2024 ICELAND MIDNIGHT SUN (WEEK 1)
A summer photography workshop in the land of Fire and Ice
JUNE 16 - 23, 2024 ****SOLD OUT****
To say that Iceland is a landscape photographer’s dream would be an understatement. During the midnight sun of the summer months, sunsets bleed into sunrises and that golden light lasts for hours. Couple this with the Iceland’s northern latitude and the soft light can last all day long giving ample opportunities to explore and create wonderful imagery. The island is famous for its abundant waterfalls, rugged green cliffs, black sand beaches, and glacier lagoons. We will cover as much of Iceland as possible on this workshop while photographing through the night time hours and sleeping and traveling to locations during the day. A benefit of “reversing” our days is that we will be chasing the best light and avoiding the crowds at the same time. This truly is a photographic trip of a lifetime and an experience not to be missed!
On this 8 day and 8 night Photography Workshop all lodging and transportation within Iceland will be included. We will travel the ring road and into the highlands which showcases the diverse and dramatic landscapes of this beautiful island. You will be guided to some of the most iconic locations as well as some off the beaten path, and 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. And there is no better place to photograph landscapes than a trip to Epic Iceland! For an added excursion, we will arrange for plane rides over the highlands which completely weather dependent and therefore an optional additional cost.
INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS BYRNE
GROUP SIZE: 6 PARTICIPANTS
COST: $6450
INCLUDED: All Transportation and Lodging for 8 Nights (Single Occupancy)
DEPOSIT: A 33% deposit is required to secure a spot. A second 33% payment is due 180 days in advance with the final balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
OTHER DATES AVAILABLE: JUNE 25 - JULY 2, 2024
This workshop is currently SOLD OUT. Please click here to Join the Waitlist.
ITINERARY
Participants should arrive at the Keflavik International Airport (KEF) on Sunday June 16, 2024, where you will be picked up in one of our SUVs for the week. Please arrange to arrive by mid-day at 1 pm at the latest. Many flights from the United States are overnight flights arriving very early each day. Lodging will be included for the nights of June 16 - 23, with people flying home on Monday June 24. Upon arrival we will drive to the Snaefellsness Peninsula for our first nights stay. Our journey will continue with us traveling to the interior of the island and golden circle area then follow down to the southern coast making stops at Kirkjufell, Geysir, Gulfoss, Bruarfoss, Haifoss, the Highlands, Vik, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Jokulsarlon, and Vestrahorn to name a few locations. And of course many more! A few days will be built in as flex days to give us the opportunity for plane rides over the highlands and braided river systems. Our last night together will be spent in Reykjavik on Sunday June 23 with lodging including that evening.
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 range from 40 - 60 degrees, with a variable climate including high winds and rain. It is important for participants to be in good physical health. There will not be any strenuous hikes on this trip but participants should be able to hike a couple miles with some elevation gains.
AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / FOOD
Participants should fly into the Keflavik International Airport (KEF), where you will be picked up. Please arrange to arrive by 1 pm on Sunday June 16th. If you arrive earlier than that date, please let us know and we will arrange a meeting location. Our last night will be spent in Reykjavik on Sunday June 23 and participants should plan to fly home the following day 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 go right to the airport. Participants are responsible for their own hotel accommodations beyond June 23.
Meals and drinks are not included in this trip. Whenever possible we will have a good sit down meal at a restaurant. 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
A photography adventure you won’t soon forget! There’s a good reason that Iceland has become a hot spot of landscape photography. The land of the midnight sun 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
Lightroom development tools
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
Cable Release Trigger
Filters (Circular Polarizing Filter, Graduated ND Filters and Solid ND filters for long exposures)
Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc.
Computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
Notebook
RECOMMENDED GEAR - CLOTHING, ETC.
Quick dry, lightweight long pants and shirts
Layers of warm clothing
Shoes that can get wet or muck boots
Waders
Hat
Sunglasses
Rain coat
Bug Spray
Sun Block
Umbrella
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Airfare
Hotels before or after the workshop (June 16 and prior, June 23 and later)
Meals and snacks