Iceland Photography Location Guides + Adventure Experiences

Iceland Photography Locations on the South Coast

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 13:00:52 +0000

Iceland Photography Location Guide – Reykjavik to Hofn It’s a country where waterfalls, icebergs and volcanoes converge to create otherworldly landscapes. Iceland will take your breath away with natural beauty from the moment you arrive to the moment you fly over its dramatic coastline on your way home. It’s no wonder Iceland photography locations are high on any photographer’s wish list! Before we get started while this guide is titled from Reykjavik to Hofn, it actually includes a section a little further east to Djúpavogshreppur…that fabulous name is just a little too long for the heading! Exploring Iceland photography locations by car is the best way to see as much as possible and the southern coast is full of places to visit. You can snorkel between continents before driving east to experience endless waterfalls and glaciers, it’s the ideal destination for adventure travellers. The Ring Road from Reykjavik to Hofn is filled with photo stops, if you drove straight it would take about 6hrs to cover the odd 545kms however with so many places to see along the way, it’s possible to take 2-3 days…or much longer if you add on activities and hikes and want to take it slow!...

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The Best Places to Photograph Puffins in Iceland + Europe

Christa Rolls — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:00:29 +0000

Puffins have been dubbed the clowns of the sea, as their brightly coloured bill and charisma make them irresistible to bird and nature lovers alike. Written by Christa Rolls – Founder of Expedition Wildlife. There are multiple species of puffin in the world, and the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the only species found in Europe, with over half of the world’s population living in Iceland. Puffins are colonial birds, wherein they nest in large groups to share habitat and food resources and protect themselves against predators. Their colonial nature makes spotting puffins that much easier. Most of the year, from approximately August to March, Puffins remain out to sea, living on the ocean and foraging for food through winter. Their primary diet consists of small fish, such as herring and sand eels, presenting wonderful photography opportunities with fish filled to their bill’s brim. Puffins come back to their breeding grounds, on grassy and steep slopes by coastal cliffs, in full-force starting in April. WHERE TO SEE PUFFINS While cliff-sides and sea stacks may be somewhat arduous to visit, there are a handful of destinations in Europe that allow people the opportunity to see and photograph puffins. The best countries...

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Perspectives: The Magic of Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Iceland

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 04:52:54 +0000

Iceland Travel Inspiration – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón is the type of place that’s hard to leave. It draws you in with its natural beauty, tranquil silence and overwhelming frozen figures that float throughout the chilly lagoon. Formed by melted glacial water coming from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, the Jökulsárlón lagoon is also open to the sea and meets the equally photogenic Diamond Beach. It rests at the start of the Vatnajokull National Park, one of only three national parks in Iceland which is also home to Europe’s largest glacier! When travelling to Iceland, I’m going to say it’s almost essential that you make the time to visit Jökulsárlón. To describe its charm would take all of the descriptive words I can think of so I’ll just go with one. It’s spectacular. Not to mention there are seals splashing about and sunbathing on icebergs…need I say more!? While some people might get so distracted by the scenery they don’t notice the crowds, others might feel a little overwhelmed by the number of people who visit Jökulsárlón. As one of the most popular locations in Iceland, timing your visit will be the difference so I wanted to share a few tips for...

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How to Photograph in Freezing Conditions

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:22:33 +0000

Photographing in Cold Climates It might be tad chilly outside but photographing in crazy conditions like this can result in some of the best images you’ll ever take – so get out there…after reading this article! Spoiler alert – your hands will get cold, BUT, there are ways to manage just how cold and ensure your fingers and camera remain in full functioning mode. As an Australian, the extreme chill of an Arctic winter is totally foreign to me. It’s a cold that still, after countless photoshoots in this environment never fails to shock me, give me a dose of reality and remind me that stepping outside without gloves on is not okay. It only takes one episode of frozen fingers to remember the pain. When photographing in temperatures not only below zero but below -20 degrees Celsius, it’s essential to be prepared and plan ahead to make your experience outdoors successful and pleasant because cold hands will quickly ruin any photo mission! Not only of course do you need to manage your own warmth, you need to look out for your camera. Anything you’ve read about battery life can be thrown out the window and depending on what camera...

