Photography in Iceland

Iceland is best known for its otherworldly beauty, with incredible landscapes of extreme contrasts. No matter what sites you behold on your holiday, you will be grateful for having a camera on hand to enshrine your memories of what you encounter.

Whether you are interested in capturing landscapes, wildlife, people, cultural sites or phenomena such as the Northern Lights or the midnight sun, you will find a wealth of intriguing photograph opportunities in Iceland.

• See also Best Itineraries for Photography Lovers in Iceland

Why is Iceland a Great Photography Destination?

The ever-changing weather in Iceland is part of what makes photographing it so special. The locals have a saying that ‘if you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait five minutes’, and the same can be said for the photographic conditions.

In one moment, you may be capturing a feature beneath a dark sky, making the subject ominous and imposing, whereas, in the next, it may be basking in the sun, looking magnificent and inviting.

Iceland’s photography is also diversified by its seasonal changes. The term ‘golden hour’ refers to the times around sunrise and sunset, where the lighting conditions are optimal for pictures; in Iceland, however, this ‘hour’ can be much longer.

In midwinter, the sun barely creeps over the horizon, meaning every hour of daylight is ‘golden’. Meanwhile, in midsummer, the sun does not completely set, meaning this time extends all throughout the night.

Of course, between seasons, the appearance of nature changes, yet this difference is much more dramatic in Iceland than in most other countries. Visiting in winter provides you with entirely different landscapes than in summer, so you can base your traveling plans around what story you want your pictures to tell.

For example, you could visit Mount Kirkjufell on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, one of the country’s most renowned photographic subjects, in summer to illustrate how verdant and picturesque Iceland is bathed in the sun.

Visiting in winter, however, will allow you to capture how dramatic and harsh the land can become when caked in ice and snow. 

Because of the stark contrasts between constant light and pressing dark, in conjunction with awe-inspiring sites and sceneries, Iceland counts as one of the best countries in the world for engaging in the art of photography.

Landscape Photography in Iceland

For the majority of travellers coming to Iceland hoping to capture incredible images, it is the landscape photography already out there that has most likely aroused their interest. Many hope to recreate the photos that they have previously seen—but in their own style and with their own flair.

After all, who could look at pictures of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon beneath the aurora borealis, or of the rock formation Hvítserkur in the midnight sun, and fail to be inspired?

The geography of Iceland makes landscape photography as easy as it is rewarding. The nation has a vast array of different landscapes which are often in close proximity to each other. Within just one day, you can easily photograph diverse and spectacular coastal views, mountain ranges, volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields or geothermal landscapes.

This is especially the case when visiting the South Coast, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (often dubbed ‘Iceland in Miniature’) and the North, particularly in and around the Lake Mývatn area. Therefore, even if you are only having a short stopover in Iceland and basing yourself in Reykjavík or Akureyri, you will still be able to encounter some exceptional photo opportunities to add to your portfolio.

To illustrate this, we’ll use photos of the South Coast as an example.

Leaving from Reykjavík, you first pass through the earthquake town, Hveragerði, where you can take pictures of Iceland’s geothermal landscapes. Then, a little further east along Route 1, you will reach the famous waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. The unique cascade of the former and the sheer force of the latter place both of these marvels among the country’s favorite subjects.

As you travel further, you will pass the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, and can note the peaks which mark the volcanoes hidden beneath them. It is possible to take detours to photograph them in all their glory. Otherwise, the dramatic cliffs of the Dyrhólaey rock arch and the black-sands of Reynisfjara beach will be your next subjects.

Due to the haunting Reynisdrangar sea-stacks and the effects of the violent Atlantic Ocean waves crashing around them, the rock formations are a particular favourite amongst shutter-junkies. This location is conveniently close to the village of Vík, where you can not only stock up for your travels but capture an image that shows how Icelandic settlements are seamlessly entwined with their surrounding nature.

Due to the aforementioned contrasts between winter and summer, this is the case no matter the season, and taking pictures at different times of the year will result in incredibly varying photos.

The next main destinations for photography along the South Coast are at the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, but the landscapes en route are also likely to warrant you to stop. You will pass through vast plains of black sands, dozens of outlet glaciers of Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull, and through a lush and breathtaking countryside.

