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2023 Iceland Photo Tours
2023 Northern Lights & Fall Colors Iceland Photo Tour
Would you like to join us for our next Iceland Photo Tour? During the next fall, we will photograph the idyllic Icelandic landscapes painted with beautiful fall colors. Our photo tours always take place in the autumnal equinox, during the best time of year to shoot the Northern Lights.
Our tour will focus on the southern part of Iceland, where you can find the most photogenic locations on the island. During our Iceland photo trip, we will visit emblematic waterfalls such as Skogafoss and Gullfoss, volcanic black-sand beaches like Reynisfjara and Stokksnes, other classics like the Golden Circle, as well as glaciers like Jokulsarlon.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images during our photography expedition in Iceland. We will be available 24/7 and will do our best so you can return home with not only the best possible photos, but with a greater knowledge base, and of course, unforgettable moments. It doesn’t matter your gear or skills – together, we will get the most out of both.
ICELAND PHOTO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Photo tours in September 2023
- Group size: 10 participants + 2 instructors.
- Main topics: Landscape & Northern Lights
- Main areas: South of the island
- Statistically, one of the best times of the year to see the Aurora in Iceland.
- Accommodation in top hotels close to the best locations
- Transport included to travel comfortably with all the luggage/Camera bags
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL ICELAND PHOTO TOUR BROCHURE
2023 ICELAND PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR ITINERARY
Our Iceland Photo Tour itinerary is tentative and flexible, as it will be adjusted according to the weather conditions. During night sessions, we will be moving toward areas with clear skies to increase our chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
September is statistically the best time to see the Aurora in terms of solar activity, so if weather permits, this will be an Iceland Northern Lights tour.
DAY 1: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
Our Iceland photo tour begins at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), where we will be waiting for you to take you to our first hotel.
After a meet and greet with the rest of the group and a welcome speech, we will do a quick gear review to make sure that you have your camera gear ready for the adventure!
Later, we’ll do a sunset session around the oldest lighthouse in Iceland; Reykjanesviti. In this area, you will find some photogenic cliffs and sea stacks where we will capture our first images. If there are favorable conditions at night, our first-Northern Ligths photography session will be in the Reykjanes Peninsula with different locations in the cliffs, Lake Kleifarvatn, and the photogenic houses of Straumur.
This peninsula is also very active in seismic activity and there have been several volcanic eruptions in 2021 and 2022. If there is some activity and conditions allow, we’d also visit and photograph the Fagradalsfjall volcano on our first day.
DAY 2: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
On the second day of our Iceland photography tour, our first stop will be Seljalandsfoss, a spectacular waterfall where you can walk behind. Close to this waterfall, we will visit another secluded waterfall called Gljufrafoss.
We will continue along the Icelandic Ring Road until we reach one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland, Skogafoss, and the nearby Kvernufoss.
If conditions are favorable, we will return to Seljalandsfoss to photograph the sunset, and if chances are in favor for seeing the Northern Lights, we will take photographs from the Skogafoss waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls we will visit on our Iceland photography workshop.
DAY 3: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
The third day of our Iceland photo tour will take us to one of the most photogenic locations in Iceland; the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where we will photograph the sunset, and the Aurora Borealis if luck is on our side.
On our way, we will stop at the Fjadragljufur canyon and the iconic Lomagnupur rock.
DAY 4: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
The next morning of our Iceland guided photo tour, we will photograph the sunrise at the otherworldly Diamond Beach. Then, we will visit the glacier lagoons Jokulsarlon and Fjallsarlon once again during day time.
We will continue ahead on the Ring Road to the furthest point we will reach on this Iceland photography tour: The Hvalnes lighthouse, where we will photograph the sunset.
We will stay in the village of Hofn, and if there is a good forecast to see the Aurora, we will try from Stokksnes.
DAY 5: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
On the fifth day of our Iceland photography tour, we will take pictures of the sunrise from Stokksnes and begin our journey back on the Ring Road.
On the way, we will stop at Svartifoss Waterfall before arriving at Vik, where we will do a sunset photo shoot at Dyrholaey Arch and Reynisfjara beach.