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10 Photography Experiences to Have in Iceland

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 06:19:47 +0000

Iceland Photography Experiences – Where to go + What to Photograph in Iceland. Iceland and photography are like peanut butter and toast, they go together. It’s where glaciers, waterfalls and other-worldly landscapes await you and your camera, ready to provide the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve previously written a guide to Iceland’s South Coast photography locations and also the Snæfellsnes Peninsula but this time it’s a little different. I wanted to put together a list of the best photography experiences you can have in Iceland. From reflection hunting to photographing the northern lights and underwater photography in two degree water. Take a peek at my top 10 photography experiences below and if you like them, or have your own recommendations, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom! If you’ve got a wide-angle lens in your kit this is the perfect place to use it. #1 Vatnajökull Glacier – Explore Inside an Ice Cave Few things compare to standing beneath an iced ceiling that’s centuries old, crackling and dripping, an ever-changing natural phenomenon. You’ll witness every shade of blue as it cascades up a wall of frozen bubbles deep inside Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier mass. Photographing inside an...

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Photography Locations of Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:41:09 +0000

Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland Where waterfalls spread their glistening trails over wild landscapes and rugged coastlines weave beneath volcanic craters…Welcome to the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Venturing off the Ring Road and driving to the west coast of Iceland reveals a quieter side of the country. The crowds disperse, landscapes appear increasingly vast and little pockets of magic appear when you least expect them. When it comes to photographic opportunities, you’re spoilt for choice. Tucked in behind the shores of Grundarfjörður you’ll find Kirkjufellsfoss, one of the most popular locations for landscape photographers visiting Iceland. From there it’s a combination of rocky shores, mountain peaks, volcanoes and quaint seaside villages. Map of Snaefellsnes Peninsula Photography Locations As always, here is a little map to the locations noted below to get started… Take a peek below at some of my favourite photography locations around the Snaefellsness Peninsula… Saxhóll Crater Visible from the drive along western tip of the peninsula, the Saxhóll Crater rises above a pancake flat section of land near Snaefellsjökull glacier. An out of use quarry at the base of the crater is now a car park and you can take a steep but quick climb to the top for views inside...

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Iceland Photography Workshop Recap – A Wild Winter Wonderland

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 09:20:08 +0000

Iceland Photography Workshop 2017 Recap Join the adventure in 2018, read below for details! Iceland is one of those ideal destinations that provides endless opportunities to hone your photography skills. From the misty curtains of Skogafoss to the glacial beaches and lakes of Vatnajokull National Park, it’s a place where anything is possible and magic will no doubt appear somewhere along your journey. For those learning photography, it’s a place that will fuel your creativity. Your eyes will be opened to new perspectives and you’ll be practising camera techniques that otherwise take months to perfect. In late February I held my first Iceland photography workshop. Having visited in 2016 to scout locations, arrange accommodation and plan the itinerary, it was something I’d been excited about for months. Travelling with a group of keen photographers from Scotland and England, I was eager to share the scenery of Iceland, teach them all about landscape photography and to see their faces when locations like Jokulsarlon revealed themselves or when the aurora danced above our heads. While I had the week planned to a certain extent, when travelling to Iceland one thing you always need to be prepared for is the ever-changing weather. It...

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Iceland: Photographing Skógafoss Waterfall

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 13:01:39 +0000

Iceland Photo Locations: Skógafoss Waterfall Skógafoss is one of those places you instantly become fixated with. The gushing waterfall dazzles with rainbows dancing in its mist, sea birds and their white wings soaring through watery curtains and the powerful sound of the Skógar River dropping over a 60m cliff. Originally the coastline of Iceland, Skógafoss now rests about 4-5km from the ocean and its location right next to the Ring Road makes it one of, if not the most popular waterfall in Iceland. To photograph this beauty it’s best to arrive at sunrise in order to capture the landscape without busloads of tourists in your shot. Staying nearby in Skógar will enable you to visit at sunrise or even under the stars while you cross your fingers for the illusive aurora to glow above. One reason Skógafoss is my favourite waterfall is the legend of Þrasi Þórólfsson, a Viking settler who buried a chest of treasure beneath the falls in the year 900. Apparently three local men tried to retrieve the chest however when gripping a ring on the side of the chest, it snapped off and the chest was left behind. Riches still await anyone daring enough to venture...

