Deplar Farm Photo Retreat ~ Iceland ~
Beyond a workshop.
Silence. Stillness. Solitude.
The Icelandic North in January receives some of the softest light on the planet. On many days, the sun never crests above the mountains, leaving seven hours of otherworldly ambiance, casting a muted glow on the unique landscape.
After the sun sets, northern Iceland unveils some of the clearest night skies in the world, presenting the perfect setting for the Aurora Borealis.
Join Eleven Creative Director, Alex Fenlon, and Raynor Czerwinski for a 6 day, 5 night journey to Deplar Farm, where guests will spend their days photographing the serene environment of the Troll Peninsula, and evenings soaking in the geothermal pool, watching for the Aurora Borealis to appear.
This retreat is suited to all levels of photographic skill. With a maximum of 8 participants, the group will receive hands-on instruction from Alex and his assistant in not only technique, but philosophy and approach. Absorbing the surroundings, slowing down and observing the light move over the landscape will be emphasized. Instruction ranging from basic camera function to tripod-based long exposures, filter use, and night photography will also be offered, as each participant’s goals can be taken into account with such a small group.
Evening sessions will be devoted to post-processing, file management and workflow tips, and general photography discussions. Of course, wellness treatments and locally-sourced dinners prepared by Iceland’s top chef will be a highlight as well.
Description
Guests will be based at Deplar Farm for the entirety of the photo retreat, allowing them to avoid the cumbersome logistics of photo tours while experiencing the finest lodging and hospitality that Iceland has to offer. Each day’s itinerary will begin at Deplar Farm, journeying to unique and varied photography destinations only found in Iceland.
Every day will include elements of Eleven’s wellness programming, Eleven Life. Participants will have full use of Deplar’s spa, where treatments and guided activities such as the Viking sauna, yoga and gong therapy are available.
Every evening, the group will return to Deplar Farm, where they can immerse themselves in the spa facilities, enjoy the culinary program created by Iceland’s top chef, Gardar Gardarsson, and continue their photographic journey with group talks, photo review and lively discussions.
Tour Dates: February 15th to the 20th of February 2021 (6 days)
This Photo Tour will have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 participants.
Cost: 2,360,000 ISK (approx. $18,900) per room, based on six nights, double occupancy
Gateway City/Airport: Keflavik International Airport, Reykjavik, Iceland.
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Trip Details:
Guests will be based at Deplar Farm for the entirety of the photo retreat, allowing them to avoid the cumbersome logistics of photo tours while experiencing the finest lodging and hospitality that Iceland has to offer. Each day’s itinerary will begin at Deplar Farm, journeying to unique and varied photography destinations only found in Iceland.
Every day will include elements of Eleven’s wellness programming, Eleven Life. Participants will have full use of Deplar’s spa, where treatments and guided activities such as the Viking sauna, yoga and gong therapy are available.
Every evening, the group will return to Deplar Farm, where they can immerse themselves in the spa facilities, enjoy the culinary program created by Iceland’s top chef, Gardar Gardarsson, and continue their photographic journey with group talks, photo review and lively discussions.
Inclusions:
- Pre-arrival holiday planning with an Eleven Experience Manager
- Scenic flight to Lake Myvatn
- Whale watching
- All gear necessary for included outdoor activities
- House alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Chef prepared breakfast, lunch, apres, and dinner
- Organic fresh food mini bar
- Roundtrip airport transfers from Akureyri Airport
- Bath amenities by Aesop
Daily Itinerary:
DAY 1
Guests will meet their host at the airport in Akureyri and be transported to Deplar Farm, stopping along the way to photograph. Once at Deplar they will make themselves comfortable and Alex will give a welcome presentation in the evening, prepare the guests for the week and begin the nightly Northern Lights watch.
