Hunt’s Photo Adventure: The Icelandic Highlands, Mountain Horses, & Heritage

You are invited to be part of this traditional Icelandic event and to photograph farmers on their trusted Icelandic horses as they round up their mountain wild horses before the snow starts. Photographing a huge flock of young stallions herded home from the mountains is the experience of a lifetime that you won’t want to miss! We will attend the most famous horse roundup, the Laufskálarétt in the Hjaltadal Valley in Skagafjorð as hundreds of horses are gathered and brought to Laufskálarétt.

On this workshop, you will have 7 full days in the field to photograph many scenic landscapes, world-famous waterfalls, and our final days photographing the famous Icelandic Horse Roundup. Enjoy the amazing summer to autumn color change and the amazing adventure of photographing Icelanders gathering their wild horses from the mountains. In September, Iceland changes from the green summer colors to the multi-color warm tones of autumn. It’s an amazing season to travel while watching nature slow down for the upcoming arctic winter.

Unlike most other horse breeds around the world, the Icelandic horse has remained purebred since the 9th century. The horses were brought to Iceland by the Vikings who settled here around 875 AD. The horses have not been mixed with other breeds since that time, making them the purest breeds in the world. In 982 A.D., the Icelandic parliament passed laws that prohibited any importation of other horse breeds into the country, meaning that for well over a thousand years, the breed has been kept in complete isolation within the island. Although individual animals may be exported, once gone, they may never return. Great care has since been put into protecting the stock, and as a result, it is exceptionally healthy and long-lived. The average animal might live for up to 40 years, with the oldest reportedly reaching the ripe old age of 59. Moving sheep and horses into the highlands for grazing during the summer is more than an annual event: It is an Icelandic tradition and a way of life. The horse roundups (Stóðréttir) are a tradition exclusive to the North of Iceland. In late September, the farmers ride into the mountains and roundup their animals before the severe winter snow sets in. The roundup is an unforgettable sight. You will see hundreds of mountain horses herded down the mountain slopes into the roundup pens.

A Note About Drones: Drones are welcome and encouraged in Iceland. However, we do not want to scare the horses so they cannot be used during the horse round-up portion. They can be used during the rest of the workshop.

Itinerary

Sept 22 – Airport pickup at KEF, transfer to hotel, group meeting & dinner*

Sept 23 – Travel to Godafoss waterfall, Lake Myvatn, Geothermal fields

Sept 24 – Sheep roundup in Myvatn, Aldeyjarfoss waterfall, crater Hverfjall

Sept 25 – Dettifoss waterfall, Asbyrgi canyon, Husavik

Sept 26 – Horses in Skagafjordur, Reykjafoss falls, see local farms

Sept 27 – Laufskálaréttir, horse roundup in Skagafjordur valley

Sept 28 – Laufskálaréttir, main horse roundup – Full Day here

Sept 29 – Hvitserkur rock, basalt columns, travel back to Reykjavik*

Sept 30 – Departure – airport transfer to KEF

* You are free to tour and photograph Reykjavik on your own or as a group. Sunrise is at 7:15 am and Sunset is also 7:15 pm so you will have plenty of time.

About Our Host: Arctic Exposure

Hunt’s Photo & Video have always used Arctic Exposure as their host while leading workshops in Iceland and have formed a lasting bond and friendship with them during those years.

Skarphéðinn Þráinsson, or Skarpi, is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Arctic Exposure. He’s a native born & raised Icelander from Egilsstadir in the East Fjords of Iceland.  He is also  a professional photographer and a licensed tour operator with a passion for outdoors travelling, fishing and exploring the nature of Iceland. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and currently lives in Reykjavik with his wife and 4 kids.

Skarpi has many custom-built super-trucks & super-vans for our workshops.
– Mercedes-Benz 15-passenger and 13-passenger Super Sprinter vans
– Ford Excursion XXL 9-passenger Super Truck
All are 4×4’s equipped with 46″ wheels, differential locks, GPS,  Wi-fi, USB    chargers for all seats and on-board 220V service for all devices.
– Mercedes-Benz 16-passenger Sprinter
4×4, 35” wheels, GPS, Wi-Fi, USB chargers at each seat, 220V power

What’s included in the workshop:

• Airport pickup & return, all ground transportation while in the field

• All meals (excluding liquor)

• All accommodations

• In-field instruction from 2 professional photographers

• Image Discussion, Post-Processing, and Review Sessions

What’s not included in the workshop:

• Airfare and/or baggage fees to and from Keflavik International Airport (KEF)

• Any activities outside the tour itinerary

• Personal purchases and tips to the driver

• Travel insurance (HIGHLY recommended for all travelers)

Recommended gear

• Camera(s), plenty of memory cards, plenty of batteries

• Wide angle, standard, and telephoto lenses

• Sturdy Tripod or Monopod

• Neutral Density, Polarizing Filters

• Clothes that you can layer (temps from 40°F to 55°F)

Skill Sets: All Levels of Photographers are Welcome
Physical Activity: Low to Mild, mostly just walking

In this workshop we will cover:

• Tracking Focus
• Exposure
• Composition
• Metering
• Use of Lenses
• Subject Development
• Creative Thinking
• Shooting in Low Light

Travel information to Iceland (KEF)
Arrive on Sept. 22nd.  You need to fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF). There will be a bulk pickup of attendees at the airport. If you choose to arrive earlier or stay later, you will need to make your own arrangements for transportation into Reykjavik.

Hotel information

Hotel reservations have been secured for the group (double-occupancy, single-occupancy is + $950) and are included in the workshop fee. 2 nights in Reykjavik (1st & last nights), 3 nights in Myvtan, 3 nights in Bakkaflöt.

Weather

September weather in Northern Iceland in September has an average high of 50° F and an average low is 42° F. Take thinner layers, since it can get warm in the daytime, and you don’t want to get too hot in the evening. Participants are limited to ONE (1) soft-sided rolling duffle for luggage and ONE (1) camera case. Pack conservatively as the portage room is limited.

Payments
Double Occupancy- $6,995/per person. Single occupancy- $7945 • A non-refundable reservation fee of $1995 is required to secure a spot for this workshop. Please note that the reservation fee and payments on this workshop is non-refundable. Please make sure to purchase insurance in case you need to cancel your trip. (You can purchase trip insurance from numerous insurance companies– Allianz, AAA, and more.)
The remaining balance is due 90-days prior to the workshop and can be made on this page.