Two Week Circle of Iceland Photo Workshop in Autumn

Starting out at 8 AM, you will be picked up in Reykjavík and you'll drive north headed for the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the West of Iceland. This region is often referred to as 'Iceland in Miniature' for its wealth and diversity of natural features. You will be spending the next two days in Snæfellsnes taking your time to capture everything this wonderful area has to offer visitors and especially, photographers. You will make a coastal stop close to the small village of Arnarstapi and will have plenty of time to photograph the jagged rock formations in the autumnal light. Here, the rolling waves of the Atlantic combined with the lighting and ocean haze make for stunning compositions. Further along the coast, the famous black church of Búðir will provide another picture-perfect scene, helped by its stunning backdrop, the icy Snæfellsjokull glacier volcano from which the peninsula gets its name. Your final photo shoot of the day will be at Mount Kirkjufell, easily one of Iceland's most beautiful elevations and a staunch favourite of landscape photographers. It’s known for its almost perfect cone-shaped form, and the surrounding waterfall, rivers and hills make the area a photographer’s paradise. The mountain also provides the perfect foreground for Aurora Borealis, so cross your fingers that the lights come out to play during your visit. The result will undoubtedly take pride of place in your portfolio. Your accommodation for the evening will be on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

On the third day, you will continue your exploration of the Snæfellsnes peninsula visiting any sights that you did not cover the day before or returning to a favourite location that the group would like to spend more time at. You will also pay a visit to the dramatic basalt plugs, Lóndrangur. These rock formations erupt from the sea and stand defiantly against the ocean not far from the coast and happen to make for excellent photo subjects. The entire coastline is dotted with photogenic, charming little villages, and the colours of the fall will be all around for the group to enjoy. Mighty mountains and fjords will surround you throughout your time in the area, so prepare to capture plenty of iconic images. Your expert guide will decide where best to spend the sunset to ensure you all make the most of the elusive warm glow of the golden hour before returning to your accommodation in the area.

On the fourth day, you will leave Snæfellsnes and head north to another peninsula, Vatnsnes. The area is known for having a wild side and offers a great chance to see, among other things, some magical Icelandic horses in their natural habitat. As you venture to the western side of the peninsula, it might be possible to spot the resident seals which call the area home all year round. You'll be confronted by views out to sea and on clear days you can spot the coastal region of Strandir in the neighbouring Westfjords of Iceland. Your photography focus of the day will be the intriguing rock formation Hvítserkur, a 15-metre high basalt carving that stands out at sea. It’s said that the stone resembles a dragon taking a drink, or from another viewpoint, one of the local trolls. According to legend around these parts, the rock formation is a troll who couldn’t escape the rising sun in time, and was turned to stone! Whatever your thoughts on the origin of Hvítserkur, the mysterious rock is tremendously photogenic, and your photo guide will be sure to share their learned advice so you can capture this sight from several different angles and light conditions. You will rest up for the evening in accommodation on the Vatnsnes peninsula. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Northern Lights as this is one of the most remote places you will be staying throughout the whole trip, ensuring minimum light pollution.

Back on the road, you will now make your way to the 'Capital in the North', Akureyri nestled in the wide and beautiful Eyjafjörður fjord. Take in this picturesque city as you make your way through the fjord and over the mountain for your first photo shoot of the day. Goðafoss waterfall is only a short drive from Akureyri and it's hard not to take a pretty picture of this stunning natural feature. Your guide will try to time this just right so you can shoot the falls in the best lighting. This waterfall has as much history as it has character and its name translates to 'Fall of the Gods' due to its role in the Christianization of Iceland in 1000 AD. Capturing Goðafoss in the autumn promises many subtle colours in the grounds surrounding the falls and its semicircular shape means there are plenty of angles with which to experiment. You will now head towards Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland's most breathtaking bodies of water which was formed by a volcanic eruption. The power of the earth's processes in this area is highly visible today and many of the attractions you'll see in the area are a direct result of volcanic activity. You will stop at Dimmuborgir, an immense and intense lava field characterised by eerie rock formations and scattered craters. There are so many interesting shapes to capture at this location and one could spend days lost here with a camera. The area looks much like another planet, which probably explains why several scenes from the epic TV series Game of Thrones were shot there. You will spend the night at your accommodation in Mývatn. If the Northern Lights do grace the night sky, you will be very close to a range of natural attractions from which to shoot them.

