In a country of truly amazing landscapes the Icelandic highlands offer perhaps the most incredible scenery of all. The vast interior of this beautiful country has some of the most diverse and jaw-dropping landscapes imaginable. Surrounded by glaciers, this is an area of black sand deserts, volcanic peaks and mountains of every colour imaginable, from the vivid green moss covered hills of the Hvanngil and Mælifellssandur, to the deep oranges and red rhyolite valleys of Landmannalaugar and Kerlingarfjöll. Crater lakes like Langisjór and Hnausapollur, lava fields and waterfalls, landscapes that change every few kilometres, there is simply so much to see in the highlands and yet despite all this it’s relative inaccessibility means it is far less visited than many of the well known locations around the country. The few roads that do exist are dirt tracks, often with multiple river crossings, which can only be traversed with a sturdy 4x4, and accommodation is limited.
We created this workshop to take a small group of people to some of the most incredible landscapes in the country. The Icelandic Highlands are among the largest unihabited wilderness regions in Europe, but using modified 4x4 vehicle we are able to get to some of the more inaccessible and jaw dropping places in this stunning region, and by having three comfortable accommodation bases in distinct parts of the Highlands we’ll get to photograph an incredibly diverse range of scenes. Our first base in the north west part of the highlands gives us access to the colourful geothermal area of Kerlingarfjöll where the red rhyolite hills are often shrouded by clouds from the hot springs and geothermal activity as well as the powder blue waters of Bruarfoss.
Our second base takes us to Landmannalauger, home of some of the most incredibly colourful landscapes you’ve ever seen. More rhyolite mountains and valleys, with black lava fields and rivers, there are so many hiking trails here and so much to see. We’ll spend three days exploring this fantastic area, from the waterfalls of Haifoss and Sigöldugljufur to the mountains and valleys of Bláhnjúkur and Brennisteinsalda, as well as the stunning river braids of the Tungnaa
Our final base is in the southern Highlands where we’ll spend three nights exploring the black desert of the Mælifellsandur and the beautiful remote lake of Langisjór before heading back for our final night in Reykjavik.
Throughout all of these locations we’ll be constantly amazed at the scenes that unfold with every kilometre of the road. The most common expression we hear in these places is “it’s like being on another planet” and indeed the landscape is so alien and different from literally anywhere else on earth that many science fiction movies are filmed here. From the the volcanic cones, bright green from the moss on their slopes projecting up from the wind blasted black sand, to the multicoloured valleys of red, orange and ochre which change with the light, these are utterly unique landscapes that have literally unlimited photographic potential.
The workshop is designed to take a small group exploring into some of the rarely visited parts of Iceland and to ensure that you can focus on photography while we take care of everything else. From the ideally located and comfortable accommodation with all meals included this is a tour that’s structured to maximize your opportunities to get great images whilst improving your skills as a photographer. We use all our experience and knowledge to get you to some of Iceland’s most beautiful locations in the best light, and in the field we’re on hand to provide as much support, advice or guidance as you want.
PRICE
€7250
(price includes single occupancy room. Discount of €400 for couples or friend sharing subject to availability)
GROUP SIZE
6
EXPERIENCE
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers.
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY
In a couple of locations there will be an option to do some walking and hill climbs that should be within the capability of anyone with good fitness. See “A Word About Hiking & Fitness” section below. These are not obligatory though, and there will be options for anyone who prefers not to do any hiking.
WORKSHOP INCLUDES
Landscape photography and shooting in unforgettable wild locations and some of the most remote and beautiful parts of Iceland
Two professional photographers & guides who know the area
Transport around Iceland and to and from all of our shooting locations in modified 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser
Post-processing workshops in Lightroom and Photoshop
All accommodation in local hotels
All meals provided
NOT INCLUDED
Insurance
Flights to/from Iceland
ITINERARY
We start and finish our workshop with a night in Reykjavik, and for our tour of the Highlands we base ourselves at three locations. While the dates that we’ll be in the bases are fixed, our time at each is flexible so we can decide which locations to visit while we’re there depending on the local weather and conditions. We will however ensure that we visit all of the locations in each area. Iceland is often cloudy at any time of year and but even with overcast skies many of the landscapes, waterfalls for example, work well and can be shot throughout the day. Due to the fact that our shooting locations are sometimes quite a way from our accommodation we won’t always shoot sunrise, but will make sure we are always on location for the afternoon golden hour and sunset.
