Nature Photography Workshop
EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF ICELAND.
June 7-14, 2022
Cost of Workshop
€2,950
Participant Number
2 guides and 8 participants
Workshop Dates
June 7-14, 2022
Photography Level
Beginner to intermediate
Minimum Age
18 years old
Iceland is a country of stark contrasts. Mythical fire and ice, remote landscapes, beautiful nature, and ancient sagas of elves and giants. The summer solstice is particularly magical, as the pastel light of the midnight sun grazes the landscapes. Inspired? Our unique nature and wildlife photography workshop will teach you the necessary skills to get the most out of your summer adventure.
From June 7th – 14th 2022, we are providing a group of ambitious beginner/intermediate photographers with the opportunity to experience the best of what West and South Iceland have to offer. During eight days on the road, we will learn helpful photography skills, while exploring majestic waterfalls, stunning glaciers, volcanic seascapes, astonishing wildlife, and the hidden gems of Iceland. With 24-hour daylight and the midnight sun, we will have the unique opportunity to get the most out of the Icelandic landscapes during the day and in the late evenings. This, and our journey by car, will allow us ultimate flexibility to avoid heavily populated areas at peak times and have the most astonishing Icelandic sights to ourselves.
During the workshop, we’ll delve into all aspects of photography together – ranging from finding your own style and telling a story with your work, to more technical aspects of the camera, marketing your work online, and Instagram profile building. And even better? We’ll connect you with an amazing group of people that share your passion!
Our Iceland Workshop is for creatives with a love for nature and wilderness. We’re here to create a friendly, close knit group of passionate photographers, who will support each other on this special journey. You will experience unique destinations and outlandish landscapes, all while learning firsthand from photography professional Lana Tannir. Additionally, you will profit from the invaluable experience of Icelandic roamer, Emilien Gigandet. Emilien has extensively traveled across Iceland, held workshops in the country, and brings widespread knowledge of the best Icelandic destinations to the table.
In order to make this workshop as personable as possible, spots are limited to 6-8 participants. That way, we ensure that you will gain the utmost value from this experience. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!
- First-hand knowledge from an experienced photography professional
- Invaluable experience of the most beautiful Icelandic destinations from an experienced Icelandic roamer
- A multi-lingual team (English, German and French)
- One-on-one feedback on your work and how you can reach your photographic goals
- A collection of astonishing photographs for your portfolio
- Guidance into finding your personal photography style & storytelling
- Connections with a creative community of people who share the same passion as you
- Strategies into how to grow your online presence and Instagram portfolio (if desired)
- Increased visibility of your work through mutual promotions
- Access to a private Facebook Group with all the attendees as soon as the workshop finishes
Lana Tannir
Lana is a multi-faceted creative with 8+ years experience in nature, landscape and travel photography. A National Geographic published photographer, Lana employs her multicultural background to create unique experiences and capture immersive moments through her lens. As a nature and wildlife conservationist, Lana works with sustainable brands to drive global change. Her past collaborations include Visit Levi, Saal Digital, 7 Sentidos, National Geographic, North Wales Magazine, Raushier Reisemagazin, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Top FM, The Telegraph, Paris Match, and Reclam Verlag, among others. She also regularly exhibits her work in Germany and the UK.
Emilien Gigandet
Emilien Gigandet devotes himself to capturing breathtaking outdoor, landscape and travel photographs. Specializing in telling stories of wanderlust with his camera, his goal is to share the beauty and magic of nature with others. His journeys have taken him from his hometown in Jura to distant photography destinations like Svalbard, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, North Cap, Segla, and more. Since starting photography in 2016, Emilien has created a dedicated following of 14K fans on Instagram. Additionally, he has also collaborated with multiple tourism boards and eco-travel brands, including TravelVibes Magazine, Visit Svalbard, Visit Stockholm, Noir Gallery, Canon Switzerland, and more)
Please note. The activities listed will all be completed, but the order might have to be re-arranged pending weather conditions.
Day 1 – Arrival & Orientation
You should plan to arrive in Reykjavik on June 8th by 5:00 PM the latest. In the city, we will be meeting the group and dropping off our luggage at the accommodation for the night. Once we have settled in, will meet to grab dinner together in Reykjavik. On our way to the restaurant, you will get a first glimpse of the beautiful capital. The remainder of the evening will be used to prepare for our early start the next day.
