Iceland Photography & Travel | Blog by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove

Iceland

This archive gathers all of Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove’s blog articles about Iceland, a country that has become central to his photography and workshops. Through his writing and images, Jeroen shares insights into Iceland’s dramatic landscapes, ever-changing light, and powerful natural forces. Readers can explore his travel stories, photography tips, and experiences from guiding photo workshops across the island. From icy glaciers and erupting volcanoes to remote highlands and coastal cliffs, these articles offer a rich perspective on what makes Iceland a paradise for photographers and nature lovers alike.

A puffin preening its dark back feathers, with a second bird pressed close beside it.

Iceland Photo Workshops Wildlife

Photo Workshop Report: Puffins In The Midnight Sun 2026

A June storm turned out to be the best thing that happened to this year’s Puffins in the Midnight Sun workshop on Grímsey. Here’s my report, and my five favourite shots.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJuly 11, 2026

Top-down view of the RF 70-200mm F2.8 Z with the RF 2x extender on a Canon EOS R5, held over grass

Iceland Photo Workshops Reviews & Gear Wildlife

Can You Use The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 Z for Wildlife Photography?

Can you use the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 Z for wildlife? I borrowed one for my Puffins in the Midnight Sun workshop on Grímsey and tested it with the RF 2x extender. My honest verdict on a light, sharp, fast lens, and the one catch with the extender.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJuly 6, 2026

Photographer lying low in the grass with the Canon RF 100-500mm shooting Atlantic puffins in Iceland.

Iceland Opinion Wildlife

Puffin Photography Ethics: A Field Guide To Photographing Iceland’s Puffins Without Harming Them

Every June I run a small puffin photo workshop on Grímsey, and the same questions come up year after year. How close, how low, how long. This is how I teach photographers to work a live colony without harming the birds.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJune 15, 2026

Aerial drone view of Bláhylur crater lake, ringed by golden moss and rust-red scoria slopes in Fjallabak, Iceland.

Drone Iceland Opinion

Iceland’s Drone Ban Is Nature Conservation Theatre

For several summers I’ve taught drone photography in Iceland’s highlands under permits. For 2026 the agency refused mine, and every other operator’s in the same field, while still granting permits to commercial film and TV crews. Here’s what’s happening, and why it matters beyond drones.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJune 5, 2026

Drone Iceland Opinion

Drónabann Íslands er náttúruverndarleikrit

Náttúruverndarstofnun hefur synjað drónaleyfum í afþreyingarskyni á meira en 25 friðlýstum svæðum.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJune 5, 2026

Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove photographing penguins in Antarctica with a Canon R6 Mark III and RF 100-500mm.

Antarctica Iceland Madeira Reviews & Gear

Canon EOS R6 Mark III Review: Three Trips, One Honest Verdict

A working photographer's Canon EOS R6 Mark III review after Iceland workshops, Antarctica wildlife, and Madeira travel. Strengths, weaknesses, who it's for.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveMay 15, 2026

Awards Exhibitions & Prints Iceland Icelandic Highlands Press Release Volcano

My Work As Part Of Myndir Ársins (Photographs of the Year) 2025

For the very first time my photographic work has been included in Myndir Ársins (Photographs of the Year), which is the annual photo exhibition of the Blaðaljósmyndarafélag Íslands (The Press Photographer Association of Iceland).

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveApril 18, 2026

Hands holding a DJI Mavic 4 Pro controller in an Icelandic lopapeysa sweater in the Highlands.

Drone Greenland Iceland Icelandic Highlands Landscape Photo Workshops Top 5 Volcano

2025 – My Photographic Year in Review

Here we are, with some delay, my final blog for 2025. As you may know, I have always celebrated the past year with a series of blog articles to reflect back and this write-up is no different.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveJanuary 7, 2026

Geldingadalir cone fountaining beside a glowing lava river curving away at dawn.

Iceland Photo Workshops Podcasts & Interviews Volcano

Podcast Interview – Landscape Photography World With Grant

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to Grant Swinbourne on his podcast Landscape Photography World.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveNovember 26, 2025

Greenland Iceland Photo Workshops Podcasts & Interviews Wildlife

Podcast Interview: Wildlife Photography Tips & Arctic Stories

Earlier this month I was a guest on Graham Elliott's Wildlife and Adventure Photography podcast. His podcast is focused on wildlife photography which is what we spoke about at length.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveNovember 14, 2025

Drone Flying In Iceland: All You Need To Know In 2024

Drone Featured Iceland

Iceland Drone Laws & Rules in 2026: A Complete Guide From A Local Pro

Iceland follows the new EU drone regulations that apply across Europe. However, several local Icelandic drone laws also affect how and where you can fly. In this updated guide, I explain the key rules for photographers and videographers who plan to fly drones in Iceland safely and legally.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveNovember 9, 2025

Podcast: Guest On F-Stop Collaborate and Listen

Drone Iceland Photo Workshops Podcasts & Interviews Volcano

Podcast Interview: Guest On F-Stop Collaborate And Listen

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of speaking to Matt Payne, a fellow photographer and the host of the photography-focused F-Stop Collaborate & Listen podcast. Today, the podcast interview has been made available to the public.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveOctober 21, 2025

Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM: Photographing Arctic Foxes

Iceland Photo Workshops Reviews & Gear Wildlife

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM Review: A Week of Arctic Foxes in Iceland

I tested the Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM super telephoto lens for the entire week during an Arctic Fox focused photo workshop in combination with a range of extenders and my Canon EOS R5 Mark II.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveSeptember 28, 2025

Why This Is The Best Location To Photograph Puffins in Iceland

Iceland Photo Workshops Top 5 Wildlife

Best Puffin Photography Location in Iceland (And How to Photograph Them Properly)

If you’re more invested into bird photography and really want to chase the more compelling photographs of a puffin, there’s only one location in Iceland you should consider: Grímsey.

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveSeptember 1, 2025

A puffin flying with sand eels in its bill, low over the water off Grímsey

Iceland Photo Workshops Reviews & Gear Wildlife

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Review: A Week Of Puffins In Iceland

In the middle of June, I hosted my annual Puffins in the Midnight Sun photography workshop on Grímsey in Iceland. Every year, I bring together a group of photographers who are eager to learn more about bird photography and are excited to improve their skills. This year, I decided to also test myself during this workshop by bringing a lens…

Jeroen Van NieuwenhoveAugust 3, 2025