Iceland 2015 Eastfjords, Glaciers, and Highlands 4x4 Routes Photography Trip
02-12 July 2015 (10+ days, 11 nights)
$3800 USD or ISK equivalents (all inclusive except airfare and personal travel days)
6 of 6 spaces available
Led by pro photographer and international workshop leader Johnathan Esper of Wildernesscapes Photography LLC, USA, with award-winning Icelandic special guest photographer Örvar Þorgeirsson for a session!
This brand new itinerary for 2015 covers an astounding diversity of Icelandic landscapes and locations, and fits in all the major natural attractions of southern and eastern Iceland, within a relatively short trip of just 10+ days. Of course, there is so much to see in Iceland that we could spend months exploring it, but many photographers have vacation-day constraints back home, so this trip is trailored specifically for you. This 10+ day adventure photography tour and workshop explors some of Iceland's most stunning, and remote locations, via 4x4 vehicle, offering a unique itinerary that's simply unmatched in terms of breadth or price for a trip of this length. We spend one-third of our time in the Highlands of Iceland exploring the famous Landmannalaguer area, Fjallabak Nydri 4x4 route, and Langisjor glacial lake. Then we leave the Highlands and spend some days in the ever-poplular Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Skaftafell glacier areas, which are many photographers' favorites. Our final days find us exploring the East Fjords region which is less photographed but equally stunning, filled with old bridges, glacial rivers, fjord valleys, and secret waterfalls. So many photo trips around Iceland skip the Eastfjords altogether, and so this trip was specially designed to combine the Eastfjords with a 4x4 Highland photography adventure, as well as the classic glacial destinations of Iceland, with are 3 of the most unique and unforgettable Icelandic geographical types.
Itinerary:
Day 0 (02 July): Arrive Keflavik airport, stay in Reykjavik city, pre-trip evening meet-and-greet (Reykjavik hotel accomodation included). Possible date for evening shoot with Icelandic guest photographer Orvar Thorgeirsson.
Day 1 (03 July): The famous Golden Circle sights of Thingvellir, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir and the hidden Bruarfoss rapids. Overnight in Fluðir, evening at a secret natural hotpool nearby the guesthouse.
Day 2 (04 July): Landmannalauger Highlands area full day, including hikes, colorful canyons, and bathing in geothermal pool; stay in Highland hut (sleeping bag accomodation in group shared room)
Day 3 (05 July): 4x4 driving on Highlands roads from Landmannalauger area --> Langisjor glacier lake --> firey red Elgja canyon for sunset (stay in Highland hut (sleeping bag accomodation)
Day 4 (06 July): Third, partial day in the Highlands, further exploring the Nydra Fjallabak 4x4 route, then out of the Highlands, past rural and farm scenics of the southeast region, and onto the Skaftafell National Park and glacier regions we'll photograph sunset and stay overnight.
Day 6 (07 July): Second day around the Skaftafell and glacier regions. Svinafell glacier walk with guide and Svartifoss waterfall hike. Sunset at Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon and iceberg beach. Overnight nearby.
Day 7 (08 July): Full day around the ever-popular Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon area with icebergs --> sunset at Jokulsarlon --> potential all-night sunset to sunrise midnight photo shoot if weather allows
Day 8 (9 July): Heinabergsjokull and additional glacier lagoons and mountain vistas, in the southern Eastfjords region. Sunset at Vestrahorn and Stokkness, overnight in Hofn.
Day 9 (10 July): Eastfjords secret waterfalls, fjord valleys, coastal mountains, and old bridges. Overnigth in picturesque town of Djupivogur
Day 10 (11 July): Longer drive back westward, with photo stops along the way. Vik y Myrdal area evening photography including Dyrohley headland and sea arch. Overnight in Vik.
Day 11 (12 July): Vik area morning wrapup photography --> Skogafoss --> Seljalandsfoss --> Keflavik peninsula mossy lava --> drop-off in your choice of Reykjavik or Keflavik in evening (accomodation included). Alt. date for evening shoot with Orvar. End of Trip.
