Iceland: Breaktaking Landscapes Tour

Iceland’s Breathtaking Landscapes August 19-28, 2012 PDF REGISTRATION FORM: Registration Form

Iceland is an island of contrasts. Volcanoes erupt in the middle of ice fields. Black lava flows are capped by electric-green moss. The island abounds in waterfalls of all description, from raging torrents to watery filigrees to leaping arcs. The sandy central highlands seem as lifeless as the moon while the coastal cliffs seem beset by a blizzard of birds.

We will explore the magnificent scenes of southern Iceland with forays into the wild interior. We’ll see the signature locations of Iceland, the most famous waterfalls, geysirs with geothermal activity, the spectacular Ice Lagoon set amid glaciers and tall peaks where icebergs float and run aground, the pastel hills and black lava flows of Landmannalaugar- the austere highlands, the rugged coast and gentle farmland. We’ll stop to capture images of the shaggy, sturdy Icelandic horses and the island’s characteristic architecture from Scandinavian modern to sod-roofed barns and churches. Timing is everything so we will photograph when the light is likely to be best for each location. Plus, we’ve selected several of our favorite spots that most tours pass by.

EXPERIENCE ICELAND WITH US

Feel the spray from explosive geysers and iconic waterfalls. Photograph icebergs stranded on a black sand beach. Dine on farm fresh local cuisine. Pet a friendly horse. Straddle the mid-Atlantic plate separating Europe from North America. Walk in the footsteps of the Vikings of the Sagas. Hear the rifle-shot crack of a calving glacier from a zodiac. Drive over multi-hued hills. Hold a chunk of ice older than civilization.

We focus on photography in the field. We forgo planned lectures, but critiques will be offered as well as guidance from two top professional photographers. You will have field demos and assistance by your side. We aim to expand your photographic techniques and enhance the way you see and compose. The photographic opportunities are so rich in Iceland, a photographer’s dream. We can’t wait to share this special place with you!

ITINERARY

Day 0: Aug 18: Leave the US for Iceland.

Day 1, Aug 19: Overnight in Reykjavik. After picking you up at the airport, we go over the schedule and information about the tour. We photograph around Reykjavik and shoot sunset, including geothermal activity and the blue lagoon area.

Day 2 & 3, Aug 20–21: Overnight in the Golden Circle area. Visit the icons of Iceland, Geysir and the powerful waterfall Gullfoss at the best times of the day. Hraufossar falls is comprised of dozens of falls and cascades offering limitless compositional possibilities. We travel into the interior of Iceland with 4x4 vehicles to photograph the pastel mountains and geothermal areas of the Highlands.

Day 4, Aug 22: Overnight in Vík We photograph two little-known waterfalls of striking beauty. Based on conditions, we’ll stop to shoot black sand beaches, Icelandic horses, a beautiful church, basalt sea cliffs, sea stacks, and rustic structures.

Day 5 - Aug 23: Overnight near Jokulsarlon. We arrive at Jokulsarlon, the spectacular Ice Lagoon fed by massive glaciers. We will shoot the lagoon and icebergs blown across the water, grounded near the shore, careening down the outlet stream, and stranded on the black sand beach.

Day 6 – Aug 24. Overnight near Jokulsarlon. We spend a full day around the ice lagoon area. Take our chartered boat through icebergs on the ice lagoon to the glacier terminus, weather permitting. We’ll visit a lesser-known lake ringed with glaciers and dotted with icebergs the crowds miss.

Day 7 – Aug 25. Overnight at a beautiful hotel in the south. We have a long day of travel. We’ll get our best views of the mountains and a close encounter with a glacier here with a cliff overview. Walk behind a powerful waterfall and photograph at the best time of the day!

Day 8 – Aug 26. Overnight at beautiful hotel in the south. An all day excursion to Landmannalaugar, a region noted for its varicolored pastel rhyolite hills, moss-covered lava flows, and vast expanses. This is the signature landscape of the Highlands of Iceland. Four-wheel drive is a must.

Day 9 – Aug 27. Overnight at beautiful hotel in the south. Photograph the rugged Icelandic horses, sheep and verdant countryside. We will shoot amid the spray and roar of the iconic waterfall, Skogafoss.

Day 10, Aug 28: Drive to the airport and leave for home. Leave with a trove of memories and stellar images.

