THE LAND OF FIRE & ICE

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER HANS STRAND

THE LAND OF FIRE & ICE

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER HANS STRAND

COUNTRY: Iceland PHOTO TYPE: Landscape TRIP LENGHT: 5 days DATES: Sep 9-14, 2023 SIZE: 8-15 guests

Take the opportunity to join one of the world’s foremost and award-winning landscape photographer, Hans Strand to his favourite place in the north – Iceland and experience a landscape with deep dramatic valleys to gushing waterfalls and sleeping volcanoes.

Hans Strand has photographed in Iceland for over twenty years, and and took many of his iconic and best-known images from here. On this photo tour, he will take you to some of his absolute favourite places where you can photograph everything from deep dramatic valleys to gushing waterfalls and sleeping volcanoes. During the tour you will visit some of Iceland’s most beautiful and spectacular places, including the area around Landmanalagur. So take the chance and accompany Hans Strand to Iceland, perhaps Europe’s best country for a landscape photographer.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Capture the Icelandic landscape together with Hans Strand.
Visit many of his favourite places and secret locations.
Landmanalagur, perhaps Iceland’s most beautiful place.
Jökulsarlón, the large glacial lake.
The lava beach in front of Jökulsarlón with its icebergs.
Veiðivötn with its volcanic landscape, lakes and wetlands.
Explore the world’s largest lava field, Eldhraun.
Discover Iceland’s third highest waterfall, Háifoss.
Photograph the fairytale-like landscape of Gjáin.
Lectures and personal tutoring by Hans Strand.

Book Now

COUNTRY: Iceland

PHOTO TYPE: Landscape

TRIP LENGHT: 5 days

DATES: Sep 9-14, 2023

SIZE: 8-15 guests

Take the opportunity to join one of the world’s foremost and award-winning landscape photographer, Hans Strand to his favourite place in the north – Iceland and experience a landscape with deep dramatic valleys to gushing waterfalls and sleeping volcanoes.

Hans Strand has photographed in Iceland for over twenty years, and and took many of his iconic and best-known images from here. On this photo tour, he will take you to some of his absolute favourite places where you can photograph everything from deep dramatic valleys to gushing waterfalls and sleeping volcanoes. During the tour you will visit some of Iceland’s most beautiful and spectacular places, including the area around Landmanalagur. So take the chance and accompany Hans Strand to Iceland, perhaps Europe’s best country for a landscape photographer.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Capture the Icelandic landscape together with Hans Strand.
Visit many of his favourite places and secret locations.
Landmanalagur, perhaps Iceland’s most beautiful place.
Jökulsarlón, the large glacial lake.
The lava beach in front of Jökulsarlón with its icebergs.
Veiðivötn with its volcanic landscape, lakes and wetlands.
Explore the world’s largest lava field, Eldhraun.
Discover Iceland’s third highest waterfall, Háifoss.
Photograph the fairytale-like landscape of Gjáin.
Lectures and personal tutoring by Hans Strand.

Book Now

DESTINATION INFO

ICELAND

Iceland means spouting geysers, hot springs, beautiful glaciers, mighty volcanoes, and thundering waterfalls. The wild and extraordinary nature is the major tourist attraction in Iceland and a dream come true for any landscape photographer. The reason behind this is Iceland’s location right above the mid-Atlantic ridge, a long fracture zone in the ocean where glowing lava easily emerges from deep inside of the earth. In Iceland, there are no less than about 30 active volcanoes and several hundred that are no longer active. These have created hot springs where the water is heated by the volcanic activity from underneath the Earth’s surface. Many of Iceland’s volcanoes are very active, and from time to time have large and devastating eruptions. Together with a huge amount of glaciers and many spectacular waterfalls, this makes Iceland not only beautiful but thrilling and fascinating as well. In short, Iceland may be the best country in Europe for a landscape photographer.

TOUR ITINERARY

September 9-14, 2023

DAY 1 (9/9) – WELCOME TO ICELAND
At lunchtime we gather at the airport where we are welcomed by Hans Strand and Florian Varnecke. Our journey begins at the fabulous landscape at Gjáin. In this picturesque gorge we will have the opportunity to photograph small waterfalls in lush greenery. Among the flowing water, we experiment and test our way with different shutter speeds to create impactful images. From the small landscape we continue our photographic adventure to Iceland’s third highest waterfall, Háifoss, located in a mighty gorge. Under Hans’ leadership, we test out various photographic sections and compositions on the over 122 metres high fall. We finish our first day together by checking into the hotel Highland Center Hrauneyjar where we will stay for two nights. In the evening, we share a welcome dinner. (D)

