Iceland 2024 Aurora Tour
Iceland – January 9-15, 2024
Iceland - January 9-15, 2024
Experience the best of South Coast of Iceland on this epic Aurora photography adventure! You'll have all the time in the world to capture spectacular photographs of Iceland from frozen waterfalls, beautiful landscape, glaciers, and amazing northern lights.
Iceland’s South Coast
Experience the best of South Coast of Iceland on this epic Aurora photography adventure! You'll have all the time in the world to capture spectacular photographs of Iceland from frozen waterfalls, beautiful landscape, glaciers, and amazing northern lights. Seize this incredible opportunity to shoot the icebergs of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon with the Northern lights circles overhead when it gets dark. Not to mention miles upon miles of pure raw nature along Iceland’s famous black sand beaches. Whether you are a novice, an aspiring amateur or a professional photographer, this workshop in Iceland is sure to advance your landscape photography skills and to expand your portfolio.
No doubt the most popular part of Iceland, the south coast is home to spectacular landscapes and a host of photographic opportunities that will excite any photographer. From thundering waterfalls, black sand beaches and stunning sea stacks to the massive icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and its neighboring ice beach, this is an area that overflows with natural beauty.
Workshop Cost
To keep our group small we will be taking 6 participants on this workshop. Total Cost: $2,800 per person.
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will be confirmed in October 2023 or as soon as the minimum number of participants is met.
The Instructors
Marc Rassel: Landscape Astrophotographer. Outdoorsman. Space Nerd.
Marc is an award-winning and exhibiting landscape astrophotographer and workshop leader based in Minnesota, USA with a particular interest in astronomy. He has traveled to many locations around the world both professionally and personally, and has extensive experience photographing these landscapes and the wonders of the night sky in a wide variety of conditions. Through the experiences of owning and running an advertising and design firm, and formal training in graphic design and fine arts, he has amassed an array of skills that allow him to apply both a technical and aesthetic approach to his work and that of his students. When not leading workshops, Marc spends much of his time in the outdoors exploring and photographing the deep Northwoods of the Midwest and the mountainous landscapes of Colorado.
Mark Bouldoukian: Wildlife and Landscape Photographer.
My name is Mark Bouldoukian, I'm a wildlife & landscape photographer based in Fresno, California. Been always inspired in photography since I was a kid. Spent most of my time traveling and teaching photography courses, workshops, post processing...
My work has been featured on Discovery, natgeoyourshot, instagram, canonusa, beautifuldestinations, and many more... I want to show the world and encourage people to go out and explore what our planet has to offer! Life is too short, enjoy every moment of it.
Recommended Equipment
Sturdy tripod with ball head
Digital SLR and/or mirrorless camera body with full manual control, preferably full-frame sensor (although cropped / APS-C will work)
Wide angle lens(es) with fast aperture (f2.8 or better). Some great lenses for night sky photography include the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 (or 24mm), Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8
Zoom of approximately 24-105mm
If you have a telephoto (200mm+) and it’ll fit your travel plans, bring it along – you never know what we might find out in the field
Polarizing filters if you have them
Basic headlamp
Remote shutter release or basic intervalometer
Memory cards
Extra batteries (at least 3 fully-charged batteries per night)
Camera / lens cleaning supplies
Laptop / Lightroom and Photoshop software + file transfer accessories if you’d like to follow along during post-processing sessions
Hard drives and file backup accessories
If you don’t have everything you need, please contact me, I may be able to rent you the gear you need.
Trip Includes
Transportation from Hotels to all our photography destinations
Lodging
Access fees associated with trail access will be included
2 Instructors: Marc Bouldoukian and Marc Rassel. We will be working with each attendee, making sure you're not only going home with photos that are proud of, are learning and growing during the trip.
Editing techniques on photoshop and Lightroom.
Tips and tricks to help you get better quality images out of your camera
Understanding light and composition
Trip Does NOT Include
Airfare
Lunches, Dinners
Insurance
Alcohol, snacks and beverages
Camera Gear
Itinerary
Arrival in Iceland, and where to meet:
I recommend arriving to Iceland a day before the workshop, that way you'll have time to relax and get ready for the non-stop adventures for the coming several days.
We will meet at (Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavik Keflavik Airport) 10:00 A.M Tuesday January 09, 2024. From there the adventure begins!
Day 1 - Tuesday, January 9
The Black Church at Budir
Kirkjufell
We will be stopping along the way to photograph the beautiful Icelandic horses
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 2 - Wednesday, January 10
Visit a Hidden waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 3 - Thursday, January 11
Skógafoss waterfall
Sunset Reynisdrangar rock formations
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 4 - Friday, January 12
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (sunrise and sunset)
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 5 - Saturday, January 13
Vestrahorn (sunrise and sunset)
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 6 - Sunday, January 14
We will start the drive backwards towards Reykjavik
Diamond Beach
Auroras at night if weather permits
Day 7 - Monday, January 15
Workshop ends; we'll drive everyone back to airport.
Suggested Packing List
Layered, warm clothing (We are likely to experience a very cold, wide range of temperatures, potentially from -40°F to 30°F)
Warm base layers for legs and torso, gloves, hat, jacket, shirts, snow pants, wool socks, face mask / balaclava and footwear / snow boots suitable for extremely cold weather. (**Avoid cotton in favor of wool fibers whenever possible!)
Water bottles / hydration packs
Important Workshop Information
By attending this workshop, you agree to hold Marc Bouldoukian of Mark bouldoukian photography and Marc Rassel harmless for all personal injury or loss that may occur during or in connection with this trip.
This is a self-led travel trip. You are responsible for your safety in the car you choose to travel in, with the roommate you select, and as you move in Iceland.
Do not push your physical abilities past what you are healthy enough to do. You are in charge of deciding if a location is safe for you to travel to.
Travel insurance as well as insurance for your photo gear are both highly recommended. Marc Bouldoukian and Marc Rassel role in this workshop is to teach photography in Iceland and guide you to great locations.
You are responsible for your safety as you travel. Marc Bouldoukian and Marc Rassel makes no effort to vet the other attendees of the trip and you need to make sure you are safe in their companionship. In the event of extraordinary events, governmental instability, extreme weather, pandemic, or other condition, Marc Bouldoukian and Marc Rassel reserves the right to reschedule or cancel this trip and either return all workshop fees or apply paid fees toward a future workshop
Weather: Winter weather can be highly variable and unpredictable in Iceland and temperatures can be very cold.
Cancellation Policy: We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We highly recommend Travel Insurance to cover any non-refundable fees or medical coverage during the workshop.