THE ICELAND SAGAS

Overview

Iceland has become one of the must-see destinations for photographers, and for good reason. This incredibly dramatic country is home to an astonishing array of stunning natural features – truly a photographer's wonderland.

Join noted Canadian photographers Paul Zizka and Dave Brosha– along with an eclectic mix of models and locations – as they spend seven intense, creative days focusing on compelling landscape photography and the art and craft of dramatic environmental portraiture amongst legendary backdrops. If you love adventure photography, the idea of the human element in a grand landscape/astro scene, or are looking for a vast, cinematic feel to your work, this is the workshop for you. We’ve put together the perfect blend of portrait and landscape photography over an entire week!

Largely held in and around the icy realm of Vatnajökull National Park in southeastern Iceland – with two photographers noted for their work that creatively mixes people and place, and their unique approach to nature photography – this workshop will challenge you to think large (dare we say “epic”). This is not your usual “tourist” photography tour that goes to the same 10 spots at the same time – this is something we ensured is truly unique!

Location: Iceland - Southeastern Area

Dates: February 6-13, 2022

Tour Leaders: Dave Brosha & Paul Zizka

Spousal Rate: $2,250. Let Erin know at erin@offbeatphoto.ca and she will build this into your payment plan.

Itinerary (note: subject to change as we finalize all details)

Sunday, February 6, 2022

6:00AM - 2:00 PM Shuttling from Reykjavik. Participants advised to book flights into Keflavik International Airport, arriving in the morning of Sunday, February 6th, if not sooner to give yourself a window against potential weather delays. We will pick you up at the airport between 11AM and noon and start the cross-country transfer to southeastern Iceland.

7:00PM - Official kick-off, welcome at Foss Glacier Lagoon Hotel

Monday, February  7, 2022

6:30AM Breakfast

8:00AM Departure for sunrise shoot at Diamond Beach

8:30AM-1:00PM Diamond Beach

1:00-3:00 PM Lunch break

3:00-6:00PM Sunset shoot at Svinafellsjokull

6:30PM Dinner. First opportunity for astrophotography (8:30 to 11:30PM if weather cooperates - Jokulsarlon/Diamond Beach)

Tuesday, February  8, 2022

6:30AM - Breakfast

8:00AM - Departure for sunrise shoot at Glacier Lagoon

8:30AM-1:00PM - Glacier Lagoon

1:00-3:00PM - Lunch break

3:00-6:00PM - Sunset shoot at Vestrahorn

6:30PM - Dinner in Hofn. Second opportunity for astrophotography (8:30 to 11:30 if weather cooperates, back at Vestrahorn).

Wednesday, February  9, 2022

6:30AM Breakfast

8:00AM Departure for sunrise shoot at Fjallsarlon

9:00-12:00PM Fjallsarlon

12:00-1:00PM Lunch break

1:00-3:00PM - Opportunity for classroom time

3:00-10:00PM Sunset locastion TBD/Third opportunity for astrophotography (10PM to midnight if weather cooperates, location TBD)

Thursday, February 10, 2022

(Epic Portrait Day)

6:30AM Breakfast

8:00AM Departure for sunrise shoot at Diamond Beach

8:30AM-1:00PM Diamond Beach

1:00-3:00 PM Lunch break

3:00-6:00PM Ice cave photography

6:30PM Dinner

Friday, February 11, 2022

Portrait Day

6:30AM - Breakfast

8:00AM - Departure for sunrise shoot at Glacier Lagoon

8:30AM-1:00PM - Glacier Lagoon

1:00-3:00PM - Lunch break

3:00-6:00PM - Sunset shoot at Vestrahorn

6:30PM - Dinner in Hofn

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Portrait Day

8:00AM - Breakfast

10:00AM - Transportation back to Reykjanes with stops along the way for portrait photography. Exploration of the Gunnuhver area.

7:00PM - Group Finale Dinner

Stay in Grindavik

Sunday, February 13, 2022

7:00AM Final breakfast

8:30AM - Group trip + relaxation in the Blue Lagoon

12:00PM - Shuttle to Keflavik Airport - official end of workshop. 

The finer details:

Included:

• One-on-one and group photography instruction from Paul Zizka and Dave Brosha (and possibly additional instructors)
  
• All transportation within Iceland during the workshop times (Note: we will be offering a single shuttle pick-up time to and from Keflavik Airport on the morning of February 6, 2022. Participants intending on arriving in Iceland before the workshop start date or extending beyond the workshop end date are responsible for their own transfer to and from the workshop).
  
• All accommodation within Iceland during the workshop dates. Note: workshop price is based on shared/double participant per room occupancy. A premium will be charged if a participant desires solo accomodation. For those participating in the workshop that are not traveling with a friend, partner, or spouse, we will ensure all participants are partnered with a roommate of the same sex.
  
• Breakfast daily and finale celebratory dinner the night before the workshop ends.
• Entrance to the Blue Lagoon.

Not Included:

• Flights to Iceland
• Any alcoholic beverages
• Lunch/Dinners with exception of group finale dinner
  
• Any weather-caused delays/extensions to stay.

Price/Payment Schedule:

Full Cost: CAD $5250

Payment options: Full payment or non-refundable deposit to secure a space with remaining three payments spread over the year.

