The Arctic Fox Experience

66° North in Iceland’s Westfjords, at the edge of the Arctic, 19-24 August 2024

Immerse yourself in an intrepid journey into the heart of Iceland’s Westfjords to discover the elusive arctic foxes.

With our telephoto lenses firmly in tow, Joe and Charly will be taking 6 photography and adventure enthusiasts on a journey up into Iceland's remote Westfjords; Europe's last wilderness. Here, we will have numerous sightings and epic photoshoots with Artic Foxes. This photography workshop also presents an opportunity to learn about the Arctic Fox and how it has adapted to live in this harsh climate.

This experience will be a deep dive into wildlife photography, specialising in photographing the Arctic Fox. We will not only find and photograph the foxes, but also give attention to the dramatic Westfjords, remarkable for their beauty, remoteness and depth. There are plenty of landscape opportunities here, and there will be very little darkness during this time, offering us endless photography opportunities.

Photography Workshop hosted by
JOE SHUTTER & CHARLY SAVELY

HOW TO APPLY

Here’s what you need to do:

Scroll and read through all of the information on this page.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window at the bottom of the page

Choose a date and time for the Zoom call

Tell us something about yourself and book a call with Joe and Charly to discuss your participation in this expedition.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS

Two Brits and good friends, Joe and Charly first led a successful workshop together back in 2018.  Time has proven that they just work well together, as friends, creators and mentors.  As such, they held their 2023 spring Arctic Fox Workshop in Iceland and then went on their biggest journey yet: Antartica!  Naturally, they’re excited to colab again with their upcoming Arctic Workshop 2.0

A Londoner born-and-raised, Joe traded in the city life for Iceland: a life of multi-directional wind and rain, long blue light, midnight sun, unforgiving highlands, mountains, glaciers, canyons and volcanoes.

Joe is a seasoned explorer and has been leading workshops and expeditions in Iceland and the Arctic for over six years. He is most passionate about helping those who love what they do excel in their craft, day-to-day.

For Joe, imbuing a sense of humility and respect for the natural world in which we are often fleeting visitors is one of the biggest impacts we can strive towards. If we can laugh along the way, then so much the better!

@joe_shutter

Charly was born and raised in England, but has lived the majority of her life on the West Coast of the USA, and now calls Alaska home. She is a jack-of-all-trades and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Photography, Graphic Design, and Scientific Illustration at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Charly specialises in adventure travel, wildlife, and commercial photography. She has led workshops in Iceland, Alaska, Greenland, South Africa and Namibia. Charly is due to lead her first workshop in Antartica in February 2023. Currently, she is focused and passionate about capturing the disappearing Arctic.

@charlysavely

ITINERARY

A labyrinth of U-shaped glaciated valleys, majestic waterfalls, long jewelled beaches and Iceland’s largest population of Arctic Fox, the Westfjords of Iceland is one of the most remote regions of the whole country. This haven is where the Arctic Fox enjoys protected status, allowing us to enjoy their presence.

It is no small feat to reach the most remote area of iceland, and it will be immensely rewarding to discover.

DAY 1

  • Leave Reykjavik in the AM from Reykjavik Domestic Airport

  • Arrive in Ísafjorður and get lunch

  • Board the boat that will take us to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve from Isafjordur

  • 3 hour boat to the Hornvík Bon the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

  • Settle in to our accommodation at the Hornvík Basecamp

DAY 2 - 5

  • Four full days of shooting and learning about Arctic Foxes, to your heart’s content!

  • Bask int he glory of the long summer nights

  • Editing tutorials, run downs, challenges, and all that good stuff that you came to learn from Joe and Charly

DAY 6

  • Early morning departure from Hornvík

  • Fly back to Reykjavík from Ísafjorður and say our goodbyes to the group

NEED-TO-KNOW

  • Dates: 17-22 August 2024

  • Price: €4,995

  • Places: 5

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • Your meals (lunch on day 1 through to Breakfast on day 6)

  • Your accommodation in Hornstrandir

  • Sea crossing to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

  • Photography tuition: 

    • Landscape

    • Dramatic/situational portraiture

    • Wildlife Photography

  • Image & exposure analysis in-the-field, as-we-shoot

  • Editing and post-production workflow advice from beginning-to-end

  • Social media advice and assistance and strategy

  • Access to one of the least-visited places in Iceland

WHATS NOT INCLUDED?

