Embark on a journey of a lifetime to explore two breathtaking destinations: Iceland and Greenland. From the majestic glaciers and volcanic landscapes of Iceland to the pristine wilderness and ice-filled horizons of Greenland, each moment will be a testament to the epic beauty of the Arctic. On my photo workshops, led by experienced landscape photographers and myself as a local expert, you’ll receive guidance and tips to enhance your photography skills to create stunning images. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced enthusiast, these photography workshops offer a unique and memorable experience.
Exploring the Arctic through a photography workshop allows you to truly see and experience places in detail – while providing plenty of time to perfect the photographs you are looking for.
Whether it’s during the day or at night, there is something to be experienced every second, every minute and every hour of the day.
Capturing Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes
Once you leave Iceland’s capital Reykjavík, you will be met with Iceland’s varied landscapes. They present endless photographic opportunities. From the cute Atlantic Puffin to the otherworldly volcanic landscapes in the Highlands, we cover it all during my Iceland photo tours.
Exploring the Desolate Icelandic Highlands
Accessible only during summer, the Icelandic Highlands are an enormous area of untamed wilderness. They offer isolated vistas that challenge and reward the intrepid photographer. The harsh yet captivating environment demands resilience and respect.
Away from the busier Ring Road lies a sanctuary for photographers who seek untouched nature. In this often lunar-esque landscape, every composition is a dialogue with the elements. Veiled in mystery, these areas reveal a raw, unsculpted beauty, rich in photographic potential yet often beyond the reach of the casual observer. These areas especially come into their own right when viewed from an aerial perspective with a drone.
The Highlands of Iceland are an otherworldly location where a drone adds an enormous amount of value to your photography gear.
Photographing Puffins Under The Midnight Sun
The Atlantic Puffin, with its colourful beak and curious demeanour, flourishes under Iceland’s perpetual summer twilight. It’s a truly mesmerising subject for enthusiast bird photographers. Witnessing these birds on the remote island of Grímsey, which we visit during the Puffins in the Midnight Sun photo workshop, evokes a sense of serene timelessness. Due to the uniqueness of the island, you can capture the interesting social behaviour of the Atlantic Puffin during the golden hour’s gorgeous light.
Grímsey is not only the home to the Atlantic Puffin but many other types of seabirds are nesting there. These include razorbills, common murres, black guillemots, Arctic terns, common eiders, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, black-tailed godwits, white wagtails, golden plovers, ringed plovers, snow buntings, common snipe, red-necked phalaropes, Eurasian oystercatcher, purple sandpipers, common redshank, dunlin and more.
Puffins, adept in flight and fishing, offer dynamic moments for action shots, especially with long telephoto lenses that compress distance. Nesting on coastal cliffs, their silhouettes against the iridescent midnight sky become compelling compositions, accentuating contrasts between the avian subjects and the stark backdrop.
Experiencing the midnight sun on a remote island, surrounded by nothing but birdlife, is an amazing experience.
Iceland’s Beauty in Winter: Golden Hour and Aurora Borealis
Iceland is not only appealing for photography in summer. During winter, Iceland is transformed into a frozen fairytale wonderland. While you are mostly restricted to the Ring Road, those iconic locations dramatically change due to the colder weather. Additionally, while the days are shorter, the days are filled with golden light. Getting to the right places at the right time requires meticulous planning but the reward can be high.
If conditions are favourable, we will stay up in the evenings to witness the stunning northern lights. Capturing the Aurora Borealis requires nocturnal dedication. If you’re lucky, that dedication will be rewarded with a spectacle that defies the ordinary photographic experience.
Winter in Iceland has some of the most amazing light conditions. You pretty much have golden hour all day long.
The last few years I have (co-)guided many people on photo workshops in Iceland and Greenland with many happy (returning) customers.
Even if you’re a beginner drone pilot, you can learn how to use your drone and get the best results out of it.
Exploring Greenland’s Vast Wilderness
Greenland is an untouched, and mostly frozen, wilderness. It’s a canvas for photographers that provokes a sense of exploration. Drifting icebergs and calving glaciers create dynamic scenes, transforming the vistas constantly. Travelling to Greenland with photography in mind demands some logistical foresight and a respect for the elements. During each photo workshop in Greenland, sailing is an important element. For each photo tour, we have chartered a boat to get us to vantage points otherwise impossible to reach.
Ice-Filled Fjords and Remote Villages
The scale of the icebergs is unmatched while the quaint, isolated settlements offer unparalleled tranquility. Together they offer a rare opportunity to capture the coexistence of raw nature and humans. The crisp air carries a palliative silence, punctuated only by the occasional creaking of shifting ice and whale breaths, providing a meditative photography environment.
Drone perspectives open up vistas of ice fjords like at the Ilulissat Icefjord or Scoresby Sund, revealing patterns and meltwater pools often obscured at eye level.
To truly capture the essence of Greenland’s ice-filled fjords, and the villages nestled within them, understanding the play of light and shadow is crucial. The midday sun casts deep contrasts, while the golden hours soften the edges, offering an ethereal feel to the magical surroundings of ice.