IMAGES OF ICELAND


View Jennifer Wu’s Iceland images: http://gallery.me.com/jenwu#100082


View Jim Martin’s Iceland images: http://jamesbmartin.com/#/Tour%20Gallery/Iceland%202012/1

SKILL LEVEL The tour is intended for intermediate and advanced photographers, however any skill level is welcome and will enjoy Iceland’s photographic opportunities. Participants should have a working knowledge of their equipment. We will be doing some hiking over uneven ground and trails with the opportunities for more moderate hiking. Please email Jennifer if you have any questions. The 4WD roads are rough and not recommend for people with back problems or where a bumpy ride might be too difficult. We will spend about an hour each way on the rough road for two adventures into the Highlands. GETTING THERE Book a flight to Iceland to leave the US on August 18th and arrive on August 19th in the morning beofre 10 am. Plan to depart on August 28th in the afternoon after 3 pm. The workshop will be held August 19 - 28. Our tour will begin and end in at KEV airport in Iceland. REGISTRATION To register for Iceland’s Breathtaking Landscapes. Fill out the registration form and mail to the address listed on the form. COST Cost $6495 for double occupancy (as available) or $7295 for single. For payment by credit card add 3% for a total of $6,689 (single) or $7,519 (double). Deposit of $1500 reserves your space. Includes hotel for nine nights and ten days, all ground transportation, meals and weather permitting, a boat ride through the ice lagoon. Not included: airfare to Iceland, alcoholic beverages, medical expenses, travel insurance, additional hotel stays or activities that are not a part of the tour. ACCOMMODATIONS We will stay in guesthouses and elegant 4-star hotels. We are visiting some remote locations with limited choices but at each location we stay at the best accommodations available. TRANSPORTATION All ground transportation is included. We have comfortable 4WD vehicles that are capable of going over rough roads to the high country. PHOTO TOUR LIMIT Unlike some photography tours with 16 to 20 people, we limit to 10 participants. CANCELLATION POLICY You can cancel up to 150 days prior to workshop start date and receive a refund, less $50 fee. Less than 120 days there is no refund unless your space has been filled from a waiting list. SPOUSES / PARTNERS Spouses and partners are welcome to attend. They should know that we are focusing on photography and we will be staying out very late and getting up early. Sleep is at irregular hours. There is no discount for a spouse or partner. QUESTIONS & INFORMATION We are happy to answer your questions. Please email Jennifer at: photo@jenniferwu.com or call (916) 690-6251. Or James Martin martinpics@comcast.net, (206) 669-0450. Details about the schedule, airlines, accommodations, clothing and equipment recommendations are provided with registration or upon request. PDF REGISTRATION FORM: Registration Form

TWO WORKSHOPS LEADERS JENNIFER WU, a professional photographer since 1992, is a nature and landscape photographer as well as a night photographer. She received a BA in Photography from California State University, Sacramento. Jennifer was named by Canon USA to the elite group photographers, The Explorers of Light. A group comprised of the top 62 professional photographers in the country. Canon made Jennifer an Explorer of Light on the strength of her night photography, techniques she developed over years of experience. Jennifer’s images, featured in numerous magazines and books, have won a wide variety of prestigious awards. Whenever she is not on nature expeditions at some of the most beautiful locations in the world, she exhibits her images at nationally recognized galleries and art shows. She teaches workshops for the Light Photographic Workshops, Sierra Club, Canon and aFilm International Film Workshops (Barcelona). View her images at: www.jenniferwu.com JAMES MARTIN has written and photographed professionally since 1989 with articles and photographs appearing in Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, Outside, Backpacker, Climbing, Boys’ Life, Outdoor Photographer, and many others. His most recent books are Digital Photography Outdoors (Mountaineer Books) and Planet Ice, a survey of ice that elucidates the relationship between climate and ice, and the action of ice on the landscape. He wrote Masters of Disguise: A Natural History of Chameleons, the first comprehensive book on chameleons in English with photographs by Art Wolfe. Sasquatch Press published a series of his coffee table books on the mountains of the West, including North Cascades Crest, Mount Rainier, and Sierra. Extreme Alpinism (Mountaineer Books), written and photographed with Mark Twight, concerns techniques for climbing and surviving the most difficult mountains. He has written books for children on natural history topics. His travels led him to Africa, Madagascar, Antarctica, Europe, Borneo, Indonesia, Burma, and all the other S.E. Asian countries. He led photography tours around the world for Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris and now operates his own tours solo and in association with other photographers. Visit his images at: http://jamesbmartin.com PDF REGISTRATION FORM: Registration Form