Iceland: Puffins & Waterfalls Trip Report: Tom Bol Photo Workshops

Grimsey Island Puffin

Grimsey Island is a paradise for Puffin Photography. We started our Iceland Workshop with 2 days on the island. Our timing was perfect for finding puffins with Sand Eels in their mouths. They would bring them back to feed chicks in their burrows.

This is how close we get to the puffins

An Atlantic Puffin with Sand Eels in its beaks

Photographed with a 100-400mm lens

Towering Waterfalls

Iceland has some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. After our puffin sessions we photographed multiple waterfalls each day. With sunny conditions, the larger waterfalls created rainbows in the mist at their base.

Using tripods for slow motion images

Double rainbow at Skogafoss

We walked behind this waterfall for another view

Green Landscapes

Iceland is known for it's other worldly volcanic landscapes. Lichens and mosses cover the lava fields creating dramatic scenes for landscape photographers.

Verdant landscape in the Highlands

Lava field with lichen and wildflowers

Field of Cotton Grass along the coast

Braided Waterfalls

We used 5 and 10 stop ND filters to experiment with shutter speeds to capture waterfalls with different textures. The waterfalls in Iceland vary in both size and color. Some of them are quaint, blue, glacial fed streams. Other are massive thundering falls.

Shot with slow shutter speeds

Shooting platforms make it easy

Turquoise falls in a remote area

Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses are famous for being friendly and photogenic. Our group was fortunate to find a field with yellow flowers full of horses. We were able to walk right up to them and get very close. They are very friendly and are used to being approached.

The perfect background

Getting close to the locals

Colts frolick in a field

The Highlands

We had a high clearance vehicle to access remote areas in the Highlands of Iceland. The volcanic landscape is very unique to Iceland. The colors and textures are like nowhere else in the world.

Terry captures a dormant volcano

Shooting under the clouds

Lava flows in the highlands

Small Town Iceland

We visited small, local communities to photograph village life and coastal scenes. Icelanders are very friendly. The colorful church at Vik was a highlight for our group, especially on a beautiful sunny day.

10 stop slow shutter scene on the coast

Getting nautical

Vik on a sunny day

Thanks to the photographers who joined us on our Iceland Puffins & Waterfalls Workshop!

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CREATED BY

Cree Bol

Credits:

Tom Bol