ICELAND WINTER MAGIC

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER HANS STRAND AND FLORIAN WERNECKE

ICELAND WINTER MAGIC

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER HANS STRAND AND FLORIAN WERNECKE

COUNTRY: Iceland PHOTO TYPE: Landscape LENGHT: 7 days DATES: Feb 12-18, 2022 PRICE: £ 2385 or USD 3250

A lava landscape covered in white that stretches towards the horizons where the mighty Vesterhorn rises with its snow-covered mountain slopes, the highest peaks surrounded by clouds and over the mountain shines a soft evening light. This is a magical photo experience that won’t be forgotten.

Come with to Iceland during the winter and experience a dramatic landscape with frost, ice, snow and amazing views. The trip is led by our internationally known landscape photographer Hans Strand with experience from multiple trips to Iceland and the great german nature photographer Florian Wernecke. They will bring you with to some of their favorite spots, where you’ll get to photograph everything from glacial lakes with huge icebergs and frozen water, to lava beaches and ice caves where the ice shapes initiate your photograph imagination. When we aren’t photographing the amazing landscapes we’ll listen to inspiring lectures and have constructive photo discussions about our photos.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Iceland’s dramatic landscape during the winter.
Beaches with black lava sand and fascinating cliffs.
The glacier lagoons Jökulsárlón och Fjallsarlón.
Shining blocks of ice flushed up ashore on the black lava sand.
Vesterhorn with its dramatic mountains and water reflections.
Huge and spectacular ice caves.
The beautiful waterfall Skógafoss.
Worlds largest lava field, Eldhraun.
Joined by Hans Strand and Florian Wernecke during the trip.
Lectures and photo processing led by Hans and Florian.

COUNTRY: Iceland

PHOTO TYPE: Landscape

TRIP LENGHT: 7 days

DATES: Feb 12-18, 2022

PRICE: £ 2385 or USD 3250

A lava landscape covered in white that stretches towards the horizons where the mighty Vesterhorn rises with its snow-covered mountain slopes, the highest peaks surrounded by clouds and over the mountain shines a soft evening light. This is a magical photo experience that won’t be forgotten.

Come with to Iceland during the winter and experience a dramatic landscape with frost, ice, snow and amazing views. The trip is led by our internationally known landscape photographer Hans Strand with experience from multiple trips to Iceland and the great german nature photographer Florian Wernecke. They will bring you with to some of their favorite spots, where you’ll get to photograph everything from glacial lakes with huge icebergs and frozen water, to lava beaches and ice caves where the ice shapes initiate your photograph imagination. When we aren’t photographing the amazing landscapes we’ll listen to inspiring lectures and have constructive photo discussions about our photos.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Iceland’s dramatic landscape during the winter.
Beaches with black lava sand and fascinating cliffs.
The glacier lagoons Jökulsárlón och Fjallsarlón.
Shining blocks of ice flushed up ashore on the black lava sand.
Vesterhorn with its dramatic mountains and water reflections.
Huge and spectacular ice caves.
The beautiful waterfall Skógafoss.
Worlds largest lava field, Eldhraun.
Joined by Hans Strand and Florian Wernecke during the trip.
Lectures and photo processing led by Hans and Florian.

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

TOUR ITINERARY • FEBRUARY 12-18, 2022

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO ICELAND
At lunchtime, we gather at the airport in Keflavik where we’ll be greeted by Hans Strand and Florian Warnecke who’ll the following days guide us on Iceland and inspire us when we photograph Iceland during the winter. From the airport, we’ll travel along Iceland’s south coast towards Vik where we’ll spend the first night. On the way, we’ll make a couple of photo stops including by the magnificent waterfall Skogafoss. With different shutter speeds, we’ll catch the effective water streams. The surrounding cliffs are partly covered by snow that becomes a beautiful contrast to the green vegetation that covers the slopes.

Arriving in Vik we’ll check In on our hotel before we continue exploring the surrounding area. At Dyrholaey we’ll be met with a coastline with basalt rocks that reaches out in the water. The drama in the landscape amplifies by the snow that covers the cliffs and their surroundings. When the sun sets we’ll point our cameras towards the horizon, where the sun paints the coastline red.

Back at the hotel is dinner served, and afterward, Hans and Florian will explain in more detail about what you should focus on when you photograph during the following days. (D)

DAY 2-3 – GLACIER LAGOONS, ICE CAVES AND LAVA BEACHES
After breakfast and check out we’ll continue along the coast towards the glacier lagoons Jökulsarlón and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon where we’ll spend the coming days. On the way we’ll make spontaneous stops when we see something that could become a good photo. We might stop by a group of Icelandic horses and photograph them with the volcano landscape as a background. During the days you’ll get several fantastic photo opportunities led by Hans and Florian who’ll inspire you with tips and guidance in the field.