Skaftafell is often referred to as a ‘hiker’s paradise’, yet all the reasons it is loved by hikers - its scenic trails, dramatic landmarks, and diverse scenery - also hold great photographic appeal. Within one location, you will be able to shoot glacier tongues, lagoons, forests, lava landscapes and picturesque waterfalls, the most notable being the solitary Svartifoss.

As stunning as this Nature Reserve is - it is beautiful enough that is was once considered a National Park in its own right before it was enveloped by the greater Vatnajökull National Park - it is still not likely to be the highlight of this photographic day-trip. That honour will, no doubt, go to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

This giant lake is filled with gleaming icebergs, which have broken off and drifted from a far-off glacier tongue. Each berg is beautiful and unique, weaving black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past into the electric blue and white of the ice. They form unique structures, some of which tower to the height of multi-story buildings.

These icebergs are as individually captivating as they are collectively breathtaking.

Adjacent to Jökulsárlón is a stretch of a black-sand-coastline nicknamed ‘the Diamond Beach’, as it is here that the icebergs wash upon the shore. Contrasting their gleaming colours with the dark sands, the white of the surf, and whatever lighting conditions of the sky above, the images available are breathtaking.

After shooting at the Diamond Beach, you could return to Reykjavík, marking a long but not overly exhausting day of photography that proves how much you can capture in only one trip that both starts and ends in the capital. If, however, you are feeling ambitious, you could travel a bit further east to photograph one more feature: Mt. Vestrahorn, near Höfn.

This horned mountain, one of the few in Iceland composed of gabbro rock, is another of the country’s favourite photo subjects. Even basked in summer sunshine, its dark, barren appearance tells of Iceland’s stark volcanic nature.

Someone feeling even more ambitious, between the months of June and August, could also take a detour—en route or on the return journey—to the region of Landmannalaugar. There, you can capture some spectacular images of the Highlands, one of the country’s most remote regions, with its rhyolite mountains and steaming geothermal areas.

If you want to immerse yourself in the South Coast without rushing, there exist plenty of self-drive tours, where your accommodation and vehicle will be arranged for you, which allows you to focus solely on the photography. If you book one of these in summer, you can then use the opportunity to better visit Landmannalaugar.

If taking a two- or three-day self-drive in winter, however, you have a great chance of capturing locations such as Jökulsárlón beneath the lights of the aurora. You will also get a rare opportunity to photograph a landscape very few will ever see: the world within a glacier, via an ice caving tour.

Avid photographers should ensure they bring a wide-angle lens in order to capture the full majesty of Iceland’s diverse landscapes. Those looking to only enshrine their memories, who are not aspiring or professional photographers, will find that even photos taken on a smartphone will still do the job up to par.

If you wish to capture the landscapes of Iceland via a drone, you are tentatively welcome to, however, there are some regulations surrounding photographing with drones which you can research here.

Wildlife Photography in Iceland

Though its isolation from mainland Europe means a lack of the land mammals commonly found in countries at a similar latitude, the country still boasts surprisingly diverse wildlife. The most accessible and rewarding subjects to photograph are undoubtedly the nation’s numerous bird species, particularly in summer when migratory species such as puffins flock to the shores to nest.

Iceland’s puffins are rather unafraid of people, and will often let you get remarkably close. This is especially the case at the Látrabjarg bird-watching cliffs in the Westfjords, where you can easily get within a few metres of these beautiful birds.

• See also: Where to Find Puffins in Iceland

If you are unable to reach the Westfjords during your travels, it is possible to take puffin watching tours from Reykjavík to the islands of Akurey and Lundey. If you wish to photograph the birds in this way, from a boat, it is recommended that you bring a telescopic lens. That way, you can successfully capture the details of the puffins' charm, such as their colourful beaks and emotive eyes.

It is not just birds that make up Iceland’s impressive wildlife. The nation is also famed for having over twenty species of whale and dolphin frequenting its waters. In fact, the town of Húsavík, in Iceland’s North, is often considered the whale-watching capital of Europe.

