Iceland
Chase the aurora across a land of fire and ice
"Majestic waterfalls, iconic glaciers, volcanic landscapes and ice caves, Iceland’s raw beauty under the Northern Lights."
A 12-day adventure through a land of fire and ice
Join us for an unforgettable Iceland Photo Workshop in 2027, where we'll explore the country's majestic waterfalls, iconic glaciers, volcanic landscapes and ice caves. Over this 12-day adventure, you'll capture Iceland's raw beauty in stunning locations, from black sand beaches to picturesque villages, while seeking out the Aurora Borealis.
With expert guidance, you'll refine your skills shooting everything from sunsets and rugged coastlines to the vibrant night sky, making this an extraordinary journey for any photographer.
More than a trip, a turning point
Astro & Aurora
Stand beneath the Northern Lights and learn exactly how to capture them, the settings, the focus, the composition that turns a dream into a print.
Master Exposure
From soft sunrise light to high-contrast midday and the dark night sky, you'll learn to read and nail the exposure for every scene we shoot.
Hand Picked
Every location is scouted and timed for the best possible light, a route designed to stretch your skills and fill your portfolio.
Iceland's ultimate landscape experience
Over twelve days we loop through Iceland's south and east, tracing a route built entirely around light. We begin near Reykjavik on the Golden Circle, work the iconic peaks of Snæfellsnes, then chase the south-coast waterfalls, black sand beaches and basalt sea stacks before pushing east to the glacier lagoons, ice caves and remote canyons.
Every location is timed for the best possible conditions, sunrise, sunset and the dark-sky windows when the aurora is most likely to dance, with personal, in-the-field guidance at each stop. You’ll find the full day-by-day route just below.
Your 12-day Iceland itinerary
A carefully planned route through Iceland's south and east, built around the best light, the strongest aurora windows and time to actually shoot.
Arrival in Reykjavik
Meet the group in Reykjavik, wander the colourful streets, and shoot Gullfoss and Bruarfoss.
Snæfellsnes and Kirkjufell
Autumn colour at Hraunfossar, then the Black Church and Kirkjufell at sunset and under the aurora.
South Coast Waterfalls
Shoot Skogafoss and Kvernufoss Canyon, then Seljalandsfoss at sunset and Skogafoss under the aurora.
Black Beaches and Sea Stacks
Reynisfjara black beach, its sea stacks and Dyrholaey, finishing on Skogafoss sunset and aurora.
Glymur Canyon and Raudaskal
Hike into the dramatic Valley of Tears and shoot the surreal crater scenes of the Apple Volcano.
Journey East to Hofn
Drive the south coast to Hofn via the Lawn Church, Diamond Beach and a Vestrahorn aurora session.
Fjadrargljufur Canyon and Rest
Explore the stunning Fjadrargljufur Canyon, with downtime to rest and review your images.
Eastern Iceland Canyon Mission
Early start for Hengifoss and Studlagil Canyon, with its iconic basalt walls and river gorges.
Ice Caves and Glacier Lagoon
Explore otherworldly blue ice caves and shoot a dramatic sunset at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
Return to Reykjavik
Drive west with stops for braided rivers and Straumur, with a chance of aurora if skies clear.
Volcanic Landscapes and Editing
Explore Hraunfossar and its volcanic features, then a group editing session on your favourites.
Farewell and Departure
A morning wrap-up session before the workshop concludes by 12pm.
You will stay in comfortable, private local accommodation throughout. The specific properties are listed in your workshop handbook.
Exactly what’s included
Included
- 11 nights private-room accommodation in hotels & guesthouses
- All in-country transport in a 9-seater minibus with professional driver
- Daily in-the-field mentoring with Josh Beames
- Sunrise, sunset, astro and Aurora sessions
- Group editing and post-processing lessons
Not included
- International flights to and from Iceland
- Meals and alcohol
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Personal expenses
Everything you need to focus on your photography is taken care of, you just sort your flights, food and insurance, and turn up ready to shoot.
Shooting responsibly
Every workshop runs within the rules of the places we visit. I hold the permits each location needs, we pay landowner and access fees where they apply, and wherever a destination requires a local guide, we travel with one. Local guides know the land, the weather and the people who live there, and they make the trip better for all of us. We stay on marked paths, respect private land and closures, and leave every location as we found it, so it’s still there for the next photographer.
Hey, I'm Josh Beames
I'm an Australian landscape photographer supported by Nikon. Over the past decade I've photographed some of the most dramatic and remote locations on the planet including deserts, salt lakes, Iceland, Norway, Australia's outback, Canada and the Arctic.
I teach photography workshops around the world each year and I love helping photographers build confidence, clarity and creativity in the field. I've returned to Iceland many times with my camera, and I know how its light, weather and seasons shape a photograph, from the iconic scenes to the quieter compositions most people walk past.
