With Iceland’s national day being tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I love about Iceland as a photography destination. It’s safe to say that Iceland is, by far, my favourite country in the world. After all, I chose it to be my new home! One of the reasons why I made that choice is the near-limitless potential it has for nature photography. These days, Iceland has arguably become one of the most popular locations on the planet for landscape photography – for a reason. In this article, I will share with you my top 5 reasons why I believe Iceland has to be on your photography bucket list of locations to visit. Let’s dive in!
Iceland is a magical place with many otherworldly landscapes that almost feel surreal. This particular spot, Hveradalir in Kerlingarfjöll, is a geothermal area deep in the Icelandic Highlands. It’s one of my favourite areas in the whole country. If you want to discover it, and learn about a few other locations in the process, make sure to check my Photography Locations e-book.
1. Iceland Has A Lot Of Varied Landscapes
Quite literally, in one day, you can see gorgeous waterfalls, majestic glaciers, boiling hot springs, crater-filled landscapes and even erupting volcanoes if you’re lucky. Whatever you plan to do on your photographic adventure in Iceland, there is never a boring day to be had. There is even that much to see and do that even after 13 years of travelling around Iceland (8 of which I lived here) I still haven’t seen it all. There are some areas I have barely scratched the surface of.
There’s just one caveat… Even though you can see all of that in one day, it doesn’t mean you should. The biggest pitfall when travelling to Iceland, and especially for photography, is to plan your days too full.
Whether you like snow-covered mountains, with the aurora dancing above, or sunset at impressive sea stacks…
…or photographing glacial ice on a black sand beach and finding beautiful reflections in a remote swamp, Iceland has it all. There is so much variety that you will never be bored.
2. Shooting Locations Are Never Too Far Away
On top of that, all these magical locations don’t require endless amounts of driving to reach. The distances between interesting locations for photography are, in most cases, quite short which means you spend a lot more time photographing than in most countries. During most of my photo workshops, we drive on average 130 kilometres per day, and at most 300 kilometres in one day if we really need to cover ground to advance the trip. Especially in the Icelandic Highlands, you drive to a specific area and spend a whole day shooting various different interesting locations.
These two epic locations, where you can spend several hours shooting, are within 30 minutes driving from each other. In some areas, you literally spend 5 minutes of driving between locations, which means you get a lot more time photographing.
3. Icelandic Landscapes Feel Otherworldly
It is often said that Iceland is like another planet and there is a good reason for that. In recent years, Iceland has become the set of many TV shows and movies that look to depict a fantasy or sci-fi setting. And you can’t really blame them for picking Iceland as it has some of the strangest, most unique landscapes on this planet that make it feel otherworldly too.
This is especially true when you look at Iceland from an aerial perspective which highlights all the strange features, such as the multi-coloured craters and braided rivers. To me, photography in Iceland really shines when you use a drone. Even though the drone regulations in Iceland may have become complicated, it is worth getting your head around it to enjoy drone photography. On my photo workshops, I frequently get participants who have never flown a drone before, and sometimes even unbox their new drone on the workshop. It’s the perfect place to learn!
This unique mountain, which I wrote about in one of my ‘Behind the Shot’ stories, almost looks as if it was designed by an artist. The shape, the colours, the swirling river around it, … It feels too perfect.
Under the right circumstances, Breiðarmerkursandur (or the Diamond Beach as people call it) is a place that feels surreal.
4. The Icelandic Highlands Are One Of A Kind
There is one region of Iceland that I find unrivalled: the Central Icelandic Highlands. It is one of the last true, untouched wilderness areas in the whole of Europe and houses the most unique and surreal landscapes in Iceland. Whether you like endless black sand desert, colourful craters, picturesque glacial rivers or steaming colourful mountain ranges, there is something waiting to be photographed everywhere.
As I have mentioned before, aerial views of Iceland can be exceptional and in the Icelandic Highlands that’s even more true. Each time I visit the Highlands, whether it’s for my own enjoyment or with a photography workshop, I find that the vast majority of the images I return with were captured using my drone.
The Icelandic Highlands are covered in beautiful, and sometimes colourful, craters from past eruptions.
With an aerial perspective, you get a much better view of the many unique patterns and landscapes that can be found in the Highlands.
5. Winter & Summer: Two Completely Different Countries
To me, the best part about Iceland is the fact that it’s a two-for-one. You get two completely different destinations in the body of one country. Winter and summer in Iceland are so wildly different from each other that it is possible to repeat your adventures in different seasons and get a completely different experience.
In winter, you can enjoy frozen waterfalls, the colourful & vibrant northern lights, endless snow-covered landscapes, golden light and beautiful ice formations. At least, if you can handle the harsh weather conditions you can encounter during winter! On the other hand, during summer, you get to enjoy eternal daylight, photograph the iconic puffin and, of course, explore the wild Icelandic Highlands.
During summer, you get to see these colourful sea birds: the Atlantic Puffins. They are so much fun to photograph and the perfect subject to really dive deep into wildlife photography.
In winter, you have the chance to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) which truly is a magical experience.
The Icelandic Highlands are only accessible during the summer months, which make them the perfect candidate for summer photography workshops in Iceland.
If the weather cooperates, you can experience a whole day’s worth of golden hour during the winter months.
Join A Photo Workshop!
Join me and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey by signing up to a photo workshop in Iceland, Greenland, or another exciting destination. 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.
Previous Participants Shared This About Their Experience…
Photography Locations In Iceland
If you enjoy exploring on your own more, make sure to check out my e-book on photography locations in Iceland. This comprehensive map & guide to my favourite aerial, landscape and wildlife photography locations in Iceland.as available as a handy PDF.
It contains a lot of useful information such as:
- GPS coordinates for each location
- Access to a custom Google Map which contains all locations and other useful POI
- Comprehensive descriptions on how to get there
- When it’s the best time to visit each location
- Where to stay if you plan to stick around
- Photography advice for each place
- Helpful links and apps which are useful when travelling around Iceland as a photographer
- An overview of local regulations relevant to photographers
Support Jeroen’s Work
As an independent photographer, Jeroen partially relies on your support to keep producing worthwhile content such as blogs, photographs, books and much more. If you want to support his work, it is possible to do so by buying his e-books & books, prints or calendars.
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