Day 2 – Akranes Lighthouse & Snaefellsness Peninsula
Our morning will start at 8:00 AM. After picking up our cars from Blue Car Rental, our adventure will take us to Akranes Lighthouse. There, we will get the first chance to take some photographs of the lighthouse against the scenic Icelandic seascapes. From there on, we will grab lunch on the road on our way to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The sandy beaches of the southern peninsula are an ideal refuge for seals that come to rest on the large scattered rocks.
After completing our wildlife workshop, we will make a stop at Búðakirkja – a beautiful wooden church dating back to the 19th century in a scenic natural area with a lava field. Following our check-in and dinner at Guesthouse Hof, we will make good use of the midnight sun to capture the breathtaking scenery of Kirkjufell – a picturesque mountain on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula.
The evening will be used to relax from our long day and take a first look at the photos we have taken.
Day 3 – Malarrif Lighthouse, Londrangar Viewpoint, Arnarstapi & Thingvellir National Park
Depart from accommodation at 11:00 AM. Our afternoon will consist of a trip to the scenic Malarrif Lighthouse in Snaefellsjökull National Park. Our afternoon journey will take us to the stunning seascapes and cliffs of Londrangar View Point, where we will use long exposure to capture movements in the water and clouds.
We will spend lunchtime in the beautiful village of Arnarstapi, where we will photograph the basalt formations of the famous, naturally formed stone arch Gatklettur. After lunch, our journey will take us to explore the landscapes of Thingvellir National Park, which sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of two tectonic plates.
Our night at Skálholt hotel, just like most nights during the tour, will be dedicated to casually editing our photos from the day. We will be available to assist you in your editing techniques and guide you to get the most out of your photos.
Day 4 – Kerið Crater, Bruarfoss, Gullfoss & Geysir
We start the day off at 11:00 AM by traveling to the vivid Kerið crater – an astonishing turquoise crater lake with distinctive red volcanic rock slopes. The early afternoon is about hiking to the remote Bruarfoss Waterfall with a series of small, rambling waterfalls in bright blue color.
After lunch, our series of photographing waterfalls continues with an exploration of the powerful Gullfoss. This is followed by a workshop at Geysir, a famous hot spring in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley.
Nighttime at Skálholt hotel is dedicated to one-on-one feedback on your photos, helping you with editing, answering any questions you may have, and constructively critiquing each other’s work as a group.
Day 5 –Landmannalaugar & Fjaðrárgljúfur
Depart from accommodation at 9:00 AM. The morning will take us to the Icelandic Highlands. We will hike to Landmannalaugar to photograph the rich colors of the mountains in contrast with the glittering obsidian lava fields.
Our afternoon will consist of photographing the Fjaðrárgljúfur, a canyon in south east Iceland with steep walls and winding water.
After dinner, we will split up into to two different groups for our accommodations at Hotel Laki and Hotel Klaustur. Nighttime is dedicated for editing photos together and discussing how you can take your personal style further. Or just recovering from the day with some wine in hand. Either option is fine.
Day 6 – Svínafellsjökull, Fjallsárlón, Jökulsárlón, & Stokksnes
Our day starts at 11:00 AM. We will spend the early afternoon exploring the Svínafellsjökull glacier with our cameras. Eight kilometres long and approximately 800 metres wide, the Svínafellsjökull is one of these incredible glaciers in South Iceland.
After lunch, our drive will take us to the Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón – two beautiful glacial lagoons in southern Iceland.
Following our check-in at Hotel Höfn, we will end our day photographing the majestic Vestrahorn mountain in Stokksnes, one of the country’s most breathtaking mountains.
Day 7 – Svartifoss, Reynisfjara & Skógafoss
Depart from accommodation at 11:00 AM. Our day begins with a hike to Svartifoss (“The Black Waterfall”), a picturesque waterfall surrounded by dark lava columns.
Following a lunch break, our journey will take us to the famous black sand beach Reynisfjara. There, we will photograph the movement of the water between the scenic basalt sea stacks of Reynisdrangar, situated under the mountain Reynisfjall.
The evening will be spent at Hotel Skógafoss, situated only 11 minutes by foot from the famous waterfall. Nighttime can be dedicated to an impromptu photography trip to the waterfall, or casually editing our photos at the hotel.
Day 8 – Dyrhólaey, Kvernufoss & Stakkholtsgjá
Our morning starts at 9:00 AM. The first photography stop is Dyrhólaey, a 120-meter high promontory with a majestic arch, as well as its historic lighthouse and wealth of birdlife. In the early afternoon, our workshop will take us to the hidden Icelandic gem Kvernufoss. The waterfall is surrounded by a beautiful green setting and is still rather unknown and wild. After lunch, we will venture on an adventurous hike to the mysterious Stakkholtsgjá canyon to capture the scenic rock formations overgrown with green moss.
