North Iceland & Highlands
Into Iceland's wild, untouched north
"Puffin covered cliffs and powerful waterfalls to geothermal valleys, volcanic peaks and wide open wilderness."
A 12-day journey through the wild north and highlands
Join us for a breathtaking Iceland Photography Workshop in 2026, where we'll journey through the country's northern landscapes and dramatic highlands. Over this 12-day adventure, you'll capture Iceland's raw beauty at locations including Borgarfjörður, Hvítserkur, Akureyri, Goðafoss, Hauganes, Dettifoss, Selfoss, Mývatn, Kerlingafjöll, Hveravellir and the Western Highlands.
From puffin covered cliffs and powerful waterfalls to geothermal valleys, volcanic peaks and wide open wilderness, every day brings something new. With expert guidance throughout the trip you'll refine your skills while shooting long golden hours that blend into sunrise, dramatic weather and some of the wildest scenery Iceland has to offer.
More than a trip, a turning point
Astro & Aurora
Experience the breathtaking Northern Lights while learning valuable techniques to capturing that dream shot!
Master Exposure
From sunrise to sunset and dynamic lighting, gain in-depth knowledge on how to correctly expose for every scene we encounter.
Hand Picked
Each location is carefully chosen and planned to provide diverse environments, designed to enhance both your skills and portfolio.
Locations few travellers ever see
This 12-day North Iceland & Highlands photography adventure takes you through North Iceland's most dramatic, remote, and untouched landscapes. From puffin covered sea cliffs and volcanic craters to Europe's most powerful waterfalls and the wild interior, this workshop gives you access to locations few travellers ever see. We'll travel from Borgarfjörður's coastline to the geothermal world of Mývatn and deep into the Highlands where steaming valleys, colourful ridgelines, and vast wilderness dominate the landscape.
Your North Iceland & Highlands itinerary
A sample of what we shoot and where we go. The exact day-by-day route and dates are confirmed when you enquire, and are always built around the best light.
Arrival & Puffins in Borgarfjörður
Meet in Reykjavik, drive to Borgarfjordur and shoot thousands of puffins on dramatic sea cliffs.
Sunrise Puffins & East Fjord Gems
Sunrise puffins in soft light, hidden fjord villages, then a sunset shoot over the Atlantic.
Iconic Hvítserkur & North Coast Drive
Travel toward Akureyri via the famous Hvitserkur sea stack, with an evening north-coast session.
Akureyri Landscapes & Fjords
Sunrise over the fjord, explore the scenic local area, and a golden-hour shoot around Akureyri.
Day Trip to Godafoss
Early trip to the mighty Godafoss for wide and tight compositions of its symmetrical power.
Hauganes Whale Safari
Morning whale-watching at Hauganes for breaching humpbacks, then an evening edit or golden hour.
Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfall Mission
Drive the remote northeast to shoot Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, plus Selfoss.
Volcanic Myvatn & Geothermal Magic
Explore the geothermal hotspots, lava fields and crater lakes around surreal Lake Myvatn.
Into the Highlands: Kerlingafjöll
Head into the wild Highlands to shoot steaming valleys and pastel ridgelines at sunset.
Western Highlands Exploration
A full day deep in the Highlands for untouched landscapes few others ever get to see.
Hveravellir Geothermal Plateau
Journey to Hveravellir for bubbling springs and fumaroles, then a final Highlands sunset.
Return to Reykjavik & Wrap Up
Morning drive back to Reykjavik and a final recap, with the workshop wrapping by 2pm.
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
- All in-country transport with a professional driver
- Daily in-the-field mentoring with Josh Beames
- Sunrise, sunset and night photography sessions
- Group editing and post-processing lessons
Not included
- Flights to and from the destination
- 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 world's most dramatic and remote locations including deserts, salt lakes, Iceland, Norway, Australia's Outback, Canada, and the Arctic just to name a few.
I teach photography workshops around the world each year and I love helping photographers build confidence, clarity, and creativity in the field. During this North Iceland & Highlands adventure, I'll be beside you with camera in hand, helping you photograph some of the most powerful and untouched landscapes Iceland has to offer.
You'll learn everything from foundational shooting techniques to more advanced skills such as bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, long exposures, and how to approach complex scenes like waterfalls, geothermal valleys, and wide-open Highland terrain. All of this is taught in real time, on location, so you can apply each technique immediately. My goal is simple: to help you capture Iceland's wild north and rugged highlands in their most powerful moments and return home with images you're truly proud of.
Skills you’ll take home, long after the trip
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 and night photography
Editing & post-processing
- A repeatable editing and post-processing workflow
- Blending brackets and stacks cleanly
- Processing low-light 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. 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.
I have always liked taking photos, but never used my camera in anything but auto mode. I went to Iceland with Josh and he was such a great teacher. He is very good at explaining things, making it easy, but also putting you at ease. The whole trip I took photos in manual mode, and loved the results.
All I can say is WOW!! My workshop to Iceland with Josh and T went beyond my expectations. I came home with a great portfolio of amazing photos, and fantastic memories. I can highly recommend Josh Beames for anyone looking at attending future workshops and tuition, so much so I have already booked two future workshops.
Your place on this workshop
Photographing North Iceland & Highlands's most epic landscapes in dramatic light, with daily in-the-field mentoring and small-group guidance, so you come home with images you're genuinely proud of.
North Iceland & Highlands Photography Workshop
Photographing North Iceland & Highlands's most epic landscapes in dramatic light, with daily in-the-field mentoring and small-group guidance, so you 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 & night photography sessions
- Group editing & post-processing lessons
- A hand-picked route built around the best light
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 short walks over medium gradients.
How do I secure my place?
A deposit secures your spot. Full pricing, dates and payment plans are shared when you enquire, just reach out and we'll walk you through it.
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.
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 flights, meals, mandatory travel insurance and personal expenses.