On this Iceland adventure, I’ll teach you how to capture its otherworldly landscapes using both foundational techniques and more advanced skills such as bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, long exposures and night photography. My goal is simple: to help you capture Iceland in its most powerful moments and return home with images you are truly proud of.
Skills you’ll take home, long after Iceland
This isn't just a trip for your hard drive. Every shoot is a hands-on lesson, so you leave with techniques you'll use on every landscape you photograph from here on.
Foundations
- Reading and nailing exposure in any light
- Shooting with confidence in full manual
- Composition and storytelling in the field
- Using filters and managing dynamic range
Advanced field craft
- Exposure bracketing for high-contrast scenes
- Focus stacking for front-to-back sharpness
- Multi-shot panoramas
- Long exposures, astro and Aurora photography
Editing & post-processing
- A repeatable editing and post-processing workflow
- Blending brackets and stacks cleanly
- Processing aurora and night images
- Finishing images you’re genuinely proud of
A taste of what you’ll capture
What our customers are saying
My photography workshop in Iceland with Josh was truly exceptional. His tuition throughout the trip was clear, practical and genuinely elevated my photography. What really set the workshop apart was Josh's deep knowledge of Iceland, he consistently had us in the right locations at the perfect moments: sunrise, sunset, storms breaking, aurora windows. An unforgettable trip, run by someone who truly knows the craft and the country.
The Iceland workshop was quite literally a dream come true for me. Other-worldly scenery and jaw-dropping Aurora displays made this the trip of a lifetime. I went from shooting semi-auto to full manual with great success in just a couple of days with Josh's guidance, and I came home with some of my favourite photos I've ever taken.
All I can say is WOW!! My workshop to Iceland with Josh and T went beyond my expectations. The location was everything but the itinerary and guidance in getting the best shot was front of mind. I came home with a great portfolio of amazing photos, and fantastic memories. I have already booked two future workshops.
I did 2x workshops back to back (Faroe Islands + Iceland) with Josh. I cannot recommend him enough to others, amateurs or seasoned photographers. Even after 8 years of shooting, I still picked up so many tricks I didn't know about or could refine.
Your place in Iceland 2027
Twelve days photographing Iceland's most epic landscapes in dramatic light, with daily in-the-field mentoring, small-group guidance and the chance to capture the Northern Lights, and come home with images you're genuinely proud of.
Iceland Aurora & Landscape Workshop
Twelve days photographing Iceland's most epic landscapes in dramatic light, with daily in-the-field mentoring, small-group guidance and the chance to capture the Northern Lights, and come home with images you're genuinely proud of.
- 11 nights private-room accommodation
- All in-country transport & professional driver
- Daily field mentoring with Josh Beames
- Sunrise, sunset, astro & Aurora sessions
- Group editing & post-processing lessons
- A hand-picked route through Iceland's south & east
Permits held, access fees paid, and local guides wherever a destination calls for one.
Frequently asked questions
What experience level is this workshop for?
All levels are welcome. Whether you're shooting in auto or already confident in manual, you'll get personalised guidance pitched to where you are, many past guests made the jump to full manual within a couple of days.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate fitness is all that’s needed. Most locations are close to the vehicle, with a few optional walks of around 4km return over medium gradients.
How do I secure my place, and what’s the payment plan?
A $2,500 AUD deposit secures your spot. Balance due six months before we go. Payment plans are available on request, just ask when you enquire.
What’s your refund and cancellation policy?
A deposit secures your place. The balance is due six months before the workshop starts, and you can pay it in one go or in pieces before then; nothing is ever charged automatically. Your deposit is fully refundable until 6 months before the trip. After that it is non-refundable, but you can move it to another date. If you cancel between 6 and 3 months before the trip, we refund your balance and keep the deposit. Within 3 months of the start, payments are non-refundable. The one real exception, and it is a genuine one: if somebody else takes your place, you get the whole lot back, deposit included, however close to the day it happens. I will always try to fill it. If I have to cancel a workshop for any reason, everything you have paid comes back in full. And if I have to postpone one, whether that is weather, a supplier pulling out or illness, your booking moves to the new dates and I set those around what suits the group. If the trip cannot run at all, or the new dates do not work for you, everything you have paid comes back including the deposit. You are never out of pocket because I moved something.
Will we actually see the Northern Lights?
Late September to early October is one of the best windows for aurora activity in Iceland. While nature is never guaranteed, the itinerary is built around dark-sky locations and we chase clear skies whenever the forecast lines up.
What’s included and what do I need to budget for?
The price covers accommodation, all in-country transport and your full mentoring program. You'll need to budget for international flights, meals, mandatory travel insurance and personal expenses.
