arctic fox photography tour

Arctic Fox Photography

The Arctic fox is one of the most endearing mammals found in Europe. This trip has been carefully designed to provide as many photographic opportunities of these characterful canines as possible.

Arctic fox in Iceland. Image by Bret Charman

Northern Lights in Iceland. Image by Bret Charman

Arctic fox pair in Iceland. Image by Tony Enticknap

Ptarmigan birds in Iceland. Image by Bret Charman

Arctic fox in Iceland. Image by Sigurjon Einarsson

Arctic fox and fjord in Iceland. Image by Bret Charman

Sunset in Iceland

Based in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and led by award-winning wildlife photographer Bret Charman , we make the most of the longer daylight hours in order to maximise our time outside with the foxes. This area is well known for its population of blue morph Arctic foxes (the rarest colouration) which are habituated to humans. Photography will primarily be with telephoto lenses, enabling the foxes to go about their business and Bret will be on hand throughout the week to provide photographic tuition.

We spend time in Reykjavik either side of our stay on the Hornstrandir Peninsula in dedicated accommodation. Depending on the weather there may also be chances to photograph the Northern Lights. If the conditions are right, our leader Bret will run an aurora workshop, ensuring you get the best pictures possible of this natural wonder.

Typical Itinerary

Day 1 : fly to reykjavik.

On arrival in the capital, we will make our way to our overnight accommodation in the city.

Accommodation: Sunna Guesthouse, 1-night

Day 2 : Fly to Ísafjörður, ferry over to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

This morning we take a domestic flight to the town of Ísafjörður where we will be met on arrival and transferred to the town’s harbour (a 5-minute drive). From here we take the boat over to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve where we spend the next four nights. Please be aware that the weather at this time of year can be unpredictable, the boat crossing can be rough at times. On arrival, we are transferred on to a zodiac and make a wet landing on the shores of Hornstrandir. Depending on when we arrive at our lodge, we will head out for our first opportunity to photograph the Arctic fox.

Accommodation: Kviar Lodge , 4-nights

Days 3-5 : Arctic Fox Photography

The next three days will be spent making the most of our time in the remote wilderness of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. We can spend as much of the day as we like out photographing the foxes, although mornings and evenings will provide the best light on clear days. If the weather is a little on the wild side, then the middle of the day can provide fantastic opportunities, particularly if it is snowing. Typically, the foxes will come around the lodge as they provide supplementary food between the months of January and March. The resident foxes are habituated to people and can be incredibly obliging. We work with the foxes to try and maximise the photography opportunities in this stunning landscape. There may also be the opportunity to use wide-angle lenses for when the foxes come particularly close.

For those that are interested, there is always the option to go over any digital darkroom techniques with Bret each evening. Alternatively, if there is a clear evening, there will be the possibility of heading out to photograph the night sky (including the Northern Lights if conditions allow) with long exposures.

Day 6 : Return to Ísafjörður & fly to Reykjavik

Today will be our last day in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and, if timings allow, we will be able to spend the morning photographing the Arctic foxes once more. Hopefully we will have some more rewarding encounters to add to our portfolios.

Afterwards, we board the boat which will take us back to Ísafjörður. Once we have disembarked, we are transferred to the local airport for our return flight to Reykjavik where we spend the night.

Accommodation: Sunna Guesthouse, 1-night.

Day 7 : Departure

The day is free for us to explore to Reykjavik before it is time to transfer to the international airport for our return flights back to the UK. 

Please note: This trip can be physically demanding based on the terrain and weather conditions so please contact your sales consultant if you have any concerns over fitness.

• Duration and price including flights from/to UK : 7 days from £ 4,475 pp
• Duration and price excluding international flights : 7 days from £ 4,175 pp
• Single supplement : From £ 445
• Trip type : Group Tour
• Group size : 8
• 30 Mar 2025 Book
• 1 Mar 2026 Book
• 2 nights guesthouse in Reykjavik (with breakfast)
• 4 nights lodge in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (full board)
• Return ferry to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
• Photographic excursions
• Services of photographic leader and local guide(s)
• Conservation fund contribution
• Photography
• View Detailed Itinerary
• Send an Enquiry

Expert leader

Bret charman.

Bret is an award-winning wildlife photographer with a background in the wildlife travel and safari industry, with a particular interest in African and Australian wildlife.

After spending a year in Australia to pursue wildlife photography, he was rewarded with success at the prestigious Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, as well as winning the Birds in Flight category in Bird Photographer of the Year. Bret has experience leading groups in Europe, the Americas and in Africa.

View all tours led by Bret

Tour Reports

Find out more about the day-to-day sightings and wildlife activities on our group tours from our expert naturalist leaders.

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Covering over 550 square kilometres, the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve stands on the most northerly peninsula on the Icelandic mainland at the northern end of the Westfjords. This peninsula has been protected as a nature reserve since 1975, allowing the native flora and fauna to thrive. Find Out More about {acc:title}

• Where : Westfjords, northwest Iceland
• Ideal for viewing : Arctic fox , field mouse , Atlantic puffin , harlequin duck , golden plover
• Excellent for : Wildlife photography

Kvíar Lodge

Situated on the northernmost peninsula of the Icelandic mainland, Kvíar Lodge is one of the most remote properties in the country. This former farm overlooks the wonderfully scenic Jökulfirðir Bay and is excellent place to encounter Arctic fox and the Northern Lights if the weather allows. Find Out More about Kvíar Lodge

Sign Up For E-News

Sign up to get the latest on our holidays, offers and events. We generally send two to three e-newsletters per month.

Latest brochure

• Order a printed copy if you live in the UK.
• View or download it if you live outside the UK.

• Wildlife travel experts
• Tailor-made specialists
• Small group holidays
• 100% financial protection
• 100% independent
• 24 hour on-call support
• Finest wildlife destinations
• Personalised travel services
• Expert wildlife guides
• Finest wildlife accommodation
• Supporter of wildlife charities
• Leading our industry
• Investor in local communities
• The most responsible overseas partners

Discover our other holiday experiences

Wildlife Worldwide is a brand of The Natural Travel Collection Ltd , Long Barn South , Sutton Manor Farm , Bishop’s Sutton , Alresford , Hampshire , SO24 0AA , UK .

Your financial protection is guaranteed by ABTOT and ATOL (number 10544) when you book with us .

• ©2024 The Natural Travel Collection Ltd, all rights reserved
• Terms of use

Hornbjargsviti

Arctic fox photography, wildlife photography in hornstrandir nature reserve.

Experience the wild nature and beauty of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve during winter. This is the time when Arctic foxes are most desired with beautiful and thick winter fur; that combined with the elements, make for the perfect photo.

This tour caters for your individual photographic needs. If you have a specific shot in mind, or would like to spend an extended period out at our private lodge, this is the tour for you. You are in charge of your time in Hornstrandir, accompanied by an knowledgeable guide, who will take care of preparing delicious meals and make sure things run smoothly, so you can focus on your photography.

Contents of this tour

Tour overview.

• Min age: 18 years
• Total Distance: Variable
• Group Size: 2-10

Description

The Arctic fox is the only original land mammal in Iceland, having survived here for at least 12.000 years since the end of the last Ice Age. The fox has been aggressively hunted through the centuries, since it’s a powerful predator that the farmers didn’t get along with very well.

The Arctic fox is totally protected in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and the area has the highest density of Arctic foxes in the world. They are also pretty relaxed around humans and can easily be seen both in summer and winter. They are definitely more beautiful in the winter, with their thick fur, minding their own business of hunting and survival in the harsh climate of the North Atlantic. There are both white and blue morph in the valley, though the blue morph is more common.

Borea is a pioneer in running services for wildlife photographers wanting to take photos of arctic foxes both in summer and winter. Most of the trips are booked by professional photographers but occasionally we have weeks available to offer on an individual basis.

The tour in a nutshell, includes boat rides out to Kviar Lodge and back, with accommodation for five nights in made up beds and delicious food the whole time. During the day, you can wander around the valley and you don’t need to venture far to spot tracks and eventually see them up close to get the perfect shot. There are few dens in the valley and in the surrounding area of Kviar and we often spot them fighting and playing around in the snow and on the beach.

Borea has built a hide that is perfect to use when it’s stormy and you need a shelter to take photos and store gear away from the elements.

This time of the year is also perfect to photograph the northern lights. The sky is big around Kviar and there is absolutely no light pollution. Kviar is the only house that is occupied in at least 40 km. radius.

Please  drop us an email if you’re interested!

• One way boat transportation to Kvíar Lodge at the start and end of the trip.
• All food in Kvíar Lodge
• Accommodation in made up beds
• One caretaker/cook from Borea
• Full use of the house facilities, including the sauna…!

Not included :

• Alcohol beverages
• Personal insurances
• Travel to and from Ísafjörður

Leaving at 12:00 noon from Ísafjörður Harbour on our boat to Kviar Lodge. The boat ride takes about an hour. We’ll be landing on the beach in a Zodiak since there is no harbour in Kvíar. Make sure you have waterproof boots and pack your gear well since things could get splashed if there are some waves. We get our equipment in the rooms and make ourselves at home. After few words about the house and briefing, you can get ready to take photos.

Full days of photography at your own pace. There are plenty of opportunities near the house and it’s not necessary to venture far. Massive snowbanks are to be found just beneath the house, there are trees nearby and open landscapes. The beach is also a good spot on low tide when the foxes come down from the valley in search for dead fish and sometimes try to snatch sea gulls or eider ducks. We will also follow the aurora forecast and cloud coverage since the northern lights can be magnificent since there is no light pollution.

Here you have at least half a day to take photos before we embark the boat and head back to Ísafjörður. We aim at departure around 2 pm.

What to bring

Here is a brief list of things to have. Of course you might have your own preferences but it’s a good starting point so you will fully enjoy your tour. Please note that we make a landing on the beach in a Zodiak, so make sure you have your valuables well packed since there is sometimes surf on the beach and things tend to get splashed by seawater. 

