Iceland summer colors

Finding a location for summer photography presents challenges, often the light is too harsh, sunsets and rises too close together to enable decent sleep and the air lacks the clarity that cold days bring. Plus all that green! In other words while it is great to ditch the thermals it is hard to find inspiration.

A solution is to escape to cooler latitudes. This summer Mel and I, with new friend Canadian Connie, headed north to Iceland and chose to spend a week in the Westfjords. This location would present challenges in the winter months due to it’s isolation and difficult terrain but in the summer is accessible but little visited (while the south is full of tourist buses).

On arrival the weather was in fact warmer than it had been in the UK which was a bit of a surprise but there is no second guessing the weather here. Basically no matter the season take layers and wet weather gear and expect to remove and add on an hourly basis!

The drive to the northern part of Westfjords takes about eight hours so our guide and driver had suggested an itinerary that gave us an overnight stop near the Kirkjufellsfoss on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for an evening shoot, then a fairly easy drive to Thingeyri for three nights and finally on to a base near Isafjordur for a further three nights. For the return journey we caught the Sykssholmur ferry to cut down on the driving and to give another perspective on the land.

Day 1

Arrival at Keflavik International Airport where we met our guide and new friend Connie, the weather was looking fabulous and an easy drive took us to Kirkjufellsfoss,  a  well-situated waterfall near the distinctive Kirkjufell mountain on the north side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The only down side here was the sky – just a bit too clear but it is a great location and having the mountain light up in the evening sun a bonus. It is always good to bag a few shots early in a trip – at least you know you have something to take home.

Kirkjufell Mountain and Falls

We stayed in a rough and ready guesthouse in Budardalur but all we needed was a bed, shower and breakfast and then off again into the unknown. From this point we quickly left the the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and were in the southern parts of the Westfjords.

The roads began to get “interesting” with three mountain passes in quick succession. The road turns to a gravel track. It stays this way for 100 plus kilometres, until we got to Thingeyri. It is a drive that is fine in summer but I’d still recommend a vehicle with plenty of power and good tyres, to be honest I’d not fancy it in winter on my own.

We arrived in Thingeyri in the afternoon and experienced the last of the summer sun of the trip before the clouds took hold.

Our guesthouse here was well placed and had the benefit of a shared kitchen,  I wish that the UK had more accommodation like this. It is somewhere between a B&B and a cottage and gives so much more freedom for a photographer who has just a few days (so doesn’t want a weekly cottage let) and needs the flexibility to self cater and keep strange hours.

That evening and the following morning we enjoy the  view over Dýrafjörður from the top of Mt. Sandafell .

From Mount Sandafell

From Mount Sandafell - Morning

The Aðalból mountain road proved an exciting option. It is hardly a road, more like a track that has been crafted and hewn by dedicated souls determined to bring their little homesteads within the reach of civilisation. We drove it twice, the second time I felt a little more relaxed but the soaring aretes above you and drops below made you grateful for the safety of a sturdy vehicle and experienced driver. Truly worth the effort. The light wasn’t really with us but as an experience it was unforgettable.

Every corner had a surprise.

Taking a leisurely walk around a location is always worthwhile to get the local flavour – or in this case the smells.

Fish Drying Huts

Days 4-7

Iceland -avalance stoppers

Leaving Thingeyri was hard, it had been a great location and I felt that if we had found some better light it would have kept us busy for several more days.

Most of the drive North involves driving in and out of the fjords that distinguish the Westfjords from the rest of Iceland. Progress is slow but who wants to rush?

From Isafjordur, it was a 20 minute drive, including a seven kilometre long tunnel, to get to Blómsturvellir Guesthouse in Súðavík, which provided pleasant self catering accommodation.

For the next few days we explored the northern edge of Westfjords. Worthwhile locations include; Önundarfjörður, Skálavík, Súgandafjörður, Bólungarvík, Ísafjörður, Hestfjörður  and Skötufjörður

The weather proved a little stubborn as it refused to move. In the distance we could see great light over an inaccessible reserve and we had to work hard to make the most of any moments when it shone our way.

Red Glow

Highlights include a rainbow and waterfall  over the distant reserve. My Canon 70-300L proved its worth during this trip as it allowed me to peer into places I couldn’t reach.

Inaccessible

Sunrises gave some frustrations as the gap for the sun to shine through was so small but for a brief time it ignited the land and showed the local colours. Colour that in summer in the UK would not be found.

