Photography Tour Iceland: the Search for the Perfect Puffin

For nature photographers, puffins have been high on the wishlist for years. Photographing these colorful sea clowns in their natural habitat, however, proves to be a challenge - most locations in Europe are difficult to access or are overrun with tourists. But there is one place where this is different.

The Discovery of Puffin Island

After a long search, we found a small Icelandic gem: a remote island, a two-hour boat trip from the coast, where 240,000 puffins have their summer residence. This tiny island, barely a few kilometers wide, not only hosts one of Europe's largest colonies but also offers something immensely valuable: peace and exclusivity.

With 240,000 specimens, it's not always easy to photograph one in a landscape.

Iceland: More than Just Birds

A trip to this puffin paradise, of course, starts on the Icelandic mainland. It would be a shame to skip all those spectacular landscapes. The route to the harbor passes by steaming geysers, impressive waterfalls, and volcanic deserts—each a photographic masterpiece in its own right. It goes without saying that we took the necessary time to capture these in peace.

Hraunfossar, one of Iceland's more beautiful waterfalls.

Midnight Sun: 24 hours of Photography

The island itself has only 60 summer residents and offers limited accommodation. But it is precisely this remote location that makes it so special for photographers. No masses of tourists, no time pressure—just nature and endless photo opportunities.

June in Iceland means the midnight sun—a phenomenon where the sun does not set and there is light 24 hours a day. For photographers, this opens up unique possibilities. The soft, warm light lingers for hours, eliminating the stress of missing golden hours.

In addition to puffins, many other birds also live there: terns performing spectacular aerial battles, curious redshanks, eider ducks, and wild Icelandic horses. Every moment offers new compositional possibilities.

The Perfect Workshop Conditions: A Successful Setup

My original plan was clear: if I was going to photograph puffins, I had to be able to get close and capture sunrise and sunset. In many places in Europe, this is problematic—you are often far away behind fences or have limited time during day trips.

On Puffin Island, this plan was a complete success. The birds literally live around our house, allowing us to work from very close without disturbing them. And thanks to the midnight sun, we had endless time to photograph in the golden light. This made it possible to apply all photographic techniques: from silhouettes, high keys and chiaroscuros, to portraits and landscape compositions with birds.

Only under these ideal conditions could this grow into a real workshop. Participants had all the time to experiment, make mistakes, try again, and test different approaches. The result: a huge variety of images and, most importantly, many learned techniques that can be applied anywhere later.

Weather Conditions as a Creative Partner

Iceland's famous "four seasons in one day" proves to be a blessing for photographers. Cloudy days lure puffins to the rocks—ideal for colony shots and atmospheric images. Sunny moments drive the birds onto the water, perfect for intimate portraits of the few who stay ashore.

The ultimate nature Photo Experience

A photography trip to this Icelandic puffin island combines the best of two worlds: intensive wildlife photography in an exclusive location and the grandiose landscapes of Iceland. The result? Not only a portfolio full of unique images, but above all, memories of a place where nature still has complete control.

For nature photographers looking for true wilderness experiences, off the beaten path, this destination offers everything to make a photographer's heart beat faster.

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