Drone & Discover: Arctic AErials

NEW DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

SEPTEMBER 15-24TH 2026

COVERING THE EVERY MAJOR AREA IN ICELAND

 
 
 

Elevate your photography to new heights!

Join us on our brand new workshop series, ‘Drone & Discover.’
Come and see Iceland from above and discover a new world in one of the most picturesque countries on the planet!

Why attend Drone & Discover: Iceland?
Drone photography has taken the world by storm, offering a unique and creative way to capture the world.

Are you a photographer looking to add a new skill to your toolkit?

Maybe you’re new to photography and looking for a fun, exciting, and innovative hobby?

Have you already dabbled in drone photography but need more confidence, feel like your work lacks that wow factor, or want to take your aerial photography and cinematography to the next level?

Or are you an experienced drone photographer with Iceland at the top of your cinematography bucket list?

Whether you are a beginner, a casual hobbyist, or an experienced drone photographer/videographer, this workshop with a difference caters to all skill levels. From the basics to advanced techniques, we’ve got you covered!

SEPTEMBER 15-24th 2026

What will be covered during this workshop?

Join us for ten days to Drone & Discover Iceland, where we’ll take you to incredible locations for lots of hands-on, practical learning catered to your experience level and goals!

We’ll cover everything a drone photographer would need to plan shots, pilot their drone, scout for compositions, and quickly yet thoughtfully frame images/videos with good composition techniques to make the most of limited battery time.

  • Using your drone
    – Understanding your drone features and settings
    – Setup assistance for optimum images and videos
    – Technical drone operation

  • Drone safety essentials
    – Understanding the capabilities and limitations of your equipment
    – Aviation laws
    – Pre-flight checks
    – Spatial awareness and obstacle avoidance
    – What to do in the event of system warnings and emergencies

  • Planning shots before take-off
    – Including tools and apps to ensure efficiency so you don’t waste precious battery time!

  • Becoming a confident pilot
    – Flight techniques
    – Using Flight modes

  • Photography skills
    – Getting you off auto settings and learning to manually shoot using shutter speed, ISO, and aperture to control exposure

  • Bracketing techniques
    – To overcome scenes with high dynamic range typical of aerial photography

  • Composition skills
    – Positioning your drone using varying heights/tilt angles for different perspectives and fields of view
    – Framing creative compositions
    – Telling an engaging story

  • Capturing shots that WOW
    – Looking for symmetry, patterns, and contrasts in textures/colors
    – Leading lines
    – Using objects for scale

  • Understanding light at height
    – Avoiding under/overexposure
    – How to incorporate the strength, direction, and quality of light into your compositions

  • Capturing grand scenes using panoramas
    – From shooting the images to the post-processing workflow

  • Videography skills for cinematic footage
    – Using different flight speeds
    – Flying high versus low
    – Manual shooting using tracking, panning, and circling
    – Incorporating moving objects
    – Using DJI Intelligent Flight modes

  • Post-processing images and editing videos

  • Lots of Tips & Tricks!

Ready to take to the skies? Join us for Drone & Discover: Arctic Aerials Iceland in 2025!

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • 10 day workshop with 9 nights accommodation

  • Award-winning, professional Photo Guides who will provide a combination of instruction, masterclasses, and in-field guidance

  • Transportation during the workshop in a comfortable vehicle with ample room for you and your photography gear

  • Welcome and Farewell meals on Days 1 and 9

  • Breakfasts at hotels

  • Permits that allow the use of drones inside otherwise-protected boundaries in Iceland, such as National Parks

  • Post-processing and digital workflow masterclass/es with Photo Guides

  • Access to exclusive discounts on gear from our partners

  • Lots of fun, laughter, bragging rights, and amazing memories!

