As I mentioned in the first part of my current Iceland series, this year’s conditions for bird photography were especially good. In addition to the puffin series, I’m excited to share another collection – this time featuring some of Iceland’s typical coastal birds.
These aren’t rare species found only in the far north – what fascinates me is seeing familiar birds in these unique habitats: blooming lupine fields, waterfalls, glaciers, and icebergs provide striking backdrops.
That was definitely what I had in mind when ‘conceptualising’ the trip - but of course you can't plan this in detail when photographing animals. So I'm all the more glad that it worked out, as the spots suitable for backlighting, for example, also require a very low sun, which you simply don't see on most days, so we needed a bit of luck here. Other animal motifs in Iceland are somewhat more reliable and ‘easier’ to realise - one option, for example, were the Arctic foxes in the Westfjords. They are super cute - but anyone who has ever seen the appearance of Arctic foxes in thick winter fur knows that they can also look quite ‘shaggy’ when they are breeding, so you have to like that photographically 😉 The fact that I was even able to create two bird series this time was ultimately mainly due to the good weather, with unusually long periods of sunshine.
At the center of this series are the Arctic Terns, with nine images in total. I’ve always dreamed of photographing them in the last evening light and among dense lupines – and this time it finally worked out. One image features a deep, dark background that beautifully highlights the translucent wings; another captures the warm glow of the setting sun over a field of lupines. It took the perfect mix of timing and luck – an unforgettable moment. 😊
For the second time, I was also able to photograph Golden Plovers in Þingvellir National Park, which made me especially happy. While they’re a common sight on summer trips through Iceland, getting close enough for truly photogenic shots with nice light and good bokeh is something else entirely. I’m sharing three images here.
I also captured three images of the Northern Fulmar – a fascinating seabird that thrives in the harshest winds and is perfectly adapted to rough climates. I’ve never managed to photograph them better than I did this time.
There are also a few bonus shots included – feel free to explore the full set. As with the puffin series, I used the Nikon 600 PF for all of these images: flight shots were taken at 600mm, while all others were at 840mm using a teleconverter. I usually kept the converter attached for quick roadside sightings and only removed it at locations where I expected reliable opportunities for flight images.
Hope you enjoy the photos – I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
I hope you enjoyed the series 😊
Best regards,
Thomas