Its time to take some off road driving today and trek out into the Icelandic Highlands to see two more amazing waterfalls that can be found on the Skjálfandafljót river, Aldeyjarfoss and Hrafnabjargafoss. If conditions are not safe enough for our bus we will jump aboard a super jeep to transport us up there.   At Aldeyarfoss the focus will be to capture the contrast between the dark basalt columns that frame the waterfall and the clear cascading water spilling over it, all the while surrounded by the warm shades of autumn. Next up is Hrafnabjargafoss which is again embedded into volcanic rock, but with a pristine blue pool at its feet that will provide every photo with a hint of magic. The day will be spent getting the perfect photos of these beautiful waterfalls before heading back to your accommodation in the Mývatn region.

On day seven of your photography adventure, you will carry on your exploration of the area around Lake Mývatn. To the east is the colourful geothermal area of Námaskarð, where the mixture of orange sands, bubbling vents and geothermal activity provides plenty of opportunities to capture Iceland’s wild side. As well as the active geothermal area, you'll visit a place that owes its existence to Iceland’s volcanic history, Hverfell. Hverfell is one of the world‘s largest explosion craters, with a diameter of around 1km. You will have time to hike its sides and capture this crater on your camera before moving on. It's time to treat yourself to a dip in the Mývatn Nature Baths. Fully embrace the geothermal nature of the region and unwind in the rejuvenating waters warmed by the earth's volcanic processes. You will once again stay overnight in Mývatn.

The journey through the Autumnal Icelandic landscape continues as you say goodbye to the Myvatn region and travel east onto to the dramatic Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. This formidable landscape is home to the mighty Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. Measuring at 100-metres wide and 45-metres high; this is one waterfall you’re not going to forget in a hurry. Armed with your camera and plenty of new photography skills, there will be the opportunity to collect some epic memories during this particular stop. Once you have captured the power of Dettifoss, your group will travel across a highland desert and several mountain passes to reach the remote and timeless Eastfjords. Photography-wise, the area is packed with textures, from mountainous fjords to barren volcanic deserts and ice-capped glaciers. You will spend the night in the quaint fishing village of Djúpivogur where you can appreciate the harbour’s spectacular, mountainous backdrop. Whilst in the area you will also have the chance to photograph the Rjúkandi Falls; a layered waterfall that makes its way down a nearby mountainside with both grace and formidable force. It’ll make for a superb photography session, surrounded by the reds and yellows of the Icelandic autumn.

Day nine will see you exploring one of the wonders of Vatnajökull National Park and what is often referred to as the 'Crown Jewel of Iceland', Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. You will spend the next three days in the vicinity of this natural feature, capturing a large number of unique spectacles to see in this region. As you arrive at Jökulsárlón, it's hard not to be awe-struck by the magnificent sight of giant ancient icebergs on their slow and serene progression out to sea. Marvel at the shades of white and blue ice, crisscrossed by black scars of ash from historical eruptions. You will spend the day shooting this otherworldly scenery from a multitude of angles, and, as the time passes, in many different light conditions. Wildlife photography enthusiasts will be delighted to know that many birds nest in the area and sometimes it is possible to spot wild seals playing in the surf. Under the guidance of your photo expert, you will spend the day trying to capture that all-time perfect shot of the lagoon; a highlight will be the sunset when you can shoot the scene under the warm lighting conditions of the golden hour. You will spend the night in accommodation close to the lagoon.

