Category: Iceland
Photo of the Month March 2017 – Wild Iceland
Yesterday I returned to Reykjavik after leading a new expedition to the remote north-west of Iceland to photograph Arctic Fox in winter. I have been travelling to this remote nature reserve in the north of Iceland for the last four years to photograph Arctic Fox but this was the first time I have taken a group with me. We had some amazingly close encounters with several Blue Morph Arctic Fox during our time in the north and I will have a full trip report soon. As well as Arctic Fox we also took some time to photograph some of the dramatic landscape found this far north in Iceland. This particular photograph of snow being blown from one of the surrounding peaks at sunset from my 2016 expedition is my photograph of the month for March 2017.
Workshops and Expeditions Update and Availability 2017
I have been meaning to post a workshop and expedition update for some time now but other matters have taken priority and I now find myself near the end of February and about to embark on my annual Winter workshop in Iceland with Daniel Bergmann. So better late than never, here is a list of what is coming up, what is sold out, what is still available and some of what is planned for the future.
After Daniel and I finish up our Winter Iceland trip (2017 is the last year I will be running this trip for the immediate future) I am heading north with a small group of photographers for a new expedition to photograph Arctic Foxes in the extreme North-West of Iceland. This expedition has long been sold out; but I will be repeating this trip again in 2018. At this stage there are still three places available before it will be sold out. You can download a complete PDF of the expedition HERE.
After I finish in Iceland I am heading to Svalbard for a sold out winter expedition to photograph Polar Bears and the landscape of Svalbard in a winter setting. The 2017 expedition has also been long sold out, but I will be repeating this expedition again in 2018 and you can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE. Places are already very limited.
In May this year Daniel and I still have a couple of places available on our Ultimate Puffins workshop. The workshop is dedicated to photography of the Atlantic Puffin and other birds of Iceland including Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots (Murres), Arctic Terns and Razorbills. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to photograph Puffins and other Arctic birds in their natural environment. We will visit a number of different locations during this workshop where we will have outstanding access to the Puffins living in burrows on the edge of sea cliffs. We have timed our 2017 workshop to ensure we are in the best locations at the best times to photograph these wonderful birds. We will have hours of golden light under the spectacular midnight sun – ideal conditions for photography of the Atlantic Puffin. We are also heading out to the remote northern Grimsey Island so this workshop promises to be unique and very special. We are now down to the last few places on this workshop before it will be sold out. If you are interested in photographing Arctic Birds this is not to be missed. You can download a complete PDF itinerary HERE.
In July I will be heading back to Svalbard for my annual summer expedition to photograph Polar Bears and other wildlife of the Svalbard archipelago. You can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE. There is now only one place remaining on this expedition before it will be sold out.
In September Daniel Bergmann and I are leading two back to back expeditions to the Scoresby-Sund fjord system on the remote north west coast of Greenland. Both expeditions are sold out but Daniel and I have just committed to repeat the expedition again in 2019. We will be announcing dates for the expeditions very soon but you can register your interest to be first on the list by dropping me an email.
In November I will be leading a new expedition to Antarctica – Antarctica White Nature. This fully dedicated expedition is now almost sold out with only two places remaining. This expedition has been specially timed to be the first of the season to ensure the best possible ice conditions. Be sure to read my recent series of articles on how to choose an expedition to Antarctica. You can download a complete PDF itinerary of the expedition HERE.
As some of you are aware I also recently completed a new winter scouting trip to Kuusamo in the north of Finland (I hope to publish some images from this trip soon). This trip was a great success with some fantastic Golden Eagle and Hawk Owl activity in a wonderful winter setting. I hope to have details on a future January Winter workshop to Finland over the coming months. If you would like to be notified once details are finalised you can drop me an email to register your interest – there is no obligation at this point.
For those of you patiently waiting for confirmation of dates for the Emperor Penguin expedition in 2018 I am hoping to have this all finalised in a few weeks. If you are keen to get the jump on other upcoming workshops and expeditions for 2018 and beyond you can view a complete list on my website at www.jholko.com.
Ultimate Puffins of Iceland 2017 Workshop Update
In late May this year I will be leading a brand new workshop with Daniel Bergmann that is dedicated to photography of the Atlantic Puffin and other birds of Iceland including Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots (Murres), Arctic Terns and Razorbills. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to photograph Puffins and other Arctic birds in their natural environment. We will visit a number of different locations during this workshop where we will have outstanding access to the Puffins living in burrows on the edge of sea cliffs. We have timed our 2017 workshop to ensure we are in the best locations at the best times to photograph these wonderful birds. We will have hours of golden light under the spectacular midnight sun – ideal conditions for photography of the Atlantic Puffin. We are now down to the last few places on this workshop before it will be sold out.
This photography workshop will last for 11 days (11 nights). We will be staying in good hotels and guest houses that are functional and clean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included and will generally be held at the hotels where we are staying. However, this workshop is all about photography and we will be putting in long hours in the field in order to ensure we get the best possible light for photography. We may take food and drink with us into the field to ensure we are in the right locations get the best possible light.
Daniel Bergmann and I will be providing extensive in the field photographic instruction throughout the workshop for all participants. We will be covering camera setup as well as techniques for how to photograph birds in their environment. In the evenings we will have informal discussions and critiques as well as post production demonstrations. This will be a very hands on workshop and it is our intention to provide very expansive instruction as required. If you are keen to photograph Puffins and other birds in Iceland in beautiful light then you can register your interest by dropping me an email at info@jholko.com
Canon Australia Feature Outstanding Professional Photographs from 2016
Canon Australia has just published a series of photographs from a select group of its Australian professional photographers entitled Outstanding Professional Photographs to Make You Feel Better About 2016. The series of photographs includes one of my favourite images from my recent project on the Arctic Fox. You can see the full series online at Canons Website.
“After sitting for days through the freezing arctic winter conditions of Iceland, I finally got the opportunity to photograph the white morph of an Arctic Fox. He was patrolling the edge of his territory during a heavy winter snowstorm. It’s very evocative o the incredibly harsh environment in which these animals survive. Able to withstand cold better than an other mammal, the Arctic Fox heads headlong into the blizzard in temperatures below -2o Celsius.”
I will soon be returning to the extreme northwest of Iceland to lead a small group of photographers on an expedition to photograph Arctic Fox in winter. This invitation only expedition has long been sold out, but I will soon be announcing details for the 2018 expedition. You can register your interest in this unique expedition by dropping me an email to info@jholko.com