• You DON’T need to bring a sleeping bag. There are made up beds.
• Thermal underwear, at least two sets of shirts. Wool or synthetic. No cotton!
• Wool or fleece thermal mid layer.
• Take two thin layers instead of one thick one.
• Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket.
• Thermal jacket (down or fiber).
• Wool / fleece hat and balaclava.
• Ski goggles are a good idea but optional.
• Two pairs of gloves and one pair of mittens.
• 2 to 3 pairs thick wool / synthetic socks.
• Casual clothes to wear in the evenings.
• Slippers to wear inside the house.
• Good winter boots that can stand up to the Icelandic winter. Something like insulated  Sorel boots  or Muck Boots .
• Rubber boots are really good to have for the beach landing, unless you have waterproof boots similar like the one in the links above.
• It’s handy to have simple walking crampons in case it’s icy in the area. There are many different brands and they’re not expensive. Just Google “Spike Crampons”.
• Soft travel bag (no hard suitcases) that is easy to carry.  This is important.  We might not be able to land on the beach beneath the house and then we have to walk about 20 minutes from a different drop off point that is sheltered from the surf. So soft bags, preferably with shoulder straps, are very good to have. The standard in these bags are  The North Face  duffels but there are other manufacturers.
• Make sure that you can carry your camera gear in a waterproof bag for the beach landings. A simple thick plastic bag suits fine.
• Swimsuit and towel for the sauna.

Related Tours

Whale watching in ísafjarðardjúp.

• Group size: 25-40
• Min age For almost all ages

Lost Fjords

• Accommodation
• Distance: 82km
• Group size: 4-8
• Min age 16 years

Midnight Sun and Arctic Foxes

• Distance: 10-30km
• Group size: 2-8
• Min age 12 years

Wildlife and Arctic Foxes

• Distance: 5km

Wildlife around Vigur Island

• Distance: 16km
• Group size: 2-6
• Location: Aðalstræti 17
• (+354) 456 3322
• Email: [email protected]

Rights & Acknowledgments

Skútusiglingar ehf | Aðalstræti 17 | 400 Ísafjörður | Kt. 530306-1510 | VAT Number: 110291

Our Adventures

Multi-day tours, other adventures, information, about borea, hornstrandir, boat services, language / tungumál.

EXPEDITION ICELAND - ARTIC FOXES

With photographer mats andersson.

Land: Iceland  PHOTO TYPE: Landscape    LENGHT: 6  days   DATES:   26-31/7 2024    SIZE: 8 -10 guests

EXPEDITION ICELAND – ARTIC FOXES

I have long dreamed of being able to photograph Arctic foxes and after several years of research you will now have the opportunity to come with me to Iceland and photograph Arctic foxes. When I was there this summer (2023), during all my three days there I was lucky enough to take many pictures of Arctic foxes, many times at very close range

Mats andersson.

Join Mats Andersson, one of Sweden’s most award-winning art and nature photographers, on a unique trip to Iceland to photograph Arctic foxes. Arctic foxes can be found all over Iceland, but in few other places can they be seen as often and as close as where we are going. The chances of getting great pictures of Artic Fox are therefore high. We are also surrounded by a fantastic landscape, which allows you to catch both Arctic foxes and seals in their natural habitat, making the experience even more special.

In addition to Arctic foxes, we will also be able to photograph the spectacular beach Rauðasandur, also called the Red Beach because unlike most other black lava beaches in Iceland, the colours at Rauðasandur shift in oranges, reds and yellows depending on the lighting. This can offer many exciting pictures. We will also document the mighty waterfall, Dynjandi, and much more. We end the trip with a whale safari in one of the world’s most whale dense waters with a chance of catching the giant blue whales on film.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS .

Very good chances of photographing Arctic foxes.

Photographing seals up close

Fantastic landscape with, among other things, an ancient ruin.

“The Red Beach”, Rauðasandur.

The mighty waterfall, Dynjandi.

Whale safari with the chance of photographing humpback whales, minke whales and blue whales.

Learn from Mats Andersson’s unique imagery and photography techniques.

Participation and photo tutorials by Mats Andersson throughout the entire trip.

Land: Iceland

PHOTO TYPE: Landscape

LENGHT: 6  days

DATES: 26-31/7 2024

SIZE: 8 -10 guests

Iceland means spouting geysers, hot springs, beautiful glaciers, mighty volcanoes, and thundering waterfalls. The wild and extraordinary nature is the major tourist attraction in Iceland and a dream come true for any landscape photographer. The reason behind this is Iceland’s location right above the mid-Atlantic ridge, a long fracture zone in the ocean where glowing lava easily emerges from deep inside of the earth. In Iceland, there are no less than about 30 active volcanoes and several hundred that are no longer active. These have created hot springs where the water is heated by the volcanic activity from underneath the Earth’s surface. Many of Iceland’s volcanoes are very active, and from time to time have large and devastating eruptions. Together with a huge amount of glaciers and many spectacular waterfalls, this makes Iceland not only beautiful but thrilling and fascinating as well. In short, Iceland may be the best country in Europe for a landscape photographer.

TOUR ITINERARY

Tour itinerary 26 – 31/7 2024.

DAY 1, (JULY 26) – ARRIVAL AND EVENING PHOTOGRAPHY In the afternoon we gather in Isafjordur to take the boat to the nature reserve where we check in at our accommodation and share a welcome dinner. After dinner it’s time for the first photo session in the Icelandic landscape and with a bit of luck we get our first encounter with Arctic foxes. We shoot in the evening light until the sun goes down before returning to our accommodations. (D)

DAY 2, (JULY 27) – FULL DAY IN THE REALM OF THE ARCTIC FOX Today we spend a full day in the realm of the Arctic fox and wander around the surroundings and explore with our cameras. Among other things, there is an old ruin where Arctic foxes often can be spotted, and there are also great hiking trails for those of you who want to explore the surroundings a little closer.

The Arctic fox can be found in many places on Iceland but in few places are they as easy to spot as here and with a little bit of luck we can photograph them up close. However, it is important to remember that these are wild animals and that there are no guarantees that we will be able to see them.

As if the chance to photograph the area’s Arctic foxes were not enough, we will also be spending time in a fantastic landscape, something that both helps to increase the nature experience and give us lots of photo opportunities. The landscape is dramatic enough to inspire us to beautiful landscape pictures and can also an extra interesting ingredient when we photograph Arctic foxes and let them become part of the mighty environment – perhaps walking along the water with the mountains rising on the other side of the lake.

When we are out in the field, Mats will give you personal guidance on how to create interesting and creative pictures with his unique imagery. (B, L, D)

DAY 3, ( JULY 28) – SEALS AND ARCTIC FOXES Today we continue to photograph Arctic foxes and landscapes together with Mats. In addition to Arctic foxes, there are also seals that can often be photographed up close. In the late afternoon we take the boat back to Isafjordur. After checking into our hotel in Isafjordur and having dinner, there is time to work on the photos we have taken in recent days on our own. (B, L, D)

DAY 4, ( JULY 29) – WATERFALL AND RED BEACH Today we begin with a drive of about two hours that takes us to Rauðasandur, also known as the Red Beach. Unlike most other beaches in Iceland that have a black beach, the colours at Rauðasandur shifts in hues of orange, red and yellow depending on the lighting. When we look out over the sand, we are met by a long beach that stretches for 10 km towards the bird cliffs on the far end. When we take our photographs, the orange-tinted sand forms a lovely combination with the blue sea.

In the afternoon it is time to head on to the waterfall, Dynjandi. Upon arrival, we are met by an impressive sight. Dynjandi consists of no less than seven waterfalls and has an impressive width of 30-60 meters. Mats will show us how we can use different techniques to create impactful images. When darkness falls, the white water rushing down becomes a powerful contrast to the dark rocks surrounding the waterfall. We return to the hotel late in the evening. (B, L, D)

DAY 5, ( JULY 30) – WHALE SAFARI & IMAGE OF THE TRIP In the morning we leave land and head out to sea where our goal is to photograph whales. The sea off Iceland is one of the most whale dense in the world. In total, there are over twenty-three different whale species in the waters surrounding Iceland. The most common are the humpback whale, the minke whale and the blue whale.

During the afternoon there is time for lunch and discovering Isafjordur on your own. During the afternoon we will also work on our photos from the trip to select the best ones. We round off with a dinner, where Mats will appoint “Image of the trip”, which goes on to the final of “Image of the year 2024” and will compete for great prizes. (B, D)

DAY 6, (JULY 31) – DEPARTURE After breakfast we head towards the airport for further transfer to Sweden by our own devices.

JULY 26 – 31, 2024

In the afternoon it is time to head on to the waterfall, Dynjandi. Upon arrival, we are met by an impressive sight. Dynjandi consists of no less than seven waterfalls and has an impressive width of 30-60 meters. Mats will show us how we can use different techniques to create impactful images. When darkness falls, the white water rushing down becomes a powerful contrast to the dark rocks surrounding the waterfall. We return to the hotel late in the evening. (B, L, D) i 

PHOTOTGRAPHER

Photographer , mats andersson – nature & fine art photograper.

Mats Andersson lives in Jönköping in Småland, Sweden. He studied photography at the School of Art and Design in Gothenburg in the 1980s and since 1989 works as art director and photographer at Concret Reklam in Jönköping. Mats is affiliated with the agency Mascot in Stockholm and a member of Naturfotograferna’/N. Over the years, Mats has published no less than 12 books, won a large number of awards, including Wildlife Photographer of the year 2016, (Black & White), Nordic Nature Photographer of the year 2016, and has been named Nature Photographer of the year 2016. In 2017, he also managed to win a silver medal in Wildlife Photographer of the year (referred to as the world championship of nature photography). Portfolio

ACCOMODATION

NATURE RESERVE: SIMPLE ACCOMMODATION

ISAFJORDUR: HOTEL HORN***+

Prices, facts and booking, price, facts & booking .

Price per person: £ 3 100 or USD 4 265

• All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
• Accommodation in a shared room.
• Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
• Activities according to the itinerary.
• Participation by Mats Andersson during the entire tour.
• Whale safari by boat.
• Workshops during the tour.
• A tour leader from Zoom Photo Tours.
• Hotel taxes and other local fees.
• Travel documents and other travel information.
• Single room supplement 325 or USD 395
• Flights to Iceland.
• All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
• Cancellation & travel insurance. For more details, click here.
• Any other item not mentioned as included.