Our days will include everything that a landscape photographer could dream of, from the sunrise at Reynisfjara to the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón that during the winter is full of frozen icebergs, overall there will be photo opportunities and spectacular nature experiences. At the close by lava beach, several flushed up ice blocks shines like diamonds against the black sand and the North Atlantic cold waves. One of the highlights is a tour inside a glacier cave at the foot of Vatnajökull. Here you’ll experience an indescribable underground world with fabulous ice shapes that lets in the warm sunlight from the winter sun.

When we aren’t photographing we’ll be working on our photos and having constructive photo discussions filled with tips from Hans and Florian. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 – VESTRAHORN
After a few days among lava beaches and beautiful ice shapes we’ll continue on our photo adventure towards Höfn where a photo session by Vestrahorn awaits with its vast fields of lava sand dunes covered by grass, snow, and frost. The landscape is spreading towards the lonely mountain in the horizon and by this time of the year, it’s beautifully covered in snow.

Hans and Florian will show you how we work with the foreground and what to think of when creating depth in the photos that attract the viewer’s eyes. If the weather allows it we’ll photograph the mountain tops surrounded by clouds at the same time the landscapes lights up with the magnificent evening light.

When the sun sets, with a bit of luck we might get to experience an Aurora, one of the world’s most beautiful natural phenom that becomes more magnificent with Iceland’s spectacular surroundings. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 – LAVA FIELDS AND DEEP RAVINES
In the morning we’ll continue exploring the area around Vestrahorn where we find several smaller water streams that will be reflecting foregrounds for the mountain that reflects on the water surface. From Höfn we’ll keep moving in the land of fire and ice and photograph the snow-covered lava at the world’s largest lava field Eldhraun, which formed by the volcano eruption in Laki 1783.

Our travelers will experience the endless moss-covered lava that spreads as far as the eye can see. The rocky landscape turns into an even more dramatic view during our visit to Fjadrarglufur where the vertical and moss-covered cliffs of the ravine plunge steeply down towards the river far below. We’ll have time for this and much more before we check in again at our hotel in Vik. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 – STEEP CLIFFS, MID PITS AND LAVA BEACHES
Our last photo day we’ll spend to fill our memory cards with motives around the beach Reynisfjara, where we’ll be offered photo variation with soaring basalt cliffs and lava beaches.

After arrival to our hotel in Reykjavík we’ll eat a closing dinner. During the dinner Hans and Florian will announce “the best picture” which goes on to the final in “Picture of the year 2022”. (B, L, D)

DAY 7 – JOURNEY HOME
After a few amazing days together we’ll leave Iceland for further transport home on our own. (B)

FEBRUARY 12-18, 2022

DAY 1 – Arrival in Iceland
At lunchtime, we gather at the airport in Keflavik where we’ll be greeted by Hans Strand and Florian Warnecke who’ll the following days guide us on Iceland and inspire us when we photograph Iceland during the winter. From the airport, we’ll travel along Iceland’s south coast towards Vik where we’ll spend the first night. On the way, we’ll make a couple of photo stops including by the magnificent waterfall Skogafoss. With different shutter speeds, we’ll catch the effective water streams. The surrounding cliffs are partly covered by snow that becomes a beautiful contrast to the green vegetation that covers the slopes. Arriving in Vik we’ll check In on our hotel before we continue exploring the surrounding area. At Dyrholaey we’ll be met with a coastline with basalt rocks that reaches out in the water. The drama in the landscape amplifies by the snow that covers the cliffs and their surroundings. When the sun sets we’ll point our cameras towards the horizon, where the sun paints the coastline red. Back at the hotel is dinner served, and afterward, Hans and Florian will explain in more detail about what you should focus on when you photograph during the following days. (D)

