Great shot Rajan.
My wife is starting to nag me about going to Iceland, as we have never been and she has always wanted to go. So when would you advise would be the best time of year to go Rajan? I know that is a difficult question, due to the vagaries of the weather and the hordes of tourists and photographers at certain times of the year etc. But if there was one two week period form the entire year that you could choose to visit if you didn't live there, when would that be exactly???
Thanks for any help and advice 
Dave
Dave,
If photography is the goal, Iceland is compelling almost all year round. I would discourage visiting from April 1 until May 15 even though you will beat the tourist hordes. That’s when the landscape is the least attractive. Winter is on its way out, the snow is melting on mountaintops, and the slopes haven’t yet taken on the green coat which comes in late May and early June. Furthermore, the window for Northern Lights is very small and you have to stay up very late.
Visiting Iceland in the summer months and winter months is like visiting two entirely different planets. At these northern latitudes the length of day (or night) also changes significantly and you can sense the change from month to month.
June to Aug is peak tourist season (last two years excepted). But it is also the time of 24 hours daylight, green meadows and mountain slopes (note: nothing like the uniformly lush green you are used to in the British isles) and the Highlands are accessible.
September is an excellent month to visit. The length of day and night are balanced, the Fall colours are spectacular if you time it right (say, around Sept 18), the Northern Lights are on display and the Highlands are still accessible (assuming no early snow). The Winter storms are still a few weeks away.
Of course, if you want the magic Arctic light and winter wonderland photography, then Nov, Dec, Jan, & Feb are the months. There is a long twilight even on the shortest days of the year. But you need someone to drive you around on the icy roads (often laced by winds) if you aren’t used to it.
To summarize, my recommendation for a first time visit: Sept 15-30. Second-best, June/July/Aug.