‘Flights to Iceland and to Isafjordur by domestic flight or by rental car on your own. You should be at the airport in Isafjordur no later than 14.00 on July 26. The return trip can take place at any time on July 31.

If you want help with booking your flights, we are more than happy to assist you with this. You are welcome to call us by phone +46 470 466 40, email us at [email protected] or let us know when you book with us.

In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8/10.

• A DSLR Camera
• Wide-angle lens, like a 24-70mm
• A Laptop computer with Photoshop or Lightroom software.
• Extra batteries, chargers etc.

Languages: English & Swedish

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For more information about Terms & Conditions  click here.

You can book the trip by clicking on the button below. You are also welcome to call us on the phone +47 470 466 40 or email us at [email protected]

Photo: Mats Andersson

OUR NEWSLETTER

Be the first to hear about new tours, offers and travel inspiration from Zoom Phototours.

• Email Address
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: +46 (0)470 – 466 40

Follow our photo adventures on social media.

Photo: Serkan Gunes

March of 2024 – 11 days

Photography Trip to Iceland

Arctic foxes & northern lights.

24 March – 3 April 2024

A very special trip for a small group of photographers and also one of our favorite  photography trips to iceland . 

Our goal is to photograph wild arctic foxes in Iceland’s remote fjords during winter. We will stay in a rustic cabin but with all the amenities. We will be the only people in the whole peninsula, uninhabited since 1952. We wil spend long hours focused on getting extraordinary images of foxes, while nights will keep us busy trying to photograph auroras and dreamlike landscapes.

Our arctic fox tour

Our arctic fox photo tour is an exclusive trip in which you can photograph the arctic foxes in the wild and in their majestic winter coat. A week on the uninhabited Horstrandir peninsula, where foxes live protected from hunting and therefore, we can have close encounters, as the foxes don’t fear people there.

We will stay in an old restored farm, in which we will have heating, hot water and even have our own chef and maintenance manager of the house. We will be the only people living on the whole peninsula. We will take advantage of all hours of the day to get the best possible images of the arctic fox, as well as the landscapes offered by the fjords. In the evenings, we may also enjoy the Northern Lights.

itinerary & details

March 24: International flight to Keflavík and transfer to Reykjavík. Night in guesthouse with breakfast

March 25th: After breakfast, we will fly to Ísafjördur, a small fishing village in the west fjords.

Night in guesthouse with breakfast

March 26th: After breakfast we will go to the pier, where a boat will take us to the Hornstrandir Peninsula.

To disembark, since there is no dock, we will do it with the help of a rubber boat, which will help us transport our equipment as well as food for the next few days. Our expedition officially begins and who knows, it is possible that before dark we will have our first fox sighting.

March 27 – 30: During the days that we are completely in Hornstrandir, we will spend most of our time with the arctic foxes.

The lack of fear and curiosity of these animals will make it easier for us to take photographs at close range, since, to the surprise of many, it will be the same individuals that approach us.

In general, we will take most of the photographs from the vicinity of the house. Even so, if the snow conditions allow it, we can take short walks entering the valley or following the coast. During these walks we can see the tracks of the foxes, observe some birds or simply enjoy the surrounding landscape. During the nights we will be attentive to the possibilities of photographing starry landscapes and northern lights.

March 31: During the morning we will take the last photos of the environment and hopefully we will say goodbye to the arctic foxes with one last photo session.

Sometime between noon and early afternoon we will return to Ísafjördur. Once in the town we can celebrate the success of our expedition and spend a quiet afternoon reviewing and commenting on photographs or taking a pleasant walk through the town.

April 1: After breakfast, a vehicle will pick us up to go to the capital (Reykjavík).

After leaving our suitcases and resting briefly, we will go out for dinner to celebrate the success of our expedition and, in this way, we will have contact with society again after so many isolated days. Night in guesthouse with breakfast.

April 2: Reykjavík will seem like a big city after so many days without seeing houses, cars or people, but it is inhabited by only 120,000 inhabitants (one third of the Icelandic population). We will spend the day touring the most photogenic streets and corners, visiting a museum or buying souvenirs. Night in guesthouse with breakfast.

April 3: At Keflavik airport we will take the flight back home

*NOTE: The weather in the remote north of Iceland can be unpredictable and particularly harsh in winter. It is for this reason that we have chosen to have two extra days (Ísafjördur and Reykjavík) that allow us a minimum of movement in case we have to spend an extra night in Hornstrandir or Isafjördur for security reasons and to avoid the complication that could be missing the international flight.

3150 € per person (only Hornstrandir)

Includes 6 days (from 26 to 31 March) on the remote Hornstrandir Peninsula. Full board

In this option we meet on a meeting point on the pier on the sailing day. No hotels are included before/after Hornstrandir.

3560 € per person (hotels option*)

*Hotels option: includes all hotels (in a double room) with breakfast on the days before/after Hornstrandir (see tour schedule).  Full tour is from 24 March to 3 April in this option.

Photographic trip in a small group: The minimum group is 5 travelers and the maximum is 6. This allows us to offer more personalized teaching and attention, adapting to the abilities and concerns of each student and/or traveler while reducing the number of impact that we can cause to wildlife.

THE PRICE INCLUDES

• Guesthouse accommodation (breakfast included) in Reykjavík and Isafjördur (only in “hotels option”).
• Boat trip to access the uninhabited peninsula of Hornstrandir.
• Accomodation in Horsntrandir, full board.
• One caretaker/cook in Hornstrandir.
• Full use of the house facilities.
• Use of the hide, sauna and rubber boat (the rubber boat can be used whenever the weather and sea conditions allow it).
• Photographic advice 24/7.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• International flight
• Domestic flight from Reykjavík to Isafjördur 
• Travel Insurance
• Any item not specified in the “The price includes” section.

Our trips for photographers: To begin with, we want to comment that it is a photographic trip and that therefore, both the excursions and the pace of the walk are adapted to be able to enjoy them with a camera in hand. This means that the pace is very slow and with many stops.

That said, most of the time we will spend waiting around the house, waiting for the animals to come to us.

In case of good weather, we will be able to take walks entering the valley to photograph landscapes and following the coast, in search of new landscapes and other families of foxes. The maximum route in such a case would be a maximum of 2.5 km one way.

To reserve a place on our trips you must fill out the form below or write to us at [email protected]

A deposit is required for the value of 50% of the trip.

The flights can be taken on your own, but we recommend doing it through our partner agency Travel Ponent, so that we can all arrive with the same flight.

We take the flights at the time that the minimum group is closed. At this time, the second payment for the trip can also be made.

DO YOU NEED PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT?

At INDOMITUS we are OM SYSTEM ambassadors (formerly known as Olympus) and this allows us to offer you the possibility of borrowing brand material for your trip. Whether you are an OM SYSTEM user and want to try a new lens or camera that catches your attention, either because your equipment is a bit limited or because you are hesitating to change brands, ask us and you can use the body and/or lenses you want completely free of charge during your trip with us.

Where to see arctic foxes in iceland

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is an unaltered and wild land. The last residents left the site in 1952 due to the harsh conditions of the place. There are no roads throughout the area and the place is only accessible by sea. This is the perfect place to see arctic foxes in Iceland.

The landscape is magnificent in all directions. Fjords are made up of high mountains that rise abruptly from sea level. Winter colors these greenish landscapes in monochrome and we will have numerous opportunities to photograph it under the changing lights that the weather offers us during the expedition. That is why travelers should think about bringing wide-angle lenses as well as long focal lengths.

The weather here can be very changeable, dramatic and fierce. One can expect that on the same day we will have rain, sun, wind and snow and therefore it is easy to imagine how interesting light changes can be, offering us unique and unrepeatable moments and opportunities.

OUR ACCOMMODATION

Our accommodation will consist of an old farm recovered and renovated, converted into a paradise to enjoy this wonderful and lonely place while having a warm and comfortable place to return to after spending the day photographing the foxes.

The house is situated at the gates of a beautiful valley and at the water’s edge of a bay with extensive panoramic views. It was built in the fourteenth century but was abandoned in 1948, when the inhabitants of the peninsula left behind these arctic lands.

Recently the house has been reformed and will help us during our adventure, both for its perfect location as for its incredible amenities.

Heating system and solar energy

Bathroom and shower with hot water

Full kitchen, living room, dining room and drying room for clothing and boots

Hide to observe the wildlife

Sauna outside (great for recovering forces after the cold)

Enough energy to charge laptops and batteries (220V)

Sporadic phone signal

The accommodation includes a person in charge of the maintenance of the house, the cleaning and the kitchen, which consist of delicious icelandic cuisine

THE ARCTIC FOX AND OTHER WILDLIFE

The arctic fox is the star of this expedition. It is also the only native mammal in Iceland. It has to survive harsh conditions in a hostile environment with little food. They are very curious animals and, if we are patient, they can come close to us.

There are two color patterns in the fur of the arctic fox: the “blue” and “white”. The white is a characteristic of 95% of the world’s population, being the “blue” (brown, really), a true rarity. And what’s more interesting is that in the fjords of west Iceland, 80% of individuals are of this odd variety of colors.

Hornstrandir is the place of Iceland with the largest number of arctic foxes. Even so, they are scattered and are very territorial. In our area, very close to the house, we will be able to photograph one or two couples (2-4 individuals) of both colours (white and blue).

In addition to arctic foxes there is also a large variety of birds. Not all remain in winter, but there is the possibility of seeing some species that are very interesting, such as the ptarmigian (also in its winter plumage), the eider duck, the harlequin duck, ravens and several species of gulls. In more rare occasions, it may be an eagle or even a peregrine falcon.

• Photographing arctic foxes in the wild 
• Seeing and photographing the Northern Lights
• Get to know the most pristine area of Iceland
• Enjoy watching wild animals in full freedom
• Enjoy the lights that provide the solar trajectories of winter, which allow the warm colors and elongated shadows over the landscape during a large part of the day
• Feel the experience of being one of the few people inhabiting the place
• Stay in a cabin from the fourteenth century
• Learn how to play with colors, shapes and textures that winter monocrome landscape offers
• Marta Bretó, our tour leader and photography guide will be with you 4/7. Her knowledge of Iceland and the foxes plus her photography tips and advices will allow you to return with amazing photo results.