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

  • Flights to and from Iceland

  • Travel to and from the workshop’s designated pick-up/drop-off points in Reykjavik

  • Food and beverages (other than breakfasts, Welcome and Farewell meals)

  • Items of a personal nature including (but not limited to) laundry services, clothing, Wi-Fi, email, or phone charges

  • Personal Travel, Medical, Equipment, or Trip Cancellation Insurance

  • Visas (if applicable)

  • Gratuities for Photo Guides, local guides, and/or drivers

Price for the workshop is $6490 USD For Double Occupancy (shared room) 

You'll have two options to sign up for the photo tour. First option is the deposit to secure your spot, with balance due 90 days before workshop. Second option is to pay full amount upfront. Pricing is based on double occupancy (shared room). Single occupancy (single room) is available for $7,660. Upon signing up you will be emailed a list of all details for locations and a checklist of what to bring to be fully prepared for the workshop. Completing your payment confirms acceptance of the Terms and Conditions as outlined.

from $1,000.00

Payment plans are available for workshops. Contact me for more info.



WORKSHOP ITINERARY

    • After arriving in Reykjavik, we’ll gather for an in-depth orientation to prepare for the journey. You’ll ensure your drones are up to date, review controls, and go over Iceland’s drone regulations. We’ll also discuss techniques for capturing Iceland’s landscapes and the best strategies for dealing with changing conditions. The day ends with a welcome dinner where you’ll connect with fellow participants.

    • Today we start our journey north to capture Iceland’s fall colors and dramatic landscapes. Highlights include a stunning waterfall flowing into a vibrant blue river, a volcanic crater surrounded by autumn hues, a striking coastal rock formation, and a canyon with blue waters weaving through golden terrain—all perfect for aerial photography.

    • Today, we focus on capturing aerial shots of northern Iceland’s scenic wonders. You’ll launch your drone to photograph dramatic lighthouses set against the cliffs, fly above serene waterfalls, and frame braided rivers winding through the vivid fall colors. With expert guidance, we’ll fine-tune your techniques to highlight the region’s textures and contrasts.

    • Today, focus your drone on capturing the beauty of cascading waterfalls, from a wide, powerful cascade to one framed by striking basalt columns. Then, head to a serene lake surrounded by vivid autumn colors, perfect for aerial photography. Continue by flying over bubbling geothermal landscapes and a vibrant crater lake, where rich earth tones and fall hues create breathtaking contrasts.

    • We begin the day with aerial shots of a striking stone monument, a unique feature framed by the surrounding autumn hues. Next, fly over a lush canyon with vibrant fall colors set against sheer cliffs. Capture the power of a roaring waterfall as it carves through rugged terrain. End the day soaring above a volcanic caldera, highlighting its intricate textures and contrasting tones.

    • Kick off the day soaring your drone over a rugged volcanic range, capturing steaming vents and jagged peaks framed by autumn’s vibrant palette. Next, glide your drone above a spectacular canyon with towering basalt walls and a turquoise river carving through the landscape. In the afternoon, trade your drone for a camera and get up close to photograph puffins on the cliffs—because some stars are best captured from the ground.

    • Fly your drone above towering cliffs and waterfalls that plunge into valleys painted with autumn colors, starting with dramatic falls surrounded by striking basalt columns. Capture the elegant flow of another waterfall nestled against steep, vibrant hillsides. Then, focus on a serene cascade hidden near the coast and photograph the remnants of a WWII US Navy shipwreck, a hauntingly beautiful relic of the past. Each location offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty for your aerial shots.

    • Starting the day, we drone a cascading waterfall framed by vibrant autumn colors and towering cliffs. Next, fly over a natural labyrinth with intricate formations, followed by stunning aerial views of winding river patterns cutting through the landscape. Conclude with dramatic mountain peaks rising above black sand beaches, their reflections shimmering in shallow pools, creating a perfect finale for the day’s aerial photography.

    • Today, capture mesmerizing aerial views of intricate river braids flowing like golden threads through autumn landscapes. As we journey back to the city, fly over majestic glaciers, their icy surfaces blending seamlessly with the vivid colors of the season. The interplay of water, ice, and fall hues creates unforgettable compositions to close the workshop.

    • You’ll make your way home from Iceland with memories to last a lifetime, new friends, and memory cards full of amazing images of Iceland.