Brief local colour

We stopped in Isafjordur to take some detail shots I had to chuckle when I found this… our football is truly a religion all over the world.

United

A week is not long enough to do such a place justice, you leave asking so many questions. Did I make the most of the light and time? What would the area look like in another season? Will the light be better tomorrow? What is round that corner we didn’t quite walk to? When can I return?

Grabbing the Moment

As we drove away from our house for the long drive back to the airport we had a happy accident – Connie had left her watch and she had to dash back to get it. Mel and I opted to be left by the road until she returned and we got a fleeting bit of light. A grabbed moment at the end of a great week when no-one wanted to leave.

Grabbing the last moments

A final stop was at Dynjandi, one of Icelands most famous waterfalls. Not a mid-day location and indeed even though it is spectacular I haven’t seen an image from here that makes me go “wow” – I wonder if the light every really catches it and makes it sparkle. I’d love someone to show me a picture from here that proves it does sometimes glow. This is is a tiny, tiny part of a mountainous fall.

Dynjandi -a fraction of a fall

We had decided to take the ferry to avoid a long drive. The ferry from Brjanslaekur  arrives at the port of Sykssholmur. There is nothing in Brjanslaekur. It is basically an Icelandic crossroads, there are a few farms, along with a hut which is used to sell ferry tickets, and a dock. As basic as it was I still felt a sense of returning to the world. Once on the ferry the magic was broken – all possible food tastes catered for and there were people again which made me realise that we had seen so few on the trip.

Our final night near the airport was spent at The Barracks,  Keflavik. If you want a very clean and airy room, own bathroon, access to a kitchen, a breakfast at any time of the morning and a free drive to your plane at a VERY reasonable price – this is for you.

Postscript.

I mentioned that I used my new Canon 70-300L a lot on this trip. I have used a zoom many times before for landscapes but never found a lens that really worked for me. I have a 100-400 Canon which I enjoy and can produce quality shots but it isn’t a lense you want to drag up mountains. I had the 70-300 DO  but my copy seemed soft and didn’t appear to work with my 7D (I use the 5D MKII for landscapes but carry the 7D in my bag with a long zoom for when I need some reach). I have uploaded shots from this trip here that show how much I used the 70-300L. It has in fact given me a new “voice” – while I remain a wide angle junkie I now have a new tool that gives a perspective that intrigues me.

Zooming in.

Claire Carter www.carterart.co.uk

I have recently begun a new venture, offering bird of prey photography workshops in the beautiful Shropshire countryside near my home in the UK. The first one took place in June and was a great success and another follows in August. It was a pleasure combining my teaching experience and photography knowledge to help the participants make the most of the experience, with skills levels varying from total beginner to experienced nature photographers.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the benefits of attending workshops where the subjects are captive birds.

Wildlife photography is a skill that takes many years to acquire. Not only does it require a huge amount of patience and time but also field crafts. You need to know your camera inside out so when fleeting moments present themselves you can respond intuitively. However,  actually being in the right place at the right time is the real challenge and to do that you need to understand your subject.

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Well run workshops will focus on photography technique and also the bird themselves. Their natural habitat will be considered alongside their behaviour. A huge amount of useful information can be acquired which can allow participants to seek out wild subjects.

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Learning how your camera and lenses can be used effectively to “nail” a good shot is fundamental. Being able to spend a day experimenting with different lenses, depths of fields and speeds has been for me in the past a huge confidence booster for the times I have been out in the field with “real” subjects.

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Flight shots are a real challenge, especially in the poor light we often get in the UK. Knowing how to wind up your ISO to the limit that is acceptable for your camera is something that all nature photographers must know.

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Panning to maintain a bird in frame is yet another skill that needs repetition.

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Learning how the background changes the impact of an image and knowing which f/stop keeps the full bird in focus can be practiced as a hundred images can be taken of one bird as you swap camera settings and lenses.

Click on Photograph to see a Larger Version copyright carterart

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The skills learnt can be applied endlessly in the future. Participants may go away and more confidently seek wild subjects, be more able to shoot subjects in their back yards or maybe be better prepared for the safari they always wanted to go on. Before I went skiing I went on the dry ski slopes so when I hit the real stuff I stood a chance of enjoying the experience more – this is how I view these workshop, a chance to hit the ground running when the opportunities arise without falling on your butt and cursing lack of preparation.