Includes 6 days (from 26 to 31 March) on the remote Hornstrandir Peninsula. Full board. No hotels are included before/after Hornstrandir.

*Includes all hotels (in a double room) with breakfast on the days before/after Hornstrandir (see tour schedule).  Full tour is from 24 March to 3 April.

• Guesthouse accomodation (breakfast included) in Reykjavík and Isafjördur (only in “hotels option”).
• Transfer from Keflavik airport to the hotel on the first day (only in “hotels option”).
• Domestic flight from Reykjavík to Isafjördur 

GREAT, SIGN ME UP!

Please contact us to make a reservation or to request more information about this trip. Please, tell us exactly how we can help.

Contact us at  [email protected]  

Or write to us through our contact form. Please indicate which trip you are interested in

• Name * Name Surname
• Subject * Please, tell us if you are asking for a particular tour
• Please leave your comments here *
• Yes, I have read terms and conditions y la Privacy Policy
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

MORE PHOTOS OF THIS TRIP

WHO IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE ?

TOUR LEADER

Nature photographer and mountain and travel guide, she enjoys touring the most varied landscapes and the most starry nights with the intention of capturing the wild and beautiful aspects that nature offers through her images. Nature and photography lover, she makes his passion her way of life, in addition to using her work to motivate the conservation and respect of wildlife.

Marta Bretó

Personal website.

Share this wonderful page!

Arctic fox photo tour in Iceland

A photo tour of iceland’s remote regions.

Welcome to this page dedicated to our arctic fox photo tour in Iceland , in Hornstrandir nature reserve. This Arctic Fox photo workshop takes place in Iceland’s most beautiful region and is open to everyone. Far from mass tourism, we take small groups out onto the Icelandic tundra to photograph Arctic Fox, marine mammals and dozens of species of birds.

An Arctic fox photo tour for all photographers

Whatever your level, this photo workshop in Iceland is suitable for all photographers. At the beginning of the trip, we draw up a programme for each participant, according to their needs and themes (wildlife, landscape, etc.). Afterwards, working groups are set up to help everyone achieve their objectives.

Two nature and wildlife photographers to support you

This photo tour in Iceland is led by two photographers: myself, a wildlife photographer, and Urip Dunker, a landscape photographer. We have both been guides in Hornstrandir nature reserve for several years and will be delighted to share our experience.

An ethical and respectful wildlife photo tour

Before becoming wildlife and nature photographers, we were passionate about nature and working to protect it. During these photo tours, certain rules of respect for species are non-negotiable. We want to do wildlife photography without harming animals – we humans do enough of that already!

In the heart of wild Iceland!

Westfjords is Iceland’s most isolated region, and Hornstrandir is even more so. There are no roads to get there, and the Drangajökull glacier blocks all passage. The Icelanders left the village of Hesteyri in the 1950s. Since then, Hornstrandir has been completely wild. It’s the ideal territory for wildlife and nature photography enthusiasts !

Hornstrandir’s Arctic Foxes

Hornstrandir nature reserve is Iceland’s Arctic Fox kingdom. This remote area on the edge of the Westfjords is home to the highest density of polar foxes in the world. Arctic Foxes arrived on the island during the last ice age and have become Iceland’s only endemic mammal. They are now protected in the reserve and benefit from ideal conditions, with no predators and an abundance of seabirds.

For this Arctic Fox photo tour , we take you into isolated fjords where only a few experienced hikers arrive. We’re putting in place a programme tailored to each individual and rules of respect and ethics to limit our impact. Even if we’re the only ones there, we have to be extra vigilant so as not to disturb the Arctic Foxes and never interact with them.

A bird’s paradise

Hornstrandir is Iceland’s birdwaching paradise . The cliffs of the reserve are a refuge for millions of birds who come here to nest in summer. Inland, other species live around the lakes and in the tundra. During this photo tour, we’ll be able to observe and photograph species such as Common Murres, Red-throated Loons, the emblematic Eiders, Harlequin Ducks and Purple Sandpipers on the coast. Inland, red-necked phalaropes and golden plovers are common. Finally, if we’re lucky, the white-tailed eagle or the mythical gyrfalcon may turn up.

Breathtaking scenery!

Hornstrandir nature reserve is one of Iceland’s most beautiful regions! This Arctic Fox photo tour takes place in an environment made up of fjords, bays, waterfalls, mountains and cliffs jutting out into the North Atlantic. A privileged area and breathtaking landscapes where we have decided to organise this photo tour for a few people a year.

Hornstrandir is the ideal place for landscape photographers. During the summer, the polar day offers low light and sunsets and sunrises that last for hours. These times are also perfect for photographing Arctic Fox and seabirds.

A photo tour and a quest for the Arctic Fox in Iceland

This photo trip is designed by and for wildlife and nature photographers. If you would like to photograph the Arctic Fox in Hornstrandir, explore the cliffs where millions of seabirds nest, observe marine mammals such as humpback whales, Minke whales or harbour seals, then click on the link below.

• See all tours
• Get in touch

Explore the true Arctic

Arctic Photography Expeditions With Small Vessels

Knowledgeable

Team Of E xpert Guides and Photographers

Responsible

Approach To Vulnerable Wildlife And Nature

Flexibility

To Freely Explore A nd Experience Your Destination

Escape the crowds

Discover a unique and intimate experience of true closeness to the pristine Arctic nature and its mesmerizing wildlife as we travel by small vessels with room for maximum 12 passengers.

Learn through respectfully connecting with – and capturing the essence of – this remote and fragile region, safely guided by our knowledgeable team of Arctic specialists.

Arctic Expeditions - Discover tours by destination

The Canadian Arctic

Antarctica and South Georgia

Norway wildlife

Nordic wildlife

Arctic expeditions - experience the wonders of the arctic seasons, the frosty white winter, the departure of the ice, the ever-rising midnight sun, the midsummer harvest, the colours of autumn, encounter the wildlife of the high arctic, bearded seal, meet our expert guides – your arctic specialists.

We are Arctic specialists, bringing a wealth of knowledge and skill to every expedition. Drawing from over a decade of experience in meticulously planning and executing Arctic expeditions, we ensure that every aspect, every moment, is not only enriching for you but also safe for the wildlife in the regions we explore together. As esteemed nature photographers, we are also dedicated to helping you capture the most memorable testimonies from your journey on camera

What truly unifies us at Arctic Wildlife Tours is our profound love and respect for Arctic nature and wildlife, coupled with an unwavering commitment to safeguarding this rugged yet fragile region for the generations to come.

Arctic Expeditions - explorer testimonies

Just arrived back from an amazing, floating, 'Stefano Unterthiner Photo Tour' to Svalbard with Arctic Wildlife Tours. The MS Malmo proved to be a great way to travel. Svein, Jeanette and the rest of the crew and AWT guides worked exceptionally hard to find us some incredible wildlife sightings (polar bear; walrus; arctic fox etc. etc) and give us the best opportunity to take photographs with loads of space for the small group of guests. We were kept safe and well- briefed and, most importantly, they demonstrated a professional respect for the wildlife, ensuring we always kept a sensible distance and avoided doing anything that would impose unnecessary stress on these creatures. I would happily recommend AWT to anyone wanting to visit Svalbard. Truly a trip of a lifetime and one I hope to repeat soon!

My trip around Svalbard with Arctic Wildlife Tours was packed with unforgettable memories, a real respect for the nature we encountered and hearty laughs with the AWT team. Sailing on a smaller ship like MS Origo meant we had a fine crew and the flexibility to get out on zodiacs multiple times a day - whenever something exciting was spotted! The team did a great job of finding opportunities to take the best photos without disturbing the wildlife. The only problem I have now is planning my next trip with them!

What a great trip!!! I respect Arctic Wildlife Tours so much. The way they honor the life patterns all of the species we were able to see was impressive.  Great leadership and knowledge of animal territories and boundaries so we were able to see them in their natural habitats without invading their natural routines. It was an excellent photographic, culinary and travel experience.

Take a peek at our expedition vessels

We are chartering several 12 pax v vessels at the time being. Our main focus is to find ships with the qualities for sailing in ice and have the flexibility we need for our expeditions. We also focus on mainly using ships suited for micro cruises.

Are you ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime?

Privacy policy, 1. web analytics and cookies (cookies), 3. share / tips service, 4. newsletter, 5. registration, form, 6. page and service functionality, 7. how to manage cookies in your browser.

Travel in Iceland remains normal. See details on the latest eruption

• Language/Currency EN Language EN English DE German FR French CN Chinese $ USD ISK ISK $ USD € EUR CA$ CAD £ GBP

Sightseeing Tours

Hornstrandir Fox Watching

Get close to the friendly icelandic arctic fox.

• About tour new

Enjoy the breathtaking landscape and rich wildlife that Hornstrandir Nature Reserve has to offer on this family-friendly excursion.

• Small Group Experience
• Family Friendly
• Guided Fox Watching Tour
• Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
• Stunning Scenery
• Untouched Nature
• Rich Wildlife
• Authentic Home Made Dinner
• Expert Guide
• Wildlife Exploring

What to bring

• Warm outdoor clothing
• Waterproof jacket & pants

Tour Snapshot

• Expert Guides
• No Booking Fees
• Fast & Secure Payment
• Best Price Guarantee
• Operated by our trusted partner

This tour will take us in search of the charming and elusive Arctic Foxes that inhabit the emerald hills of the isolated Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Hornstrandir is one of the few places that the Arctic Fox can live and raise its young in peace, without fear of falling prey to hunters and habitat change – making it perfect for nature and wildlife lovers alike.

Practical information

The day begins in  our   Service Center   for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart at 9 am from the harbor in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry it  takes around an hour to reach the nature reserve. Along the way, we’ll see the majestic fjords in all their glory, including towering mountains, rolling green hills, and the craggy cliffs that overlook their sparkling blue waters.  

The boat will drop us at the Kviar farmhouse, giving us an entire day to enjoy the untouched nature reserve. Your guide will tell you about how people have managed to survive in such an isolated location, and we’ll go in search of the playful Arctic Foxes that inhabit the area.

