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Puffins in the Midnight Sun 2028 Photo Workshop
LAST SPOTS
Join Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove to photograph puffins under the midnight sun on a remote island in the Greenland Sea. Every year millions of seabirds come to Grímsey for nesting and houses one of Iceland’s biggest puffin colonies. Together with 24 hours of daylight, there are endless possibilities! Grímsey is a true heaven for photographers that enjoy photographing birds. Because the island is small, everything is easily accessible on foot during this bird photo workshop. This allows you to slow down and focus on getting the best shots without having to worry about travelling or getting on time to our hotel.
20/06/2028 - 26/06/2028 | 7 days/6 nights | 949900 ISK per person (+- 6975 Euro) | 3 out of 4 spots available | Any experience level
The organising, fully licensed, travel agency behind this photography workshop is Nonni Travel. The applicable terms & conditions can be found on a separate page. The package price is in Icelandic Króna and equals +- 6975 Euro with the exchange rate of 23/10/2026.
Highlights Of This Photo Workshop
- Limited to a very small group with just 4 spots (with 1 workshop leader)
- Accommodation in single rooms included (6 nights)
- Daily image critique sessions on Grímsey and professional guidance
- Transportation included from Reykjavík to Grímsey and back, as well as on the island itself
- Meet on June 20nd 2028 in Reykjavík
Want to know how a previous edition of the Puffins in the Midnight Sun photo workshop went? Make sure to read Jeroen’s photo workshop report.
Itinerary
Please note that the itinerary is always subject to change depending on the weather conditions we are faced with.
Day 1 (20/06/2028) – The Adventure Begins!
The photo workshop begins in Reykjavík where we will start the journey North to Siglufjörður.
Day 2 (21/06/2028) – Sailing Across To Grímsey
In the morning, we will head to Dalvík where we will board the ferry to Grímsey. After our arrival around lunch time, we will check into our guesthouse and enjoy lunch before we head out to photograph our first puffins.
Day 3-5 (22-24/06/2028) – Photographing Puffins on Grímsey island
We will spend our time photographing the bird life on Grímsey and exploring the puffin island. When the weather allows, we will also photograph the birds under the midnight sun.
Day 6 (25/06/2028) – Departure from Grímsey
In the late afternoon we will depart Grímsey by ferry. After the 3-hour ferry ride, during which we may see whales, we will drive to Siglufjörður where we will enjoy a final dinner and spend the night.
Day 7 (26/06/2028) – Return to Reykjavík
After breakfast we start our drive back to Reykjavík where the photo workshop ends.
Which Bird Species Will We See Other Than Atlantic Puffins During The Workshop?
You can find many different species of seabirds on Grímsey. The most popular, without question, are the North Atlantic Puffins. But you can also meet 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.
What’s Included?
- Transportation in Jeroen’s 4×4 between Reykjavik and Dalvík (both ways)
- The ferry ride between Dalvík & Grímsey (both ways)
- Transportation on Grímsey in Jeroen’s 4×4
- Accommodation in Siglufjörður before and after our visit to Grímsey (two nights)
- Accommodation on Grímsey in a local bed and breakfast (four nights)
- Breakfast on days 2-7
- Lunch on days 1-6
- Dinner on days 1-6
- Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, who knows the island very well, guiding you throughout the workshop
- Mentoring/guidance/feedback from Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, a professional photographer
- Evaluation of your photographs during daily image critique sessions whilst on Grímsey
- Editing advice in Lightroom/Photoshop
What’s Not Included?
- Flights to/from Iceland
- Transportation between Keflavík International Airport & Reykjavík
- Accommodation in Reykjavík before/after the trip (can be arranged upon request)
- Drinks & alcohol
- Travel & personal insurance
- Any other services & goods not mentioned in “What’s Included”
What Photography Gear & Clothing Should You Bring?
Photography Gear
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera
- A zoom lens in the 70-200mm range or more (a 100-400mm or similar is highly recommended)
- A mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm range
- Tripod
- Laptop or tablet with editing software
Recommended Clothing
- A variety of different layers (the weather in Iceland changes a lot)
- Good waterproof boots
- A hat and winter gloves (wearing gloves with a pair of liners is a great idea)
- Warm clothes and wool underwear
- Wind-/rainproof jacket and pants
Need a more detailed idea of what outdoor apparel & photography gear to bring? Make sure to read this detailed article!
What Are The Physical Requirements?
It’s important to note that we will hike daily. The hikes are not difficult and almost always on an easy trail. We are also not in a rush so if you are slower and like to take your time, that is no problem at all. However those with medical issues that prohibit hikes, might have a difficult time with this workshop.
What Photography Experience Level Should I Have?
I welcome all experience levels, going from beginners to experienced photographers. A good mix of experience levels means we can also learn from each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Late June, And Will The Puffins Be There?
Late June is the middle of the season on Grímsey. The birds are ashore at the colony, in and out of the burrows all day, and the island is as busy as it gets. It’s also the time of year you can photograph them at two in the morning in warm light. Jeroen writes up every edition of this workshop, so read the 2026 workshop report if you want to see what it actually looks like.
How Do You Get To Grímsey?
Road, then sea. We drive north from Reykjavík in Jeroen’s 4×4, stop a night in Siglufjörður, and take the ferry from Dalvík across to the island. Three hours each way. The crossing is open water and whales turn up on it, and it puts you ashore on an island sitting on the Arctic Circle.
What Is The Midnight Sun, And Will We Get It?
At that latitude in June the sun doesn’t set. It drops towards the horizon around midnight, sits there in a long low golden light, and climbs back up. It’s why the workshop runs this week, and why the days on Grímsey are built around the night. Cloud can take it off you on any given night, so we have four of them on the island and not one.
What Else Is There Besides Puffins?
A lot, and it catches people out. On and around the island we regularly see 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 oystercatchers, purple sandpipers, common redshank and dunlin. Whales on the ferry crossing are a maybe, not a fixture.
What Lens Do You Need For Puffins?
70-200mm at minimum, and a 100-400mm or similar is what we’d recommend. Bring a mid-range zoom too: the puffins are only half of this trip, and the cliffs, the island and the light at midnight all want something wider. The tripod is for the landscape work, not the birds.
How Big Is The Group And Who Leads It?
Four photographers, and Jeroen leads it himself. Four moves along a clifftop without a queue forming behind whoever has the best angle, and it keeps the daily image critique sessions a conversation instead of a lecture.
Is There Much Walking?
We hike every day and none of it is hard. The trails on Grímsey are easy, everything on the island is reachable on foot, and there’s no schedule to race. Being slow is fine. If a daily walk on uneven ground isn’t, ask about it before you book.
How And When Do You Pay?
A deposit holds your place. The rest is due on 20 March 2028, three months before the trip starts, and a payment link for it arrives well before then. Nothing is ever taken automatically.
The payments are handled by Nonni Travel, the organising travel agency, under their terms and conditions.
What Previous Participants Have Said…
Choosing the right photography workshop is about more than just visiting iconic locations. It’s about experience, safety, timing, and personal guidance. Below you’ll find honest reviews from photographers who have joined me on landscape, wildlife & drone photo workshops in Iceland, Greenland and other locations. These testimonials reflect real experiences in small groups, hands-on instruction in challenging conditions, and the level of care Jeroen aims to bring to every workshop.
Sign Up to the Workshop
3 places available
After filling out this form, you will get an email with a payment link for a deposit. Your seat is only confirmed after we have received payment. Seats on this workshop are distributed on a first come, first serve basis!
The applicable terms and conditions are those of Nonni Travel, the organising travel agency. You will also be asked to sign a waiver, every participant receives a personal signing link.
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