If there is a chance to see the Northern Lights that night, we would catch the show at Vik beach.
DAY 6: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
On the sixth day of our Iceland photo tour, we will do a sunrise photo shoot from Vik beach before traveling to our base for the next two days at the renowned Golden Circle.
Iceland’s Golden Circle is a popular route between some of the most visited locations on the island. We will start photographing the famous Geysir Strokkur, a fountain-type geysir that erupts every six to ten minutes. After this, we will visit the mighty Gullfoss Waterfall, where we will photograph this massive “foss” from different vantage points doing long exposure techniques.
If there were Northern Lights that night, we will be seeing them from Gullfoss.
DAY 7: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
On the seventh day of our Iceland Photography tour, we will take an optional hike to Bruarfoss Waterfall, one of the most special waterfalls in Iceland.
The route to the waterfall is an easy to moderate scenic hike of 4 miles (6.2 km) round trip that follows the Brúará river. This river is melted from one of the Icelandic glaciers having a distinctive blue color, which is the main reason why Bruarfoss is also called “Iceland’s bluest waterfall”.
The scenery around this waterfall is a feast for the eyes, especially at this time of year when the fall colors turn the foliage into vibrant colors. It’s also ideal for any focal length, so we will shoot different images ranging from the wide-angle to details of the waterfall using a telephoto lens.
Once we are back at the hotel in the afternoon, we will have lunch and a post-processing session where we will edit some of the images that you captured during the trip.
If there is an Aurora promising forecast, we would see them from one of the nearby locations like the Kerid crater.
DAY 8: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
The next morning, we will photograph the sunrise from one of the locations in the Golden Circle, like the Geysir Strokkur.
We will then return to the vicinity of the airport and spend the last night of our Iceland photography tour there. if there is a chance to visit any active volcano, we’ll do a last session there. Also, if we can see the aurora, we will go back to either Lake Kleifarvatn or Reykjanesviti for one last night session.
DAY 9: ICELAND PHOTO TOUR
Our photo tour to Iceland ends at the Keflavik airport, where we will drop you off to catch your flight back home.
PRICE: USD 4,690
Deposit: USD 1,500
A USD 1,500 deposit is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 90 days before the starting date of this tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?
INCLUDED
- Pick up at the airport
- Transportation during the trip
- Fuel and parking fees
- Accommodation in shared rooms, single beds with private bathroom (*limited private rooms available for an extra supplement)
- Photo guide services by professional landscape and astrophotographers.
- Driver for the entire itinerary.
- Entrance fees to different attractions such as Kerið crater, Stokksnes beach or Thingvellir.
*BONUS
- Access to Dan Zafra’s full Capture the Milky Way Course (valued at $299)
- Access to the recorded material during the expedition
- Access to David Aguilar’s Moody Landscapes course
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to/from Keflavik airport
- Private room accommodation ($850 supplement)
- Meals
- Health/travel insurance (We can help you purchase the best travel insurance according to your needs).
- Telephone, personal expenses, tips etc. and any other service not mentioned in the “INCLUDED” section
Upcoming Iceland Photo Tours
5/5
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David and Jose were excellent tour guides. They went out of their way to accommodate everyone's requests, and to do as many things on the itinerary as time allowed. They were great with both technical coaching and participant management and knew all the great spots to get the best shots.
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This trip is truly the best photography tour I have ever been on.
Dan and Prince did make learning photography so much fun. Their technical skills, guidance, and patience are absolutely awesome. Their efforts are much appreciated and I am already looking forward to the trip to Lofoten in February 2023.
Read More
The knowledge the tour leaders David and JL had of the area, and the planning that goes into each day is self-evident and perfectly organized. In their commonly used words, this trip is INCREDIBLE, INSANE, and GORGEOUS 🙂
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What will I learn during this summer Iceland photo Tour?
This workshop is mainly focused on landscape and Northern Lights photography with possibilities for aerial photography.
What you learn during the workshop will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
Photography basics
Some of the photography basics you can learn during the workshop are:
- Getting comfortable shooting different types of landscapes in manual mode.
- Learn the basics of night and Aurora photography
- Adjusting to the best camera settings in each situation.
