CANCELLED - Anyone fancy Iceland in June 2010?
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:43 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
For the last year or so I've been toying with the idea of running a Large Format Photography workshop in Iceland from 26th June to 6th July 2010.
I've been lucky enough to visit twice in the last 3 years - in July 2007 and in March/April of 2009 and have spent a total of 5 weeks and over 6000 km travelling around, scouting locations, trying different types of accommodation and places to get fed and watered. I have completed a circuit of the R1 Ring Road and survived to tell the tale! I have a good knowledge of the South-West, Southern coast, South-Western coast and the interior (via the Eastern R1 road) to the North. I can confidently lead a group to visit the "must-see" locations in these regions but I've also managed to find a few special places too! I have complete sets of maps that cover the island.
The plan would be to fly from Heathrow to Keflavik (with Icelandair) and drive a route over a period of 10 days that would take in a variety of locations ranging from deserted farmsteads, glaciers, waterfalls, fishing villages, volcanic deserts, fantastic coastal areas, lighthouses and areas of high thermal activity (geysers, mudpots, fumaroles and sulphur-stained hills) as well as volcanos and glacial lagoons. Optional visits could be made to less accessible locations by prior agreement with the group and could include the Westmann Islands, Grimsey as well as the Western Fjords. However, previous experience means that the most productive way of utilising the time available is not to try and "do" Iceland - rather to select a realistic route that will allow for time to photograph and if necessary re-visit areas if weather conditions are poor.
I would drive the group in a 4-wheel drive minibus and the group would consist of a maximum of 6 persons (including me). The minibus seats 9 but space will be needed for equipment and gear.
Accommodation would be in a series of chalets and rooms at working farms along the route and accommodation includes a hearty Icelandic breakfast.
The sole purpose of the visit is to take photographs! To this end the 10 days will be tiring as at this time of the year Iceland experiences almost perpetual daylight - the "golden hours" last a long time!!!!!! It is not a "sightseeing/tourist" visit so we will keep away from Reykjavik! However, it is not "hardcore" either!!
I would arrange flights, vehicle rental and accommodation and the cost for each person is likely to be in the region of £1300 for 10 days.
The only additional cost is for personal insurance and food. Herein lies a "problem" - Icelandic food is by and large ... boring/bland/plain horrible/hard to find (apologies to any Icelanders listening). The majority of the population eat at home or at a few roadside diners. The population is largely restricted to Reykjavik and Akureyi the remainder is sparsely spread around the Ring Road (the interior is uninhabited). However, this is not insurmountable as I am also happy to "cook on the hoof" for the group (purchasing provisions at supermarkets in areas of habitation).
Before plans get "serious" ... is anyone interested?
I've been lucky enough to visit twice in the last 3 years - in July 2007 and in March/April of 2009 and have spent a total of 5 weeks and over 6000 km travelling around, scouting locations, trying different types of accommodation and places to get fed and watered. I have completed a circuit of the R1 Ring Road and survived to tell the tale! I have a good knowledge of the South-West, Southern coast, South-Western coast and the interior (via the Eastern R1 road) to the North. I can confidently lead a group to visit the "must-see" locations in these regions but I've also managed to find a few special places too! I have complete sets of maps that cover the island.
The plan would be to fly from Heathrow to Keflavik (with Icelandair) and drive a route over a period of 10 days that would take in a variety of locations ranging from deserted farmsteads, glaciers, waterfalls, fishing villages, volcanic deserts, fantastic coastal areas, lighthouses and areas of high thermal activity (geysers, mudpots, fumaroles and sulphur-stained hills) as well as volcanos and glacial lagoons. Optional visits could be made to less accessible locations by prior agreement with the group and could include the Westmann Islands, Grimsey as well as the Western Fjords. However, previous experience means that the most productive way of utilising the time available is not to try and "do" Iceland - rather to select a realistic route that will allow for time to photograph and if necessary re-visit areas if weather conditions are poor.
I would drive the group in a 4-wheel drive minibus and the group would consist of a maximum of 6 persons (including me). The minibus seats 9 but space will be needed for equipment and gear.
Accommodation would be in a series of chalets and rooms at working farms along the route and accommodation includes a hearty Icelandic breakfast.
The sole purpose of the visit is to take photographs! To this end the 10 days will be tiring as at this time of the year Iceland experiences almost perpetual daylight - the "golden hours" last a long time!!!!!! It is not a "sightseeing/tourist" visit so we will keep away from Reykjavik! However, it is not "hardcore" either!!
I would arrange flights, vehicle rental and accommodation and the cost for each person is likely to be in the region of £1300 for 10 days.
The only additional cost is for personal insurance and food. Herein lies a "problem" - Icelandic food is by and large ... boring/bland/plain horrible/hard to find (apologies to any Icelanders listening). The majority of the population eat at home or at a few roadside diners. The population is largely restricted to Reykjavik and Akureyi the remainder is sparsely spread around the Ring Road (the interior is uninhabited). However, this is not insurmountable as I am also happy to "cook on the hoof" for the group (purchasing provisions at supermarkets in areas of habitation).
Before plans get "serious" ... is anyone interested?