ICELAND HIGHLANDS
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION
August 26-September 3, 2024

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the stunning landscapes of Iceland Highlands with our all inclusive 9 day photography expedition in a modified 4x4 vehicle and expert guidance to help you capture the raw beauty of this extraordinary country.
Led by experienced photographer, participants explore some of the most iconic landmarks, such as the Landmannalaugar region in Iceland’s southern highlands and its surroundings. From majestic waterfalls nestled in remote valleys to dramatic fjords and volcanic landscapes, there will be plenty of hidden gems waiting to be captured.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, our Iceland Highlands Photography Workshop promises an enriching experience filled with breathtaking landscapes. Get ready for an adventure that will leave you with stunning images and memories to cherish forever!

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

Reykjavik ⇾ Highlands ⇾ South Coast ⇾ Reykjavik

Arrive Keflavík International Airport (KEF) on August 26, 2024. Flights out can be made on September 3, 2024.

Airport transfer to/from Keflavík International Airport (KEF) will be provided. We will need your arrival and departure flight details as soon as you book your tickets.

Rest in comfortable accommodations that are strategically located near key photography spots, allowing for easy access during golden hour or sunrise/sunset shoots. Accommodation in a single rooms included for 8 Nights.

+EXPEDITION INCLUDES

9-Day intensive photo workshop in one of the most unique and lesser-known locations
Pre-workshop virtual meeting: Before the workshop begins, we’ll start a new WhatsApp group just for our participants. You’ll meet everyone in the group and be able to ask questions and prepare
Post-processing and image review sessions with screen recordings which the participants can keep
Exclusive Drone Photography Lessons: Learn how to capture unique perspective and stunning visuals from a height and angle that would be impossible to achieve with traditional photography approaches
Small group size of 4 with one guide who knows the area
All accommodation in a single room occupancy for 8 nights
All Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Transportation during the workshop
Permits and parking fees (If applicable)

-NOT INCLUDED

Flights to and from Iceland
Items of a personal nature
Alcoholic beverages
Travel Medical, Trip Cancellation Insurance and Equipment Insurance (Mandatory)
Tips, extras, and anything else specifically not listed as included

WEATHER

In August, Iceland experiences the transition from summer to early autumn. It is one of the warmer months in Iceland.

The sun rises at approximately 5:30am and sets at 9:30pm during this time of the year. Add in driving time to and from locations and this will make for very early mornings and late nights. Average temperatures typically ranging from 50°F to 59°F (10°C to 15°C) but can be colder, windy and rainy. Prepare for variable weather.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition. You must be able to hike on possibly uneven trails, up to 1.5 miles each way, with total of 3-4 miles a day.

Exploring volcanic landscapes in highlands such as lava fields or craters might involve walking over rocky terrain with uneven surfaces. While not overly strenuous, having good balance and mobility is beneficial.

If you're unsure, just give us a call and we can discuss it. We cater for the majority of people who don't want to walk too far or do anything too stressful!

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Highlands are a fragile ecosystem, and it's essential to practice responsible photography when visiting this pristine area. Stay on designated paths, respect nature, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

ITINERARY

DETAILED ITINERARY WILL BE PROVIDED FOR EACH DAY ON THE WELCOME NIGHT

Your workshop includes a 9 day exploring amazing Icelandic Highlands, also known as the Interior or Hálendið in Icelandic, refer to the vast and uninhabited region located in the center of Iceland - a unique opportunity to experience untouched wilderness and breathtaking landscapes that are unlike any other place on Earth. You will get to know this landscape intimately as you spend your time exploring the many photographic opportunities.

The Highlands are home to several iconic natural attractions such as Landmannalaugar – known for its colorful rhyolite mountains and hot springs; Þórsmörk – a lush valley nestled between glaciers; Askja Caldera – featuring an otherworldly landscape with volcanic craters; and many more hidden gems waiting to be captured.

This workshop offers an excellent mix of location photography, drone photography, image review sessions, learning about techniques for capturing the best lighting and composition, as well as post-processing techniques in one of the most unique and lesser-known locations in the Highlands. Our goal is to broaden your technical skills and unleash the artist in you.

We will explore the Highlands by modified 4x4 vehicle equipped for off-road driving as most roads in this region are classified as F-roads (mountain tracks).

