W I N T E R B E G I N S
ICELAND PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION | November 10th TO 14th
As the final transition into winter begins, join Benjamin Hardman on a photography mission into the southern Icelandic Highlands. Our five day journey will take you through a vast and dynamic series of landscapes. From summit views over braided rivers, missions across vast volcanic ash plains in Arctic equipped 4x4 vehicles, hiking through the ancient valleys to hunting for Northern Lights in remote areas free from light pollution - it will be an adventure to remember.
Led by Benjamin Hardman, Eydis Olafsdottir and professional mountain guide Sigurdur Bjarni Sveinsson, we will be guiding you through a series of field shoots, one-on-one mentoring, technical presentations and group discussions all with the goal of helping you to increase your skills in technique, story-telling, post-processing and business & branding in your photography. In addition to all of the learning materials, you will have the opportunity to perfect your shooting techniques and mountain skills each day as we immerse ourselves in some of the most stunning and otherworldly landscapes on Earth.
Head below for more about this adventure and how to apply ↡
Learn the ropes to establish your own photography business.
The focus of this workshop is mentor you through building your photography portfolio and refining your style, while working towards our combined goal of documenting the transition into winter. We will be based out of Hvolsvöllur for the duration of the trip, where we will have cosy accomodation with room for group editing sessions and a hot tub and sauna to get warm after long days in the mountains.
Our trip will begin with a day in Þórsmörk, a beautiful and mountainous valley at the base of the well known volcano Eyjafjallajökull. On day two, we will travel to the Sólheimajökull glacier, where Siggi will guide us around the magnificent ice structures found on and inside the glacier. On days three and four, we will take an overnight expedition into the highlands, staying in a mountain hut and searching for the first snow. It is an exciting time to travel as it’s unknown exactly what the landscape will look like - we may encounter white winter landscapes or the dark volcanic tones of the late autumn, or both - we will leave it up to nature to create our canvas!
As always, we've kept this to a small group and want to attract a different kind of traveller than you might normally expect on a tour – creative adventure seekers who are totally focused on creating incredible imagery. We will be doing whatever it takes to capture the best images, whether it means hiking out in the snow or staying out late in nature until to catch the Northern Lights, we're up for it if you are.
We will be travelling in Benjamin and Siggi’s modified mountain vehicles that are equipped with enough space to comfortably fit our team of 8 photographers while we adventure into the mountains. Keeping our group limited to 8 people allows us to ensure everyone has enough individual time with mentors, as well as time to collaborate extensively with other members of the group.
This is a rare chance to get hands on training, as well as expert photography and social media advice from two creatives who do this for a living. You’ll also get professional guidance on how to travel in the mountains from our local hero Siggi.
THE HOSTS
BENJAMIN HARDMAN
Benjamin is an Australian freelance photographer based in the South of Iceland.
With a strong focus on the Arctic region, Benjamin's work reflects the lifestyle and intense seasonal shifts seen across the landscape in this part of the world. After years of photographic exploration throughout the mountains of Iceland, Benjamin now travels regularly into the high-Arctic, working to create a unified visual story of the freezing North through photography.
Siggi bjarni
Siggi is a professional mountain guide from Iceland.
Growing up in the south of Iceland, Siggi has spent is life exploring the Icelandic highlands and has gained extensive knowledge of traversing highland landscape in all seasons. He will be guiding us on our missions into the mountains along with his trusty companion, a specialised Ford F350 with 46 inch tires.
TRIP DETAILS
DATES: NOVEMBER 10TH - 14TH
PRICE: $3,750 USD | €3,400 EUros
size: 8 places
COVERAGE
WHAT'S COVERED
Photography mentoring for five days/ four nights (Camera technique, analysis of light & conditions, composition & aesthetic education, portraiture and posing models, conceptual ideation, image retouching, social media and curation insights)
5 days shooting on the road
A glacier hike and ice photography mission on Sólheimajökull
4 nights accommodation (2x 4 bed rooms with private bathrooms + one night in a mountain cabin)
Transport costs
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
WHAT'S NOT COVERED
Flights (you will need to make your own way to Reykjavík at least one day before we depart)
Snacks on the road
Sleeping bag for our night in a mountain cabin
FAQ
What level of photography is required?
This workshop is open to beginners, professionals and everything in between. The only criteria is that you have a passion for photography and have the motivation to be on the go every day and night.
What do I need to bring?
We are venturing out into the beginning of the winter season, so being well equipped for all kinds of weather including rain and snow is the key to having a comfortable trip during this time. Warm and waterproof outer layers (Goretex or similar), thermals, and water resistant boots are all highly recommended. Warm gloves and beanies also come in handy. As we will be staying one night in a mountain cabin, you will need to bring a light sleeping bag for the hut, though keep in mind it will be warm and cosy inside so it doesn’t need to be a thick one. We will go over this in more detail once the group has been finalized.
Will I see snow or aurora?
There is good chance that we will see both the Northern Lights and the first snow over the highlands. We cannot guarantee either of these however due to the uncontrollable weather, but we will plan our route to give us the best chance!
What is the weather like?
November can be a fairly unpredictable month in terms of weather. We may see sun, rain or snow, so to be on the safe side it is good to be prepared for winter weather and temperatures from -5 to +5 degrees celsius.
What camera gear should I bring?
At the very least you should have access to your own DSLR/mirror less camera body, a few lenses (both a wide angle and telephoto would make an awesome duo) and a sturdy tripod. We will have group editing sessions each evening, so a laptop will be crucial to getting the most out of the trip.
Will there be time to do other activities outside of the workshop?
Certainly. We've planned the itinerary for 4 nights, however you are more than welcome to extend your stay in Iceland on either end (in fact, we recommend it). We can provide advice and recommend operators if you'd like to experience things like the Blue Lagoon, helicopter tours or visit other popular locations that we cannot fit in our timeframe.
What level of fitness is required?
This trip will only require a light level of fitness. We will be doing a mix of car based missions as well as some short hikes during the highland days. There will be no full day treks, but be prepared to walk up a mountain to get some panoramic views of our surroundings.
APPLICATION FORM
Applications are now open!
Here is the application form for this adventure:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Or use this direct link: https://forms.gle/1jvctLeRhMkJq4Bh9
We will get back to you within 48 hours.
Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
hello@benjaminhardman.com
