"ULTIMATE ICELAND" JULY 2012

 
 filling up quickly! ---------------------- ONLY 1 spot left!!! 
 
 
“ULTIMATE ICELAND” PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
                         July 20 – 29  2012  10 Days of Photography in Iceland!

Depart on 7/30
 
 How to Register:-- --UPLOAD DIRECT HERE ONLINE ON THE MAIN  2012 WORKSHOP PAGE  --if you have difficulty ... PLEASE EMAIL ME   jack@jackgrahamphoto.com FOR A COPY
 
I am please to announce this exciting trip “Ultimate Iceland”. This photography workshop will take place in some of he most beautiful and underphotgrphed areas in the world. I’ll be joining forces with Tim Vollmer, an award winning photographer and Icelandic resident and Greg Duncan, my assistant on many domestic workshops to provide you with the outstanding service, photographic opportunities and information that I have provided for over 16 years here in the states. Please review the itinerary, and travel information below.
 
We are limiting our workshop to only 12 attendees to insure the maximum comfort and time together.
 
Unlike other workshops we have a specialized & custom designed itinerary. We'll be spending 10 FULL days photographing this beautiful land. July 20 & 31st are considered travel days when we'll spend only part of the day with our cameras. 10 full days is unmatched in the industry!
 
Day 1 – July 20                                                                                 Reykjavik
 
Pick up at Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik and drive to accommodation.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Reykjavik
 
We will spend the afternoon photographing in Reykjavik and the surroundings!!!
 
Day 2 – July 21                                                             Reykjanes Peninsula
 
The lava scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. We will walk across a small footbridge between the two continents; see craters and an old lighthouse, Reykjanesviti and the geothermal area around mountain Trölladyngja with its different colors and formations.
 
Our tour ends with a stop at the Blue Lagoon a unique natural pool of geothermal seawater (37-39°C) in the middle of a moss-covered lava field, one of the most interesting places to visit in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is a combination of many factors, the most important being the origin of the geothermal seawater from 2,000 meters beneath the surface (www.bluelagoon.com ).
At the Lagoon you can bath in the milky blue water or enjoy walking in the spectacular surroundings. 
Late afternoon drive back to Reykjavik / evening in Reykjavik guesthouse
 
Day 3 - July 22                                                                     Mountain Hengill
 
The mountain Hengill geothermal area is one of the largest high-temperature fields in Iceland situated on an active volcanic ridge in SW Iceland. We will visit Hellisheidi the geothermal power plant and surroundings. The area is situated on Hellisheiði heath just outside of Reykjavik. It is a rugged, colorful area and full of interesting spots to capture photos.
Evening in Reykjavik guesthouse
 
Day 4 - July 23                                                                    The Golden Circle
 
Thingvellir - Geyser hot spring - Gullfos waterfall – The Highlands
 
We will leave Reykjavík and drive to the Nesjavellir geothermal area and on to Þingvellir national park. Þingvellir NP is a remarkable geological site, and the most historic place on the island, where the world's oldest democratic parliament was founded in 930. We will visit the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. A few minutes drive from Gullfoss is the world famous Geyser region, where hot springs are in abundance, such as the famous great Geyser which has given name to hot springs all over the world. We will see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, spouting up to 20 meters.
Overnight at a guesthouse in the highlands
 
Day 5 – July 24                                                                     Landmannalaugar
 
Landmannalaugar literally means people’s pools and is situated in the southern highlands close to the volcano Hekla. The name refers to the natural geothermal pools which travelers can bathe in. There are some unusual geological elements in the area such as multi colored rhyolite mountains and lava fields. The mountains display a wide spectrum of colors including pink, green, brown, yellow, purple, blue, black and white.
Overnight at a guesthouse in the highlands
 
Day 6 –  July 25                                                               Fjallabaksleið Nyrðri
 
Today we will leave Landmannalaugar and make our way to our guesthouse in Southeast Iceland. We will travel on Fjallabaksleið nyrðri which means northern road behind the mountains. Among the sights is Eldgjá canyon (fire canyon). Eldgjá is the largest volcanic canyon in the world, 40km long, 270m deep and 600m wide at its greatest. Ófærufoss waterfall is within the canyon, a magnificent waterfall.
 
