2026 ICELAND WINTER ADVENTURE

EXPLORE ICE CAVES AND CHASE THE AURORA ON THIS WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP IN A LAND OF DREAMS

February 1 - 8, 2026

Iceland. The Land of Fire and Ice. To say that Iceland is a landscape photographer’s dream would be an understatement. The island is famous for its abundant waterfalls, rugged green cliffs, black sand beaches, glaciers, unique mountains, aurora, you name it! On this workshop it is all about the ice caves. We will be spending much of our time in the southeast area around Jokulsarlon with several days of expeditions into the various ice caves. The caves change from year to year, but our experienced ice guide partners will have the latest information on the best caves to view and photograph. After our days exploring the caves, we will make our way back along the southern coast stopping at some of Icelands most notable locations hopefully covered in snow. As a bonus, f the weather cooperates, we will be photographing into the night in hopes of capturing the dancing lights! This truly is a photographic trip of a lifetime and an experience not to be missed!

This amazing country in the winter gives us the opportunity for ice caves, aurora, and aerial images! Seeing the aurora borealis dance in the sky is quite a sight to behold. And the chance to see this phenomenon above the dramatic snow covered landscapes of Iceland is pretty special.

In winter, the different textures of the landscape along the southern coast can be revealed with just enough snow. Making drone photography during this time of year having the potential for some very unique and special images. I am quite proud of the aerial image portfolio that I have been able to capture in all seasons in Iceland and will make it a priority to help you create unique images of your own from this extraordinary vantage point.

On this 8 day and 8 night Photography Workshop all lodging and transportation within Iceland will be included. You will be guided to some of the most scenic ice caves of the season by seasoned local professionals trained to ensure your full safety. We will also mix in iconic locations as well as some off the beaten path, and you’ll be provided with expert instruction on how best to capture the light and interesting compositions. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune your photography skills both in the field as well in post processing development to bring your images to life. Helping students create a portfolio of images they are excited and proud of is priority number one on all of our workshops. Join us on an adventure in the season that gives this beautiful country its name!

Note: the ice caves change every year, images here represent past adventures but we never know what to expect going into an ice cave season and that is part of the fun and surprise. Visiting ice caves is entirely weather dependent to ensure your safety.

INSTRUCTORS: CHRIS BYRNE & LYLE KRANNICHFELD                    

GROUP SIZE: 6 - 8 PARTICIPANTS

COST: $6750

INCLUDED: All Transportation and Lodging for 7 Nights (Single Occupancy)

DEPOSIT: A 35% deposit is required to secure a spot. A second 35% payment is due 180 days in advance with the final 30% balance due 90 days prior to workshop.

 

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ITINERARY

Participants should plan to arrive on Sunday February 1 into the Reykjavik/Keflavik International Airport (KEF) at anytime. We will meet at our hotel in Reykjavik that evening for dinner and orientation for the week. Lodging will be included for the nights of February 1 - 8 (single rooms, no shared rooms) with people flying home on Monday February 9. On February 2, after a good nights rest we will drive to the southeast corner of the island which will be our home base for the majority of our trip. Giving us the most opportunities to get into ice caves and photograph sunset at some beautiful nearby locations each night. After several days of exploring caves we will travel back to Reykjavik and break that up with a couple of nights in two locations along the southern coast. Potential photographic locations include Geysir, Gulfoss, Bruarfoss, Fjadrargljufur, Vik, Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Jokulsarlon, and Vestrahorn to name a few locations. But of course the main attraction on this trip is the ice caves! Each night, if the skies are clear we will have the opportunity to photograph the northern lights! Our last night together will be spent in Reykjavik on Sunday February 8 with lodging including that evening.

During February the days are short, with the sun rising at 9:45am and setting at 4:45pm. We will have breakfast before sunrise each morning and then set out to meet our ice cave guide for the day’s adventure. We will spend our afternoons out photographing into sunset before returning to our hotel for dinner and a weather check. If it looks promising we will set out again to capture the Aurora Borealis. As time permits in the evenings we will mix in post processing instruction in both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for those that are interested.

 USEFUL INFO / PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Iceland and must have a valid passport to do so. Temperatures this time of year can are typically mid 25F - 35F degrees but can vary drastically with high winds, rain, sleet and snow. Participants must be in good physical health. Hiking to ice caves is not strenuous but it is important to be sure on your feet. You will be provided with all necessary safety gear, ice spikes, helmet, etc.

AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / FOOD

Participants should fly into the Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and arrive anytime on Sunday February 1, 2026. You will be given our hotel information at a later date and this is where we will meet as a group the evening of February 1. Our last night will be spent in Reykjavik on Sunday February 8 and participants should plan to fly home the following Monday at anytime. A great way to wind down a trip in Iceland is to go to the Blue Lagoon and relax for a few hours and then head right to the airport.

Lodging included in this workshop is single occupancy rooms with two single/twin beds (often pushed together) and a private bathroom. Hotels in Iceland are on the smaller side.