During this workshop, we will do multiple shoots throughout the day, taking breaks as needed to recharge our drone batteries.
Note that in September, it is possible to shoot the northern lights so you are welcome to bring camera for astro as well.

Our guides will monitor weather forecasts, sunrise/sunset times, road conditions, and any other factors and plan the days to optimize shooting conditions. We will prioritize hands-on, practical learning on location during conditions over classroom/post-processing training.

Ultimately, our goal is to put you in the best locations at the right time with the best light so you can capture fantastic images.

LOCATIONS IMAGE GALLERY

 
 

IMPORTANT WORKSHOP INFO

  • A mild to moderate level of fitness is required for this workshop.

    Most shooting locations are easily accessible via a short hike. However, sometimes this may be across rough, uneven, icy or muddy terrain that includes elevation changes. Our Guides will let you know if a photography destination involves a long hike, steep incline or particularly challenging terrain, and provide alternative shooting locations or other options if you don’t feel comfortable.


    Participants should be able to carry their own camera gear while hiking.


    Sometimes we may remain in a location shooting for a few hours. Participants should be comfortable outdoors for extended periods of time in various weather conditions such as wind, rain, sun and extremes of temperature. Wherever possible, our Guides will keep the vehicle available nearby so participants can rest and take a break.


    All participants should be in good physical shape with no mobility issues. If you have any concerns about your suitability, then reach out to us and we will be happy to discuss the particular location details of the workshop with you.


    You must advise Viking International Phototours in advance and in writing via email of any illness, injury, or pre-existing medical conditions that might reasonably be expected to affect your participation during the workshop.

  • We welcome you to join!
    This drone photography workshop caters for all skill levels – from absolute beginners to advanced drone photographers.

    If you are interested in attending but don’t own your own equipment yet, we have a limited number of drones available for hire. Please contact us for information and rates.

    We can also provide recommendations if you want to purchase your own drone before the workshop starts, and we will help you to set it up.

  • Our workshops require a minimum number of participants to proceed.

     

    We will confirm if your photography workshop will be proceeding 90 days before the start date, at which point full payment of any remaining balance will be required.

     

    Viking International Phototours reserves the right to reschedule or cancel workshops due to low participant numbers. We will do our best to reschedule the workshop within two years of the original date. 

    If this happens, we will offer you the choice between:

      • Retaining your spot on the rescheduled workshop;

      • Transferring to the same workshop on a different date if there is availability; or

      • Canceling your spot on the rescheduled workshop: No refund – your funds will be held as credit which can be transferred or used towards our other photography workshops, self-drive packages, or tours for up to 2 years from the date of cancellation.

    In the improbable event that a workshop is canceledaltogether rather than rescheduled, we will offer you the choice between:

      • Applying your funds towards a different workshop, tour or self-drive experience; or 

      • Receiving a full refund minus a $300 USD fee and any non-refundable fees paid to third parties.

    Please note that Viking International Phototours are not liable for travel expenses incurred to reach the workshop destination or any other personal expenses incurred in preparing for your workshop. For this reason, we require that you obtain Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance.

     

    We also recommend you do not book travel or make any trip-related purchases before the workshop has been confirmed.

  • Accommodation options on our photography workshops may include:

    • Double Occupancy where you will share a room with your traveling companion;
    • Double Occupancy where you are paired with another workshop participant of the same gender; and/or
    • Single Occupancy in your own room.

    Your accommodation selection is made when you book the workshop.

     

    During this workshop, we will be staying in clean, comfortable accommodations that include hotels, guesthouses, and apartments.
    Please note that if you select Single Occupancy, this may include your own bedroom within a multi-room apartment or Guesthouse (shared bathroom/kitchenette).

     

    Solo Participants wanting Double Occupancy
    Solo participants are welcome to select the Double Occupancy rate at the time of booking. If Viking International Phototours is unable to pair you with a roommate of the same gender from the workshop group, we will notify you ahead of the workshop and request you to pay the supplementary cost for a Single Occupancy room.