- Planning your sunset and landscape images
- Shooting long exposures using ND filters.
- Enhancing your composition with the best techniques.
- Designing your own shooting workflow to be more efficient in the field.
- Basics of drone photography.
Advanced photography techniques
- Creating powerful compositions that tell a story and engage the viewer.
- Building a connection between your photography and your vision.
- Becoming a master of light: learn how to enhance it and keep it under control.
- Advanced landscape techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, or focal length blending.
- Advanced Northern Lights settings and composition
- Advanced drone photography like aerial panoramas, vertoramas, and bracketing.
Post-processing techniques
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with the included tutorials are:
- Basics of Lightroom and Photoshop
- Preparing your images in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw.
- Stitching of panoramas using different software like Lightroom or PTGui Pro.
- Reducing the noise in your images with Denoise AI.
- Sharpening your wildlife photos with Sharpen AI.
- All types of Blendings (exposure, focal length, focus, etc.).
- Light shaping and Dodge & Burn in your landscape & wildlife images.
Your Instructors on this Iceland Photo Tour
David Aguilar will be the tour leader throughout this Iceland photography tour, and he will make sure that you get the best photography results and experience out of this tour. He will help you with your photography, technique, and composition in all your landscape, wildlife, and aerial images.
David is a real expert on Iceland after countless trips all around the island over the last decade. He has led many Iceland photo tours before, and he’s very knowledgeable about the most photogenic locations, the weather patterns, and the best techniques to capture breathtaking landscape images. He’s also a master drone pilot and can help you with your aerial photography on this trip.
David’s main passion is traveling and helping others with their craft. He’s traveled extensively, not only in Nordic countries like Iceland and Norway but also across vast areas in European Alps and South America. He currently lead photo tours in many different regions of Europe and South America.
He’s also a skilled post-processing editor and has helped countless photographers over the last few years with his online landscape editing courses.
Prince Berkoh will be the co-leader of the tour and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.
Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in Madrid, Spain. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, from Spain to the remote Faroe Islands.
He loves educating and teaching others about photography, having led numerous tours in Iceland and given presentations on night photography over the years. He also leads other photo tours in Europe and South america.
Prince will show you how to best capture the Iceland landscapes, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other Northern Lights photography tips.
You’ve probably seen Dan in…
WHAT TO BRING TO AN ICELAND PHOTO TOUR?
A complete list of everything that we recommend for this tour is sent to all participants upon sign-up. Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
- DSLR or mirrorless camera with tripod and remote trigger
- A wide-angle lens, such as 14-24 mm.
- A medium zoom lens, such as 24-70 mm.
- A telephoto lens, like a 70-200 mm lens.
You may be interested in this guide where you can dive deeper into photography equipment for traveling.
CLOTHING
The average temperature in Iceland in September is 8ºC but the weather is very variable, going from warm days to snowstorms in a matter of hours. You should be prepared for all seasons and bring winter clothes. Some of the things that you will have to bring to this Iceland photography tour are:
- Waterproof coat for cold temperatures.
- Thermal waterproof pants.
- Waterproof hiking/mountain boots.
- Gloves, hat, and scarf/neck gaiter.
You will find more items and details in the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
MONEY
The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). It would be more convenient to bring ISK from your home country, although if that is not possible, you could exchange it at the Keflavík airport.
In almost 100% of the places in Iceland, you can pay by credit card and debit card, no matter how small the amount is, so you don’t need much cash for the trip.
DOCUMENTATION
Please check if you need a Visa to visit Iceland. We can help you with this process.
WHAT EXPENSES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FOR THIS Iceland photo tour?
FLIGHTS
The price of round-trip flights to Iceland from Europe and the US cost approximately $400-800. You’ll have to book your flight to/from Keflavik International airport (KEF).
MEALS
Meals are not included. Most of the days, we will eat snacks/picnic during lunch to speed up and maximize the time for photography.
We recommend preparing to spend about $60-$80 USD on food per day.
ENTRANCE FEE
All the parking/entrance fees like Seljalandsfoss or Stokksnes are included in the tour.
What makes this Iceland Photo Tour unique?