Sunrise at this time of year is around 6h10 and sunset around 20h40, although there are variations throughout the week depending on which part of the country we’re in.
DAY 1
Arrive in Reykjavik.
17h onwards we’ll welcome guests to our overnight accommodation in Reykjavik, head out shooting in a nearby location on the Reynisfjara peninsula like Valahnúkamöl and then later spend some time getting to know each other over dinner and drinks.
Accommodation at the Icelandair Natura
DAY 2 - 6 THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS
DAY 2 KERLINGARFJÖLL
We’ll check out of our hotel and head across Iceland to our first base on the western edge of the highlands. From our accommodation we can make the drive to Kerlingarfjöll, and incredible mountain range with a large geothermal area where the colourful rhyolite hills are often shrouded in mist and steam making for some atmospheric shots. The landscape is constantly changing colours due the passing light and cloud and we’ll spend all afternoon exploring the valleys before heading to the falls at Bruarfoss, where powder blue water tumbles down rocky cataracts, for sunset.
Accommodation at Hotel Gulfoss
DAY 3 - 6 LANDMANNALAUGAR
After breakfast, we’ll get our stuff together to check out and head to our second base on the edge of the northern part of the Fjallabak region of the highlands. We’ll be staying in a hotel on the edge of the region for three nights and each day we’ll head out exploring. Our itinerary here will be very flexible depending on the weather but we’ll make sure we spend some time at many of the locations in the area:
The Landmannalaugar valley with its many trails including Brennisteinsalda
Sigöldugljufur canyon
Haifoss waterfall
Hnausapollur crater lake
The river braids
This part of Iceland is one of the most stunning in the country and shooting here is a unique experience. The valley of Landamannalauger is incredible with the colourful rhyolite mountains and lava fields. While we’re there, we’ll hike along th Brennisteinsalda trail with it’s mountain sides of every imaginable colour, and cross the Laugahraun lava fields with more dramatic views. Outside Landmannalauger, there’s the turquoise water of Hnauspollur crater as well as lots of other incredibly picturesque craters, and the multiple waterfalls in Sigöldugljufur canyon where water seems to plunge in to the canyon from everywhere. We’ll also spend a day at Haifoss waterfall, the third highest waterfall in the country with water tumbling over 150m into the valley below. What makes Haifoss so unique is that it can be captured from so many angles. We’ll shoot it from the top with the view along the valley, and then walk down into the valley to the bottom of the falls where you’re spoilt for choice between wide angle compositions and telephoto abstracts of the falls. It’s an incredible experience.
Also while we’re here we’ll have multiple opportunities to capture the incredible river braids. These rivers which flow through the Highlands really don’t look like much when you’re standing next to them, but as soon as you get a little elevation with a drone there’s an almost infinite number of abstract compositions you can get of these incredible patterns cut by the water as it flows across the black volcanic desert. Knowing the best places to capture these images is a closely guarded secret that we only share with workshop participants. There are also various other craters and crater lakes we’ll explore while we’re here,
We’ll spend three nights here, which gives us plenty of time to take in this incredible scenery. After arriving around lunchtime on the first day we’ll settle in and then head out for a long afternoon session exploring and shooting. We’ll make a decision on where we go based on the prevailing weather conditions and when we’re out, although we’ll have a number of destinations in mind, we’ll constantly be on the lookout for shooting opportunities as we travel through this wonderful landscape because everywhere you look there are so many wonderful scenes. After sunset we’ll head back to the hotel for dinner before going to bed.