     

    Single Room Availability
    On some photography workshops, Single Occupancy rooms may be limited. If this is the case, single rooms will be assigned on a first-booked, first-served basis. If you booked a photography workshop at the Single Occupancy rate and we are unable to provide you with a single room, we will notify you ahead of the workshop, place you into a Double Occupancy room paired with a workshop participant of the same gender, and refund you the difference.

  • We cannot delay or change a workshop in the event of travel disruptions that cause a participant to arrive late.

    If this happens, participants are responsible for arranging their own transport to catch up with the group – which can be a very costly expense. In addition, no refunds will be made for any time missed on a workshop due to the late arrival by the participant.

    For this reason, we highly recommend you arrive the day before your workshop is scheduled to start at the latest. 
    At the very least, you will be more refreshed and relaxed for the start of your adventure.

  • Our workshop’s itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of our Photo Guides depending on factors including but not limited to weather, road conditions, transportation delays, and other factors beyond our control. We will check the weather forecasts and road conditions and plan our day to optimize shooting conditions.

    We cannot guarantee that we will be able to visit all the locations on the itinerary.

  • Please note that you are solely responsible for your equipment, and are expected to adhere to all rules and regulations as specified by the Icelandic Transport Authority.

    Viking International Phototours and our Photo Guides will not be liable for any injury or damage caused to equipment, environment, or people caused by you operating a drone during our workshop.

    Please also note that the wind and weather in Iceland can be sudden and hazardous, so use your judgement and be mindful of conditions.

  • If you are interested in this workshop but would prefer a private experience or to attend with your own group of people, we can arrange that for you – contact us to discuss.

  • Please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

    Booking with our tour indicates acceptance of the Booking Terms and Conditions as outlined.

  • We know that plans can change, and unforeseen circumstances can happen. 

     

    You need to advise us in writing via email as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop. Your cancellation is not official until you have received a return email confirmation acknowledging your cancellation.

     

    If you cancel and we can fill your spot on the workshop, you will receive a full refund minus a $300 USD fee.
    If you cancel and the workshop does not fill, cancellation requests and refunds will be processed according to the following:

    • More than 90 days from the start date of the workshop: Full refund minus $300 USD fee*

      • Less than 90 days: No refund – your funds will be held as a credit which can be transferred or used towards our other self-drive packages, tours, or photography workshops for up to 2 years from the date of cancellation*.

    *Please note that some of our workshops with partner companies/third parties may have non-refundable deposits, which will not be refunded or credited to you.

  • If you have any questions about this workshop, please get in touch with us at john@johnweatherby.com

MEET YOUR GUIDES

 

Sigurður William Brynjarsson

Sigurdur William Brynjarsson (Siggi) is a photographer based in Iceland. He is currently the brand ambassador for Skylum software, NiSi Filters, FotoPro tripods Irix lenses, Vallerret Photography Gloves and is a distinguished member of the Global Elite Photographers team. He is passionate about photographing locations all around the world, but especially in his home country of Iceland.

He has won multiple awards for his work, both locally and internationally, especially for his Aurora Borealis photos and has even written a book on the subject. He has led photography workshops and tours in Iceland since 2012 with great success and rave reviews. When the days get longer, he turns his eyes towards the amazing midnight sun with golden hours that seem to stretch on forever.

Siggi is the owner and CEO of Viking International PhotoTours, a company that is registered in both Iceland and the US and is a certified tour operator by the Icelandic Tourist Board. He is also Red Cross CPR and First Aid Certified.

John Weatherby

John is a US based photographer who discovered his passion for photography while working as a waiter in college. While managing the companies social media accounts, John began to learn how to take better photos, eventually investing in a DSLR and lighting equipment. Venturing away from the hospitality industry, John began to take photos of his hometown (Tampa Bay) which immediately gained the attention of the community and affirmed that he could turn his passion into a successful career.

John started his company Weatherby Photography in 2015 and has since worked with clients such as Uber, Pepsi, and the Home Depot, to name a few.

John is most known for his vivid pictures, showcasing an “outside of the box” perspective. Aside from his fine art work, John’s specialties also include commercial, architecture and travel photography.

Have questions? Get in touch