Meals and drinks are not included in this trip. Whenever possible we will have a sit down meal at a restaurant, likely at our hotel. We will also be driving daily between locations for a few hours, and stopping for gas, so there will be plenty of chances to grab meals and snacks on the road.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

An epic trip of a lifetime! There’s a good reason that Iceland has become a hot spot of landscape photography. The land of fire and ice simply gives photographers an opportunity like no other to get creative and capture beautiful images. Iceland can feel like another planet in one location and something straight out of a fairy tale in another. No matter the weather (which is constantly changing) there are photographs to be had. The field sessions are structured to not wear anyone out and get the most enjoyment of the surroundings and scenery. In the field techniques and tips will be provided to help capture images correctly "in camera" with the goal being that part becomes second nature and students can then focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will run the gamut of importing and organizing files into Lightroom to processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop and finally prepping images for the internet or for print. I am an open book and willing to share any tips or tricks I’ve learned to help you turn your photographs into art!

 

FIELD & CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WILL INCLUDE:

  • Creating compelling compositions and storytelling through images

  • Controlling your camera in manual mode

  • Understanding and using the Histogram

  • Finding foregrounds

  • Filters - when & how to use them and avoiding their pitfalls

  • How lens selection affects the scene

  • Technical Tricks: Bracketing, Focus Stacking, Perspective Blending

  • Understanding and using light

  • Capturing Difficult Scenes (getting all the pieces in the field to put together in post processing)

  • Lightroom - importing and organizing

  • Development tools in Lightroom and Photoshop

  • Cleaning up images - cloning tools, warping and stretching, eliminating distractions

  • Blending images in Photoshop

  • Dodging and burning

  • Using layers and masks

  • Mindful sharpening (depending on the output)

  • Image Critiques

RECOMMENDED CAMERA GEAR, ETC

  • DSLR & Lenses ranging from wide angle (12mm) to telephoto (300mm).

  • Camera manual

  • Memory cards

  • A very sturdy tripod (Do NOT bring a Peak Design tripod)

  • Camera backpack while in the field (must go on your back, not a roller bag)

  • Cable Release Trigger

  • Circular Polarizing Filters for every lens and Solid ND filters (for long exposures). Do NOT bring a Variable ND filter, they are worthless. Also Graduated ND’s are no longer necessary with today’s editing tools

  • Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc. 

  • Computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

  • Notebook

RECOMMENDED GEAR - CLOTHING, ETC.

  • Layers of warm clothing

  • Winter jacket, hat, gloves

  • Shoes that can get wet or muck boots

  • Hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Rain coat

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Meals and snacks

  • Airfare to Iceland

TOTAL COST $6750

35% DEPOSIT OF $2250 IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE A SPACE

2ND 35% PAYMENT OF $2250 IS DUE 180 DAYS IN ADVANCE

FINAL PAYMENT OF $2250 IS DUE 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE

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MEET THE GUIDES

CHRIS BYRNE

Hello there! I’m Chris Byrne and I spent way too many years aimlessly wandering the earth and working for the man before finding my true passion in nature and landscape photography. My love of nature started very early in life as I would study the photographs in my dad’s huge collection of National Geographics, and also spend as much time as I could out exploring in the woods with my younger brother. Fast forward many years and after getting a finance degree in college I went to work in the stock market for over fifteen years (and didn’t get rich). During my time, I saw first hand two of the most devastating financial crises in our country’s history, and after the second go around I completely lost interest in my profession and desperately needed something more. I found myself in a place in life without any inspiration or excitement for what I was doing.

Then on a trip to Glacier, Montana I rediscovered my love of nature. However, the photographs I was trying to get just didn’t do the place any justice. It was then that I decided to get serious about photography and quickly poured all of myself into the craft, learning as much as possible as quickly as I could. I was a super sponge and had a new passion for life! As soon as I became proficient in my skills, I wanted to share my knowledge and began teaching others. Now I lead workshops to some of the best places on the globe.

I am proud to be able to inspire others and spend as much time as I possibly can with each person in helping them connect with nature while teaching the techniques to capture the images that they want to create. Seeing people make breakthroughs in their art is something that I cherish. I truly believe that nature is good for the soul. The more you explore, the more you will be inspired.

LYLE KRANNICHFELD

The most incredible moments in Lyle's life have revolved around the beauty of the natural, wild parts of our world and a connection with the animals we share it with. He is very fortunate to live on Maui with his wife and daughter, which is obviously the best place ever.

As a full-time working landscape, wildlife and underwater photographer for over a decade, he has thrived on taking these moments and distilling them down into simple, compelling fine art images. To that end, he has sold more than a million dollars of his art to clients all over the world out of Pueo Gallery, which he owns and occasionally operates. He has been proudly published by Ocean Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Kiteworld, Standup Paddle Magazine and more, most recently including work for Patagonia and an upcoming scientific paper on never-before-seen Humpback Whale behavior. Lyle is also an f-stop gear ambassador.

As of late, this relationship with the outdoors has blossomed to include a genuine love of sharing it with others, leading small group workshops to some of his favorite locations around the world. That moment when a guest experiences something or some place for the first time is everything. Before joining Destination Earth Photo Tours, he operated his own trips taking guests to swim with Humpback Whales in Tonga as well as cage diving in Mexico with the Great Whites. With an emphasis on providing life changing wildlife encounters, he focused on teaching photography and post processing in equal measure, along with responsible stewardship of our oceans, respectful wildlife interactions and conservation.

He specializes in large prints to 8’ wide or more but is proficient teaching everyone in an approachable and easy to understand way, from the rote beginner to the seasoned vet.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend travel insurance to cover such costs.

A $200 change fee will be charged for changes or cancellations. Participants who cancel prior to 90 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 90 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop.

Any cancellations within 30 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is strongly recommended.