DAY 2 (10/9) – LANDMANNALAUGAR
During the day will be a visit to Landmannalaugar in Fjallabak Nature Reserve and its dramatic landscape dominated by colourful mountains in shades of grey, orange, yellow and green. As we wander through the lava field to the fumaroles at the foot of the Brennisteinsalda volcano, it feels as if we have ended up on another planet, with smoke rising from the ground and sweeping across the stone-covered landscape. Landmannalaugar is one of Iceland’s most beautiful places and a paradise for landscape photographers. After dinner, we spend some time reviewing our images, with constructive image criticism from Hans. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 (11/9) – AMAZING WATERFALLS AND JÖKULSARLON
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and continue towards the south coast. Along the way we make photography stops at some of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. The first stop will be at Seljalandsfoss and the nearby Gljúfrafoss where we can get amazing pictures from inside a cave, as the water rushes out over the cave opening high up there. We also stop at one of Iceland’s other very famous waterfalls, Skogafoss, before we arrive at Guesthouse Gerdi where we check in for two nights in the afternoon. After an early dinner we head to Jökulsarlón for evening photography. Jökulsarlón is a large glacial lake with calving ice from Breidarmerkurjökull. This glacial lake in connected to the sea via a short watercourse that brings smaller icebergs out to sea. On the sea side, these icebergs lie washed up on the shore and sparkle like crystals in the evening light. The place has become almost iconic because of its unique landscape of ice, sand and sea. After that experience we head back to the hotel. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 (12/9) – FJALLSARLÓN, FALLSJÖKULL, VESTRAHORN
After an early breakfast, we meet the sunrise on the lava beach in front of Jökulsarlón and the nearby glacial lake Fjallsarlón where we come very close to the glacier Fallsjökull with its giant icefall. Afterwards, we continue along the coast to Höfn where a photo session at Vestrahorn awaits us with its vast plains covered by rolling dunes of lava sand covered with grass. The landscape spreads out towards the lonely mountains on the horizon. Hans will show us how to work with foregrounds and how to think in order to create a depth in the images that draws the viewer’s eye into the picture. If we the weather is on ours die, you will have the opportunity to photograph the mountain peaks wrapped in clouds while the landscape is covered by a magical light. Back at the hotel dinner is served. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 (13/9) – FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR, REYNISFJARA, DYRHÓLAEY
After an early breakfast and checkout, the day begins at the picturesque canyon, Fjaðrárgljúfur, where we get the opportunity to photograph waterfalls and the dramatic and moss-covered cliffs that plunge far down into the river far below. The landscape changes drastically as we continue east along the coast through the world’s largest lava field Eldhraun, which was formed during the volcanic eruption at Laki in 1783. Here, we will photograph the seemingly endless and moss-covered lava that spread out towards the mountains in the horizon. We continue the day with a photo session along the coast, the basalt cliffs and the black lava beach at Reynisfjara where we can photograph the fascinating rock formations that surround the beach. Our last photo session in Iceland features cliffs, steep precipices and a mile-long lava beach on Dyrhólaey, perfect motifs for captivating landscape shots. Afterwards, we continue towards Keflavik and our last hotel for this trip, Konvin Hotel, near Keflavik Airport. In the evening we will share a closing dinner during which Hans also appoints the ”Image of the trip” which will advance to the final of the ”Image of the year 2023″ competition. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 (14/9) – JOURNEY HOME
After breakfast, flight home by your own devices. (B)

TOUR ITINERARY

September 9 – 14, 2023

DAY 1 (9/9) – WELCOME TO ICELAND
At lunchtime we gather at the airport where we are welcomed by Hans Strand and Florian Varnecke. Our journey begins at the fabulous landscape at Gjáin. In this picturesque gorge we will have the opportunity to photograph small waterfalls in lush greenery. Among the flowing water, we experiment and test our way with different shutter speeds to create impactful images. From the small landscape we continue our photographic adventure to Iceland’s third highest waterfall, Háifoss, located in a mighty gorge. Under Hans’ leadership, we test out various photographic sections and compositions on the over 122 metres high fall. We finish our first day together by checking into the hotel Highland Center Hrauneyjar where we will stay for two nights. In the evening, we share a welcome dinner. (D)