The following days we’ll have breakfast and then head out for the day to explore and shoot. Like all the sessions we’ll do in the Highlands, we'll always have a number of clear destinations in mind, whether that’s the Landmannalaugar valley or Sigöldufoss waterfalls, but we’ll have plenty of time to make diversions and explore, which means we can be incredibly creative when shooting as we’ll be encountering scenes that we’ve never seen before and adapting our techniques to be able to capture them. Likewise, we’ll take into account where we’re going to be before deciding whether to take a packed lunch with us (the hotel will provide one) or return for lunch. We’ll also try to fit some editing sessions in here.
On our final day we’ll check out in the morning and head to the southern Highlands, making sure we stop off at a number or really photogenic spots on the way.
Accommodation at the Highland Centre Hrauneyjar
DAY 6 - 9 THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
DAY 6 - 9 LANGISJÓR, MÆLIFELLSSANDUR & ALFtAVATN
After leaving Landmannalaugar around lunchtime we’ll drive along the stunnning F208 road in our Super Jeep, heading first to the waterfalls of Ófærufoss, and then to the remote lake of Langisjór, where we’ll make the hike up Sveinstindur for some incredible views out over the lake. We’ll stay in the area all day before heading to our accommodation on the south eastern side of the Highlands for the night, where we’ll stay for the next two days.
During our time here our itinerary will vary depending on weather and light, but we’ll make sure we spend some time at all of the locations in the area:
The area around Hvanngil and Alftavatn lake, including the peaks of Stórasúla
The remote black desert of Mælifellssandur
Langisjór lake and Ófærufoss waterfall
Axlafoss & Bláfjallafoss waterfall
This part of the Highlands offers very different landscapes from the northern part where we were on the the previous days. Here the volcanic desert of Mælifellssandur dominates the landscape with the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to the south. It’s a remote landscape of black sand punctuated by conical green volcanos and unlike anywhere else in the world, and during our time here we’ll explore the area, from the Bláfjallafoss waterfall, which we can drive along the top of in the Land Rover, to the incredibly beautiful area of Alftavatn. Access here is more difficult with some big river crossings but our Defender will have no problem going wherever we need to go. We’ll spend a while hiking here, heading up some of the hills to give us an elevated view from where we can see the vast landscape laid out below us. We’ll have the whole day to explore the area, so we can head to the area around Emstrur for views of the peaks of Hattfell and Stóra-Mófel, as well as the almost-perfectly conical Mælifell with the glacier behind it. At the end of the day we’ll return to our comfortable guesthouse for dinner.
Accommodation at the Hotel Katla
DAY 9 - 10 - REYKJAVIK
It’s quite a long drive back to Reykjavik so we’ll set off after breakfast and aim to arrive at Selfoss for lunch, eating at one of our favourite restaurants there. Depending on where we’ve been on previous days and if we’ve got time we might be able to stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur or Þakgil canyon on our way back.
We’ll arrive in Reykjavik in late afternoon or early evening, check into our hotel and have a final dinner together.
Accommodation at the Icelandair Natura
The following morning we say our goodbyes and drop people off at the airport
A PARADISE FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
The Highlands really are a paradise for drone photography and are one of the few places where we strongly recommend bringing a drone. There are many locations here that can only be captured from an aerial perspective; like the infinite abstract patterns of the river braids when looking straight down from above, and many of the craters and lakes really come to life from an aerial perspective. On previous workshops we’ve noticed it’s something people often wish they had when they see the potential of some of the locations we’ll visit and regret not having brought one. You don’t need to be an expert, we can show you how to fly and get the shots, and participants in the past have gone home with incredible images they’re happy with despite it being the first time they’d used a drone. Nor do you need an expensive drone, a DJI Air 2S or Mini 3 will be perfect most of the time. We’re usually in remote locations, miles away from anyone, so no-one is bothered by the drones, and we arrange permits for all the places we fly.
We absolutely understand that not everyone loves drones, I’m certainly not a huge fan myself, but they are an incredibly powerful tool for unlocking the potential of the Highlands and giving you images that you’ll have in your portfolio forever.
