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Why Iceland Is the Ultimate Destination for Photographers
Raw, Untouched Nature
Where else in the world can you find such raw, untouched landscapes? And, while you can find volcanic deserts in other countries, black sand beaches on other islands or towering waterfalls on other hikes, where can you find them all in one place, so easily accessible?
When you travel throughout some of Iceland’s most rural regions, you’ll see nothing but wide-open vistas. There are no crowds, no other cars, no ugly buildings to take away from the nature’s pristine beauty, whether that natural beauty be along the coastline, across a wide-open lava field or on a remote grassy plain. And, because of Iceland’s exceptional efforts to protect the natural landscape, it’s reliably pristine.
Additionally, a lot of Iceland’s landscapes have a certain unique, otherworldly quality to them, making them a favourite for international film and television productions. If you’ve ever dreamed of photographing another planet, this is your chance — or at least as close as you’ll get to it.
Furthermore, the conditions change rapidly, making for more visual intrigue, even if it does mean you might have to be flexible and roll with the conditions. Fog, clouds and rain drizzles move in at a moment’s notice. The light shifts dramatically. It makes for some seriously impressive atmospheric photography.
Plus, if you’re keen to shoot the landscape during golden hour, you’ll find that you have many top photography spots all to yourself on any given day. You won’t be competing for a place to get your photos, like you might in some other, more crowded travel destinations.
Endless Variety Within Easy Reach
But you’re probably thinking that, while yes, Iceland does offer all of these photography opportunities on one island, surely it must take weeks or months to visit them all.
Well … not exactly.
Iceland is wonderfully compact, with some regions packing in a huge variety of landscapes into one small area, as is the case with the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which is known as Iceland in Miniature for this very reason.
Even if you want to travel around the entire country on the Ring Road, also known as Route 1, you can do that in just 7 to 14 days and have enough time to see a ton.
That’s right, with just a short amount of time, if you take advantage of the flexibility that seeing Iceland in a rental car provides, you’ll be able to enjoy:
- Visiting myriad massive waterfalls
- Viewing glaciers both near and far
- Boating in an iceberg-filled lake
- Strolling along black sand beaches
- Driving past near-endless moss-covered lava fields
- Hiking through steaming geothermal valleys
- And taking in snow-capped mountains contrasted against deep fjords
There are no long travel days or domestic flights. You can literally see it all by driving from photography spot to photography spot. It’s just a matter of choosing the right route for your Iceland photography road trip, and choosing the right vehicle for that route.
For example, if you’re going to visit the Highlands or travel during the winter, a 4x4 will ensure that your trip runs into no delays, as you’ll be able to navigate the wintery weather or rough roads with ease.
The Light: Golden Hours and Blue Tones Like Nowhere Else
As we mentioned, when it comes to the golden hour, which is many photographers’ favourite time of day to take spectacular photos due to the unparalleled natural lighting, Iceland delivers unspoiled landscapes aplenty, and there’ll be no competing for a spot to set up your camera gear.
That said, there’s also one other special thing about Iceland and golden hour that you need to know.
If you visit Iceland during the summer, particularly mid-summer, you’ll be treated to the Midnight Sun, the time of year when Iceland experiences sunshine almost round the clock. Rather than fully setting in a more or less vertical pattern, during its peak, the Midnight Sun gradually makes its way across the horizon and gives you golden hour photography conditions for literally hours at a time. In contrast, normally, you might get 20 minutes of peak golden hour conditions, in places further south on the globe.
But, while golden hour may be the most well-known special time of day for photographers, there’s also the blue hour. Typically, this is the 20 minutes wherein the sun is casting light over the landscape, but it’s yet to actually poke over the horizon. This creates a blue tone.
Both in the summer and in the winter, Iceland experiences a longer blue hour than is average, due to its latitude. It can last for up to two hours versus the normal 20 minutes.
So, whatever season of the visit, Iceland for photographers is a lighting masterpiece. It’s just important that you realize you need to be flexible to catch these conditions. Even though they may be around longer than average, you may need to switch up your location or change your plans quickly to take advantage of clear skies and best weather.
Why a Road Trip Is Essential for Photographers in Iceland
If you’re travelling to Iceland specifically for photography, then it’s crucial that you rent a car and plan a photography road trip. While it’s easy and quick to get around Iceland, that’s only the case if you have your own vehicle.
Iceland doesn’t have much public transit and your only other option to get around will be a tour guide bus, which won’t stop for those extra-special, spur-of-the-moment photography opportunities, or let you stay around longer than expected because the lighting is just so perfect.