In addition it is always good to meet other photographers and see how different people approach a subject. In my workshop we share images after the event and that is a big learning experience and people can stay in touch so new friends are made.

For more information about my workshops email me at Barnabys@btinternet.com or visit my website here.

Last year I decided to focus my camera more on the area where I live. This was partly because I had at last found time to display my prints in our shop window and needed more images of the locality but also because I live in a very pretty part of the country and I had sadly neglected it. It does lack open stretches of water, which for me is a frustration, and I had been in the habit of running to the coast as soon as I had some time. Forcing myself to stay put  meant I had to try and open my eyes to its charms and work to a different formula where reflected skies and rushing tides played no part.

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I live in a small town (or large village) called Cleobury Mortimer in the south of Shropshire. It isn’t on the tourist map and most UK residents will never have set foot in it, though Brummies will maybe have driven through on their way to Wales and the nearby Ludlow with its Festival, castle and well known restaurants are crowd pleasers.

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In the distance of the photograph above you can see a snow covered Clee Hill (Titterstone Clee). This is my stomping ground. A place my dog and I  know well. It does have some rather unattractive radars on it but these in fact hold a certain fascination for me and last year I found myself there after dark hoping to catch a rare glimpse of the aurora that had been predicted. The lights hitting the clouds in the image below are coming from the urban mass of the West Midlands – obviously hiding any chance of seeing what I’d come to see but this helps to locate where I am.

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Being just a 10 minute drive from my house I can dash to this hill when the light looks promising…

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…or I feel a morning mist in the air.

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From Titterstone Clee you can see Brown Clee with great views across the Welsh Marches.

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Another nice walk is around Catherton Common. A tree here had caught my eye many times and at last this autumn I found it looking at its best.

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There is also a tree I can see from my house and I set myself the challenge of trying to catch it in different conditions and from varying angles. This proved useful when the weather made driving difficult and this last winter was certainly one to remember.

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This ancient oak is within the grounds of Mawley Hall.

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Mawley Hall can be seen here below within a shot of the tree near my house mentioned above. By walking around and using different lenses I have learnt a lot about how a familiar object can have a thousand different perspectives.

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Below is Hoary Ridge and the parish marker.  A treeless landscape with a great view that needs something to add height and interest and this marker does the job, add some golden light and a rainbow and I am happy.

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Click to see larger

So what have I learnt by staying at home?

First it is easy to be lazy. You can wake pre-dawn and convince yourself that it doesn’t look promising and after all – there will be another day. When on location I never do this as I know I have few days to get the shot I want.

Second, when there is no water to add reflections or mountains to add height trees can fill an empty space. You can walk around a tree and get different moods so have a circular dimension that larger features don’t have.

Third, with a little thought there are many opportunities that can be walked to and this means you can “curtain twitch” and respond to the light.

Lastly, familiarity kills seeing what is in front of your nose. I have had to stop wishing myself elsewhere and appreciate what I have on the doorstep.

PTR is a site dedicated to travel, but there are different ways to make a journey. This is one I can continue whenever I have a spare hour and it is one I am glad I have begun

Claire Carter  www.carterart.co.uk

April 2011. I caught a train in England at 8am, a plane at 12:30, landed in Iceland at 3:00, travelled for 5 hours by jeep dumped my bags and then found myself at midnight on a different planet watching the scene below.

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If you live in the UK this is almost on your doorstep. It is now a relatively affordable location and one that will leave you with lasting memories and, I can guarantee, a desire to return and explore further.

This trip was suggested by my Polish friend Hania. We had 12 days and the first decision was where to head. It was tempting to just hire a car and go where the mood took us but after consideration we decided to be more specific and planned. This was partly due to experience that tells me that chasing the light can result in running around in circles. Seeing lots but really experiencing  nothing. We were also travelling in April and the weather at this time is unpredictable and the interior inaccessible. Many run around Route 1. A road that is open all year and takes you around the whole island. But it is a big place to take in in 12 days. Did I want to spend hours in a car, hunting the next bed for the night? No.

We decided to stick to the south as first timers. A safe option as it is well travelled but in April it is empty- a different story in the summer when it is a tourist hotspot. We also made what was a good decision and took a four day tour with Tony Prower (PTR interview and details here). We were collected from the airport and were only at the above location as a result. It was the only night clear enough to see the aurora and would certainly have been in the wrong place without his help.

The following morning at 5am, having got into bed after 2am, I woke and was greeting by a beautiful dawn that was well underway. A frantic scramble took us back to the lagoon.