Immersive
Our workshops are completely centered on photography: finding the best moments of light during the day and at night and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Intimate
Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than five students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
Exclusive
During this workshop, we will photograph the famous locations in Iceland as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered while hiking and exploring in the past that are rarely visited or photographed.
Dedicated
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter your age or skills; we will design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
Proven
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to the ambitious goal of capturing complex images. Dan’s online courses have also helped more than 400 photographers over the last few years.
Unforgettable
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
Frequent questions about our Iceland Photo tours
WHAT LEVEL DO I NEED TO ATTEND TO THIS PHOTO TOUR TO ICELAND?
Whether you are experienced or just starting in photography, you are all welcome, and I am convinced that you will progress very fast. Together, we will get you back home with greater and deeper knowledge in many photography topics.
Also, we can Zoom or Skype beforehand to discuss your skill level, knowledge, and your goals with this tour.
WHAT PHYSICAL CONDITIONS DO I NEED TO BE IN?
All the places we will visit in this Iceland photography tour are very close to the road, and we won’t have to walk more than a mile with the exception of the “Svartifoss” waterfall and “Bruarfoss”, where the hike is around 3-4 miles round trip.
We will be driving, walking, and shooting a lot during the tour, especially at night when there are chances to see the Aurora, so we recommend being in good physical shape to be able to enjoy this experience.
AM I TOO YOUNG/OLD FOR THIS ICELAND PHOTO TOUR?
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph Iceland with us.
CAN I BRING MY DRONE?
Capture the Atlas is drone-friendly. Dan is an experienced drone pilot and can help you with your drone photography. However, we are not responsible for accidental damage or fines if you fly it in restricted areas.
Our Happy Students!
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers in Iceland over the last years:
"Great tour! Dan was great with helpful information while arranging the trip on what was going to happen, and what to bring to have a good experience. David and Jose were excellent tour guides. They went out of their way to accommodate everyone's requests, and to do as many things on the itinerary as time allowed. They were great with both technical coaching and participant management, and knew all the great spots to get the best shots. Would highly recommend this company for future tours!
Michael Singer
2022 Iceland Photo Tour
This trip is truly the best photography tour I have ever been on.
Dan and Prince did make learning photography so much fun. Their technical skills, guidance, and patience are absolutely awesome. Their efforts are much appreciated and I am already looking forward to the trip to Lofoten in February 2023.
Cindy Mok
2022 Iceland Photo Tour
"I can't say enough about the experience with Capture the Atlas; It was fun, educational, inspiring, adventurous, and life-changing!
The knowledge the tour leaders David and JL had of the area, and the planning that goes into each day is self-evident and perfectly organized. In their commonly used words, this trip is INCREDIBLE, INSANE, and GORGEOUS 🙂
I would absolutely love to return on a trip with this great team to some other location. I’m sure it would undoubtedly be a fantastic experience!!
Praveena Bhairraju
2022 Iceland Photo Tour
I recently spent 3 weeks with Dan in Iceland. It was a wonderful experience that surpassed my expectations. Dan is an energetic guide who is passionate about what he does. The trip was well organized and Dan made sure we were able to see everything that was planned. Dan worked with everyone on the tour to understand their skill level, and provide his insights on ways to improve their photography. It was a wonderful adventure. I hope I have the opportunity to tour with Capture the Atlas again.
Robert Adams
2021 South & North Iceland Tours
If I had to join a photo tour again, I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat this trip with capturetheatlas! In addition to the organization, the accommodations, the places...you have the feeling of traveling with friends, where we all learn from each other and the guides are very close and familiar creating a small family. We were a group of different ages and levels and none of that prevented the coordination from being excellent. In addition, Dan adapted and made the necessary changes in the schedule if the weather wasn’t the best, and thanks to that we could see and photograph the Northern Lights! Thanks again to Ascen and Dani. Highly recommended!
Beatriz Rodriguez
2019 Iceland Photo Tour
Excellent trip. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a "different" vacation and photography learning experience. The views of waterfalls, volcanos, geysers, glaciers, etc. are superb. Dan helped me get my images to another level. Iceland should be on your bucket list, especially with Capture the Atlas. The guys are very knowledgeable about photography and how to organize the trip.