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The intensive itinerary is designed to help you photograph two of the most inaccessible, under-photographed, and most beautiful and rugged of all of Iceland’s diverse geographic areas, and also includes photo stops at many of the popular natural attractions that are considered must-sees. We photograph hidden treasures and remote outposts many Icelanders have never even visited, by driving in a large loop over many famous and rough 4x4 tracks, beginning and ending at Reykjavik. We will explore some of Iceland’s most photogenic Highlands regions for 3 days, that are inaccessible to most tourists, including 4x4 trips into the highland areas of Landmannalauger, and the southern glacial lakes of the great Vatnajökull icecap. We’ll enjoy Iceland’s long summer daylight hours as we photograph highlights including erupting geysers and geothermal areas, nuzzle with Icelandic horses in idyllic green pastures, peer over sea cliffs alive with hundreds of thousands of puffins, swim in warm volcanic springs, hike up mountains for panoramic vistas of Iceland’s green mountains, explore some of Iceland’s stark highland regions, and photograph Iceland’s glaciers, and walk among icebergs scattered about black sand beaches.
Photography Instruction: A maximum group size of 6 photographers ensures you will receive ample personal photographic coaching in the field from a full time working pro, maximize the group’s flexibility and ability to shoot more places, more spontaneously based on light and weather, and provide an intimate small group adventure experience. This photo tour is all about in-the-field field photography and situational instruction working alongside your leader, and there will be no classroom workshops or presentations. Photographic topics that will covered while shooting include classic landscape photography composition and technique, HDR (High Dynamic Range) imagery, panoramic photography, adventure and travel photography, tilt/shift focusing, slow shutter -speed effects, and extensive use of filters. We will also be going on some shorter hikes (1-3 hrs) to truly experience Iceland. Group participants may wander on their own occasionally if they wish to pursue individual photographic objectives or their level of fitness is not up to the challenge.
Pro Leader: Johnathan Esper of Wildernesscapes Photography LLC in the USA will be leading the trip. Johnathan is a full time photographer and experienced international photo trip leader, and this will be his 26th trip he's led to Iceland since begining Iceland trips in 2011. Every trip so far has been an incredible experience for the participants. Award-winning Icelandic special guest photographer Örvar Þorgeirsson will also join us for an outing session sometime during the trip, for added instructional and cultural diversity. Örvar Þorgeirsson and his wife Mai run a fine art gallery in downtown Reykjavik, Iceland, and he is one the top photographers in the country. Clients always appreciate his patient come-alongside teaching style, and his exclusive private outings with clients are always in high demand.
Trip Details: The cost of this tour is $3800 USD (or Euro equivalent), all inclusive, and includes all photographic opportunites and professional instruction, all ground and 4x4 transportation, all accommodation for 12 nights including a night in Reykjavik before the trip starts (accomodation will be comfortable, clean, yet simple, and will vary, with the majority of nights spent at Icelandic guesthouses and country hotels, (rooms often, but not always, have private in-room bathrooms)(based on double occupancy), single supplement add $500), with a couple nights spent in Icelandic Highland wilderness huts with very basic sleeping bag accomodation (sleeping bags provided); all meals and food (breakfasts provided by our guesthouses, picnic-style lunches, snacks, and hot dinners at our places of accomodation and/or restaurants, and occasional more-basic camp-cooked meal while at the Highlands huts) and all entry fees and activity fees listed in this itinerary. A $800 deposit is due at the time of registration, and the remaining balance is due by the trip start. A trip packing list will be provided. There is a maximum group size of 5, and a minimum of 3. We'll be so immersed in the Icelandic countryside for our entire time as a group, that we have left no time to enjoy the sights of Reykjavik, so we encourage you to stay in Reykjavik for a couple days on your own, either before or after the tour.
To Sign Up for this trip, and request deposit payment information, please contact the trip leader through the 'contact' page on this website.
Johnathan A. Esper
Wildernesscapes Photography LLC
PO Box 326, Long Lake, NY
United States
johnathanesper@gmail.com
phone: 001 518 241 3363 (USA) or +354 844 5033 (Iceland)
www.wildernessphotographs.com | www.IcelandPhotography.com
