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Iceland is largely an arctic desert punctuated by mountains, glaciers, geysers, hot springs,volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline. Iceland's most distinctive features are the glaciers that cover over 4,600 sq. mi (11,922 sq.
Resting at the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland promises thrill-seeking adventures, dramatic landscapes and an abundance of highlights, waiting to be explored (and photographed). Measuring 103,000 sq. km (40,000 sq. miles), bigger than Hungary and Portugal and a little bit smaller than Cuba, Iceland is divided into 8 regions, each with their own must-visit highlights.
Active volcanoes, bright green valleys, glacier-cut fjords, black sand beaches, and powerful waterfalls are the most distinctive features of the Icelandic landscape, ripe with exploration. Even its name piques curiosity, as ice only covers about 10% of the land, but still represents the largest glaciers left in Europe. With its stark contrasts and natural blend of the four basic elements – earth, air, fire, and water – Iceland promises impressive landscapes, making for striking photographs.
Even its name piques curiosity, as ice only covers about 10% of the land, but still represents the largest glaciers left in Europe.
Through so many different conditions, I learned a lot about the conditions and preparation that make for awesome photos. In this post, you’ll find tips and ideas for:
Camera gear you need for Iceland
How to make sure your camera gear can survive Iceland’s weather
General tips for capturing Iceland in photos
How to take panoramas using any camera
The settings you need to take silky smooth waterfall photos
How to photograph the Northern Lights
Make sure you have necessary camera gear
Here’s the camera gear I used most in Iceland. Not all of it is necessary, it really depends on the kinds of pictures you want to take! Regardless, here’s the master list:
Camera – Bet you didn’t expect that one. I won’t tell you there is a specific camera that’s best for Iceland, but make sure yours can shoot RAW format!
Travel tripod – You’re probably going to do some hiking in Iceland. Bring a tripod you won’t regret hauling uphill for 2km. I used the Rollei Compact Traveler (Carbon Fiber) Tripod in Iceland and it worked great.
Wide-aperture wide-angle lens – This is the lens you’re going to use to shoot massive waterfalls, and (if traveling in winter) the northern lights!
Snapshot lens – The lens you’re going to keep on your camera 90% of the time. If it’s a prime, it’ll probably be a 23mm or 35mm (35mm or 50mm on a full-frame, respectively).
Telephoto lens – On some shots, you’ll just need a bit of zoom, especially if you want to capture seals, puffins, horses, or other wildlife. For this I just used my 56mm prime, and it got the job done.
An ND filter – If you want to take long exposures of waterfalls or moving clouds, don’t forget to pack an ND filter for your lenses! Otherwise, you can leave them at home. I use ND filters by B&W and they do a good job at not having a weird tint some ND filters have.
Extra batteries – Batteries discharge faster in cold weather. Bring a spare and pack it in your inner jacket pocket to keep it warm!
Spare memory card – Don’t forget to format your memory card before you go, and don’t let yourself run out of space. There are literally NOT electronics stores in Iceland outside of the two main cities. I use SanDisk memory cards and have never had any issues with them....
THE ICELANDIC PEOPLE
The Icelandic people are friendly and welcoming. Everyone speaks English and most are willing to help out a fellow tourist if needed. It’s known that if you are having car problems and stuck on the side of the road, not to worry as you won’t have to wait long for someone to stop and offer assistance.
Iceland is much closer than you think; a logical stopover between North America and Europe with a lot of adventure to offer some of the best fares available when flying to Europe, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to explore?!
LIGHTING is everything to a photographer and this is what i think makes Iceland a ''paradise''. In the summer, when the sky is not dark enough for stars to appear, you have this amazing light of constant twilight all night long. Sure, during the day, you might want to take a nap or do some post processing on your images as sun sits right above the head, but those night hours are amazing for photography. During the winter, on the other hand, you have ''golden hour'' lighting extended for several hours while the sun is up. Obviously, in the winter darkness rules over the day, but that means you can hunt for some lovely northern light scenes.
I guess it is true. Iceland offers so much to a photographer, to the point where one might call it a paradise. Uniqueness of landscapes, their shapes and forms, colors and lighting provided by the contrast between night and day. All that adds up to a must visit place.
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