DAY 2
After breakfast and morning wellness options, the group will depart for an adventurous day in Deplar’s home valley, the Fljóta. Guests can ride in a snowcat to the top of a mountain ridge, where they will photograph the landscape looking out to sea. From there they will ride to Deplar’s newest hideout, Lake House, where they will enjoy a hot lunch before continuing on to photograph a waterfall. After that, the group will return to Deplar for dinner, evening instruction and Northern Lights watch.
Day 3
After breakfast and morning wellness options, guests will depart for a scenic photography flight from nearby Saudarkrokur, in an airplane that affords clear views of the landscape below. The flight will take the group along the northern coast to Myvatn, where they will photograph the dramatic volcanic landscape and visit the famed Godafoss waterfall. After that, the group will return to Deplar for dinner, evening instruction and Northern Lights watch.
Day 4
After breakfast and morning wellness options, the group will depart for Dalvik, where they will embark on a boat tour in the Eyjafjordur fjord, gaining a unique vantage on the land, from the sea. There will be abundant opportunities to photograph sea life, from birds to perhaps a few whales. After that, the group will return to Deplar for a Viking sauna session, dinner, evening instruction and Northern Lights watch.
Day 5
After breakfast, the group will depart for an adventure to the beach at the end of the Fljotá valley, where they will photograph the majestic coastline, lighthouse, and spend time with a herd of Icelandic horses. After that, the group will return to Deplar for dinner, evening instruction and Northern Lights watch.
Day 6
After breakfast, the group will be taken to the airport in Akureyri to connect to flights home.
More Information
The pace of the retreat will be dictated by the group- spontaneity is often the key to finding one-of-a-kind photographic opportunities, so the itinerary will be followed as tightly or loosely as the dynamics dictate. Side-of-the-road stops will be commonplace!
Icelandic weather will also decide many of the logistics; days may be rearranged with the goal to put the group in the best possible position to capture exceptional imagery.
Lodging:
Deplar Farm
It doesn’t get more off-the-grid than the Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland. This remote area is a gateway for adventures ranging from skiing to sea kayaking and the perfect location for viewing the Aurora Borealis due to its notable lack of artificial light. Located on a converted sheep farm, Deplar Farm blends into the natural landscape with its black timber cladding and living roof. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the property embrace the surrounding peaks.
Our winter season, from November through mid-March, may be short on sunlight, but days are still packed with adventures, like whale watching in the surrounding fjords and fat biking groomed trails around the valley. Back at the lodge, many guests choose to spend entire days in our spa, hopping from the geothermal-heated indoor/outdoor pool to our Isopod flotation tanks and outdoor Viking sauna. And this time of year, our pool provides front-row seats to view the ghostly Northern Lights.
Required Photography Gear:
SLR, or mirror-less camera system. A camera that you are most comfortable with is key here. It would be ideal to have a main camera body and a backup.
If you are interested in using a great Photography Backpack System, Look no further than Fstop Gear. These backpacks are the best I have ever used. The Lotus would be a great pack for this trip. (make sure to buy an ICU “Internal Camera Unit” for packaging your camera safely, multiple sizes available on the F-stop gear website)
Wide angle lens. I’m a big fan of prime lenses, but a good wide angle zoom will work great as well. Something in the 18-24mm range will be great. If you have an APS-C camera (crop sensor), remember that you will need a 12mm lens to have the equivalent of an 18mm lens on a full frame camera.
Telephoto lens. An 80-200 will be a good lens to have access to on this trip.
Good sturdy tripod. Carbon fiber preferred. I would recommend tripods from: Gitzo, Really Right Stuff, and Manfrotto. If you spent less than $300 on a tripod and head, chances are it is not high quality. Cheap tripods not only will most likely break, but will often not function well due to poor design and low quality.
L-Bracket * I find these to be such an important piece of gear, especially for shooting landscape
Cable Release Not only do these cable releases help to ensure a sharp photo by reducing camera vibrations, they also allow longer exposures.
Graduated Neutral Density Filters (ND Grads). I also find these essential. A lot of my teachings revolve around these wonderful filters. I recommend Grads and filters made by Breakthrough filters. A 2 stop hard and a 3 stop hard is a great start.