We’ll try to tailor the rest of the day to what the group wants – we may go for a short hike and enjoy some spectacular vistas over the surrounding area, explore the area behind the farmhouse which hosts a number of gorgeous waterfalls or simply relax near the farmhouse, and breathe in some of the cleanest air in the entire world. We’ll have a traditional Icelandic picnic for lunch, and you’ll be free to spend the afternoon appreciating the majestic scenery.

A family of Arctic Foxes has had a den close to our farm house for a number of years – making it the perfect place to spot them. The foxes in Hornstrandir are much friendlier to humans than mainland foxes, meaning that we can get really close to them. The experience is especially good in the summer, when the adorable young cubs, venture out into the open to play and explore their surroundings. Many of our guests snap excellent photos during the tour and we highly recommend bringing a camera.

During this time, your guide will prepare an authentic Icelandic dinner, which we’ll eat together in the farmhouse, discussing all the magical things that we’ve seen, and learning more about the farmhouse. The boat will pick us up at around 19:00 and we’ll return to Ísafjörður at about 20:00.

Please note

Our  Service Center  (white container), Ísafjörður Harbour.  Please arrive no later than 8:30 AM.  The itinerary may change according to weather conditions and the ability of the group.

How do I get to Isafjordur?

Rental car is the ideal option, specially during the summer season. The whole road from Reykjavik to Isafjordur is asphalted. Another option is booking a flight from the domestic airport in Reykjavik.

Can I see other animals on the tour?

Yes, there are about 54 bird species that breed in the West Fjords. Other popular sightings include mink, seals, whales and dolphins.

Similar tours that people also viewed

Ingolfshofdi Puffin Sightseeing Tour

Hornstrandir Hiking Tour

Golden Circle & Puffin Tour

Contact us for more information about this tour.

Arctic Adventures offers pick up service from selected Reykjavík pick up points. Note that you can always update your pick-up / drop-off location through our customer portal: https://my.adventures.is You can press the login button in your confirmation email for an easy login to the customer portal. If you experience an error with logging into the customer portal or can't find your booking, please contact us on Facebook Messenger, or send us a message here below. Chat with us on Facebook Messenger

• Photo Workshops
• Iceland in Winter
• Iceland in Summer
• Iceland in Fall
• Iceland in Spring
• Drone Workshops in Iceland
• Wildlife Photo Workshops
• Faroe Islands
• Custom Tours
• Geldingadalir Volcano
• Golden Circle
• Landmannalaugar
• Northern Lights In Iceland
• Puffins For Three Days
• Snæfellsnes
• Snæfellsnes For Three Days
• South Coast
• South Coast For Three Days
• Waterfalls Of The North
• Testimonials
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Arctic Foxes in Iceland Photo Workshop

Sign up now, about this workshop.

This workshop is an incredible opportunity for nature and wildlife photographers. It consists of a small group of photographers traveling together to a remote location in West Iceland, which is home to some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife habitats. It’s an ideal location for photographing Arctic foxes, as they are commonly found in this region. The workshop is scheduled during the Arctic foxes’ active season. This ensures participants have the best chance of observing and photographing these elusive creatures in their natural habitat.

Due to the location’s remoteness, there is no traffic to disturb the foxes, and we can watch them explore the area and play with each other while we capture it all. We’ll share a remote lodge in a beautiful nature reserve and photograph the Arctic Foxes playing just outside our doorstep in their natural habitat. We’ll have a private chef preparing meals for us. You can relax in the cozy living room, spend time together and do our photo review session. Outside is a sauna that’s great to visit after a day with the foxes.

Our primary focus will be photographing the Arctic Foxes, but we’ll also capture other wildlife, such as Rock Ptarmigans and seabirds. The beautiful landscapes around the cabin give us beautiful mountain views, cliffs, seascapes, and rugged coastlines.

And, last but not least, the northern lights as they dance over us during the night. If conditions are good, the lights can be very bright since this is a very remote area. You just need to step outside our lodge to see and photograph them.

Workshop Summary

If photographers would like to extend their stay in Iceland it is easy to arrange private day tours before or after the workshop. Popular day-trips include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or Reykjanes Peninsula. For cancellation and refund policy for our workshops, please visit the Terms & Conditions page.

Our lodge in Hornstrandir

Want to know more send us your name and email, and we'll get back to you., would you like to extend your stay in iceland.

It’s easy to arrange private day tours before or after the workshop. Popular day trips include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or The Golden Circle . We can also set up custom tours based on your preferences. 

For cancellation and refund policy for our workshops, please visit our Terms & Conditions page .

What's included

• Exclusive access to view Arctic Foxes in their natural habitat
• All accommodations during the workshop
• Hotels in Reykjavik and Isafjordur with private bathrooms
• Accommodations during our time with the foxes in a remote lodge, with private rooms, shared facilities and a sauna
• We have a private chef that makes all our meals at the lodge
• All meals, except dinner on the last night
• Transport from Reykjavik to the lodge in West Iceland
• Professional Iocal photography guide
• Image critique & post-processing session
• Custom packing list and equipment recommendations specifically for this workshop

What's not included

• International flights
• Cancellation and travel insurances
• Alcoholic beverages
• Dinner on the last night
• Gratuity for your photography guide
• Airport transfers from KEF airport to Reykjavik and back

Workshop photo gallery

Username or email address  *

Password  *

Remember me Log in

Lost your password?

[email protected] | +230 452 3731

Svalbard Photo Tours

Svalbard is the largest norwegian archipelago located in the arctic ocean partway between norway and the north pole..

With towering snowcapped mountains, forbidding glaciers, flower-studded tundra & towering fjords, it is here where the formidable Polar Bear reigns as the apex predator and we hope to capture these white bears on the drifting ice sprinkled across the ocean.

Svalbard is considered the best place on earth for photographing Polar Bears but a treasure trove of photographic highlights await that includes the Arctic Fox , Walrus, Bearded & Ringed Seals, Belugas, Orcas, Narwhal, Bowhead Humpback, Fin & Blue Whales , Puffins, Guillemots and Reindeer.

Four different variations of Svalbard Photo Tours are available, each one catered for a specific season that highlights the splendours found here.

The Winter photo expeditions are in March and April, when the lighting conditions are quite simply magical. Soft, pastel shades of orange, pink and blue bathe the landscape in an otherworldly light that that is indescribable!

The Ice Lover photo expeditions are at the start of summer in the arctic, before the drift ice retreats and offers photo opportunities to capture this remote wilderness frosted with snow.

The Classic photo expeditions are considered the best time to embark on a Svalbard tour as the ice has sufficiently melted to navigate around the archipelago. As it would over the summer in the arctic, the midnight sun will offer ample light and offers more time to capture wildlife & topography.

The Autumn Light photo expeditions are in September, when summer starts to dissipate and soft lighting returns to the island. The areas of melted ice may offer the chance to see some of the lesser-visited sections of Svalbard, with waterfalls and glacier fronts.

Zodiac trips will be incorporated to get closer to wildlife, the ice and glaciers as we explore this unforgettable destination when it is completely devoid of humans.

• Classic - Landscape
• Classic - Wildlife

Svalbard – Autumn Light Photo Expedition 2024 Price: US $11,995 - US $12,495 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Winter Photo Expedition I 2025 US$10,495 - US$10,995 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Ice Lover Photo Expedition II 2025 US$10,495 - US$10,995 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Ice Lover Photo Expedition I 2025 US$10,495 - US$10,995 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Winter Photo Expedition I 2026 US$11,545 - US$12,095 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Ice Lover Photo Expedition II 2026 US$11,545 - US$12,095 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard – Ice Lover Photo Expedition I 2026 US$11,545 - US$12,095 Single supplement: Please contact us

Svalbard photography tour gallery.

Destinations

• Argentina & Chile
• Papua New Guinea
• South Africa
• South Georgia

You don't have permission to register

• Name * Title Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Prof. First Name Last Name
• Sign up for the Recommended Tour Mailer (required)
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Svalbard - Early autumn tour on MS Origo

An exciting photo expedition on Svalbard, the home of the polar bears. Floris Smeets and two experienced Svalbard guides lead you through this breathtaking ice landscape in search for polar bears, arctic fox, walrus, reindeer, seals, birdlife and stunning landscapes. With two zodiac boats you will be able to get close and personal with the local wildlife. The sun will set for the first time again from the first day of the tour, giving us long days with many hours of intense photography!  

Some highlights of the tour

A great chance to see Polar Bears in a magnificent landscap e. ​

Arctic fox kits  are out and about. Their curiosity can get them to come very close to us. 

The Svalbard Reindeer have beautiful velvet on their antlers and are getting ready for the rutting season.

Visits to Walrus colonies (from Zodiac and land)

Visits to seal colonies.

In this period the sun has just started setting again . This will give us many hours of stunning colored light to photograph with. 

Ivory Gulls and other exciting birds. 

The use of Zodiacs for going ashore and for getting better angles of photography.

Breathtaking glaciers and pack-ice.

Two experienced Svalbard guides with incredible local knowledge of the wildlife and area.

The tour is led by a professional photographer (Sony ambassador) who has been leading photo tours in Norway for a decade.

Geographically, Svalbard belongs to Europe, but hardly resembles any other part of the continent. An arctic area, between 74 and 80 degrees north and only 600 km from the North Pole. Svalbard has fantastic environments with glaciers, icebergs and pointy mountains – which have given Svalbard it’s other name – Spitzbergen.

Apart from ice, glaciers and mountains, Svalbard also has arctic tundra, where arctic flowers bloom just during the short summer. Despite it’s isolated location, Svalbard is one of the most accessible arctic regions in the World. This is thanks to the infrastructure developed by Norway around Longyearbyen.

The archipelago has fantastic glaciers, glittering in the sunlight, midnight sun from mid April until the second last week of August and is the home of many  fascinating species of wildlife. Svalbard is mostly known for it’s Polar Bears, but also has Walruses, seals, reindeer, arctic foxes and Whales, to just name a few. Arriving in mid August, when a large proportion of the ice has molten, will allow us to travel further north and closer to the pack-ice. It also increases  the chance of finding the illusive Polar bears. The sun won't set until the last day of the tour. Yet, the sun will dip down close to the horizon, lighting up the landscape for hours with beautiful golden light. 