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We were staying at a guest house that is just minutes away from this location. The rural guesthouses are NOT like the UK equivalent. Most have kitchens you can use. They  welcome people who keep strange hours letting you come and go as you please. In the UK I avoid B&Bs as don’t like that awkward conversation ” um, do you mind if I get up at 3am and come back for breakfast later?”

Returning from this dawn shoot I was entranced by the location of the guesthouse, too excited to sleep I went for a walk and found a new friend.

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It was time to sleep and while I did the weather decided to change. From this point on we faced some challenges, the biggest being the wind. We were in fact lucky as the people on the flight from the UK 24 hours after mine were forced to sit in the plane on the tarmac for 6 hours as it was too windy to let them off!!

There are some locations however that are so unique that the weather doesn’t matter. Or every sort of weather just adds a new element and this has to be true of the beach we visited and returned to over the next few days.

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Black volcanic sands. Ice that has fallen from a glacier and is slowing melting in the sea, completing a cycle that takes thousands of years. Jewels that can be crystal clear or turquoise with a colour that seems to glow from an inner core. Every piece of ice unique, each dawn throwing new light, every wave creating new patterns. An infinite variety of pictures.

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Bliss. Even with wind that was ripping through us. Wellies that were soaked as the waves are totally unpredictable in a gale. I even managed to get a mouthful of sea within the first few minutes and the good old kitchen towel was hard at work clearing off the spray. But what fun!!!

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We spent time within a relatively small area over the next few days but found plenty to point our cameras at, even though good light was limited. The black sands make good reflections.

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Glacier views are very accessible, or you can undertake hikes with guides.

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With water everywhere you can quickly find  a nice spot when the wind does briefly die down, this was a view from the side of the main route one.

Our guide dropped us off in Reykjavik and the following day we got our wheels. I had researched options and this company gave the best deal. They dropped off the jeep at our hotel on time and their vehicle was perfect. I am glad we went for a rugged 4WD considering the terrain as we were able to explore safely and the unseasonable weather found us negotiating icy roads. To be honest they weren’t that bad but in a foreign climate you just don’t know if the blizzard is going to turn into a nasty experience and it is comforting to know the vehicle has these strange metal studs in them that look very reassuring but must really chop up the roads – though the potholes in UK at the moment are much worse than any I saw, even on the dirt tracks. I can say that there is a lot of hype about the roads in Iceland. Yes, they are often dirt tracks and you must decide if your vehicle is able to negotiate what is in front of you but if you go at a sensible speed they are in fact easy. You’ll soon know if you are going beyond your comfort zone – so go back.  River crossings – I’ll leave that to the summer as that is where people have come to grief. A case of needing experience to know what is safe.

When I hire a car I always take out independent insurance. It is cheap, comprehensive and a great peace of mind. Do NOT use the car rental excess policy, it costs a lot more. DO ensure you are covered for all excesses though.

For the rest of the trip we were based on the south coast in a cottage. The intention was to explore the coast and some of the more well known waterfalls and hot spring areas. As it transpired the weather kept wrong footing us. The wind never really relaxed, and at times it felt unwise to be stood by the raging sea. We experienced snow, icy roads and painful hail storms. There were however moments when the sun appeared but this was unpredictable and we had to make the most of whatever location it decided to shine on.

One of the most unexpected spots was a beach about 30 minutes from Eyrarbakki. Most beaches are black but this one revealed striations where the wind was blowing away sand and icy pools added a strange impact. It is part of the magic of the country, so many surprises.

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Whilst wind adds challenge it also gives opportunity. A steep beach coupled with a gale gave some chances to do what I like best – play with water.

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Many of the buildings are clad in corrugated, painted metal. Not the most attractive of building materials but the churches are pretty and often in glorious and remote locations.

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One evening in Flói  found us watching a snow storm drifting over the distant mountains, turning them white in an instant.

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Not long after we were engulfed in the white stuff.

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The last day came all too soon, a disappointing dawn was quickly blown away and a final dash to the beach gave a final chance to catch a wave or two — or maybe it caught me?

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I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. I will certainly return, there is so much more to see and every season promises something entirely different from the midnight sun in the summer to fleeting winter light but with extreme ice and frozen waterfalls.

I’d like to head to the Western fjords and Snaefellsnes next. Both offer a rugged and wild adventure and in the summer are quieter than the south, which can get busy with accommodation hard to find without early bookings.

