Photo tour in Iceland: Glacier and Northern lights

« LJOSMYNDARI »: The photographer in Icelandic, literally “the one taking an image of light”. 

Both photography enthusiasts and professionals are always on the hunt for specific lights, especially dawn and dusk. This photo tour in Iceland at this time of the year offers you the unique possibility to enjoy hours of grazing light as well as northern lights. We will have many opportunities to meet the light and create with it.

• Northern lights:Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries to admire northern lights, we will adapt our days to enjoy this superb natural phenomenon in the best conditions. During Viking times, northern lights were associated to the souls of the dead, both loved ones and animals. Nowadays, we can explain this phenomenon taking its source in the interaction of solar winds particles and high atmosphere, which does not diminish its magic. Scientists say there will be an intense solar activity during this winter, therefore we should have incredible northern lights.

• Incredible lights in a unique location:We will work most of the time outdoor and close to the glacial lagoon of Jökulsarlon, in order to enjoy at the same time Icebergs, a sandy and a rocky beach, with incredible contrasts and textures. The glacial lagoon of Jökulsarlon is an ideal location for photography. The transparency of the waters and the colours of the ice are almost infinite, according to the ever changing light. For this tour, our goal will be to take pictures involving no or little postproduction.

• Guided by a photographer: This photo tour in Iceland is guided by a photographer who will touch to many subjects: basic landscape photo techniques such as aperture, speed, highlights, colour balance, picture composition, picturing, and photographer’s intention: what our pictures showing? What kind of stories do they tell? During this photo tour in Iceland we will try to ponder on our art, and to specify our intentions.
  During this tour our goal will be to take pictures without having to tweak them in postproduction. Our philosophy is to spend more time with nature than with a computer, to give our our art more authenticity. The tour is not about tweaking pictures on Photoshop, travelling to Iceland is not needed for that.
  Finally, we will spend extremely bad weather days resting or enjoying our art on large screen. The goal of this photo tour in Iceland is to bring back home nice pictures as well as a new approach of photo taking, all of it of course, with humour and conviviality.
  This photo tour in Iceland is guided by Jean-Marc Plessy, founder of Alkemia and photographer in Iceland.

Our commitments:

• A selection of partners engaged in more responsible tourism.
• An English speaking guide who knows Iceland and will make every minute of this trip worth it
• We are contributing to the reforestation of Iceland with the planting of around 1 tree for 4 people.
• The guarantee of working with a local agency.

Group from 6 to 8 people max. 

Photo Tour:Our excursions are made upon consideration of weather and light, in order to enjoy the landscapes and photo taking as much as possible. We always adapt our walking rhythm to the practice of photo taking, and always enjoy loops accessible to everyone. The duration of these walks will depend on the weather conditions, on our feelings and on the group level. They can be extended, shortened or even split in two shorter ones.

Indicative itinerary and safety:The day by day schedule for this photo tour in Iceland is given indicatively and can change because of safety reasons such as bad weather conditions, volcanic activity etc… Your guide knows the terrain like the back of his/her hand and remains the only one in charge to take decisions relative to safety.

Guide:Your guide is attentive to the group and to the Icelandic nature to offer you this magical photo tour Iceland.

Vehicle:Comfortable 4WD minibus prepared to handle Icelandic tracks. We use a minibus operated exclusively for our group.

Accommodation:Double bedroom in guesthouses (upgrade to individual bedroom possible).

Food:Almost vegetarian cuisine made of delicious organic products of high quality. Hearty Scandinavian breakfast, picnic for lunch with salads, cookies and warm beverages. Dinner is usually hearty and convivial using local products as much as possible: trout from the lake, leg of lamb, vegetables, potatoes, salads and delicious dairy products such as skyr with blueberries. Any allergy or strict diet must imperatively be stated clearly during the inscription.

For conviviality in the group(nothing mandatory) We recommend everyone to bring a home produce from their home land.

Participation:Members of the group are kindly asked to help their guide by taking part in the cooking and dishwashing in the accommodation.

Extension of your stay:Please contact us! 

You might not come back to Iceland any time soon, and if you can spare a few more days, we advise you to extend your stay a little bit, in an independent trip to discover another region or just to enjoy more of the northernmost capital city in the world. We can arrange 1 or 2 days more in Reykjavik for you to really submerge in its relaxed and original way of living, to enjoy its excellent coffee-shops and wonderful book-stores, to discover its fascinating little museums and art galleries, and to relax yourself in its swimming pools, spas and original night life.  

Be careful to choose your prolongation early on, because modifying your plane ticket on site can be pricey and even sometimes impossible!

Climate:According to the season and to the weather’s instability of these northern countries, we ask you to follow this gear list, for you own safety and pleasure.

YOUR PERSONAL GEAR: 

• Your personal photo gear
• Suitcase or backpack for all your gear
• Backpack for your picnic and day gear
• Sturdy (Gore-Tex) and comfortable hiking shoes
• Waterproof (Gore-Tex) jacket with hood
• Waterproof or insulated hiking pants
• A few pairs of curly wool or synthetic socks
• Woolly jumper or thick fleece
• T-shirts (Merinos)
• Thin sweaters or shirts with long sleeves (Merinos or comfortable fabric)
• Underwear top and bottom (thermal insulation)
• Beanie, scarf and gloves of wool or lined
• Sunglasses
• Toiletry bag
• Swimsuit / towel
• Hydrating sun lotion and lip balm

If you have a doubt on your gear, feel really free to contact us to receive some personalized advice!