The small town of Ilulissat is considered to be a large on a Greenlandic scale. I felt it made from a great subject with the pancake ice floating in the ocean in front of it.
Greenlandic Wildlife Encounters
Greenland’s wildlife is as majestic as its landscapes. In the more remote areas of Greenland, we may encounter the majestic musk oxen, with their thick coats and curving horns, embodying the necessary perseverance of the Arctic wilderness.
During summer, photographers seeking marine life will find their lenses trained on the abundance of whales in Greenland’s waters. We might see humpback whales, minke whales, sperm whales and more. Using a drone, you can truly capture the scale of these friendly giants.
If you love whales, you’ve come to the right place. Greenland has an abundance of whales in its waters. I captured this drone image of a humpback whale on the June 2023 photo workshop in Disko Bay.
Greenland is truly something on another scale. While I could show you hundreds of photographs of icebergs, it’s very much a place in the world you need to see to believe.
Essential Gear for Photographing in the Arctic
Embarking on a photography adventure in the Arctic, whether it’s in Iceland or Greenland, requires some thoughtfulness. The sometimes extreme weather conditions require that both your photography gear and clothing are resilient and reliable. For each photo workshop, you will receive a detailed packing list for both photography equipment and clothing.
Camera Gear for Extreme Climates
When photographing in Iceland and Greenland, you will need gear that can withstand harsh Arctic conditions. This is particularly important during winter photography workshops. Weather-sealed camera bodies & lenses, together with a sturdy tripod, are indispensable to ensure the safety and functionality of your gear.
You will need to protect batteries against cold weather by keeping them insulated to prevent rapid discharge. This is especially important for drone batteries. Equally important is the protection of camera lenses from condensation with, for example, insulating covers. Extra memory cards, polarising and neutral density filters for managing light, and remote shutter releases for stable long-exposure shots are essential for a successful photographic excursion. However, it’s also vital to think about the weight of your gear to maintain mobility. No gear is useful if it’s too heavy to carry and ends up being left in the hotel or car.
While shooting in winter in Greenland, my camera was subject to extreme cold but it still handled it fine as long as I kept the batteries warm.
Dressing for the Elements
Preparing appropriately for the elements is vital on a photo workshop. Especially in Iceland, the weather can shift unexpectedly & dramatically, which requires you to be prepared for everything. Layering is therefore an essential strategy. It’s a good idea to begin with a moisture-wicking base layer that keeps your skin dry, followed by an insulating middle layer, preferably fleece or down, efficient at trapping heat. As a final outer layer, you will need a wind- and waterproof shell jacket.
Keeping the rest of your body warm and dry is also important. A robust pair of waterproof boots, with a reliable grip, is a must. Gloves should balance tactility with warmth. This is important for unimpeded camera manipulation while keeping your hands sufficiently warm and don’t forget a warm, windproof hat. Your eyes are equally vulnerable; therefore, UV-protective sunglasses are indispensable. Remember, changing conditions require you to be able to adapt while being outdoors!
Having good gloves is vital when you’re shooting in the Arctic. I tested these The Heat Company gloves in the harshest conditions I shoot in and came away amazed by them.
Weather conditions can change dramatically in the Arctic, sometimes even multiple times per day, but that can add a lot of drama and variation to photographs.
Navigating the Best Light and Locations
In order to capture the best photographs, it is essential to understand how to navigate the best light and locations. The harsh Arctic conditions can create unique lighting situations, and being able to take advantage of those conditions will greatly enhance your photography. By travelling with myself as a local expert and partnering professional photographers, you will have the edge as we know when and where to go. Even if plans have to change due to the ever-changing weather conditions, we can easily pivot our plans due to my local expertise. During a photo workshop, we choose locations daily based on the weather and light conditions that are forecasted. If the weather is not cooperative, we will try and include post-processing sessions. However, we will always prioritise being outside to shoot!
Being at the right place at the right time is of the utmost importance to a landscape photographer, while also providing sufficient time at each location.
How Does Drone Photography Fit In?
Drone photography has quickly become a game-changer when it comes to landscape photography. With their ability to reach unique vantage points, drones have opened up new perspectives. They allow you to reveal hidden patterns and details in the landscape. Even if you are a drone photography novice, you can learn the basics and more on a photography workshop.
Additionally, we’ve got you covered with permits. Each country, and even specific regions or national parks, have their own specific drone rules. It’s important to follow them to ensure the safety of yourself, others, and the environment. As part of each photography tour, the required permits are taken care of. This allows you to fly in every protected location with peace of mind.
On almost every photo workshop there is a chance to fly a drone. While some workshops are more drone focused than others, I make sure all required permits are in order to fly in every location we visit.
Join a Photo Workshop in Iceland & Greenland
Are you convinced yet? Join me and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey by signing up to a photo workshop in Iceland or Greenland. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of these stunning destinations while honing your photography skills. Capture the awe-inspiring beauty of glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and more, under the guidance of experienced photographers.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced enthusiast, these workshops offer a unique opportunity to learn and practice various techniques, including drone photography. Don’t miss out on this incredible adventure that combines exploration, education, and the art of photography.
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