WHAT WE DO (AND WHAT WE WANT YOU TO GET FROM OUR WORKSHOPS)
Our aim is to take you to beautiful locations and give you every opportunity to get great images while improving your technique over the course of the workshop. From the beginning of your time with us we’ll aim to identify your photographic level and what you’d like to focus on, and attempt to tailor the workshop to your precise needs and with just two participants we can give plenty of one-to-one tuition both in the field and in the post processing sessions.
Travelling in such a small group along with having a number of fantastic locations within reach of our bases of accommodations means we can adapt to the weather and go where the conditions are best for shooting. We have the flexibility to travel to some the most beautiful locations the Highlands has to offer, from the iconic spots like Landmannalaugar and Haifoss to the much more remote and less well known areas like Langisjor and Maelifellsandur. We’ll have plenty of time in the field with long sessions so you’ll quickly get into a shooting rhythm where you can put into practice new skills as they are learned. Late August/early September is a great time to visit Iceland as we have relatively stable weather conditions (by Icelandic standards…it’s never truly predictable there) and long periods of the golden hour.
Finally, we want to share with you our passion for this incredible place. We aim to make this trip feel like an expedition with a group of friends making your experience here in the beautiful landscapes of Iceland a memorable one and a trip from which, as well as getting some great images from amazing locations, you’ll also go home having had a true adventure with great company in a very special place.
SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES COVERED IN THIS WORKSHOP
IN THE FIELD:
Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure
Composition. Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.
Lens choice. From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens
Shooting waterfalls and mountain peaks
Shooting multiple image panoramas
Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures
Shooting in the blue hour and overcast weather
Creating abstract images and intimate landscapes
Creating compelling images with a drone
PROCESSING:
Using Lightroom to apply contrast
Using local adjustments to shape and sculpt the light
Using Photoshop layers to build up image adjustments
Giving images finishing polish in Photoshop
Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image
Using Nik Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex, Adobe Camera RAW on Photoshop layers
Stitching multiple panoramas together
Sharpening images
A WORD ABOUT HIKING & FITNESS
Reaching the locations on this tour should be well within the capacity of anyone with a good level of fitness but it’s worth taking a moment to point out that for a couple of our shooting locations it will be possible to hike a little further for different points of view. For example, the lake in Langisjor can be photographed from near the vehicle, but there’s also the possibility of walking an hour along the edge of the lake and up a hill for more panoramic views. If we go to Alftavatn then there will be the same choice.
There is nothing technical on any of the hikes and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness will be able to manage it, and no-one will have to hike if they don’t want to…other options are always available. But in case you do want to have the possibilty of walking to a more elevated viewpoint, it should have a bearing on what camera equipment you bring with you as you may have to carry your pack for a couple of hours so heavy packs should be avoided as much as possible.
If you have any doubts whatsoever about your ability to participate, don’t hesitate to contact me using the form below.
TRANSPORT
For this workshop we really wanted to spend some time visiting places that are well off the beaten track and head deeper into the Highlands, and be able to explore wherever we wanted to go without limits. The landscapes here are quite simply breath-taking and unlike anything you can see almost anywhere in the world. There’s a feeling of genuinely being out in a wild and remote landscape, far away from civilisation and we’ll see very few other people while we’re here. Getting here however requires a specialised vehicle so we’ll be using a modified Toyota Land Cruiser which allows us to access more remote areas like Langisjór, Mælifellsandur and Álftavatn, without having to worry about river crossings. Jeroen has years of experience driving in these locations, and the vehicle has plenty of space for the 4 of us to have plenty of space for all our gear.
WHAT TO BRING
A dSLR or mirrorless camera
The criteria for the kind of work we’ll be doing is a camera that can be operated completely manually to ensure we get the best exposure with interchangeable lenses allowing us to cover a range of focal lengths
A wide angle lens
For some of the locations a wide angle lens really is essential if you want to get those epic landscapes with a foreground that feels you can almost step right into it. 16mm or 17mm on a full frame camera (10mm or 12mm on an APS-C sensor camera) is ideal.
