Tips for Landscape Photography in Iceland

Iceland is in many ways ideal for landscape photography. It´s only a few hours away with a direct flight and offers great variety in landscape. In the summer there is daylight all day and all night. The clear and pure air gives great brightness which is ideal for photography. Secluded seacliffs brimming with birdlife or black lifeless lava deserts, icy cold glaciers or boiling mud pools surrounded by volcanoes, green hills or deep blue mountain lakes... it´s all there and for the most part, not too far apart. In a single day you can shoot an incredible variety of landscapes. Here are some tips for planning your photo tour to Iceland.

 
Raven on sign marking a place of interest (Thingvellir National Park)

Cairns were used to mark routes in the past

Lava and black sand beach at Djupalon in west Iceland

Photo-tip 1: Select the time of year for your trip to the desired feel and atmosphere of the photos you want to shoot. Each  season has its pros and cons.

Summer:  24-hour daylight and everything in bloom but also the most number of tourists - although Iceland can never be considered crowded.

Fall: Autumn colours with the contrast of the first snow in the mountains and the crisp air. The number of tourists drops but so does the temperature and the hours of daylight.

Winter: Short days with limited daylight provide  plenty of challenges but there are still plenty of great photos to pursue; the Icelandic horses out in snowstorm, the Northern Lights and frozen waterfalls.

Spring: Over 75 different bird species migrate to Iceland in the spring and nest. Here you can find some of the largest bird cliffs in Europe, including the largest puffin colonies. The highlands are however inaccessible in the spring and most highland roads don´t open until after mid June.

Photo-tip 2: Choose the right time of day for each site.
One of the best things about visiting a place that you have not photographed before is that you have no preconceived ideas about the various viewpoints and your mind is entirely open to new impressions, both motives and the ever-changing light. However, most sights and locations have a time of day when the light is best suited for photography but you probably don´t have time to linger and study each location for a long  time, besides, why invent the wheel... so put some effort into planning. Checking Internet forums, asking photographers who have been there or joining  a photo tour are all valid options.

Example: Seljalandsfoss waterfall is in a shadow until late afternoon when the sun is far enough west.  

Photo-tip 3: Stay in the right places
The Geysir area is one the biggest tourist attractions because of the geysers. It´s therefore difficult to get a shot of the spouting geyser without people in the frame. However, one the great things about Iceland as a tourist destination is the freedom to visit the attractions any time. The area is not fenced off or locked during the night - and since there is 24-hour daylight in June you can shoot the geysers at off-hours when there are no tourists. By staying in the hotel at Geysir you can shoot the geysers without any people - by taking a midnight stroll or waking up a bit earlier than everybody else. Same applies to other sites, such as the Blue Lagoon or Lake Myvatn, staying on location gives you an edge. 

Photo-tip 4: Protect your gear
As in many places, Icelanders have a saying about the weather - if you don´t like it, just wait ten minutes. And why don´t Icelanders carry umbrellas? Because the rain is usually horizontal...
The point is, be prepared for rain, wind and dust or snow.

Photo-tip 5: Catch a rainbow
Rainbows are only formed when the sunlight goes through spray of water at an angle lower than 40 degrees. With an abundance of rain and waterfalls and the fact that Iceland is so close to the Arctic Circle where the sun doesn´t rise very high in the sky, it makes your chances of shooting a rainbow quite good to excellent.
A polarizing filter is a 'must have' and really helps bringing out the colours in the rainbow.

Photo-tip 6: Buy your drinks in the duty free upon arrival in Iceland.
Iceland used to be one of the most expensive countries in the world, with food prices 68% higher than the EU average and alcohol prices about 126% higher. The price difference is now a lot less with the fall of the Icelandic currency after the bank crash of 2008 but alcohol is still quite expensive due to tax.
Of course, you could skip the drinks and invest in a new wide angle lense...

Nature Explorer can help you plan your Iceland photo tour. Please don't hesitate to contact us