The Midnight Sun & South Coast Photo Workshop is one of our most popular tours, exposing you and your camera to the very best sights that Iceland has to offer during summer! Get ready to chase the glorious glow of the long golden hours created by the Midnight Sun, when sunset melts seamlessly into sunrise. We will photograph Iceland during the midnight hour and into the early mornings, when we are guaranteed to have the best light and to avoid the crowds who will invariably go to sleep! Explore the spectacular sights of Iceland’s magnificent south coast, tiptoe around cute puffins when they return to the island to nest, capture the magical glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón and witness much more besides. This summer photography tour has it all. Across eight memorable days, we will take in the magical landscapes and wonderful lighting conditions that have made Iceland one of the world’s premier photography destinations. We’ve got professional photography guides, a crazy amount of local knowledge and a welcoming country ready to explore. So what are you waiting for? Grab your gear; an Arctic summer paradise awaits!
Welcome to summer in Iceland, the Land of the Midnight Sun. When the snow melts away, a photographer’s paradise is unveiled, absolutely awash with an abundance of sensational colours, patterns and shapes. During summer in Iceland, the angle created by the Earth and the sun means that the latter never actually dips below the horizon during the night. The result is an extended sunset that eventually fades seamlessly into sunrise - a ‘golden hour’ that actually lasts for around five or six! With no time constraints and no need to rush before the light fades, the Midnight Sun makes Iceland the perfect place for photographers who are on the hunt to capture elusively breathtaking scenes.
Midnight Sun
Ice Beach Iceland
Puffins in Iceland
Reykjavik midnight sun
The Sun Voyager
Your first subjects will be two of the country’s most famous attractions, the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Seljalandsfoss stands at 63 meters tall, and falls in a narrow cascade in front of a cavern; if the path is clear, you will be able to walk behind it and photograph the water from a unique angle, framing the lush green surrounds.
Meanwhile, Skógafoss will thrill you with its powerful cascades, thundering to the earth and throwing off clouds of spray. If the sun is shining, rainbows will arch throughout the mist of this waterfall, allowing you to practice working with truly unusual lighting phenomena.
After capturing these waterfalls, you will continue along the South Coast to Reynisfjara. The endless stretches of black sands here are haunting, the power of the Atlantic ocean dramatic, and the surrounding geology fascinating. Particularly of note are the Reynisdrangar sea-stacks, which rise tall from the surface of the sea. Though this is a fantastic photography location in summer, Reynisfjara beach has notorious sneaker waves, so ensure that you don’t get so absorbed in the area’s beauty that you put yourself at risk.
At the end of the day, you will retire to accommodation in the nearby, charming village of Vík.
The arch Dyrholaey
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Jökulsárlón is a truly beautiful place, where vivid blue icebergs break from the retreating glacier tongue Breiðamerkurjökull and slowly float across the lake towards the ocean. Each iceberg is unique and makes for fascinating photography. On warm summer days, many seals can be seen lounging around on the ice or swimming in the crystal blue water, so you’ll have an excellent chance to practice your wildlife photography!
Adjacent to Jökulsárlón is the famous Diamond Beach, a stretch of black-sand coastline where icebergs wash ashore after finally reaching the ocean. Here, you will have the chance to capture sun stars and the gorgeous golden glints hitting each iceberg.
You will retire for the day in the Jökulsárlón area.
Ice Beach Iceland
Ice Beach Iceland
Your photo guides will use today to take you to lesser-known spots only they and very few others know about. These will largely be in Vatnajökull National Park, and tailored to allow you to capture the unbelievable panoramas of South Iceland as well as the largest glacier in all of Europe.
You will retire for the day in the Jökulsárlón area.
Ice Beach in Iceland
Glacier Lagoon in Iceland
Vestrahorn can appear ominous, even under the glow of the Midnight Sun. Beneath this steep 454 metre high mountain, you will find many photogenic peaks and slopes. Foreground is the key here and the strong waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto the beach can be used to frame the mountain in the background. You can photograph it against the surrounding black sands, over dunes, or with epic seascapes, so a large part of this day will be spent exploring the Stokksnes Peninsula to find the perfect composition.
You will stay here throughout the golden hours when Vestrahorn becomes shadowy and even more eerie.
After a day of shooting at Vestrahorn, you’ll return to your accommodation.
Vestrahorn in Stokksnes
Vestrahorn in Stokksnes
You will spend the majority of the day shooting its many sites, continuing to practice your landscape photography; by this time in the tour, you will no doubt be able to notice a marked improvement in your skills.
After capturing the magic of this beautiful reserve, you will head back to the South Coast, returning to Reynisfjara beach for another golden hour shoot.
You’ll retire for the day at accommodation in Vík.
Sunrise Dyrholaey
Sunrise Dyrholaey
Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland
Geyser
Icelandic Horses
Summer in Reykjavik
Capture the spectacular sites of the Iceland beneath the midnight sun. This ten-day summer photography workshop will expose you to this country’s magnificent landscapes and features
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Read moreWe strongly recommend you to get a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip.
If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:
Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.
75 days or more: 75% refund
60 days or more: 50% refund
Less than 60 days: no refund
Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.
The tour is always dependent on weather, as the Icelandic weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, visits to ice caves are dependent on favorable conditions, and indeed the ice caves themselves are not permanent. When it comes to the Northern Lights, while they are most likely to be seen between September and April, there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.