Photograph Iceland's Northern Lights, blue-lit ice caves, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, and the waterfalls and volcanic coastline of the South Shore.
Iceland in early winter is the most dramatic combination of subjects I've encountered in one place. The Northern Lights are the obvious draw, we track conditions daily and go out whenever the forecast is promising, often late at night when the sky clears. The ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier are something else entirely: deep, radiant blue chambers where the light filters through the ice in ways that look almost artificial.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the places I come back to every time. The icebergs drift slowly enough that you can compose carefully, and the light changes constantly, blue hour here is especially long and soft. Just down the road, the Diamond Beach gives you transparent ice chunks scattered on black volcanic sand, which is one of the most visually striking natural contrasts I know.
The South Shore has a different character, Skógafoss and Seljalandfoss are both massive waterfalls I shoot at multiple times of day. Vestrahorn mountain rising from the sea is one of my favorite compositions in the country. And Strokkur, the geyser that erupts every few minutes, gives you the technical challenge of catching the exact moment of explosion, patience and burst mode required.
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“Jan did an amazing job of providing an itinerary prior to our tour as well as providing gear lists etc well in advance of our trip.”
Allison Betz🇺🇸
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