Non-Refundable Deposit: CAD $1000 (due upon booking) & four installment payments of $1062.50 due:

• October 1, 2020
• February 1, 2021
• May 1, 2021
• November 1, 2021

Note: Failure to pay by due dates means forfeiting deposit and spot will be freed up and potentially sold to another interested participant (see more in cancellation policy below).

If unforeseen circumstances arise, participants are welcome to transfer/sell their space to another interested participant. In such case, participants are responsible for handling payment for the transfer.

Participants:

• 8 minimum

• 16 maximum

We require a minimum of 8 participants in order to run this workshop. If the minimum numbers are not reached by September 1, 2019, the workshop may be cancelled and deposits will be refunded to participants. See our cancellation policy below for more details.

Accommodations

Note: workshop price is based on shared/double participant per room occupancy. A premium will be charged if a participant desires solo accommodation. For those participating in the workshop that are not traveling with a friend, partner, or spouse, we will ensure all participants are partnered with a roommate of the same sex.

Meals

For this work, daily breakfast and a finale celebratory dinner the night before the workshop ends are included in your workshop fee. There are several lunches and dinners not included to allow participants to order to taste and to experience various Icelandic cuisine of their own choosing.

Transportation

All transportation within Iceland during the workshop times is included. Note that we will be offering a single shuttle pick-up time to and from Keflavik Airport on the morning of February  6, 2022 and a shuttle back to the Keflavik Airport on the final morning of February 13, 2022 participants arriving in Iceland before the workshop start date or extending beyond the workshop end date are responsible for their own transfer to/from Keflavik airport.

What to expect

The workshop will include several short 2-3 kilometre hikes over uneven terrain such as rocky terrain, hills, ice, and shorelines. There is nothing technical involved, but participants should be comfortable and prepared to walk and/or climb areas in cooler temperatures with a backpack for periods of up to an hour at a time.

This workshop includes a portion held in the dramatic Iceland ice caves. Although we will be guided by experienced local Iceland guides, ice caves are inherently unpredictable and this is a higher risk activity. By signing up you acknowledge the risks associated with ice caves. Participants, of course, will have the option of sitting this portion of the workshop out

LEAVE NO TRACE

We encourage and live the ethics of "leave no trace" photography, which means that the utmost care is given, while hiking and photographing, to leaving zero impact on the natural environment. Participants are expected to approach this tour with the same ethics at all times.

What to Bring

As the tour is in February (winter in Iceland, which is generally pretty mild - average around -2 degrees Celsius), there is the possibility of some very diverse weather conditions, with potential for extreme wind, cold, and rain. Please come prepared for a variety of weather conditions as the more comfortable you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be.

• suitable and comfortable clothing, which you can layer. it can be cold during the day, but it can cool down considerably at night. (layers, including underclothes, fleeces, bellaclava, warm gloves, and toques)
• a fleece jacket/sweater
• a headlamp or flashlight
• your own camera equipment (preferably DSLR, which allows manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings and a range of lenses, if you have). Our recommended lenses to bring would be one wide angle lens with a fast aperture (useful for night photography), and something in the strong portrait range (50MM-135MM). Other lenses are useful, of course, but those two lenses were our most frequented "go-to" lenses.
• a sturdy tripod
• a cable (or wireless) shutter release
• off-camera and/or studio equipment if that style of photography interests you
• sunglasses

As well, we optionally recommend:

• small first aid kit
• blister bandages
• water bottle
• bandana (keep dust out of nose and mouth, protect eyes from sweat
• air blower for sand/dust around camera/electronics
• voltage adapters
• a laptop for editing (with editing software, preferably Adobe)

Cancellation and Insurance Policy

CANCELLATION: Spots are non-refundable but are transferable, with the exception of a $250 administration fee. For instance, we will provide a refund, minus the administration fee, if the participant is able to find someone else to take his or her spot and can sell/transfer the spot to a new participant. Please contact us at erin@offbeatphoto.ca to make arrangements.

Although extremely unlikely, OFFBEAT Photography Inc. reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time for a variety of reasons (i.e. if a minimum number of participants is not met or if unforeseen circumstances dramatically impacted cost of the tour or global conditions somehow warranted a cancellation). In the very unlikely event of a cancellation within OFFBEAT’s control, all monies/deposits made to OFFBEAT Photography Inc. would be refunded to participants, however, no compensation would be made for participant flight cancellation fees or any other associated travel costs. See Insurance Policy for more details.In the very unlikely event of a cancellation beyond OFFBEAT’s control (I.e global situation, act of God, war, medical outbreak, extreme weather), every attempt would be made to rebook the tour within a period of two years. In this situation, no refunds would be given but every effort made to find participants a spot on the rescheduled tour or another upcoming OFFBEAT tour.

INSURANCE: It is not only advised but required that workshop participants have trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as well as emergency medical/illness insurance and rescue coverage (proof required within 4 months of departure).

Weather and other unforeseen factors can cause delays in travel, particularly from some of our more remote locations. It is the participant’s responsibility to cover any costs in the case of a travel delay of any length. Please ensure your trip cancellation/interruption insurance accommodates this possibility.

By purchasing a spot you are acknowledging that you accept these conditions.

For any additional questions, please contact us at workshops@offbeatphoto.ca