The Svalbard Reindeer roams here. It is a subspecies, adapted to the harsh winter environments. In this period their antlers are covered in velvet, which lights beautifully up in the sunlight. Walruses are gathered in colonies. Many of them will be on land, while some of them will be in the water in the search for mussels along the beaches. In the deep fjords Fin whales, Blue whales, Belugas, Sperm whales and Minke whales feed in the rich sea currents.

Polar Bears and Walruses can be quite curious and come close. You can never be sure with wild animals, which is important to be aware of. The chance of coming across Polar Bears in August is very good, and the backgrounds for Polar Bear photography are unique. During our 2023 August tour we saw 20 different Polar bears and several of them we saw twice. 

Our route is not set from start. As we have the use of the whole boat, we also have the freedom to plan depending on weather, ice and animal reports. The boat has Zodiacs for landing, but also for photography from low angles. We will use the Zodiacs to access areas that M/S Origo cannot get to.

Nature and wildlife photography are the focus of this tour.

Crew, captain and guides all have extensive experience of the arctic, and photography in these special condition s. The crew speaks English and Swedish.

THE SHIP M/S ORIGO For this tour, we charter the entire ship M/S Origo with 24 berths, but we limit the number of participants to 12. Origo was built in 1955 at Finnboda shipyard in Sweden, on behalf of the Swedish Maritime Administration, as an ice-reinforced pilot ship and lighthouse keeper. The ship has two zodiacs, each with room for 12 people. Although this is strictly a photography trip, of course non-dedicated photographers can come along and have an absolutely amazing arctic experience. The fact that it is a photo trip means that we spend the time we need to get a chance for good photos. Often this means a little more time with the motifs. We postpone meals if necessary; that is, if we have good subjects and good light, it takes precedence. Polar bears and walruses naturally have the highest priority.

The travel route is never completely decided in advance. Our tentative plan is to head northeast. Since we rent the whole ship, we have the freedom to plan the expedition as we want, based on weather, wind, current ice conditions and reports of polar bears in particular. Nature and wildlife are at the center of this trip. The crew, the captain and us who are the guides on the trip have extensive experience in both the Arctic and photography under the special conditions that prevail. The crew is Swedish-speaking and the participants can be from several countries. The ship is perfect for photography. The chef on board usually offers exciting and very good food. No one has to go hungry.

Lectures will be given by the tour guides and tour leader. We will look at the participants’ photos and come up with positive photo criticism. And we, as leaders, will of course assist the participants with the necessary help and camera technical and photographic advice.

Day 0. Arrival in Longyearbyen and transport to hotel on your own. NOTE: This is one day before the travel arrangement begins, to be sure not to miss the ship’s departure. We will organize and offer a guided tour in Longyearbyen’s surroundings in the evening or early in the morning the next day, for those who want, for an additional price.

Day 1. Pick-up at the respective hotel in time for check-out, transport of the luggage to the ship and then free time in Longyearbyen until it is time for the ship’s departure, after 4 p.m. Then we sail out of Adventfjorden, and via Isfjorden we probably head north, if we didn’t have better indications to reach polar bears on the eastern side via the southern route. Welcome dinner on board.

Day 2-9. Cruising, with a schedule updated daily if necessary. We fully adapt to current and upcoming weather, ice conditions and wildlife sighting reports. We will most likely cruise north of Svalbard and the northeast. In addition to polar bears, we also hope to meet walruses, arctic foxes, whales, seals, birdlife and reindeer. We will be out and photograph as long as there is good light. This can be during the nights when the sun is at it's lowest. When the light is bad and there is no wildlife around the ship, we can use the time to sort photos, attend lectures and photo shows and also manage to catch some sleep!

Day 10. Arrival back in Longyearbyen. The tour ends after breakfast.

Fill in the booking form .

Or  contact  us for inquiries for other dates and other questions.

2024:  26 August - 4 September (Fully booked)

Svalbard (Spitsbergen)

12  participants

Shared double bedrooms 

Guided by Floris Smeets

From SEK 75.900,- (+/- €6.445,- or $6798,-) (deposit = 30% of tour fee) Find all options below.

Longyearbyen Airport

Price includes

Accommodation

Breakfast, lunch and diners.

Transport: All local transport, including the pick-up and drop off at Longyearbyens airport. 

Cruise around the Svalbard archipelago

Boat trips / excursions.

Single rooms: See below

Price does not include

Flights to and from Longyearbyens airport

Alcoholic beverages and snacks

Insurances. You are responsible for your own traveling and cancellation insurances. 

Prices 2024

Cabin with shared facilities - shared SEK 75.900,- (SEK 14.000,- additional as private cabin) Fully booked

Cabin with private WC but shared shower - shared SEK 83.900 Fully booked (SEK 15.000,- additional as private cabin) Fully booked

Cabin with private WC and shower - shared SEK 88.900,- (SEK 20.000,- additional as private cabin) Fully booked

Superior cabin with private WC and shower SEK 99.900  (Fully booked)

Photo equipment A wide range of subjects will be available to us, from landscapes to mammals and birds. Therefore it is good to bring everything from wide-angle to telephoto lenses. For some of the species we will photograph during the tour we will be able to get really close. This makes wide-angle zooms a perfect lens even for wildlife. Lenses from 70-200 mm up to 500 mm are excellent for the wildlife that we will encounter. To increase focal length you can use a teleconverter.

Snow or rainfall are likely during the tour so bring some protections for your cameras and lenses. If you have two camera bodies, bring both in order not to have to change lenses as much. Tripods will be useful for photographing the birdlife and for while shooting landscapes. Other things you should bring, are:

Plenty of memory cards

Plenty of batteries

Battery charger

Camera bag (with rain cover or dry bag)

Proper field clothing is necessary. Consider the conditions as similar to a Scandinavian autumn. Expect the temperature to be between +2 and +12 degrees. We will be borrowing insulated buoyancy overalls onboard, and these must be used when in the zodiacs. They are also great for watching from the ship, and everyone will have their overall hanging outside their cabin. Woolen sweaters (preferably) or fleece, with several layers (thin, mid and thick layer) will allow you to regulate your temperature. Thin gloves are recommended to bring with you. For footwear high insolated rubber / neoprene boots are the best way to go. They will keep your feet warm and dry. Some landings can be so-called wet landings, stepping out of the zodiac into up to knee-deep water. So please make sure that your boots are high and waterproof.  A warm hat (or fur cap) and sun-glasses against the strong sunlight. Thermal underwear in merino wool are great to have in case of cold weather and long sessions in the zodiacs. Woolen socks. No need for elegant clothing. Indoor shoes, slippers or crocs onboard. Swimwear – there might be an opportunity for an ice-bath and there is a hot tub on board. 

All images by Floris Smeets

Arctic Photography Expedition to Svalbard

Description

This tour is now Sold Out.  New dates will be announced in our  Newsletter.

Over 800km north of the Norwegian mainland is the archipelago of Svalbard; an icy, inhospitable wilderness like nothing you will have seen before. This is the end of the world as we know it, and a place where there are more polar bears than people. But despite the climate and remote nature of life this far north, there are many residents perfectly happy to have settled here. So what’s the secret? To find out, this photography tour offers an incredible Arctic experience enjoyed through the lens of your camera. Over the course of eleven unimaginable days we will open your eyes to the pristine landscapes, diverse wildlife, and effortless serenity of Svalbard.

This photography expedition coincides with Svalbard’s opening sunset of the season, as the permanent summer sun of the Arctic reluctantly settles just below the horizon for the first time. Early September was a very deliberate choice for our visit. This far north the seasons are dramatic and long-lasting, and the summer sun doesn’t offer good conditions for photography. September marks the end of that extended summer, and this 11-day adventure in the Arctic will take full advantage of light conditions perfect for photography. Colours are more vivid, natural saturation is high, and our images will radiate the clarity and silence we come across at every turn. With incredible light guaranteed, the landscapes and wildlife will provide an array of iconic scenes throughout this photo tour.

The landscapes and natural life of Svalbard are dynamic and constantly changing. Because of this we need to be equally flexible. In order to make the most of every possible opportunity, for the duration of this tour we’ll have full use of a private ship. With an experienced crew, local guides, and professional photographers, we’ll glide through the serene Arctic waters in search of perfect pictures.

Naturally, our immediate focus will be on the animal kingdom and the wondrous Arctic landscapes. Spitsbergen, where we will be spend much of our time, literally means ‘deep fjords’, which gives you some clue as to what to expect in terms of scenery. Surrounded by muscular mountains, glaciers, and polar bears, we will spend time each day scouting out the best scenes in this ever changing landscape. We will have to make adjustments during the trip, taking into account the ice situation and weather conditions, but having a relatively small group ensures that everyone’s photography prioritees will be taken into account.

Another advantage of travelling in a smaller group is increased mobility. Our little ship is unlikely to scare away any of the local wildlife, and it’s agile enough to go where larger vessels can’t. We also have a Zodiac craft that can be launched at a moment’s notice. This will come in handy when we need to navigate through tight spaces to capture the perfect shot, get up close and personal to the animals, or take a quick trip to the shore.

Our timetable is more or less free. Ideally we want to go to North Spitsbergen, but in itself that won’t be our goal. The main aim will simply be to venture around the area and get as many stunning shots of the Arctic as we can. We’ll make a point of searching for and shooting polar bears, and with any luck we should also come across fur seals, whales, walruses and arctic foxes.

Plans will change according to conditions, and you never know what photographic wonders we might come across. Because of this we will draw up a timetable at the beginning of everyday based on the information we have. One thing’s for sure: You will need your telephoto. 500 mm and 600 mm lenses will be a good choice for a close-up and 300 mm, 70-200 for a long shot and an extender.

Arrival & Departure

SAS fly regularly to Longyearbyen through Oslo and Tromso. We recommend that you arrive at Longyearbyen at 14:00 on the day before our journey begins. We suggest the following hotels, and ideally we will meet the night before for a meal.  Radisson Blu Polar Hotel  is one of the biggest, most well-placed hotels in the area.  Basecamp Trapper's Hotel  is good, colorful and quirky. 

Our ship, the M/S Malmö, is under the control of a captain and crew with years of experience sailing through Svalbard’s waters.They are also actively working to man responsible expeditions that respect the fragile environment in this part of the world.