Photo from Combination 8 Hour ATV & Whale Watching Day Tour with Transfer from Reykjavík

You can take whale-watching tours from here, Akureyri, Reykjavík, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (for your best chance at photographing orcas), to capture images of these beautiful creatures. In places such as the Westfjords in summer, and Breiðafjörður throughout the year, you also have a decent chance of spotting the whales from the shore with a telescopic lens.

Because of the incredibly scenic surroundings of the aforementioned whale-watching ports, it is often possible to incorporate whale flukes or surfacing dolphins in your landscape photographs.

Photo from Winter Sea Adventure | Whale and Dolphin Watching

• See also: Whale Watching in Iceland

Along the beaches of Iceland, you are likely to find another popular species of marine mammal for photography: seals. They can be found all around the country but have a more constant presence on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, on Ytri Tunga beach on Snæfellsnes, and within the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Photo by Pascal Mauerhofer

In the lagoon, they are particularly of note, as you can capture them ‘hauling out’ the icebergs, a sight most would expect to be reserved only for polar regions. The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is already an essential place for avid photographers to visit, and this only adds to the opportunities for marvelous pictures in the area.

• See also: Seals and Seal Watching in Iceland

Photo by Jonatan Pie

Iceland has but one native land mammal, the Arctic Fox. While elusive, well-camouflaged, and cautious, it is a great subject for the experienced wildlife photographer. They are found around the country but are, by far, the most abundant and least afraid of people in the deserted and remote Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the northernmost part of the Westfjords.

This area is only accessible in summer, but considering the foxes' white winter coats, it is unlikely that amateur photographers could capture the camouflaged animals against the snow of the season.

Iceland does have other wild, land mammals that were brought over by people since the days of settlement. The most notable of these are the reindeer, which are found in East Iceland, mainly around Mount Snæfell. Contrary to the foxes, whales and birds, reindeer are easiest to photograph in winter, which is when they descend to lower grazing grounds.

As a nation that relies heavily on agriculture, Iceland also hosts a wealth of farm animals. While photographing sheep and cows is easy and captures the rural side of the country, the best domesticated subjects are undoubtedly Icelandic horses, which regularly exhibit their playful and curious nature.

• See also: The Icelandic Horse | A Comprehensive Guide

Icelandic horses are found all around the country, throughout the year, as their thick winter coats protect them from even the harshest weather. They will often approach photographers, looking for attention, making your job of capturing them remarkably easy. The only time they may be more reserved is if they just had their foals. But a lens with a decent zoom feature should remedy this problem.

• See also: Wildlife and Animals of Iceland

Culture Photography in Iceland

While Iceland has been internationally renowned for its landscapes ever since tourists began to visit, the culture of the country is drawing more and more people each year.

One side of cultural photography is architecture. Within Reykjavík, you can witness and capture examples of both charming corrugated iron houses as old as the city itself, or beautiful modern buildings such as the concert hall Harpa and the iconic church Hallgrímskirkja.

It is also possible to ascend the tower of Hallgrímskirkja for fantastic cityscapes. From this height, you can incorporate the colourful tin roofs that give the city its quirky character into your photographs. With Mount Esja towering across Faxaflói Bay, you can also capture landscapes within your shots of the capital’s architecture.

Though it homes over two-thirds of the county’s population, Reykjavík is not the only place with notable landmark buildings. Even the most remote hamlets have some very special sites, especially churches, that make for fascinating subjects.

Take, for example, the church at Búðir on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Búðir has not been a commercial hub for centuries and is now an abandoned hamlet, but the quaintness of its church and the beauty of its surroundings means the tiny settlement attracts a stream of photographers throughout the year.

In North and East Iceland in particular, you will also be able to locate turf-houses and their quaint features that represent the nation’s history. It was within these that Icelanders lived for nearly a millennium, surviving the harsh conditions of the country as they sustained themselves from the land and sea.

Other places where you can photograph older architecture include the beach Selatangar, where you can locate basic, dilapidated stone huts that, almost unbelievably, protected fishermen from the area’s brutal weather during the fishing season. You could also visit the Borgarvirki ‘fortress’, a great basalt plug altered by humans for habitation that was never successfully sieged in the early days of Iceland’s clan wars.