ND Filters. If you want to experiment with long exposures, I would recommend getting a couple of their full ND’s as well. A 6 stop and a 10 stop is a great start to help you experiment with long exposure photography. Breakthrough Filters are the best. The are the sharpest and the most color neutral of all the filters on the market. I recommend getting the lee 100mm filter holder system. You will also need adapter rings for your lenses.
Polarizer. If yo have a 100mm filter system for your ND Grads and ND’s, I recommend getting a 4×4 inch polarizer. With this setup, you can quickly add or remove polarization to any scene you are shooting.
Extra Batteries. You will have the ability to charge your batteries every night, but its always good practice to have a few extras at hand.
3-5 Good lens cloths (I find “The Spanky” to be one of the best on the market )
Frequently asked Questions:
What level of photographer should I be? How much photography will we be doing?
The retreat is suitable to all levels of photographer, from beginner to professional. The small group size will allow for personalized instruction, feedback and critique tailored to each participant’s interests.
The itinerary has been designed to allow for as much or little participation as desired. While each day features a trip to a specific destination, guests are free to enjoy a day at Deplar if they choose.
What equipment do I need to bring?
- Participants should bring a camera that can be controlled manually, with extra batteries. The cold climate eats batteries quickly
- Lenses to cover 24-200mm are useful. A fast, wide-angle lens (e.g. 14mm f2.8) is ideal for photographing the northern lights
- A sturdy tripod. Icelandic wind is no joke!
- A laptop to download and edit images
- Adobe Lightroom Classic for editing and image database instruction
- Neutral-density filter kits are ideal but not mandatory
- Flying cameras (drones) are welcome!
What winter gear should I bring?
Iceland in January is cold and windy! At Deplar we provide full-body winter coveralls and boots for our adventures, but participants should bring their own winter outerwear as well. Hats, gloves, jacket and pants will be needed. The deluxe Sprinter is always close by if you need to warm up.
how fit should I be?
While many of our destinations are close to the road, we will be accessing unique photographic viewpoints in the Icelandic winter, so moderate hiking through snow should be expected.
Your Hosts:
Alex Fenlon
Creative Director, Eleven Experience
Alex Fenlon is a professional photographer, videographer, and Creative Director at Eleven, where he has shaped the visual identity of the company since its inception in 2009. Prior to that he earned a degree in photography and went on to become an award-winning photojournalist.
He first photographed Iceland in 2013, and has returned several times annually to document the place he considers the most fascinating visual subject he has ever photographed. He has had the pleasure of exploring much of the country, from the remote Highlands to the South coast, the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes peninsula. He has spent most of his time, however, in the north, on the Troll Peninsula and thereabouts, acquainting himself with the landscape and people.
He enjoys sharing his passion for photography by teaching others. Through his formal education and decades of photographing a wide range of disciplines- from architecture to portraiture, landscapes to action- he has developed a broad understanding of the medium, both technically and philosophically. He believes in meeting the guest where they want to learn- listening to what is important to them, and helping them improve in that direction. Above all, he creates an atmosphere of relaxed learning, offering as much or as little instruction as his guests request.
Raynor Czerwinski
Professional Photographer
The love of the outdoors and wild places is what first drew Raynor to photography. Thumbing through countless editions of National Geographic Magazine while growing up sparked a craving to explore exotic places around the world. Connection and respect of the places, landscapes or people he has encountered is paramount to him.
Now into his 20th year of doing just that, Raynor is finding that his backyard of Crested Butte is as beautiful and amazing as far off places can be. Raynor and his wife Susan Marrion (an accomplished oil painter) have been managing a gallery in Crested Butte for over 10 years that displays their work. Their gallery has put them in contact with countless art lovers and fellow artists as well.
This is where Raynor first began teaching his simple yet powerful techniques and philosophies about the photographic arts. Raynor has led and assisted on many photography workshops in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Wyoming, and in his home town of Crested Butte.