The only negative I can mention is the price of food. Self catering is recommended if costs need to be kept down. Getting Kroner in the UK is difficult, I exchanged some pounds in the airport but this turned out unnecessary as everywhere takes visa debit cards or credit cards – even if you just want a pint of milk.  Petrol is bought by card from self service machines that give a 24 hour service – all very easy and civilised. Out of season (the tourists don’t really start arriving until late June) it is easy to find a bed with good kitchen facilities to hand or book a cottage and these can be booked for short stays which is nice if you want a trip with a few different locations.

If you are hunting the aurora we proved that April is possible but ideally you would want to be there earlier in the year when they can be viewed in the evening. In April it didn’t really get fully dark until past 10pm. I was told midnight until 2am is the optimal viewing time at this time of year, this isn’t a great time to be on watch if you plan to also do dawn and dusk shooting unless you want to sleep during the daylight hours. In the summer you’ll be shooting at night (if you can call it night when it never really gets dark) and catching sleep in the day – this is when your own private/quiet cottage comes in handy.

Whilst away an unseasonably warm spring had arrived in the UK. I arrived home to a world that seemed impossibly warm and green. Very pretty, but give me the wild and wintry Iceland with its unpredictability and peculiarities any day.

Claire Carter

We all have places in the world that appear in our “must photograph before I die” list. Iceland has been in my top 10 for as long as I can remember. I was a geography student, I learnt about glaciers and volcanoes but they remained unseen and theoretical – known but unknown. At last I found myself heading to this land of ice, steam and fire. I had 12 days and knew I had to make the most of it so decided to see if I could start the trip with the help of a guide. I didn’t want to join a normal photo tour and anyway finding one that fitted my available dates proved impossible.

I also wanted to ensure the guide understood the needs of a photographer. After extensive internet searches I struck upon the ideal solution in the form of Tony Prowers  Iceland Aurora Tours. Tony runs an unusual outfit (though I think he is unaware that what he offers is fairly unique) as he will book both individual and small groups (up to four participants) for tailor made trips. What makes this special for photographers is that he is a master of light, his portfolio is simply stunning and totally devoted to Iceland. He knows the best locations and when the light will work for them.

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Photos by Tony Prower, Copyright © 2011, All Rights Reserved

I have now returned from my trip which was a great success. I was in Iceland for 12 days and spent the first four with Tony. This proved to be an ideal way to start my trip as we were immediately on location and it quite simply took the stress out of those first few days when you are often running around in circles trying to orientate yourself.

Below are Tony’s responses to some questions which explain how his business operates. I strongly recommend a look at his gallery of pictures to get a real taste of his ability with a camera and see some of the delights Iceland has to offer.

Claire: Can you describe the format of your tours?

Tony:  The format of my tours can only be described as flexible. this is because of not only the various needs of clients, but the changing conditions.

People want to come away with great landscapes and this can rarely be achieved with a rigid format. Some clients know exactly what they want to achieve before they come, some require help to achieve this, and others want a comprehensive guide to both photography and Iceland.

Summer Iceland is like a different country to Winter Iceland. The daylight hours range from just 3.5 in mid-winter to 24 hours throughout the summer. There are parts of Iceland which cannot be reached until the mid-summer months. Tours have to be flexible enough to cope with the changing conditions.

The flexibility can only be achieved by keeping things small and simple. Basically it involves a Jeep, a driver and up to four passengers. Our Jeeps have been modified to challenge most Icelandic terrains which adds to the flexibility.  I offer half day, full day and long tours (up to 14 days) which allow photographers to nail that shot.

Flexibility doesn’t always work though. Sometimes people have a limited time and just want to see the highlights of Iceland in a one or two day trip. I have several itineraries which although are rigid, they are still designed to achieve great landscape photographs.

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Short tours include pick-up and drop-off from their Reykjavik hotel. Longer tours have the option of airport pick-up and I will also arrange accommodation in a suitable location. The serious landscape photographer can realize their dreams with a single booking.

Claire: Are there opportunities for lone travelers to join a tour to keep costs down?

Tony: Usually, all passengers know each other as they are traveling together, but I also let people share their tours, for example a couple might share with another couple. I usually ask people who want to share to advertise in the TripAdvisor forums. Private jeep tours are not cheap, especially in Iceland, so this is a way for travelers to share the cost and the enjoyment. If people express an interest in a shared tour through my website, I always introduce them via email so that we can discuss the plans in a conference style.