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Photographing Inside an Ice Cave: Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 23:00:29 +0000

Iceland Ice Caves – Ice Caving in Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland Standing beneath a ceiling of ice patterned like bubble wrap as a glacial waterfall flowed past my feet, I was in awe of nature. Iceland ice caves are like entering another realm, a frozen, beautiful and photogenic world. Arriving in Iceland I had a list of four things I really wanted to see. The Silfra fissure, aurora, waterfalls and an ice cave. Exploring inside a glacier looked like such an adventure and I figured there are few better places than Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. With a week of warmer than usual weather, my chances of exploring an ice cave seemed to be diminishing by the day as the season looked to be ending just before my reserved tour date. Expecting I had lucked out, I called Glacier Adventures the day before my tour just to triple check the season had ended but, to my complete surprise…it hadn’t. We were good to go after a day of rain then a few days of sunshine had completely flushed then solidified the cave again. Gearing up with our shoe spikes, harness and of course my cameras and tripod, we headed off for a...

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Iceland Photography Workshop – February 2017

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:02:55 +0000

Iceland Photography Workshop with The Wandering Lens! In a land where glaciers meet volcanoes and rugged cliffs lead to icebergs resting on a black sand beach, photo opportunities are never ending. Iceland should be on every photographers wishlist. With snow falling and the northern lights dancing above, winter is a magical time to explore this country that’s like no where else on earth. Join me for seven days of aurora chasing, ice caving, waterfalls and winter landscape photography. ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Silfra Snorkelling between continents Gulfoss Waterfall + Geysir Skogafoss and the Seljalandsfoss Reynisfjara + Vik’s black sand beaches Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon + Iceberg Beach Ice Cave Photography Advenuture – Vatnajokull Glacier Svinafell Glacier Stokksnes + Vestrahorn and…AURORA! (cross your fingers and toes) THE DETAILS Dates: February 20th – 26th, 2017 This workshop is seven days of outdoor adventures and thrilling experiences . Travelling along the South Coast of Iceland, we’ll visit some of the most scenic locations in the country photographing waterfalls, glaciers and dramatic coastal scenery. As a small group, we will convoy in two 4WD’s stopping at the known and sometimes unknown places that take our breath away. With the weather in Iceland playing a bit part in...

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Water and Ice: A Photographic Journey in Iceland

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 09 May 2016 08:57:39 +0000

Iceland is another world filled of natural inspiration and all things photo worthy. Photographing the diversity of landscapes has long been the main motivation behind my work. Water in particular has allowed me to capture the world with a unique perspective. Water of course comes in many forms, typically I photograph in warm tropical waters or the Mediterranean however on my recent trip to Iceland I was overwhelmed with the possibilities. Frozen lagoons, icebergs, waterfalls, snow and the mighty North Atlantic Ocean. Water in so many forms spread across an island nation with landscapes so varied, vast and magical… The tough little Leica X-U handled the weather conditions like a pro, built to withstand freezing temperatures above and below the water it was ideal for the rugged landscapes of Iceland. If you’re visiting Iceland, be sure to read my ‘Guide to the Best Photography Locations: South Coast” for all the best locations between Reykjavik and Hofn.

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The Day Iceland Took My Breath Away

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 01:13:17 +0000

Of all the places to see in Iceland, it was the ones I hadn’t planned on visiting that blew my mind. The waterfalls and mountains you see in every Instagram post or article about Iceland are of course absolutely beautiful, but when you come across an unexpected scene that just takes your breath away, it has a different kind of wow factor. Because I was in Iceland to compile a guide about the best photography destinations, I drove from Reykjavik to Hofn ticking off locations along the way. I had prepared a list of places I wanted to see but then left a little time to simply drive and explore places that had no name…just spots down a dirt road. Having a full day without plans I decided to drive east past Hofn and see what I could find. It was one of those days where the complete lack of wind makes everything reflect perfectly across the sea, the snow was sparkling and my camera was begging to be taken for a spin. After driving for thirty minutes I realised one thing was very different already. There was no one else around. Most of the main tourist sites are west...

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