sand, and nearby is the stunning Glacier Lagoon area for more unique images of blue ice formations. We lodge close to the Glacier Lagoon (Jokulsarlon) to take advantage of the best light, and when the sky is clear and the aurora is active, we'll shoot the Northern Lights dancing over the lagoon. We will go into the best available ice cave, deep under the Vatnajökull glacier. The photography is absolutely amazing. This is a great time to use HDR. You will be provided with all safety gear such as helmets and crampons. Overnight Hotel Smyrlabjorg.

Day 4, December 30, Friday. The east fjords

The picturesque east fjords are calling us today. We will stop and photograph the jagged coastal peaks of Eystrahorn as well as numerous locations to photograph sea stacks, the winding roads and cascading streams down the steep terraced mountains. East fjords are very quiet and isolated in winter, so for this part of the tour we will feel like we are the only people on the island. Our hotel is located in an old and very picturesque fishing harbor by a beautiful lake. Overnight Hotel Framtid, Djupivogur.

Day 5, December 31, Saturday. From east to north

We have a fairly long traveling day from eastfjords up to Myvatn in north Iceland, but the drive is very scenic and we stop at numerous locations to brake up the trip and enjoy the winter landscape. We arrive in Myvatn to capture sunset in one of many spectacular locations in the area. Northern Iceland is known for clear skies much of the time, and it is here where we can expect to see the aurora borealis very possibly every night we're there. Overnight Hotel Kea, Akureyri. New Year's Eve under the aurora would be very special indeed!

Day 6, January 1, Sunday. Full day in Myvatn

We have a full day in the Myvatn area. Depending on the weather conditions we will visit Lake Myvatn, the geothermal hot springs, or Crater Hverfjall. Myvatn area is the perfect location for aurora photography as there is no light pollution and beautiful foregrounds include a reflection in the lake. If we have some down time in Myvatn area, between sunrise and sunset, we can visit the Myvatn Nature Baths to relax and charge our batteries for the next shooting session. The Myvatn basin sits squarely on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and many of the dynamic sights you'll see are volcanic or geothermal. The last major volcanic eruption in the Myvatn area was quite recent, geologically, in September, 1984. Overnight Hotel Kea, Akureyri.

Day 7, January 2, Monday. Icelandic horses

After breakfast we drive to a horse farm for a private session to photograph Icelandic horses in motion. Horses make dynamic images when they run, and we'll have the opportunity to photograph a herd of this beautiful breed. Jim will discuss camera settings for freezing action as well as artistically blurring the movement. Full frame portraits of the horses also make great images. Following this, we will photograph a unique Icelandic style of old architecture, turf houses, including Vidimyrarkirkja, a black-fronted turf church built in 1834. In addition, the Reykjafoss waterfall is truly spectacular to photograph. The nearby off-shore islands of Drangey, Skagafjordur, and Malmey are compelling subjects as well. Overnight Bakkaflot Guesthouse, Varmahlid.

Day 8, January 3, Tuesday. North coastline back to Reykjavik

As we head back to Reykjavik, we photograph Hvitserkur rock, a unique rock formation just off-shore. It is 50 feet high and looks like a dragon drinking from the ocean. We also visit the spectacular Kulugljufur waterfall which is beautiful from several vantage points and photogenic with both wide angle and telephoto lenses. This is another great waterfall where you can practice using a slow shutter to blur the falling water. This evening we have our farewell dinner where we can talk about the great experiences we had and the amazing pictures we took on the trip. Overnight Hilton Hotel, Reykjavik.

Day 9, January 4, Wednesday. Departure

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

TOUR COST $7650. Includes all lodging based on double occupancy, all meals, ground transportation is a super-sized 4x4 Mercedes truck/mini-bus with wifi, services of an Icelandic guide, a horse photo session on private land, airport shuttle transfers, safety gear for entering an ice cave, photography instruction and critiques on demand.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $800 (to have your own room)

NOT INCLUDED: International airfare to and from Reykjavik, travel and medical evacuation insurance, and items of a personal nature.

When you register for the tour, several months prior to departure you'll receive an eBooklet with all the information you'll need about the tour including a list of participants, recommended camera gear, weather and clothing issues, and more. This includes Jim's great method of keeping your fingers warm in the cold as they retain needed dexterity to work the camera.