Claire: How do people book?

Tony: In the New Year I designed a booking calendar which enables customers to reserve multiple days with the possibility of specifying a tour and paying a deposit to secure their dates. There is also an option to specify a ‘shared’ or ‘private’ tour which will be confirmed when all participants are in agreement. The booking page also shows my availability. It is also possible to book a tour by simply writing to me via the contact form or by regular email or by phone.

Claire: Can you describe a typical day?

Tony: No! because all days are different with regards timing and location. A tour will start with the intention of being at a prime place during the peak light, they are also planned to include the most laborious traveling during the harshest light. We will head to the prime location with a keen eye on the sky. On popular routes, I am very familiar with photography hot spots and if the sky suddenly springs into life, I will find a good spot fairly quickly. In a nutshell, I want to be in a good location at sunrise and a good location at sunset. This is not always possible.

Claire: Are the tours available all year round?

Tony: Yes, tours are available throughout the year because all months offer something special. Maybe the midnight sun or Aurora, some photographers want snow covered landscapes and some want the luscious green summer pastures and the ability to explore the RAW interior. Travel is challenging during the winter months especially when you consider the limited daylight hours. The summer is extremely beautiful and offers the chance to shoot through the night with several golden hours and ever lasting sunrises. The changing seasons also offer something different with regards to color and mood and there is the chance of seeing the best of both Icelands.

Claire: Do you give photography tuition during the tours?

Tony: Yes, my tours are not workshops, but I am an experienced and qualified teacher and I love helping people who want to learn. I don’t push tuition onto people though, especially if they are experienced photographers. I usually show them what I am achieving and then show them how to achieve the same. Usually I will give them a bit of guidance and let them loose in the nature so that they can apply a technique. Sometimes the tuition is comprehensive and intensive and sometimes it is just a matter of letting a photographer experience a particular type of filter.

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Claire: What level of fitness and stamina are required?

Tony: If I consider you to be capable, then you could expect a cardiovascular tour. But there are no physical requirements. There are locations which require an up-hill hike and there are locations which require five steps from the vehicle. I never force people to exert themselves beyond their own limitations. Iceland is a dangerous place and to have really tired people wandering around in the wilderness with heavy photographic equipment is asking for trouble.

Claire: What vehicle do you use?

Tony: I use a modified Nissan Terrano II which is a fairly comfortable road Jeep and also has very good off-road capability. My other driver has a fully capable Nissan Patrol.

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Claire: What is special about Iceland for a photographer?

Tony: There are many special things about Iceland. It is interesting geologically because it is relatively new and has landscapes which are not yet fully formed. This implies thousands of waterfalls, many volcanoes, plenty of geothermal areas and lunar landscapes. The range of landscapes is extremely diverse. The lack of trees can make it challenging for many people, but, just like the lack of power lines and pollutants, it becomes to shoot just the raw landscapes. Of course, we do have power lines and aluminum factories, but there are many areas which are just uninhabitable and are under-developed. Finding a fantastic landscape with zero human elements is very easy. Then there is the fact that we have volcanoes under huge glaciers, this gives us something very unique — blue ice sitting on a black sandy beach. Of course you have to know where to look. It is interesting also to look at the people of Iceland, who, like no other nation have been shaped by their landscape. The Icelanders love their unspoilt nature, but life goes on, development happens, and I just want to be able to capture much of the raw Iceland before too much change occurs.

Claire: What sort of feedback are you getting from participants?

Tony: Although I am not perfect, my reviews are very positive and can be found on TripAdvisor.com

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Claire: During our tour you kitted us up with waders so we could get into a canyon and get a different perspective. Do you have any other novel ideas up your sleeve?

Tony: I just love photographing water and I like to be prepared and able to access parts of a canyon that no normal photographer can reach. Because of the untouched nature of Iceland  there are not stepping stones to each great viewpoint. We need equipment to get there such as crampons, jeeps with huge tires and fishing waders. I have no more tricks, just good, well thought out equipment.

Claire: I wish Tony continuing success in this venture and can highly recommend his services. I will be posting my own travel blog at PTR shortly with images I took while on this tour and during the following week, I’ll also be posting a more comprehensive selection to my personal website. Iceland was even more beautiful and varied then I had imagined and is a location I most certainly will return to.

Iceland Aurora Tours has earned the Photo Travel Review Magazine five star award ✭✭✭✭✭ for excellence.

Claire