Our day ends with a drive back to Reykjavik, where we will have a group dinner. Nighttime at Alba Guesthouse will be spent summarizing what we’ve learned and sharing our favorite photos from the trip.
Day 9 – Farewell & Departure
After a beautiful roadtrip together, it’s (sadly!) time to say our goodbyes. Departures overseas can begin anytime at this day. If you’d prefer to extend your stay in Iceland, we’re happy to give advice on locations to visit and places to see.
Included
- Experiencing the best of Iceland in 8 days
- Lodging/Hotel (single rooms, shared bathrooms, breakfast)
- Guide & photographer
- All transportation during the tour (car)
- All experiences throughout the workshop
- Photography handbook with all the notes covered throughout the workshop
Not Included
- Airfare & travel expenses to/from Iceland
- Food (lunch and dinner) – you can choose to do it cheap and have all your meals bought from the supermarket, or otherwise we’ll be stopping at cafes and restaurants
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Camera equipment (compulsory)
Equipment to Bring
- hiking shoes
- towel
- clothes for harsh Icelandic weather (rain coat, layers)
- camera (DSLR or mirrorless)
- camera bag/bag for carrying gear
- camera rain protection
- lenses: normal lens, wide angle lens, telephoto lens
- backup for files or enough SD cards for one week’s worth of content production
- tripod
- intervalometer for shooting in Bulb mode for long exposures
- filters (if available)
- drone (dependent on permissions & with pilot license)
Physical Condition
The participant must be in good health and be in good physical condition, as moderate walking and hiking will be involved throughout the workshop.
Location Information
We will be spending a significant time at each location to provide you with the opportunity to get your desired shots from different angles and ask questions. While times at locations will vary, we will be spending an average of at least 2 hours at each place. You may use all images that you captured during the workshop for your portfolio and/or business opportunities. However, please note that we do not provide exclusive location or photo releases during the workshop for editorial and commercial uses.
Important Information
Icelandic weather is harsh and unpredictable. Therefore, it is crucial to bring weatherproof clothing and gear. We will be doing some moderate hiking and walking throughout the workshop. There are a few hikes that require some moderate incline climbing. Therefore, a good level of health is advised.
During this tour, we will be sharing photography insights from over 8+ years experience in landscape and nature photography. The tour is aimed at improving your photography as well as meeting other passionate creatives and experiencing the fascinating nature of Iceland.
Therefore you must have interest in photography – beginners with basic knowledge in photography, as well as intermediates are welcome! We will not be covering any advanced topics throughout this time.
Icelandic weather is extremely unpredictable and can be a challenge. Therefore, it’s very important to bring good walking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing, and a towel with you. Your clothing must keep you warm and dry to provide for the best experience possible.
Please see our list of Equipment to Bring for a full breakdown.
We suggest bringing a DSLR or mirrorless camera or if you’re just starting with photography, your favourite camera, lenses, extra batteries, rain gear, a drone (optional) and a tripod. Even though all levels of photography are welcome, please don’t bring an iPhone as your camera of choice.
We will be sending out information on the exposure triangle right before the workshop. For beginners, it will be crucial for you to study this information so that we can get into creating incredible images as soon as you’re in Switzerland. We will not be running over the very basics of how to use a camera in manual mode on tour (aperture, shutter speed, ISO), but will be helping you with camera settings and adjustments throughout, supporting you in creating the best possible images and answering any questions you have.
It’s crucial that you check with your embassy in order to confirm if you need to apply for a visa ahead of time.
Absolutely! If you would like to spend a few extra days exploring Iceland and applying your new found photography knowledge, you can stay as long as your visa allows. We will be happy to make suggestions of locations to visit after the workshop if you decide to explore Iceland further! Please note: If you arrive outside of the tour dates, the drop off and pick up from the airport does not apply and you’ll have to organize your own transport. We’ll happily assist you with that.
We will be doing some moderate hiking and walking throughout the workshop. There are a few hikes that require some moderate incline climbing. Therefore, a good level of health is advised.
Participants must be 18 years of age at the commencement of the tour.
Concerning the current Coronavirus pandemic, we are offering a Covid-19 guarantee to all workshop participants.
Your deposits and payments will always go towards a trip. If 2021 is postponed by Covid-19, then you are confirmed on the following year tour without having to pay anything extra.