Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: jgille on March 10, 2009, 04:16:30 am

Title: Months to go and location in iceland
Post by: jgille on March 10, 2009, 04:16:30 am

Hello,

We are planning to go to Iceland with my wife this year. We could go there in June or September, as we try to avoid July and August that are apparently months crowded with tourists bus.

My first question is : which month is the best ? June or September ? I know it is better to go there in March if I would like to have a chance to take pictures of boreal auroras... but it will have to be during another trip  

My second question is about best locations for photography. It will be a mid-vacations / mid-photography trip. I plan to enhance my fine art portfolio there  

Do you have any advices regarding hours and places to take pictures ?

Thanks for your help !

Title: Months to go and location in iceland
Post by: futura on March 10, 2009, 05:20:07 am

I've been twice now and still feel I have not done 80-90 percent of Iceland. I am covering some of the interiors this Summer so hopefully after the trip will feel like I have covered or semi covered Iceland.

With regards to auroras, you need a fair bit of luck to see them. Even when the conditions are just right (clear skies, cold, strong Auroral activity) so usually between Oct and March, the weather is so changeable that you may find yourself one eye on the roads and the other looking up for clear skies. Luckily for me on my last trip, I was with a guide that seemed to know what he was doing and even with cloudy skies managed to hunt down a faint aurora and turned into a stronger one moments later.

Here is the site I used to check for auroral activity (just select Europe)
http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/ (http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/)

Also worth checking out my friends collection of Auroras which are some of the best I've seen around.

Northern Lights (http://www.flickr.com/photos/orvaratli/sets/72157602243148751/)

Have fun.

Title: Months to go and location in iceland
Post by: jgille on March 10, 2009, 05:34:48 am

Quote from: futura

Luckily for me on my last trip, I was with a guide that seemed to know what he was doing and even with cloudy skies managed to hunt down a faint aurora and turned into a stronger one moments later.

Thanks for the links and advices.

Do you have a name of a good guide or advices regarding guides ?

Cheers

Title: Months to go and location in iceland
Post by: Philmar on March 16, 2009, 02:34:02 pm

Quote from: jgille

Thanks for the links and advices.

Do you have a name of a good guide or advices regarding guides ?

Cheers

Note that in June the sun will be setitng late/rising early in extreme north locations. I was in Patagonia in December and for me these events occurred rather late/early in the day. I had to rearrange sleeping times/natural rythms. I was with my non-photographic enthusiast girlfriend who didn't like me being out and about at those rediculous hours (and hoping to sleep some during the day).

That may enter in to your equation.