Those tour buses also only go to the top spots around the country, and they’re taking tons of other travellers with them, so it’s difficult to get the shots you want of remote settings with no people.
In contrast, if you rent a car for your road trip, you’ll be able to travel where you want, when you want, to get photos of the top, most picturesque sites, regardless of where they might be located. You’ll also be able to change up your plans on a whim, to catch the best lighting and conditions.
With your own rental car, you’ll be able to:
- Travel to your scenery of choice before golden hour, so you’re ready and waiting
- Stay long past golden hour and even blue hour, until you’ve gotten all your top shots
- Pass up or return to a location based on conditions
- Get away from any crowds
- Store and organise camera gear, making it easier to travel with tripods and similar equipment
Whether you rent an SUV or a camper van, you’ll have the space and freedom you need to travel all across the country, from the Ring Road to the South Coast.
Top 10 Locations to Photograph in Iceland
Are you ready to get started planning your Iceland photography road trip? Here are 10 spots to consider adding to your itinerary.
1. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
On the South Coast, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which you can actively sail out into, offers excellent photography opportunities. It’s spotted with floating icebergs and, during certain times of the year, seals. While you visit, you can head on over to Diamond Beach, which is located just a short walk away. There, glacier ice ends up scattered across the black sands, making for a dramatic contrast.
2. Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
On the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Kirkjufell is one of the most photographed spots in all of Iceland and, as soon as you see it, you’ll likely recognize it. The hill has a very distinct shape that stands out across the sky, making for beautiful photos in varying light conditions. Try to catch it during a Northern Lights show for an even more stunning photo op.
3. Skógafoss
Another amazing spot on the South Coast, Skogafoss is one of the most famous and largest waterfalls in Iceland. No matter the conditions, you’re likely to get a great photo. Sunny days bring big rainbows, while cloudy days offer a stunning moodiness.
4. Seljalandsfoss
A favourite Iceland waterfall, Seljalandsfoss is one of the few waterfalls in Iceland that you can actually walk behind. If you do, you’ll get some unbeatable sunset photos.
5. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Everything about Reynisfjara black sand beach is dramatic. The black sands stretch out to the Atlantic ocean and its extra-rough waves — which you’ll need to watch out for, for your own safety. Large basalt columns stretch along the shoreline and sea stacks sit off the coast.
6. Vestrahorn Mountain
While not as frequently photographed as Kirkjufell, Vestrahorn in East Iceland offers dramatic photos as well. The jagged ridgeline seems to rise straight up out of the earth, hulking over the water and black dunes beneath them.
7. The Highlands and Landmannalaugar
All of the Highlands offer gorgeous photography opportunities, but Landmannalaugar is where you’ll want to go to snap photos of the rhyolite mountains and all their colours. Hike through the area for further photo ops featuring geothermal steam and lava fields. Just remember that trips out to the Highlands require, by Icelandic law, a 4x4 vehicle.
8. Dettifoss
Dettifoss isn’t only the most powerful waterfall in Iceland — it’s also the most powerful in all of Europe. Located in Vatnajokull National Park, the waterfall is breathtaking regardless of the season.
9. The Westfjords
While you can easily avoid crowds at any of the above sites, if you time your visit correctly, the Westfjords are reliably uncrowded all the time. This remote region provides coastal views aplenty, with waterfalls, cliffs and wildlife.
10. Northern Lights Anywhere in the Countryside
Lastly, if you can plan to visit Iceland in the winter, a northern lights chasing road trip will provide ample opportunities for capturing photos of the aurora, across a range of settings.
Photographer Collaborations with Lava Car Rental
If you’re a professional photographer seeking to create content that inspires other travellers just like you, we’d love to talk!
Lava Car Rental collaborates with photographers who share our love for Iceland road trips, in several ways.
During the low season, which is fall, winter and early spring, we may offer a vehicle in exchange for high-quality photography and video content. You’ll enjoy exploring Iceland by road, and get some excellent pieces for your portfolio at the same time.
During high season, which is summer or during periods of low availability, we’re open to discussing purchasing select photography and videography for our marketing use, if a car exchange isn’t a possibility.
Get in touch, learn more about our influencer and content partnerships, and let’s talk about working together!
Iceland Is Your Studio — The Road Is Your Access
Iceland offers so much to the avid photographer, and seeing it all, from the vast and dramatic landscapes to the lunar-like terrain to the Midnight Sun or northern lights, is so much easier when you have a rental car.
A rental car gives you the freedom to chase that perfect shot. You can be where the magic’s happening, and stay as long as you like. Check out Lava Car Rental’s expansive fleet of quality vehicles and find the perfect fit for your upcoming photography adventure.