DAY 2 (10/9) – LANDMANNALAUGAR
During the day will be a visit to Landmannalaugar in Fjallabak Nature Reserve and its dramatic landscape dominated by colourful mountains in shades of grey, orange, yellow and green. As we wander through the lava field to the fumaroles at the foot of the Brennisteinsalda volcano, it feels as if we have ended up on another planet, with smoke rising from the ground and sweeping across the stone-covered landscape. Landmannalaugar is one of Iceland’s most beautiful places and a paradise for landscape photographers. After dinner, we spend some time reviewing our images, with constructive image criticism from Hans. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 (11/9) – AMAZING WATERFALLS AND JÖKULSARLON
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and continue towards the south coast. Along the way we make photography stops at some of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. The first stop will be at Seljalandsfoss and the nearby Gljúfrafoss where we can get amazing pictures from inside a cave, as the water rushes out over the cave opening high up there. We also stop at one of Iceland’s other very famous waterfalls, Skogafoss, before we arrive at Guesthouse Gerdi where we check in for two nights in the afternoon. After an early dinner we head to Jökulsarlón for evening photography. Jökulsarlón is a large glacial lake with calving ice from Breidarmerkurjökull. This glacial lake in connected to the sea via a short watercourse that brings smaller icebergs out to sea. On the sea side, these icebergs lie washed up on the shore and sparkle like crystals in the evening light. The place has become almost iconic because of its unique landscape of ice, sand and sea. After that experience we head back to the hotel. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 (12/9) – FJALLSARLÓN, FALLSJÖKULL AND VESTRAHORN
After an early breakfast, we meet the sunrise on the lava beach in front of Jökulsarlón and the nearby glacial lake Fjallsarlón where we come very close to the glacier Fallsjökull with its giant icefall. Afterwards, we continue along the coast to Höfn where a photo session at Vestrahorn awaits us with its vast plains covered by rolling dunes of lava sand covered with grass. The landscape spreads out towards the lonely mountains on the horizon. Hans will show us how to work with foregrounds and how to think in order to create a depth in the images that draws the viewer’s eye into the picture. If we the weather is on ours die, you will have the opportunity to photograph the mountain peaks wrapped in clouds while the landscape is covered by a magical light. Back at the hotel dinner is served.

DAY 5 (13/9) – FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR, REYNISFJARA, DYRHÓLAEY
After an early breakfast and checkout, the day begins at the picturesque canyon, Fjaðrárgljúfur, where we get the opportunity to photograph waterfalls and the dramatic and moss-covered cliffs that plunge far down into the river far below. The landscape changes drastically as we continue east along the coast through the world’s largest lava field Eldhraun, which was formed during the volcanic eruption at Laki in 1783. Here, we will photograph the seemingly endless and moss-covered lava that spread out towards the mountains in the horizon. We continue the day with a photo session along the coast, the basalt cliffs and the black lava beach at Reynisfjara where we can photograph the fascinating rock formations that surround the beach. Our last photo session in Iceland features cliffs, steep precipices and a mile-long lava beach on Dyrhólaey, perfect motifs for captivating landscape shots. Afterwards, we continue towards Keflavik and our last hotel for this trip, Konvin Hotel, near Keflavik Airport. In the evening we will share a closing dinner during which Hans also appoints the ”Image of the trip” which will advance to the final of the ”Image of the year 2023″ competition. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 (14/9) – JOURNEY HOME
After breakfast, flight home by your own devices. (B)

PHOTOGRAPHER

HANS STRAND • Landscape Photographer

Hans Strand is Sweden’s most internationally famous and successful landscape photographer. Over the years he has won many prizes and earned many awards, such as Hasselblad Master Award and BBC Photographer of the Year Award. His characteristic photographs, showing razor sharp, peacefully well-composed landscape sceneries and more narrow concentrated cutouts, reveals his personal and elaborate ways of describing both the beauty and complexity of nature. He explains what photographing means to him with these words: ”I’m never as much alive as when I’m photographing.” Among other things Hans has published two books about Iceland: ”Iceland Above & Below” 2014 and the magnificent volume ”Island” 2018.

PORTFOLIO: hansstrand.se

ACCOMMODATION

HIGHLAND CENTER HRAUNEYJAR***

GUESTHOUSE GERDI***

KONVIN HOTEL***

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PRICES, FACTS & BOOKING

PRICE

Price per person: £ 2 270 or USD 2 755

Included:

All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
Accommodation in a shared twin room.
Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
All activities according to the program.
Participation and workshops by Hans Strand during the trip.
English speaking travel host from Zoom.
All taxes and other local fees.
Travel documents and other travel information.

Excluded:

Return flight to Iceland.
Single room supplement. £ 465 or USD 565
All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
Travel insurance. For details, see our website.
Any other item not mentioned as included.

FLIGHTS

International airfare to Iceland is not included in the price. You should arrive at Keflavik airport no later than 11:00 AM on September 9. Depart home could be anytime during September 15. If you wish, we are more than happy to help you arrange your flights. Just send an email to info@zoomphototours.com, and we will respond with flight suggestions and prices.

GROUP SIZE

In order for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer, our groups are always small. On this tour, the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 14.

LANGUAGE

English, Swedish and German

PHOTO GEAR

A DSLR camera.
Telephoto zoom lenses up to a 200 mm.
Wide angle lenses, at least 24 mm.
Sturdy tripod.
A laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.

TOUR LEADER

Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you’re having the best possible experience in Iceland.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.

BOOKING

Use the online booking form below and you will receive a booking confirmation right away or you can give us a call on +46-470 466 40 or send an email to info@zoomphototours.com

BOOK ONLNE

Photo: Hans Strand and Hans Elmqvist