  • Your flights to and from Iceland

  • Provision of photography equipment

  • Your return domestic flight from Reykjavik to Ísafjörður

  • Travel and healthcare insurance

  • Miscellaneous photography gear that you might need for the workshop:

    • Make sure you are well-equipped for the Icelandic climate, it can be very temperamental. See FAQ’s below for more detailed advice

LOCATIONS
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  • Reykjavík

  • Ísafjörður

  • Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

HORNVÍK, HORNSTRANDIR NATURE RESERVE

66° north, nestled deep in the most northerly part of the Westfjords lies a region not connected to the rest of the country by road. For this, we will have to set sail.  This is an incredible land of shear cliffs, dramatic peaks and of course the elusive Arctic Fox which enjoys protected status in this region. With a delicate and sensitive approach to wildlife photography and in the company of an experienced tracker, we will be able to get an intimate view into the life of the native population of Arctic Foxes in this region.

HORNVÍK CAMP

The ever so cosy Kvíar lodge will be our home for 5 nights and six days. Established in the early 20th century and initially a farm, it was abandoned in the 1960s and re-purposed as a lodge and a base for visitors form which to explore the Hornstrandir area.

In case you were wondering…

WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY DO I REQUIRE?

We welcome all levels of photography expertise. What we want to see is that you love photography, love Arctic Foxes and want to learn more, push it, take it to the next level, and take in the atmosphere and experience of working with other creatives in an epic context.

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?

There will be some hiking in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. You will get the most out of the workshop if you are willing to hike. That being said, photography opportunities can present themselves very close to the lodge. 

HOW MUCH CAMERA GEAR CAN I BRING?

  • Our greatest recommendation in this regard is that you bring a telephoto lens (e.g., at least 300mm) this will help you to photograph the foxes without disturbing them

  • That being said, bring what you have. In general, consider bringing a range of focal lengths: wide-angle (e.g, 24mm) standard (e.g, 50mm) and a telephoto (e.g, 85mm or above).  Anyhow, a large part of the workshop will be about making the most out of the equipment that you already have

  • DSLR or Mirrorless

  • Remote trigger

  • Neutral Density filter (5/10 stop, if you like long exposures)

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO WEAR?

  • Good, sturdy hiking boots that will provide ankle support

  • Base layer (like merino wool or bamboo)

  • Mid-layer (like a wool jumper or fleece)

  • Down coat to spend long periods outside and in comfort. The Westfjords do not follow any usual springtime rules, so you can expect it to be chilly and must come prepared

  • Waterproof coat (GORE-TEX or similar)

  • Backpack to carry your gear, water bottle and other things you might need during the day

WHAT AND WHERE WILL WE EAT?

All meals are included in the workshop, and while we are on the Nature Reserve we will have full board taken care of for us.

I HAVE DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Let us know! It won't be a problem at all, but it is something that we need to know in advance.

WILL I SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?

No, not during the springtime in Iceland as the midnight sun reveals itself for longer

HOW WILL THE WEATHER BE?

The Icelandic climate varies considerably.  The “springtime” temperatures in April will range between from 0 to 5 celsius throughout the day and nights.  Expect wind and rain during this time (often together and at once!)

MEMORIES

— Mia Nguyen, Melrakki Arctic Fox Workshop 2018

The authenticity of Joe and Charly’s joint philosophy can very much be felt through their numerous past expeditions, with testimonials from their clients below, who naturally transformed into longterm friendships.

— Michelle Arroyave, Melrakki Arctic Fox Workshop 2017

APPLY TO JOIN US!

Who are you?

Joe and Charly’s Arctic Fox Experience is open to 4 general and wildlife photography enthusiasts. We will focus on capturing these remarkable creatures as well as dramatic, humbling landscapes that surround us in these remarkable locations.

Our small-scale group of 4 enthusiasts means that we will be able to focus our attention and expertise on technique and locations, thereby making sure that our participants get the right shots.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window below and book a call with us to discuss your participation in the Arctic Fox Experience!