Iceland Photography Workshop

After arriving in the KEF International airport, we will take a transfer to the Reykjanes Peninsula. On our way, we will stop at many naturally occurring landscapes begging to be photographed. Among these are: The Blue Lagoon, Stampahraun Lava field, Reykjanes Light house, Gunnuhver Mud Pool, Krísuvík Cliffs, and Kleifarvatn Lake. The Blue Lagoon Geothermal Waters are one of the 25 wonders of the world. These crystal blue pools originate 2,000 meters below the earth’s surface, and have a unique composition of silica, algae and minerals that do wonders for the skin, the reason behind the lagoon’s picturesque blue. The lagoon holds 9 million liters of water and the most relaxing atmosphere you can imagine, at temperatures of 37-40 degrees Celsius, which you will get to experience first-hand! The lava fields will take you back to a time when volcanic eruptions were a frequent occurrence, followed by the Reykjanes Light house, the oldest in Iceland. Next it will be time to explore the eerie Gunnuhver mud pools, photographing the hot and steaming sky from the geothermal waters under the earth’s surface. They are named after a ghost who supposedly lies there still. We will end the day by visiting the peninsula’s largest lake and gorgeous Krisuvik Cliffs, home to a thousand of sea birds.

As our first day comes to a close, we will rest and rejuvenate at the Frost & Fire Hotel. Located in a beautifully tranquil and secluded part of Hveragerdi, these accommodations provide comfort, gorgeous views, and delicious meals.

Day two is reserved for Iceland’s popular South coast, packed with some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. Our main highlight of the day will be visiting the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, one of the best known water sources in Iceland. Sparkling white falls gracefully plummet sixty-three meters into the Seljalands River; this water cycles back into the sources’ origin in the volcanic glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The falls will provide you with very unique photographic opportunities. The Seljalandsfoss allows access to a mysterious cave and walking path behind the curtain of cascading water- you will be seeing the crystal curtains of water drop from inside the cliff! We will cap the evening’s magic at Hotel Geirland in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area of the South coast. Keep your night eyes open- if weather allows, you may see the Northern Lights shining above our accommodation’s gorgeous landscape.

Day 3 will mark our third visit to one of Iceland’s natural wonders- the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Unlike a lot of the country’s historic landscape, this work of nature developed relatively recently, as a result of the climate’s increasing temperatures. As the glacier Breiðamerkurjökull adjusts to rising temps, ice chunks continually break off and float into a lagoon of melted ice. Each visit is unique as the lagoon is formed naturally and continuous to grow. We will travel by boat across the water’s surface, getting as close to chunks of glacier as safely possible to photograph the impressive glaciers, reflected on the crystal blue water. On the seashore of the lagoon lay ice-chunks polished by the ocean, resembling diamonds, earning the beach’s nickname, Diamond Beach. We will spend the day photographing the incredibly unique landscape, and at night we will shoot the sky for the Northern Lights.

After a rewarding day, we will kick back at Hótel Smyrlabjörg in the Höfn area of the East region. These open country accommodations promise quaint landscapes, luxurious rooms, and a delicious buffet restaurant.

The morning will be spent photographing Höfn village for an authentic cultural experience. This local fishing town is next to an abandoned film set replicating a Viking village, and is truly unlike anywhere else in the world. This pcturesuqe village sits by sits by the Hornafjörður fljord and features authentic fishing culture to photograph Iceland’s local culture. In the afternoon we will drive back to the South Coast to stay once more at the beautiful Hotel Geirland. In the evening be prepared to take advantage of the fantastic views of the Northern Lights!

The fifth day of our photographic adventure will be open to what you want to do. The tour group will be driving back to Selfoss, the largest town on the South Coast, from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, to stay at the Frost & Fire Hotel. We will pass through areas previously visited, so you can go back to locations you want to explore further with your photographic lens. You will also have the opportunity to adventure in the streets of Selfoss.

Day six is all about photographing waterfalls and hot springs! Situated on teh Golden Circle, a route consisting of the most popular sightseeing locations, the Geysir Hot Spring is a massive attraction in Iceland. Hot geothermal waters underneath the earth’s crust remain boiling hot year round due to underground volcanic activity. Steam and hot water is regularly shot up to 30 meters into the air by geysers fired up by nature’s hot magma. Freezing motion has never been more fun! We will also visit the Gulfoss Waterfall, which plummets down 32 meteres into two ties into a gorgeously picturesque canyon, surrounded by walls up to 70 meters high. If we are lucky enough to have a sunny day, a shining rainbow is known to hover above the cascading waters. We will spend the evening at Fransiskus Hotel in Stykkisholmur, where beautifully atmospheric and cozy bedrooms will lull you into a peaceful sleep.

We will stay in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for Day 7, visiting various locations that any visitor would never want to miss. These include: the Berserkjahraun lava field, Mt. Kirkjufell, Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall, Djúpalónssandur Beach, Mt. Arnarstapi, and Stykkishólmur village. The lava field’s scenery ranges from rocks blanketed by green moss to blackened lava hills, making it the perfect destination to capture Iceland’s stark contrasts. Situated near the peaking Mt. Kirkjufell in Kirkjufellsa river lies the mighty Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall. We will get to experience and photograph as the water drops five meters into three separate spouts, creating several tiers of majesty. Djúpalónssandur Beach is one of the most popular highlights of the Snaefellsness peninsula, and is like stepping into a lava wonderland. For more cultural immersion, we will also visit the quaint and picturesque Stykkisholmur village. Beautifully situated on the northern side of the of the Snaefellsness peninsula in the western part of Iceland, it is home to about 1,100 people and a great opportunity for some street photography surrounding the fishing commerce and locals. We will spend our last night at the Fransiskus Hotel to ensure a restful and relaxing sleep.

We’ll get in the last shots in the warm morning light before departing. Then we will take a transfer from Stykkishólmur to KEF Intl Airport, where you’ll catch a flight home.