Waking up in Vatnajökull National Park, you will travel the short distance back to the glacier lagoon to capture this stunning natural feature in all of its morning splendour. As well as continuing your quest for the ultimate photo of the glistening ice on the lagoon, you will also explore the adjacent Diamond Beach. This stretch of coastline is dotted with chunks of ice of various shapes and sizes as they wash up on shore after leaving the lagoon. The Diamond Beach provides the perfect scene for tantalising photos as the contrast between the crystalline icebergs and the black sands of the beach make for a compelling contrast. You will start early with a sunrise shoot, and aim to capture the sun’s first rays illuminating the lagoon. Later in the day, depending on the preferences of the group, you will have the opportunity to see some of the area's other breathtaking glacial sights. You will return to your accommodation in the Jökulsarlón area and will perhaps even return to the lagoon in the evening should the Northern Lights present themselves.

On the eleventh day of this incredible Icelandic photography workshop, you will travel to the east of Vatnajökull National Park. There the group will enjoy the views from the black sand beach of the Stokksnes peninsula, across to the imperious peaks of the 454-metre high Vestrahorn mountain. Mount Vestrahorn is a photographer’s dream, and it is made up of several steep peaks, all stretching endlessly out to sea. Against a backdrop of the sun’s morning or sunset's dying light, these peaks offer as enticing an image as you can imagine. Add that to the rolling tide below and the possibility of Northern Lights, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for plenty of photographic fun. You will spend plenty of time chasing the perfect light as you shoot this mountain and its surroundings. You will spend the evening once again in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon area.

Reluctantly leaving behind the majesty of the mighty Vatnajökull National Park, you will now head south to the charming fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal famed for its idyllic setting on Iceland's famous South Coast. In autumn, the region boasts spectacular natural attractions, from volcanoes to lava fields, lakes, black beaches, waterfalls and glaciers, all accompanied by the subtle colours of the fall. Your photography focus for the day will be the views from and around Vík. Your photo guides will show you the best spots in town to capture the village's enchanting black sand beach and the views out to sea featuring the impressive basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. Not far from Vík is the world-famous black sand beach Reynisfjara, voted the most beautiful non-tropical beach in the world. Here, you will enjoy views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks from another perspective as well as enjoying the geologically impressive hexagonal basalt columns that tower over the shore. After you have captured this exciting stretch of coastline at sunset, you will head to your accommodation for the evening in Vík.

It’s the last full day of the tour and on your way back to the city of Reykjavík you can look forward to many stops at scenic highlights on Iceland's stunning South Coast. The first stop of the day will be at Dyrhólaey, a protruding headland that offers epic viewpoints of the huge sea arch of the same name, the entire coastline as well as yet another perspective of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. If there is enough time, your group will stop close to the majestic glacier tongue, Sólheimajökull. Many of Iceland's glaciers are visible from the South Coast and at Sólheimajökull, you will be able to capture glacial beauty up close, nestled in its huge, rugged cliffs on either side. Next up, you will shoot the two most famous waterfalls in the south of Iceland. The first is Skógafoss, a towering curtain of water which promises epic shots no matter what the weather. It's one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, falling at over 60-metres and it is especially beautiful when surrounded by the colours and shades of autumn. If you catch it in the sunlight, it is often possible to capture it with a rainbow or two in the foreground. You will then travel the short distance to its neighbouring and no less beautiful waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. This cascading gem is particularly interesting in that, it is backed by a large concave cavern, allowing for people to walk behind it, presenting many interesting perspectives from which to capture its inarguable beauty. During the day, you will pass two active volcanoes. The first is Hekla, a 1490-metre high snow-topped mountain, infamous throughout Iceland’s history and known as the “gateway to hell”. The second you might have heard of, even if you can’t pronounce it, is Eyjafjallajökull. This is the volcano famous for shutting down European airspace back in 2010. You will settle in your accommodation in the centre of Reykjavík before meeting back up with the group in the evening to go out for a delicious meal, debrief after your travels, and discuss post-processing techniques to make the most of your images of Iceland.

It’s all over! A sad day, but after another hearty Icelandic breakfast you will make your way back to Keflavík International Airport with a bank of memories and fantastic photos.