Respect Iceland – Take The Pledge And Be A Better Tourist/Traveler:

In order to make sure others get to experience everything you saw in Iceland, you need to understand and respect Iceland and its nature. Show appreciations for its fragileness as well as the unforgiving and brutal way the Icelandic landscape has seen over the centuries. It is not without reason that tourists end up losing their lives every year, but you can make things better by respecting Iceland and its nature.

I presume the reason why you are reading my Icelandic adventures is that you are planning at some point to go there yourself. I did my research as well, and I’ve seen so many photos I wanted to take in a similar way. Still, once I got to that spot, I realized not only how dangerous it is to take that photo, but how disrespectful it was from all those people before me to cross the line and also put their lives in danger for some likes on social media.

Therefore, try as much as possible to avoid driving off-road, walking on the moss, going too close to big waves, or venturing off into the highlands in a regular sedan. If you show respect for nature, it’s certain to reflect in your photography. You will start seeing and appreciating things in a different way, and that will set you apart from the average photographer and all those tourists taking photos in Iceland.

Do Less

A road trip is a perfect way to explore the country, but make sure you leave sufficient time to really explore the areas you are planning to visit, rather than merely driving from one place to another. If you don’t have enough time to visit the whole island, just forget for a second about the Ring Road and only find ways to visit some of the most remote places in Iceland…and if you do this off-season, it’s going to be even better for you. Just remember to do your research in advance and consider working with a local.

Icelandic animals

The animals in Iceland are beautiful, both on their own as well as when blending into the environment. Consider planning your trip around one of the horse or sheep roundups in the fall for more interesting shots of these creatures. Sheep and horses were brought to Iceland by the first settlers around the ninth century. But it is how the sheep and horses have been kept pure-bred since the Vikings first arrived that makes these animals incredibly unique.

Changing the Point of View

Iceland is perfect for taking pictures with a drone, as the country offers incredible landscapes and patterns, you can only begin to comprehend when you see them from above. My advice is to go all in and buy yourself that drone you’ve been dreaming about. Take advantage of the chance while regulation is liberal and get some stunning perspectives on the Icelandic landscape. Just avoid flying too close to any birds or helicopters. Of course, national parks and nearby airports are a no-no as in any other country.

Other things to consider planning your shots in advance and thinking about how you can differentiate yourself with a new angle on a landscape that has been photographed thousands of times before you do it. Changing the point of view and capturing things in a new way might require a bit of luck, like being in the right place at the right time. This might seem impossible to do in a place you’ve never been to before, but there are plenty of tools that can help you figure out when the sunset will be best at a specific spot or even when that full moon will be just above your point of interest. Anything is possible in Iceland, as long as you do it the right way!

Searching for the Light

You might get lucky and see the Northern Lights during the winter season — from September to April. Outside of that period, you need to be really lucky, as the night is simply too bright. The Northern lights are beautiful, and it’s a fantastic thing to experience for the first time, but they also might just be one of the most cliché things you can photograph in Iceland. So, my advice to you is to think about the location (aurora goes typically from east to west) and try to make your photos enjoyable by including a waterfall, canyon, other people, car, or even some horses.

Read about HOW TO TAKE THE PERFECT NORTHERN LIGHT PHOTOS

One Last Piece of Advice

If you get to Iceland during a rainy period, the best way to spend your time is in the hot natural swimming pools, and I am not talking about the Blue Lagoon now. Just explore the country, and you will find a lot of hidden pools, just make sure the water is not too hot, and you can get in.