Photo from Borgarvirki Fortress in North West Iceland, by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir

For a bit more recent historic buildings, you could head to Ísafjörður, where some of the oldest houses in Iceland remain. Dating back to the 18th Century, these buildings were used by Danish officials during the time of their colonial rule.

Architectural photography, however, is but one side of Iceland's cultural photography. Those seeking to photograph works of art will also find many subjects across the whole country.

In Reykjavík, for example, there are many public sculptures waiting to be pictured. The Sun Voyager, which faces out to Mount Esja over Faxaflói Bay, is particularly of note. The spirit of the adventurer that the vessel embodies is especially powerful when captured at sunrise or sunset.

If you take the ferry to Víðey Island from the capital, you can also see the work Milestones, by renowned artist Richard Serra. Here, one can also find the Imagine Peace Tower, commissioned by Yoko Ono in honour of John Lennon and the ideals the two of them shared.

Reykjavík is also becoming increasingly well-known for its street art. The beautiful murals created as part of the Berlin-inspired Wallpoetry movement show a creative, vibrant side of the city. In many other locations are more commissioned pieces, often reflecting the history of the nation, while even the uncommissioned pieces of ‘graffiti’ still are often very well done, and reflective of the city’s edgier subcultures.

• See also: Graffiti and Street Art in Reykjavík

Once again, art photography is not limited to the capital city. The Eggs of Merry Bay, in the eastern village of Djúpivogar, the Arctic Henge in one the country’s northernmost settlements, Raufarhöfn, and ‘the Ring and Sphere’ work on Grimsey Island are all examples of notable pieces. In larger settlements such as Akureyri, you will also find a wealth of sculptures on display.

Portrait Photography in Iceland

Photo by Tan Gone

The demographics of Iceland are always changing and thus the ‘stereotypical Icelander’ is no longer the concept it once was. Even so, there are still strong defining traits amongst the people whose families have been here the longest that are immediately recognizable as classically ‘Nordic.’

Icelandic women are seen as fair-haired, porcelain-skinned, and blue-eyed; the men are thought of as tall, muscular, and bearded. Those seeking portraits that meet these stereotypes will find plenty of subjects, and so long as you ask for and receive consent before taking your pictures, they will provide your portfolio with the classic ‘faces of Iceland.’

Photo by Tan Gone

Iceland is also, however, a nation of creative people, who will no doubt be grateful for the chance to be pictured. Those interested in taking photographs of musicians will find subjects in every coffee place, bar, and even in many shops throughout the November Airwaves festival; of chefs hard at work during the Food and Fun festival in March; of models and designers during February’s Fashion Festival; and so on.

Photo by Tan Gone

Reykjavík also has thriving cabaret, theatre, drag and poetry scenes, allowing you to capture portraits of entertainers and artists in each field across the city throughout the year within the framework of cultural photography.

• See also: Top 10 Festivals in Iceland

Of course, it is also possible to combine your portrait photography with your landscape photography. Including people in your pictures of the landscapes can help dramatically in the telling of their story.

A person in the foreground of, say, Skógafoss waterfall will illustrate its scale, while the ruddy, smiling face of someone on a glacier will tell of the fun they are having as well as the ice cap’s bracing conditions.

Northern Lights Photography in Iceland

Photographing Iceland’s nature is a blessing in its own right, but to have a chance to do so underneath the aurora borealis is an opportunity of divine proportions for those seeking an otherworldly portfolio. From the end of August to the beginning of May, there are enough hours of darkness for plentiful chances of the Northern Lights appearing in all their glory.

Of course, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and as such, cannot be relied on. To have your best shot of seeing and capturing them, you need to be in as dark a place as possible (without the light pollution of a city and preferably without a full moon) with little cloud cover and a good weather forecast.

To see the expected amount of cloud cover, you can check the weather website. You can also see the aurora forecast here; any estimation above a ‘3’ is worth setting out for on a hunt.