Day one begins with your arrival at Keflavík International Airport; you will take a Flybus, using the ticket provided for you, to your hotel in Reykjavík, where you are free to unwind until 5 PM. At this point, you will meet your guide and group in the lobby at 5:30 PM for an early dinner and spend some time getting to know each other. Around 7 PM we head out for a sunset in a nearby location on the Reykjanes Peninsula (This is completely optional).
On your second day, the adventure truly begins. We will meet for breakfast at 7:30 AM and check out of our hotel at 8:30 AM. We will then head to our second base in southwest Iceland and drop our luggage at the hotel.
If time permits, we will make a quick stop at the Gullfoss waterfall before we start heading towards Kerlingarfjöll, a stunning mountain range and geothermal area located in the Icelandic Highlands - known for its intense geothermal activity, including hot springs, steam vents (fumaroles), boiling mud pots, and warm rivers—all set against a backdrop of rhyolite mountains that create an array of colors from reds and yellows to greens. We will spend the entire afternoon in Kerlingarfjöll before heading back to the hotel for early dinner and then to Brúarfoss Waterfall for sunset, an incredibly beautiful waterfall located in South Iceland. It's renowned for its vibrant blue water and intricate series of small cascades that flow into a single stream.
On this day after breakfast, we’ll checkout from our hotel and start heading towards the Northern part of the Highlands. The North Icelandic Highlands are a region of stark beauty and wilderness, characterized by its remote and rugged terrain. This area is less visited than the southern part of the Icelandic Highlands but offers equally breathtaking landscapes and a sense of solitude that can be hard to find in more popular tourist destinations. While on the way to our 3rd base, we will en route to photograph some of the most dramatic waterfalls deep inside the highlands.
After checking into the hotel, we will have an image review session followed by a post processing class. We will have early dinner and head out for our sunset shoot. We will be staying at this location for the next 3 nights.
During our time here our itinerary will vary depending on weather and light conditions. In this part of the Highland region it can indeed be highly unpredictable., with strong winds, sudden temperature changes, and the potential for snow even in summer, but we’ll do our best to ensure that you have a great time, no matter the conditions. Bad weather often brings great shooting opportunities, and we feel there’s always something to shoot!
After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and take the F208 Fjallabak scenic route to the southeastern part of the highlands, going behind Mýrdalsfjökull glacier. We capture the green pyramid shape of Maelifell Mountain, remote lake of Langisjór and many other places on route such as Ófærufoss waterfall. We’ll stay in the area all day before heading to our hotel on the south eastern side of the Highlands for the night, where we’ll stay for the next two days.
This morning of day 8, after breakfast we will start heading to our last and final location, Fjaðrárgljúfur, a stunning and majestic canyon located in southeastern Iceland. We will finish our shoot at this location and will then return to Reykjavík for our final night.
We’ll arrive in Reykjavik in the late afternoon, check into our hotel and have a goodbye dinner together.

Drone photography in Iceland highlands offers a unique perspective on the country's breathtaking landscapes from a height and angle that would be impossible to achieve with traditional photography approaches. From cascading waterfalls to dramatic volcanic craters – capturing these natural wonders from above can create truly mesmerizing images.

Iceland's vast landscapes require longer flights to capture the desired shots. Ensure you have sufficient battery life for your drone and carry extra batteries as backup to maximize your flight time.

With extensive background in both the drone & photography industries, we have harnessed and packaged the skills of successful drone photography to share with you and create great compositions for beautiful aerial shots.

GALLERY

TECHNIQUES COVERED IN THIS WORKSHOP

IN THE FIELD:

Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure
Composition: Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.
Lens choice: From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens
Shooting multiple image panoramas
Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures
Shooting stars and night photography (Depending on weather conditions)

PROCESSING:

Using Adobe Camera RAW
Using local adjustments to shape and sculpt the light
Using Photoshop layers to build up image adjustments
Using luminosity masks in Photoshop
Hyper realistic AI RAW editing in Photoshop
Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image
Stitching multiple panoramas together
Sharpening images for web

WHAT TO BRING

A DSLR OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA

The criteria for the kind of work we’ll be doing is a camera that can be operated completely manually to ensure we get the best exposure

WIDE ANGLE TO TELEPHOTO LENS

For some of the locations, particularly the lakes, a wide angle lens really is essential if you want to get those epic landscapes

Sturdy TRIPOD

We’ll often be shooting in low light so a tripod is an absolutely essential piece of equipment. A lightweight carbon fibre model

LANDSCAPE FILTER SYSTEM

A neutral density filter of at least 3 stops will help slow down the exposure to blur clouds and remove ripples from the lake’s surface

DJI DRONE Fly More Combo WITH DJI RC 2

Experiment with different angles, heights, and compositions to create unique aerial images

Warm clothes

While you don’t want to overpack, it’s always good to assume that it will be colder, windier, and wetter than you expect

WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS

We’ll certainly be walking over rocky and uneven grounds and we’ll also often find ourselves in a muddy and wet conditions

CAMERA BACKPACK

When moving your camera gear for any length of time a backpack can really save your back. A good backpack, one with sturdy hip straps

Laptop with Adobe Camera RAW and PHOTOSHOP

We’ll be shooting RAW, and as part of each day will be dedicated to post processing images a good RAW converter like Adobe

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR & GUIDE

Monish Mansharamani | Founder + Pro Photographer

Monish Mansharamani is a professional landscape and travel photographer based in Oregon. He is completely self-taught and has years of experience in medium format shooting, guiding photo tours, and teaching digital post-processing techniques. His specialization lies in capturing stunning panoramic photographs of fine art landscapes from the United States and beyond.

The majority of his photographs are taken with a superior medium format digital camera, which allows for incredible detail to be captured. His approach to photography is a "slow photography" technique, where he takes his time to carefully observe the scene and capture only a few or a dozen exposures in a span of two hours. This process enables him to truly perceive the essence of the scene and let it reveal itself. Each photograph he captures is unique, and he dedicates a significant amount of effort to ensure that the final image is a true work of art by meticulously processing the image.

As a landscape photographer, his goal is to present views of the natural world in a fresh and unique way. He achieves this through careful composition, attention to detail, and the creative use of beautiful light.

Currently, he fulfills his lifelong dream by leading Adventure Photography workshops all over the world through his company Aventura Workshops LLC.

PAYMENT TERMS

20% deposit is required to secure your spot.
Balance is due no later than 90 days before the Workshop start date.
Flexible payment option available, just ask!
All other Aventura Workshops Terms and Conditions apply.

WITHDRAWAL & REFUND POLICY

If you withdraw and your place is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 cancelation fee. If you withdraw and your place on the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

90 days or more: Full refund minus a $250 cancelation fee
60 - 89 days: 50% refund
Less than 60 days: No refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.

DISCLAIMER

We strongly recommend you to get Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health plan will not cover you whilst you are overseas. The workshops will always dependent on weather, as the weather can be highly unpredictable.