DAY 2-3 – Glacier lagoons, ice caves and lava beaches
After breakfast and check out we’ll continue along the coast towards the glacier lagoons Jökulsarlón and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon where we’ll spend the coming days. On the way we’ll make spontaneous stops when we see something that could become a good photo. We might stop by a group of Icelandic horses and photograph them with the volcano landscape as a background. During the days you’ll get several fantastic photo opportunities led by Hans and Florian who’ll inspire you with tips and guidance in the field. Our days will include everything that a landscape photographer could dream of, from the sunrise at Reynisfjara to the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón that during the winter is full of frozen icebergs, overall there will be photo opportunities and spectacular nature experiences. At the close by lava beach, several flushed up ice blocks shines like diamonds against the black sand and the North Atlantic cold waves. One of the highlights is a tour inside a glacier cave at the foot of Vatnajökull. Here you’ll experience an indescribable underground world with fabulous ice shapes that lets in the warm sunlight from the winter sun. When we aren’t photographing we’ll be working on our photos and having constructive photo discussions filled with tips from Hans and Florian. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 – Vestrahorns dramatic surrounding
After a few days among lava beaches and beautiful ice shapes we’ll continue on our photo adventure towards Höfn where a photo session by Vestrahorn awaits with its vast fields of lava sand dunes covered by grass, snow, and frost. The landscape is spreading towards the lonely mountain in the horizon and by this time of the year, it’s beautifully covered in snow. Hans and Florian will show you how we work with the foreground and what to think of when creating depth in the photos that attract the viewer’s eyes. If the weather allows it we’ll photograph the mountain tops surrounded by clouds at the same time the landscapes lights up with the magnificent evening light. When the sun sets, with a bit of luck we might get to experience an Aurora, one of the world’s most beautiful natural phenom that becomes more magnificent with Iceland’s spectacular surroundings. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 – Lava fields and deep ravines
In the morning we’ll continue exploring the area around Vestrahorn where we find several smaller water streams that will be reflecting foregrounds for the mountain that reflects on the water surface. From Höfn we’ll keep moving in the land of fire and ice and photograph the snow-covered lava at the world’s largest lava field Eldhraun, which formed by the volcano eruption in Laki 1783. Our travelers will experience the endless moss-covered lava that spreads as far as the eye can see. The rocky landscape turns into an even more dramatic view during our visit to Fjadrarglufur where the vertical and moss-covered cliffs of the ravine plunge steeply down towards the river far below. We’ll have time for this and much more before we check in again at our hotel in Vik. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 – Steep cliffs, mud pits, and lava beaches
Our last photo day we’ll spend to fill our memory cards with motives around the beach Reynisfjara, where we’ll be offered photo variation with soaring basalt cliffs and lava beaches. After arrival to our hotel in Reykjavík we’ll eat a closing dinner. During the dinner Hans and Florian will announce “the best picture” which goes on to the final in “Picture of the year 2022”. (B, L, D)

DAY 7 – Journey home
After a few amazing days together we’ll leave Iceland for further transport home on our own. (B)

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOTGRAPHER

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

FLORIAN WARNECKE • Assistant Photographer

Florian Warnecke is a very talented wildlife and landscape photographer based in Bavaria, on the border with Austria. His love for nature began as a small child and he now shares this passion with his pictures. Florian’s aim with his photography has therefore been to show the beauty and unspoilt nature the environment around us can offer. At the same time, he wants to make people aware of the environmental challenges we face so that future generations can experience all the beauty that nature offers.

PORTFOLIO: part-of-nature.com

ACCOMODATION

FOSSHOTEL GLACIER LAGOON****

FOSSHOTEL REYKJAVÍK****

FOSSHOTEL VATNAJÖKULL***+

HOTEL VIK I MYRDAL****

PRICES, FACTS & BOOKING

PRICE

Price per person: £ 2385 or USD 3250

Included:

Every transport included in the program.
Accommodation with shared double rooms in the presented hotels.
Meals included in the program. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Every photo activity included in the program.
Joined by Hans Strand and Florian Wernecke during the trip.
Lecture and image processing.
Swedish technical tour guide from Zoom Fotoresor.
Travel documents and practical travel information within the trip.
Hotels and other local taxes.

Excluded:

Flight to Iceland
Single room: £ 385 or USD 525
Personal cost such as meal drinks etc.
Cancellation protection / travel insurance. For more information, visit our website under “Other”.

FLIGHTS

Fly to Iceland on your own. You should be at the airport in Keflavik at about 12.00 on February 12. The return journey home can take place at any time during the day on February 18.

If you want help with booking flights or want help with extra hotel nights, we are more than happy to help with this. You are welcome to call us on +46 470 466 40, email us at info@zoomphototours.com or let us know when you make the booking.

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 10/16. With less than 10 people, only Hans Strand participates.

LANGUAGE

English, Swedish

EXCHANGE RATE

ISK 0,625

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 70 180 90 99 or from USA +1(212) 203-0375 or send an email to info@zoomphototours.com

BOOKING ONLINE

Photo: Hans Strand & Florian Warnecke