In order to capture the Northern Lights, you need to have a decent camera with a fixed focal lens or wide angle lens, and some prior knowledge of how your equipment works. You will need to set your camera in the following way (depending on the light):

• Change the settings to manual mode
• Use the ‘Live View’ setting to allow you to get a sharp focus at infinity
• Set your ISO between 800 and 3,200
• Set your aperture between f/2.8 and f/5.6
• Set your ISO between 800 and 3200
• Set your shutter speed between 15 seconds and 30 seconds (longer than 15 seconds will result in a slight blurring of the stars as they move)

If you are an experienced photographer, you should be able to adjust your settings in accordance with the amount of light yourself. If you are of a more amateur level, you can play around with the settings until you get it right, or else, much more conveniently, join a Northern Lights tour, where your expert guide can help you out.

Midnight Sun Photography in Iceland

From the 16th to the 29th of June (the two weeks surrounding the summer equinox), the sun never sets in Iceland; it simply makes a loop in the sky, bouncing off of the southern horizon at its lowest point. From mid-May to the end of July, the sun never gets low enough for the night to be considered dark, instead, it is basked in twilight.

This never-ending day, which stretches on for over two months, is thus an ideal time for photographing all day and all through the night.

You will have no limits, throughout your travels, as to when to begin and when to cease taking pictures. Getting to your destinations in the early morning and late night means you will often avoid all of the crowds, and be able to capture Iceland’s sites in the glory they deserve.

The photos you may have seen on, say, the sites of the Golden Circle in summer, are only without tourists in the foreground as the photographer made the most of these opportunities.

During the weeks of the midnight sun, you can be almost guaranteed to be able to reach whatever sites in Iceland you wish to photograph. The Highlands, which only open in June, can be reached and enshrined in your pictures, as can the dramatic mountains and bays of the East and Westfjords, which are often blocked off throughout winter due to heavy snowfall on the roads.

Before setting out to photograph a more remote location, even in summer, it is a good idea to check the roads website just to ensure they have not been impeded by flooding or a rockfall.

Photography Tours and Photo Tours in Iceland

Those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the landscapes and cultural sites of Iceland with a focus on photography should look into booking a photo tour or workshop while here. Some of these can cover a range of sites within a day, while others go on for much longer.

This photography day-tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, for example, will allow you to capture a huge wealth of sites. These include incredible coastal sceneries, such as the mighty Lóndrangar Sea Stacks; the glacier made famous by the novel ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, Snæfellsjökull; and the historic settlements of Arnastapi, Hellnar and Búðir. After all, this stretch of a peninsula is nicknamed ‘Iceland in Miniature’ for a reason.

You could also take a photography day-tour of the Golden Circle, the country’s most popular sightseeing route which goes around Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss Waterfall. Seeing as almost all visitors to Iceland will see these sites, why not do so within the framework of becoming a better photographer?

Those seeking a more immersive and educational experience, however, should look into a multi-day photo workshop. The best of these are conducted by one of the nation’s most esteemed landscape photographers, Iurie Belegurschi, whose images are used throughout the Guide to Iceland site. If a photo has our watermark, it was taken by Mr. Belegurschi.

In winter, Iurie conducts an eight-day tour that covers the South Coast up to Mount Vestrahorn and the Golden Circle, spending each minute of daylight making the most of every location. This workshop has two special focuses, one on capturing the ice caves beneath Vatnjökull, which are only reliably accessible from November to March, and one on capturing the Northern Lights.

Meanwhile, in summer, you can take a thirteen-day workshop that covers not only the South Coast, Golden Circle and sites of the North, but also the incredible landscapes of the Highlands. By the end of this tour, even the most esteemed and professional of photographers will no doubt have obtained new excellent additions to their portfolios and a wealth of new skills.

One of the greatest advantages to a photo-workshop is the fact that your guides will be on hand to help with your technique, while remaining available outside of shooting times to give you workshops on post-processing, marketing, and the route into making money as a professional in this competitive field.

To conclude, Iceland is one of the world’s greatest destinations for photography. With incredible landscapes, unique wildlife, a deep and historic culture, a fascinating people, and diverse and ever-changing light and conditions, everywhere you look you will find subjects worth capturing.

It is a country of extremes, contrasts and fascinating phenomena, all of which will only add to your portfolio, whether you are on the professional route, or just looking to enshrine all the wonderful memories you wish to make.