The exact route of our expeditions will depend on ice, weather conditions, group preferences and wildlife encounters. But having said this, the ship's captain will have the last word on when and where the ship will sail and when it is appropriate to put passengers ashore.

Attractions

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Svalbard's Fjords

Day 2 - Raudfjorden

Day 3 - Kongsfjorden

Day 4 - Ny-Alesund

Day 5 - Scouting for Polar Bears on the Pack Ice

Day 6 - Alkefjellet

Day 7 - Nordaustlandet

Day 8 - Barentsøya

Day 9 - Edgeøya

Day 10 - Longyearbyen

Day 11 - Departure

Good to know.

We will have a range of European cuisine on board throughout the course of the trip, and there will always be access to tea, coffee and drinks from the bar.

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather can be highly unpredictable. Likewise, sightings of wildlife will be dependent on the movement of the animals and cannot be guaranteed.

Departure Schedule

This tour is now Sold Out. New dates will be announced in our Newsletter.

Similar tours

Popular photo tours & workshops.

Travel the world to capture the most incredible landscapes

Summer Photo Tours in Iceland

Winter Photo Tours in Iceland

International Photo Tours

Greenland Photo Tours

Private Photo Tours in Iceland

Autumn Photo Tours in Iceland

Norway Photo Tours and Workshops

Faroe Islands Photo Tours and Workshops

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | By: Jim Zuckerman

We saw several foxes during the polar bear trip in Churchill including this arctic fox. Foxes are so fast, and it seems they are constantly moving. It would be almost impossible to get a sharp picture except for the great autofocus mechanisms we now have in modern cameras. Arctic foxes are quite small, and to get an eye-level shot like this either means a photographer has to lie on the ground or the fox has to be elevated on rocks or a small hill. In this case, the fox was running around on a rocky slope. I captured this image with a 420mm focal length, and the settings were 1/1250, f/10, and 1000 ISO. Note I chose the fast shutter simply because telephoto lenses magnify movement, and to freeze the frenetic movements of the fox I needed the extra speed. The morning sun was very low to the horizon, and the fox was facing the light perfectly.

Wildlife photo tours

Svalbard photography tours.

Explore Svalbard’s nature and wildlife, and join our guided Svalbard photography tours! On a photography tour, we don’t have any endpoint to reach. When we are finding something to work with, we do that!!

We conduct our Svalbard photography tours both in the summer and the winter season, and in both good and wild weather conditions, but always in the safe hands of our professional  guides. Your safety and respect for the nature are our highest priorities.

From October to April, the wildlife is limited, and we look especially for the unique arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and Svalbard rock ptarmigan. These species are present in Svalbard the whole year. From April to September, the migratory birds are also coming. The scenery and the special arctic light is unique to Svalbard the whole year, and under the right circumstances, we often experience the fantastic northern light.

Choose your own Svalbard photography tour

We offer a range of different photography tours to give you a unique tailermade experience.

Contact us for more information, or to make a spesial request

Main tour (up to 8 persons)

Our main tours lasts for half a day, between 3 to 4,5 hours, all depend on season. We can bring with us up to 8 persons, depending on season, weather conditions and other precautions. We offer a discount for child(up to 12 year).

This trip focuses on exploring, observing and photographing. But, photographing is not a necessity to join these tours, and you will either way have a great experience. Unlike others, we don’t have any finally destination to reach, on our tours. If we are finding something interesting to work with, we do that!

Our focus on our tours depends on the season the weather and which species that are present in the area at the moment.

We move between different locations by car, and carry out stops and walk from a few hundred meters up to 2 or 3 kilometers one way, all depends on the eason, weather and what’s “pops up” during the tour .

Price per person NOK 1,950, – (lower price and shorter duration, during the dark winter).

Exclusive tour (1–3 persons)

You can also book a tour designed for a more limited number of participant, from 1 up to 3 persons. This tour lasts from 3 to 6 hours, depending on weather conditions, seasons and what`s comming up during the tour, but we will not count minutes.

Price per person is NOK 2.950,-(lower price, shorter duration, in the dark season)

One-to-one photo guide

On our most exclusive tour, we can be your personal guide for a whole day(normally 7 to 8 hours, but we are. not counting hours). We can be out the whole day or we can split the tour in to parts, during the day. All depend on season, weather and light conditions. We can also tailmade after your needs of guiding.

Price per person is NOK 7.950,- person(we are not offering this tour in the dark season).

For tailormade needs, contakt us.

Unique memories, both with and without a camera, from Svalbard photography tours

As this is wildlife, we can not guarantee that you will experience certain wild animals, but our guide has conducted photography tours in Svalbard for years, and is familiar with the nature and wildlife in the high north. If you are with is on these assumptions, we will hopefully give you a fantastic experience.

In best case, your pictures will be a memory for life and something unique to remember from your visit to the Arctic.

Arctic Fox Photography Tours

Other photo opportunities....

When we arrive in Isafjordur, we will visit the Arctic Fox Centre in Sudavik.

Here, there are large flocks of Snow Bunting here which can be captured and, uniquely for UK photographers, there is also the possibility of photographing Ptarmigan in their winter plumage.

In the UK, you have to walk to the top of mountains such as Cairngorm to photograph them in snow but in Iceland they come down low and are much easier to see.

The trip will also offer chances to photograph whales during the voyage to Hornstrandir and the spectacular Northern Lights. Plus, the chance of photographing white Arctic Fox (as seen here) is also a strong possibility while living on Hornstrandir, which often pay a visit to the area we will be staying at.

Participants

Photography tours in the heart of the wilderness.

Wildlife Photo Travel offers photography tours and workshops in the heart of wilderness, in the most remote places in the world. Our territories are the tundra, the mountains and the desert. Our values are sharing, curiosity, ethics and awareness of ecosystems’ fragility.

Our team is made up of  wildlife photography , landscape photography , art and biology enthousiasts. All levels of photography are welcome on our photo tours, as well as naturalists and enthusiasts.

Join us on one of our 2024 wildlife and nature photography workshop and enjoy a unique naturalistic and artistic experience. An 8-day photography trips in Iceland in territories where few humans go.

The arctic fox photo tour is our first, to the Hornstrandir nature reserve in Iceland, but other trips will follow.

Alpine Peak Photography

• Real Weddings
• Wedding Photography
• Corporate Coverage
• Engagement & Family Portraits
• Ski Race Action

Banff Wedding & Elopement Photographers , Alpine Peak Photography, also covering Canmore, Lake Louise, and Emerald Lake weddings, elopements & events

Malcolm Carmichael and Roger Witney are legendary names in the wedding, elopement and event photography industry here in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  (They are blushing but it is true!)  If you live here you will know exactly what we mean.

• Over 25 years of professional wedding, elopement and event photography in Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Captured over 3000 weddings, conventions and celebrity events
• Preferred wedding, elopement and event photographers for both the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
• Chosen for security restricted Government G8 Summit photography coverage in Kananaskis 2002
• 20 years as the official sports photographers to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team (CAST)
• Director of photography at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, BC
• Wedding Wire Couples Choice Gold Award (Top 5% professional wedding photographers, voted by our clients)
• Fully licensed to work in Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise & Kananaskis

Our extensive experience and knowledge of the Bow Valley ensures your photography experience will be rewarding & fun and provide you with images you will treasure for years to come.

Proudly associated with, and the preferred photographers for:

• Create Account

Signed in as:

[email protected]

• Cyclone 360 Photo Booth
• Spinner 360 Video Booth
• Bullet Time Photo Booth
• Midnight photo booth
• AI Photo Booth
• Arctic Fox photo booth
• Pearl Photo booth
• Hashtag Printer
• Corporate photo booth
• Wedding photo booth
• DIY Photo Booth
• Photo Strips

Make your event memorable. serving sf bay area and beyond.

Inquiries: (925)451-8850, elevate your event, elevate your event with unique experiences, what we offer, custom photo strips.

 We know you love unlimited photo sessions and photo strips for all your guests, we will make sure that everyone will go home with high-resolution prints or video of some of their favorite moments from your party.

To achieve great results, we do several tests at our studios and your venue to make sure the lighting, our camera settings are optimal to deliver outstanding results.

You may choose from any of our astonishing designs, mix and match fonts and colors or we can achieve anything that you set your mind to.

What set us apart from other companies is that we do not brand your photo strips with our company logo. You deserve pristine prints to enjoy for a lifetime.

PREMIUM BACKDROPS

We offer over a hundred high-end backdrops in vibrant plain colors, sequins, mixed media and pillow cover fabrics. We also have the popular green screen. 

We highly encourage you to book at least 2 weeks in advance to guarantee your favorite backdrop availability.

Click on this link to see our beautiful backdrops:

 We have very original props, the ones that you need to match your party theme: Weddings, graduation parties, Gatsby, Superheroes, Derby, Sports, Hollywood, Luau, Cheer and Pom, Unicorns, Mermaids, Fairy Tales, Masquerade Ball, Alice in Wonderland, The '80s, '60's, All Over the World, Candyland, Hipsters, Slumber Party, Murder Mystery, Neon, Angels Vs. Devils, Scavenger Hunt, Casino, Carnival, Winter Wonderland, Disco, Spa, Holidays, Easter and so many more! Unlimited fun for your photo booth rental!

Are you looking for custom signs to showcase your company logo? Our dedicated team can help you to make anything you have in mind for an additional fee.

GIFs are a series of images that will loop continuously and don´t require anyone to press play. Check out Emmy winner, Zendaya having a great time with U2 PhotoBooths!

 Boomerangs work by taking a burst of a few photos and stitching them together into a one-second video. The video then loops, playing the images backward and forward to create a Boomerang Effect. They are very fun!

ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY

We know how important your privacy is, that is why will upload your precious photos to a password-protected online photo gallery that will let you download and share your photos for unlimited times and since December 2022, for up to 3 months!

DIGITAL PHOTOS

You will have your original digital photos and your customized photo strips.

FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE ATTENDANT

Our friendly and professional team, Nico, Katia, Eli and Jake will help you to take your party to the next level. Not only the photo booth will be a highlight of your party, but also our team will make every effort for you to enjoy every minute of your rental.

 We offer free delivery up to 30 miles from our offices in Alamo or Sonoma, CA. Additional fees apply after those distances.