Jay Gorecki
2021 South & North Iceland Tours
I had the great pleasure of touring Iceland with Dan and Capture the Atlas in September 2021, and it far surpassed all of my expectations.
The trip was extremely well organized, and never having been on a photo tour before, I didn’t realize just how much I would be learning about landscape composition and astrophotography.
Dan was relentless in his desire to chase the Aurora for us, and we were lucky enough to have been able to capture it on two different occasions. For me, that was a bucket list item, so I was thrilled.
I so enjoyed the wonderful people I met on the trip that I’ve signed on to the Death Valley & Alabama Hills workshop this spring to learn more about astrophotography!
Liz de Marco
2021 South & North Iceland Tours
On my recent photo tour to Iceland, not only was I able to see the Northern Lights, but I also was able to photograph them thanks to Dan's tutelage and patience! I returned home with not only amazing pictures but also renewed enthusiasm for photography. Dan's passion for photography and landscapes is unequivocal.
Rachel Rose
2019 Iceland Photo Tour
Dan was a great host on my recent Photo tour of Southern Iceland. He is an excellent photographer and was energetic in his effort to get our group to so many great sites to photograph. I had great comrades along, which made the journey even more enjoyable. Would I make this trip with Capture the Atlas again? In a heartbeat!
Larry Covalciuc
2021 Iceland Photo Tour
Traveled with Dan on the South Iceland tour, September 2021. We had six "photographers" on the tour of varying experience and Dan was exceptional at working with us on our level. He was also accommodating by changing the timing of the itinerary due to the weather and the eruption of the volcano. The tour included, as advertised, some hiking to remote places to capture some unique photos. The weathered dictated times to get out to see the Aurora and sunrises which were all impressive.
Robert Emery
2021 Iceland Photo Tour
Dan & Ascen drove almost 2,000 km’s to bring us to all the locations for photo shoot’s. There was fabulous enthusiasm amongst the group. We witnessed amazing landscapes and seascapes. Dan made it all possible, the “Dancing Northern Lights” would not be missed on this tour. There was a good choice of accommodation & restaurants.
Iris Anderson
2019 Iceland Photo Tour
I took the 2019 Iceland trip. Dan was very knowledgeable on the best photo locations on the island. In addition to the well-known locations, he also took us to some less visited locations that were also worthwhile. It is also a plus to have a tour guide who is knowledgeable about lodgings, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. in the area. One bucket-list item for all of our group was to see the Northern Lights. Dan drove to locations on the island where we were able to get two nights of good Northern Lights viewing. I highly recommend them and would travel with them again.
Kenneth Orloff
2019 Iceland Photo Tour
I joined Capture the Atlas in Iceland in September 2021 for the consecutive North and South tours. It was a trip of a lifetime with jam-packed days and unbelievable (and unworldly) sights.
They cater to clients of all skill levels and they were very patient with us. Especially since I didn't even know how to turn my camera on to manual settings the first day. However with their expertise (and once again constant patience) I really upped my skill level.
I loved how they REALLY knew the area. They visited and researched the areas for the tours to find us accommodations and hidden gems that we would never have seen or found if we had selected another company or tried to visit on our own.
Maleka Ali
2021 South & North Iceland Tours
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This tour is governed by these Terms and Conditions.
Active volcanoes, endless glaciers, lush valleys, black sand beaches, mountains & fjords, skies colored by the Aurora Borealis…Iceland is paradise for photographers for good reason. It’s very easy to feel like in a fantasy world when you see and shoot across all those spectacular locations, and this trip will help you discover all the spectacular things that Iceland has to offer.
Expect excitement like in no other trip when we prepare to go out and chase the Northern Lights. This experience can’t be described in images or words; you have to live through it and, believe me, after that you’ll understand why shooting the “green lady” is so mesmerizing and addictive.
Iceland is one of the first places that I started shooting when I first picked up a camera many years ago. I fell so profoundly in love with everything on the island that I’ve been traveling there every year since that initial trip. Iceland is our signature photo tour for many reasons, and I can’t wait to show you the magic of this place!
DAN ZAFRA