We will reach our guesthouse in Hali, Suðursveit. Hali guesthouse is an ideal choice for photographers who want to be near Jökulsárlón lagoon and Vatnajökull glacier in order to capture Iceland’s truly magical light that makes already extraordinary landscapes even more striking.
 
Day 7 –JULY 26                                           Vatnajokull Glacier National Park
Vatnajökull glacier towers over this region and has immensely affected the landscape. We will visit many of Vatnajökull's outlets and outwash areas and the Jökulsárlón lagoon, a famous glacial lagoon full of icebergs were we can take a short boat tour and sail among the huge icebergs, an unforgettable experience!
 
The glacial scenery continues with a visit to the stunning Skaftafell, Iceland’s second largest national park were the landscape has been formed in thousands of years by different influences of fire and water (volcanic eruptions and the glaciers).
Overnight at Guesthouse Hali 
 
Day 8 –July 27                                                                         Lonsoraefi tour
 
A tour to Lónsöræfi is a combination of nearly two hours drive and then 45 minute walk to a mountain hut. Lónsöræfi, wilderness, are one of the largest nature reservation areas
in Iceland. The area is famous for its colorful mountains and ravines, mostly made of rhyholite; in spite of the rugged landscape the area is still abundant in vegetation 
 
Day 9 –  July 28                                                      Vatnajokull Glacier National Park
 
Day tour according to interest.
 
Among available day tours are glacier hiking tours 2 to 4 hours, boat tours
on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and snowmobile excursions on Vatnajökull
glacier. Also horseback riding tours and photographic tour to Ingolfshofdi.
Please contact Esja Travel for information on available tours and prices.
 http://www.esjatravel.is/
Overnight at Guesthouse Hali.
 
 
Day 10 – July 29                                                                        South coast
 
We will leave Hali and head back to Reykjavik. We drive through Mýrdalur, a green
and wide valley were farming is the main industry, to Reynisfjara beach and
Reynisdrangar Sea stacks a very good location for taking photos.
Reynisfjara Beach is a natural black sand and pebble beach with some larger
boulders. By the beach you can see basalt caves which are very interesting
for photographers.
 
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated very near to Reynisfjara and
the village Vík í Mýrdal. According to legend the Reynisdrangar needles were
formed when two trolls were trying to drag a three-masted ship to land. When
daylight broke they turned to stone. The Needles can be seen clearly from
the village of Vík and are 66 meters above sea level at their highest.
Next stop is Dyrhólaey which is a 120-meter high promontory, not far from
Vík and is the southernmost part of the country. The eruption, which formed
Dyrhólaey and the pillars around it (originally parts of it), presumably
took place in the same way as other submarine and sub glacial eruptions.
From the top you have a great photographic view.
 
After Dyrhólaey we drive to Skógafoss which is one of the biggest and most
beautiful waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 meters and a drop of
60 meters. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces a
single or double rainbow which is normally visible on sunny days. Next stop
is Seljalandsfoss, another spectacular waterfall, one of the most famous one
and very picturesque. You can walk behind this waterfall and get a different
photo angle.
 
Overnight at a guesthouse in Reykjavik
 
 
Day 11 –July 30                                                         Departure from Iceland
 
Transfer to Keflavik airport, Reykjavik
 
 
 
Accommodations (Included)
4 nights- at guesthouse in Reykjavík-w/shared bathroom and breakfast
2-3 rooms share bathroom.
http://www.sunna.is/
 or
http://www.fosshotel.is/en/hotel/accommodations_in_reykjavik.php
 
2 nights- Guesthouse Hrauneyjar- w/shared bathroom and breakfast
http://www.hrauneyjar.is/
 
4 nights- Guesthouse Hali – w/shared bathroom and breakfast
At Hali 5-6 rooms share bathroom but also access to hot tub.
http://www.hali.is
ADD $ 600.00 for Single accommodations.......pricing based on double occupancy
EVENING MEETINGS:
 
Though not mandatory. We will have facilities to have informal meetings each evening to review our images, have discussions and presentations on photographic subjects.
___________________________________________________________________
 
 
Included
•          Private bus
•          Accommodation 10 nights
•          Breakfast
•          Lunch box
 
Not included
•          Entrance to The Blue Lagoon
•          Optional tours (Day 9)
•          International flights
•          Tips