Photo booth Album

Take home as a nice keepsake with a beautiful guest photo booth album. We will bring a table with linens and supplies and will ask your guests to leave a message for you. 

360 photo booth rental rent a photo booth San Francisco Oakland San Jose

Flower Arch

Stand out with a gorgeous backdrop

Luxurious fabrics or fresh real flowers will be arranged for your photo booth rental and 360 photo booth rental. We are the best photo booth hire in San Francisco, Alamo, Sonoma

Green Screen

Rose gold sequin wall.

Unleash your imagination with our green screen, an outstanding photo booth hire

choose different digital backgrounds and our high-end photo booth will give you take you anywhere you like. Hire the best photo booth rental and 360 photo booth rental in San Francisco, Alamo, Sonoma

This is the ultimate trend in backdrops. This 6'x6' backdrop is made out of premium quality sequin panels and they pair perfectly with balloons or flower arrangements. 

photo booth rental 360 photo booth rental photo booth hire Alamo San Francisco Sonoma 360 video booth rental

rent a photo booth San Jose Oakland

Karaoke nights are back! 

Sing your heart out and celebrate any occasion with your family and frinds!

We will bring a karaoke machine and 2 brand new microphones for you to keep.

Send us your list of favorite songs and we will add them to the karaoke machine. We will deliver and set it up along with your photo booth.

photo booth rent

photo booth rental 360 photo booth rental photo booth hire Alamo San Francisco Sonoma 360 video booth rental rent a photo booth San Jose

A Hashtag Printer is a great addition to your event!

All social media enthusiasts love it. Forget about sticking to one place or getting in line to take your photos.

Take Snap a photo anywhere

Tag your event with out in our hashtag printer!. It's great for all kinds of events and its a favorite tool for Instagram advertisers.

photo 

our clients

Yelp elite squad reviews, latest instagram posts, contact form.

Sign up for our email list for updates, promotions, and more.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

U2 Photo Booths

Stay in touch.

Sign up to hear about upcoming photo booth rental specials and events. San Francisco, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Jose. Experts in Brand activations. Try our Cyclone or Spinner 360 photo booth rental. rent a photo booth

Copyright © 2024 U2 Photo Booths - All Rights Reserved.

Serving San Francisco Bay Area and beyond

• Fundraiser photo booth
• Terms of service
• Privacy Policy

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. 

Over the years, its sprawling back lot grew and absorbed what used to be the adjacent RKO Studios.

In 2005, Paramount bought out the DreamWorks studio, which became a unit of Paramount, and as a result has had additional successes with DreamWorks productions such as " Transformers " and " Shrek the Third ".

Paramount is a huge, sprawling studio, covering an area almost as big as the original Disneyland. At peak season, the studio employees over 5,000 people. Just driving around the outside of the studio walls will give you an indication of the studio's vast size. A tall water tower with the blue Paramount mountain logo still looms over the lot, a throwback to the days when the studio had its own fire department and hospital.

Paramount offers a two-hour walking tour of the historic studio, so you can see the inside as well.

To find this historic archway, from Melrose Avenue , just look north up Bronson Avenue. You'll note that the old gate just east of the new double arch Paramount gates (which were built to resemble the original Bronson arch).

Incidentally, Paramount Studios can be rented for private parties and group events of up to 3,000 people. The studio offers event planning, food & beverage facilities, service staff, even use of the New York Street set or their sound stages (based on availability).

[To learn more about this subject, you can access Paramount's official website at: http://www.paramount.com .]

Advertisement

Trump Videos at Arlington Stir More Fallout After Gravesite Visit

The family of a Green Beret buried there expressed concern about videos and photos taken by his grave. And a cemetery employee declined to press charges after an altercation with the Trump team, fearing retribution.

• Share full article

By Chris Cameron Maggie Haberman and Eric Schmitt

Chris Cameron was traveling with Donald J. Trump during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

• Published Aug. 28, 2024 Updated Aug. 29, 2024, 10:05 a.m. ET

The family of a Green Beret who died by suicide after serving eight combat tours and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery expressed concern on Wednesday that Donald J. Trump’s campaign had filmed his gravesite without permission as Mr. Trump stood in an area where campaign photography isn’t allowed.

Relatives of Master Sgt. Andrew Marckesano issued their statement two days after Mr. Trump’s visit, which also included a confrontation between members of the Trump campaign and an Arlington employee. The former president’s campaign took video in a heavily restricted section of the cemetery known as Section 60, which is largely reserved for the fallen veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

A woman who works at the cemetery filed an incident report with the military authorities over the altercation. But the official, who has not been identified, later declined to press charges. Military officials said she feared Mr. Trump’s supporters pursuing retaliation.

Sergeant Marckesano died on July 7, 2020, after moving to Washington to begin a job at the Pentagon. He had three children, and friends said he had chronic post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in combat. He earned Silver and Bronze Stars during his service. His gravesite is adjacent to that of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, a Marine who was killed in the 2021 bombing at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

The Hoover family granted permission to the Trump team to film and take photographs at the gravesite; the Marckesano family did not, and filming and photographing at the gravesite for political purposes is a violation of federal law, according to cemetery officials. Yet Sergeant Marckesano’s grave was shown in photos from the visit that were published online. A video was posted to Mr. Trump’s TikTok account featuring footage from the Section 60 visit and the gravestones from behind, with narration criticizing the handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

In a statement from Sergeant Marckesano’s relatives after being contacted by The New York Times, his sister, Michele, said, “We fully support Staff Sergeant Darin Hoover’s family and the other families in their quest for answers and accountability regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal and the tragedy at Abbey Gate.”

“However,” she added, “according to our conversation with Arlington National Cemetery, the Trump campaign staffers did not adhere to the rules that were set in place for this visit to Staff Sergeant Hoover’s gravesite in Section 60, which lays directly next to my brother’s grave.”

Sergeant Marckesano’s sister continued, “We hope that those visiting this sacred site understand that these were real people who sacrificed for our freedom and that they are honored and respected accordingly.”

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, did not address the statement from the Marckesano family, saying when asked about the TikTok video only that “the campaign will continue to respect the wishes of the Gold Star family members who invited President Trump.”

Sergeant Marckesano had served six tours in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne and others in combat overseas, according to news accounts at the time of his death. His family is said to have sought privacy since his death.

In the aftermath of the Monday altercation, the Army has closed the matter, after the Arlington official declined to press charges. According to three U.S. military officials, some Trump campaign members confronted and eventually pushed past the cemetery official when she tried to stop them from taking photos in Section 60.

Two Trump campaign officials, Mr. Cheung and Chris LaCivita, had insulted the cemetery worker in public statements on Tuesday. Mr. Cheung asserted that she was “suffering from a mental health episode” while Mr. LaCivita said that she was a “despicable individual” who “does not deserve to represent the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.”

Military officials said that the cemetery worker feared that pursuing the matter with the authorities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia, which has jurisdiction over the cemetery, could subject her to retaliation from Trump supporters. Mr. Cheung said in a statement on Wednesday that “that is ridiculous and sounds like someone who has Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

The Trump team had said it was prepared to release footage of the altercation, but never did.

Several Army officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential aspects of the matter, on Wednesday sought to keep the politically charged issue from escalating. But at the same time, they defended the cemetery official and pushed back on attacks from the Trump campaign, with one official saying that the woman at the cemetery was just trying to do her job.

Since Monday, the former president’s cemetery visit has become increasingly scrutinized for its political nature.

He was there for a wreath-laying ceremony honoring 13 American troops who were killed in the Abbey Gate bombing during the United States’ Afghanistan withdrawal three years ago. Mr. Trump has said President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris bear responsibility for the bombing and America’s chaotic withdrawal, and repeated his attacks on the subject in campaign events after his visit to the cemetery.

Mr. Trump had laid three wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns on Monday morning, the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing. Two of the wreaths were for Marines killed: Sergeant Hoover and Sgt. Nicole Gee. A third was dedicated to all 13 troops killed.

Mr. Trump was accompanied there by family members of the two slain Marines, as well as Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews and Corporal Kelsee Lainhart , two Marines who were injured in the Abbey Gate attack.

Mr. Trump then accompanied the families and Marine veterans to Section 60. That part of Mr. Trump’s visit was private and closed to the press, and resulted in the confrontation . In a statement, the cemetery said that federal law prohibited political campaigning or “election-related” activities within Army cemeteries, including by photographers, and that the prohibition was “widely shared” with those participating in the event.

For centuries the United States has tried to keep military might and partisan politics far from each other, to avoid the appearance of allegiances to a political party or ideology. Because of this, military members are forbidden from participating in partisan activities or endorsing candidates while in uniform and military bases are off-limits for political campaigns.

It was unclear on Wednesday whether the Defense Department would pursue a legal claim related to the episode.

Campaigning in Erie, Pa., on Wednesday, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Mr. Trump’s running mate, blamed “some staff member” at the cemetery for the incident and criticized the media for reporting on it.

“Apparently somebody at Arlington Cemetery, some staff member had a little disagreement with somebody,” Mr. Vance said. “And they have turned — the media has turned this into a national news story.”

Photos of Mr. Trump’s visit to Section 60 were later published online. Mr. Trump was photographed giving a “thumbs up” to the camera standing behind the grave of Sergeant Hoover, with Sergeant Marckesano’s grave clearly visible a few feet away. Mr. Trump posted the video on TikTok on Tuesday that also showed the two headstones from behind as Mr. Trump laid flowers.

Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, who published one photo of himself and Mr. Trump standing behind the graves on social media, apologized on Wednesday for including other photos of the visit to Section 60 in a campaign email that solicited donations.

“This was not a campaign event and was never intended to be used by the campaign,” Mr. Cox said on social media . “It did not go through the proper channels and should not have been sent. My campaign will be sending out an apology.”

Michael C. Bender contributed reporting from Erie, Pa., and Dave Philipps from Colorado Springs.

Chris Cameron covers politics for The Times, focusing on breaking news and the 2024 campaign. More about Chris Cameron

Maggie Haberman is a senior political correspondent reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign, down ballot races across the country and the investigations into former President Donald J. Trump. More about Maggie Haberman

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt