Iceland in late Winter, 2011

[rpilottx]

My daughter has talked me into Iceland next March. I know it is still winter but we should have equal day and night. Am not too worried about the temperatures as we have traveled in interior Alaska in the winter.

I am wondering about rain, etc. We are going to be there for 7 days, plan on riding horses and am open to just about anything. I will probably take my M4 with 15/35/90 and a bunch of Ektar 100 and perhaps a S90.

So what am I missing? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[FrozenInTime]

It can be windy and damp/overcast for days...weeks : you might want some ISO 400 film.

Wish I could go back there some time - wonderful place.

 

[D.O'K.]

I went in March and was disappointed photographically-- just as FrozenInTime says, it was overcast throughout, also cool and windy, and the landscape tended to be somewhat colourless under a flat grey light. Reykjavik is interesting, but wears a somewhat beleaguered look at that time of the year.

From the comments of Icelandic friends all this was not just my bad luck, but the usual end-of winter conditions.

You could get away with Ektar 100 (indeed it might improve the colours!) but ISO 400 would give a lot more flexibility.

However the place is completely transformed from about late April into wonderful shades of green, and the light is (usually) much better. By May it looks fantastic. Can you not postpone your visit for a few months?

Regards,
D.

 

[Sikario]

I would echo the need for some ISO 400 film. Provia 400X would be my choice.

I used a graduated neutral density filter on almost every landscape shot in Iceland. I purchased it a few days before departing and frankly, I am not sure how I would have coped without it.

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

March is the most unpredictable time in terms of weather. It can be spring one moment and winter the next. So be prepared. The landscape will be bleak in the terms of tone, but dramatic none the less.

 

[rpilottx]

School Schedule

School Schedule

Dates are set as it is spring break from her senior year in college. We may head toward warmer climes but currently it is the chosen destination (looking at Ireland or Spain). Personally, I head toward Costa Rica or Panama.

Thanks for the info. Photography will be fun but not the main purpose of the trip.