Why This Is The Best Location To Photograph Puffins in Iceland

What (& Where) Is Grímsey?

Grímsey is a small, remote island which is located in the Greenland Sea, just north of Iceland. The island itself is narrow, about 5 kilometre long and volcanic in origin. It’s surrounded by nothing but ocean. On a clear day, you may see the northern coast of Iceland in the far distance. On the island is a small fishing village with a few guesthouses, a small restaurant, a small shop and even a small swimming pool. Only about 30 people permanently live there. Most tourists will read about it in their guide as the only place in Iceland where you can cross the Arctic Circle on foot.

However, for anyone who is into birding and bird photography, it’s most known for its abundant birdlife and the great variety of bird species such as arctic terns, guillemots and, of course, the most prominent are arguably the puffins. Every year, one of the largest puffin colonies in Iceland nests on Grímsey. These goofy black and white birds can be found on almost every edge of the island, using the top of the cliffs as their home.

So what makes Grímsey so special? Why do I believe it’s the best place to photograph puffins in Iceland (and maybe even Europe) – ever since I visited it for the first time?

1. You Can Easily Photograph Puffins Close Up & At Eye Level

On Grímsey, the puffins are generally not afraid of humans. That is as long as you don’t make loud sounds, walk upright towards the cliff edge or make sudden movements. It’s quite easy to approach the birds when crouching or crawling. I have been able to take beautiful close-up portraits with my Canon RF 100-500mm telephoto lens without disturbing the birds one bit. Even if they feel disturbed, there are plenty of other ones around.

Additionally, thanks to the topography of the island, there are many places where you can easily approach the puffins without being seen at all, while also remaining at eye level. In many areas, and especially on the eastern side, you will be hidden behind tall grass before you reach the cliff edge where the birds are sitting. This creates a near-perfect situation for bird photography.

2. Grímsey Never Feels Crowded

There are only two ways to get to the island. The most common option is a 3 hour ferry trip from Dalvík, which goes back and forth once a day. When there are rough seas, this can be quite an unpleasant experience as the ferry is on the small side, which means it rocks a lot on larger waves. The second option, and also the easiest one, is a 30 minute flight from Akureyri. These flights only go twice a week which means they are only ideal for those who plan to stay longer.

Due to this travel ‘barrier’, not many casual tourists find their way to Grímsey. Even when it’s a ‘busy’ day, when for example small expedition ships make landings, it never feels crowded. It’s never a problem to photograph the birds in peace without anyone or anything disturbing you or the birds. It’s even better at night during the summer, when there’s most often no one else outside. On many occasions, I’ve found myself photographing alone with nothing and no one else around under the beautiful midnight sun.

3. There Is Always A Good Place To Shoot On Grímsey

As I mentioned before, there are puffins to be found on almost every edge of the island as soon as you exit the town. This means there’s quite literally always a good place to photograph whether you are pointing your camera north, south, east or west.

This becomes even more valuable at night. If you have a (semi) clear night, you can pretty much continuously follow the midnight sun and create stunning silhouette shots against the harsh sun or use the colourful skies as a backdrop. With nothing around the island but flat ocean, there is nothing but the clouds obstructing the light.

4. Grímsey Forces You To Slow Down & Observe

While it is possible to bring a car to Grímsey, there’s no real need for it. In fact, you may even find that you won’t be able to use it at all. Only inside of the town are there paved roads. Outside of town, there is one road, which can be quite challenging to drive unless you have a proper vehicle. This means that all movement on the island is done on foot.

I find hiking to be the best way to experience Grímsey. It forces you to slow down, look around and observe. I have often felt as if there is no time or pressure on Grímsey. I simply wake up in the morning, have breakfast and then proceed to go out and shoot until I feel fulfilled or hungry again. I have even, on occasion, taken naps in the grass. Being in such a stress-free, relaxed environment, helps you truly appreciate the photography and the mindfulness of it.

5. Puffins In Flight Made Easy

Photographing puffins in flight can be really tricky but thanks to Grímsey’s topography, I have dramatically improved my attempts at photographing puffins in flight. Flying puffins are fast and it can be challenging to anticipate their flight trajectory. However, there are several locations on Grímsey which give you an edge. Because of the way the cliffs and hills are shaped, the puffins tend to fly following a similar trajectory. On top of that, these locations give you the advantage of standing at eye level while they fly towards and alongside you. There isn’t a single other location in Iceland where photographing birds in flight is so easy.