A telephoto lens
In the highlands we’ll often find ourselves shooting distant landscapes or abstracts, which a telephoto is ideal for. A telephoto also compresses the landscape and is great for mountains when shooting from elevation. A range that covers 70-200mm (50-135mm on a crop sensor) is ideal.
A mid-range zoom lens
While these lenses are often the least useful for shooting landscapes, for the kind of locations we’ll be encountering in Iceland there will certainly be many occasions when the zooms listed above are too wide or too long and a mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm (18-55mm on a crop sensor) is perfect.
Tripod
We’ll often be shooting in low light so a tripod is an absolutely essential piece of equipment. A lightweight carbon fibre model is ideal for this kind of trip.
Drone
Elevation always gives extra depth and dimension to a scene, and the wide open spaces make the Highlands ideal for drone flying. A lightweight drone will give you some incredible perspectives that are impossible from the ground.
Comfortable waterproof walking boots
We’ll be doing quite a bit of walking over rocky and uneven ground, as well as some scrambles up the side of hills. We’ll also often find ourselves in muddy conditions so warm boots with good support and grip are essential.
Insulated jacket, water and windproof shell and warm clothes
Even though it’s summer it can still get quite cold in the Highlands so warm clothes will help keep you comfortable while we’re out shooting. It’s best to layer, with a base layer next to the skin and then a fleece or thicker layer on top. An insulated jacket on top of that will keep you warm, and also a waterproof or windproof shell as a final layer in case the weather turns bad. Finally a warm hat and gloves will help keep you comfortable.
Camera Backpack
When moving your camera gear for any length of time a backpack can really save your back. A good backpack, one with sturdy hip straps, can safely distribute the weight of your gear and really save you from aches, pains and potential injury.
Hiking Poles
The terrain in Iceland is often made up of loose volcanic sand, and trails can occasionally be quite steep, so hiking poles really are useful, particularly when descending. Lightweight collapsible poles are ideal.
Laptop with Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW and Photoshop
We’ll be shooting RAW, and as part of each day will be dedicated to post processing images a good RAW converter like Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW is essential. Other converters like Capture One are also fine. Adobe Photoshop is great for more advanced processing as it allows us to be much more subtle and creative in it’s use of layers.
If you have any questions about what to bring, don’t hesitate to contact us.
THE GUIDES
ANDY MUMFORD is a Lisbon based professional landscape and travel photographer. Andy grew up in the UK loving nature and travel and took up landscape photography over fifteen years ago. Since then he has travelled extensively photographing all over the world and his photography and articles have featured in publications and books worldwide. He is a passionate photographer teacher and has been leading both group and one-to-one workshops for over five years.
He is a Fuji X Photographer and a brand ambassador for Fujifilm in Portugal, although he also has extensive experience with Nikon and Canon cameras.
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove is a Belgian nature photographer who specialises in photographing wildlife and landscapes with great passion. He has been living in Reykjavík, Iceland, for several years, using it as his base to explore and capture the raw beauty of the land of fire and ice and the Arctic region in its entirety.
Jeroen found his passion for photography very early on when he found an analog Canon SLR in his parents’ attic at the age of 10. Learning how to use it, caused him to be immediately fascinated by photography. Being fortunate enough to travel with his parents to distant countries in his childhood, it developed his respect and admiration for nature tremendously. Years later, after discovering the raw and unspoilt beauty of the Icelandic nature, it reinvigorated his passion for nature photography. He kept travelling to Iceland in search of the next captivating moment he could capture with his camera. After a few years, he decided he had enough of travelling back and forth several times every year and started preparing the next chapter in his life: migrating to Iceland. He sold all his belongings, jumped into a plane with a few suitcases and started a new life in Iceland. There he continued to explore the many hidden corners and secrets the island has to offer.
READ TESTIMONIALS FROM MY WORKSHOPS BELOW
REGISTRATION
To register for the workshop we require a €1500 deposit. Please complete the form below to sign up or for more information