Iceland Photography 101: Tips and Prints

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Dirt that’s as red as pomegranates, blossoming fields of purple flowers, roads you could drive forever, and waterfalls at which even the gods would marvel.

You do not want to miss Iceland in June. Despite the gnats that we encountered during our three-day road trip, Iceland is a stunning country that you’re sure to love.

Keep reading to learn how to maximize your time in Iceland in June and come home with photos you’ll want to hang on the wall.

Interested in purchasing prints of Iceland? Check out our print shop here. If you don’t see the photo you want, contact us and we’ll be happy to accommodate your request. Thank you for supporting our small business!




General Iceland Photography Tips

Make conscious clothing choices. Iceland in June (and year-round), tends to be windy. So much so that when we rented a car, they told us to hold onto the doors when opening and closing them. Apparently the wind can rip them off! That being said, as beautiful as flowy dresses are, plan ahead. Unless you’ve specifically planned to photograph a dress in the breeze, you might be showing a little more skin than anticipated. PS – If you’re planning on doing any driving on less traveled roads you might want to rent a 4×4.

Be aware of your horizon lines. A horizon line tells a story. If the horizon line is above your subject’s head it makes the landscape seem vast and large. If the horizon line hits below your subject’s waste, the subject will appear to dominate the landscape. Every choice before you release the shutter should be intentional. If I could go back and redo the photo above I would make sure that the horizon isn’t cutting my head. Instead, it should be above or cut at a place like the hips or knees where it looks more natural.

Read More: How to Track and Offset Your Carbon Footprint



Take more photos than you ever think that you’ll need. I put this in every guide and I truly believe that it’s something every photographer should live by. Especially as a travel photographer, you likely won’t be back to the same location more than once or twice, so keep clicking that camera! I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I’ve loved a photo on a tiny screen only to pull it up on my laptop and realize that it’s blurry.

Come prepared for any weather. Iceland is windy and wet, even in June. Especially if you plan on visiting waterfalls, which is pretty much the main attraction of the country, it’s a good idea to protect your camera from rogue dust and water droplets. We personally use this soft camera shell from Peak Design.

Read More: What’s In Our Camera Bag



Camera Body Guide

Beginner Body: If you’re just starting out and you don’t want to spend too much money, the Nikon d3100 is a great choice. It’s a great first timer’s DSLR because it still has automatic settings, but you can also learn to shoot in manual modes. Fun fact: all of the photos in this article were shot using my Nikon d3100.

Nikon d3100 | Nikon d3400 | Nikon d5600

Advanced Body: If you’re looking to upgrade and want to up your Iceland photography game, we use the Nikon d750. Any FX (full-frame) camera is ideal for travel because it allows you to shoot in a range of conditions. You could also consider investing in a mirrorless camera, which I haven’t personally tried, but they’re all the rage! Check out our Photography Guide to Paris to see photos shot with the d750. Keep in mind that there’s also an added two years of travel photography experience between these photos.

Nikon FX d750 | Nikon Z 50 DX Mirrorless

Read More: The Ultimate Gear Guide for the Traveling Photographer



Lens Guide

Portrait Lens: Every photographer should have a prime lens in their bag. While it doesn’t guarantee a perfect shot, it does come pretty close. Many phones have this feature. However, if you plan on editing your photos in a professional program printing them in a large size, invest in quality equipment.

$ 35mm | $$ 35mm | $ 50mm | $$ 50mm

Zoom Lens: Iceland in June has a wide variety of wildlife, from long-legged birds to buzzing insects. Having a zoom lens in your camera bag will allow you to capture these creatures on the move, adding some beautiful shots to your Iceland photography collection.

$ Zoom Lens | $$ Zoom Lens | $$$ Zoom Lens



Wide-Angle Lens: Ever since I got my hands on my first wide-angle lens, I’ve been in love. This lens is ideal for photographing Iceland in June because it allows you to capture the beauty of the buildings and canals. If you were to use a prime lens, you would need to be further away from the subject. Almost all of our London photos were shot with a wide-angle lens.

$ Wide Angle | $$ Wide Angle | $$$ Wide Angle

Phone Lenses: With the quality of cameras these days, you don’t always need a fancy DSLR or mirrorless to get great shots. However, unless you’ve got the newest phone with a wide-angle lens, it could be worth investing in a few clip-on lenses to make the most of your travels.

Wide Angle Clip-On | Portrait Clip-On | Lens Clip-On Collection

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Invest in Editing Software

Do yourself a favor and invest in Adobe’s $10/month photography plan. You’ll have access to Lightroom and Photoshop which are probably the most widely used photo editing software used. Give the free trial a shot to see how you like it.

You absolutely must edit your photos! Just like it was once necessary to develop photos to show them to the public, you need to develop your photos in Lightroom and Photoshop to match what you saw and felt in the moment.

Download our free preset.

We’re currently in the process of developing our own line of presets! Whether you like this preset or not, we would love your feedback. Please tag us and shoot us a message on Instagram @HerbivorePresets with questions and comments.

If you like our free preset and want to try a few more photo filters, find our shop here! Your support means the world and helps us keep Voyaging Herbivore running.


Sustainability

Sustainability doesn’t just mean reusable water bottlestrains over planes, and avoiding straws. Additionally, purchasing used/refurbished camera gear is a great way to be more environmentally friendly when photographing Bern (or anywhere!). Electronic waste doesn’t harm the environment nearly as much as animal farming or transportation does, but it still contributes to the ever-growing landfills and we need to do our part.

Of the $206 billion spent on consumer electronics in the U.S. in 2012, only 29 percent of the resulting e-waste generated was recycled. The rest were simply trashed. Who even remembers what they did with their first (or third, or fifth) iPhone?

The Atlantic


Buying refurbished camera gear and electronics means that we can do a small part in making a more sustainable world. Not to mention that it’s better for your wallet! Granted, sometimes we can’t repair electronics, but they can be sold or recycled at special electronic waste sites. Google “Where can I recycle electronics?” to find a center in your area.

Find used camera gear on:

Amazon | Swappa Facebook Marketplace | Facebook Groups


Ready to Explore Iceland

Now that you’ve got your photography gear and skills up to par, you’re ready to photograph Iceland in June. Keep reading our photography guides or get started on planning your Iceland road trip!


What Camera Gear Do We Use?

If you want the full list of things we keep in our camera bag, check out the complete guide or browse our photography guides.


Free Resources


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