THE ARCTIC FOX
ICELAND EXPERIENCE.
66° North in Iceland’s Westfjords
A PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
HOSTED BY CHARLY SAVELY AND JOE SHUTTER.
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COMING SOON 2024.
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CHECK OUT THE PAST ARCTIC FOX WORKSHOP BELOW
HOW TO APPLY.
Scroll down and read through all of the information on this page. Find the form at the bottom of the page, fill out all the required information, and tell us something about yourself!
Immerse yourself in an intrepid journey into the heart of Iceland’s Westfjords to discover the elusive Arctic Fox.
With our telephoto lenses firmly in tow, Charly and Joe will be taking 8 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 Arctic 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, specializing in photographing the Arctic Fox. We will not only track and photograph the foxes, but also give attention to the dramatic Westfjords, known for its beauty, remoteness, and depth.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
TRIP LEADERS.
Two Brits: Joe and Charly have previously led a successful workshop together back in 2018, and are soon embarking on their Antarctica Expedition Workshop together in February 2023. They are so excited to keep teaming up!
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![Portrait of Charly Savely, wildlife travel photographer.]()
CHARLY SAVELY
Charly Savely was born and raised in Bristol, England, but has lived the majority of her life on the West Coast of the USA. She has moved around, and traveled her whole life with camera in hand. 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 specializes in adventure travel, wildlife, and commercial photography. She has led workshops in Iceland, Alaska, Greenland, South Africa, and Namibia. Currently, Charly is focused and passionate about capturing the disappearing Arctic, as well as minimal moments.
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![Portrait of Joe Shutter, a photographer in Iceland.]()
JOE SHUTTER
A Londoner born-and-raised, one glorious day some time ago, Joe traded in the city life for Iceland: a life of multi-directional wind and rain, long blue light, midnight sun, highlands, mountains, glaciers, canyons, and volcanoes.
Joe is a seasoned explorer and has been leading workshops and expeditions in Iceland and in the Arctic for over six years. He is most passionate about helping those who love what they do to excel in their craft.
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, so much the better!
OUR WORK COMBINED.
ITINERARY.
A labyrinth of U-shaped glaciated valleys, majestic waterfalls, and of course the elusive Arctic Fox, the Western fjords of Iceland are 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.
The Westfjords are not connected to the famous Ring Road. It is no small feat to explore this area, 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.
2 hour boat to Kvíar lodge on the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.
Settle in to our accommodation at the Kvíar lodge.
DAYS 2 - 5
Four full days of shooting and learning about Arctic Foxes to your heart’s content!
Editing tutorials, run downs, challenges, and all that good stuff that you came to learn from Charly and Joe.
DAY 6
Early morning departure from Kvíar Lodge.
Fly back to Reykjavík from Ísafjorður and say our goodbyes.
NEED-TO-KNOW
Dates: April 09 - 14 2023
Price: €4,995
Places: 8
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 and exposure analysis in-the-field, as-we-shoot.
Editing and post-production workflow advice from beginning-to-end.
Social media advice, assistance, and strategy.
Access to one of the least-visited places in Iceland.
LOCATIONS
Reykjavík
Ísafjörður
Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
Your flights to and from Iceland.
Provision of photography equipment.
Your return domestic flight from Reykjavik to Ísafjörður.
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 FAQs below for more detailed advice.
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.
KVIAR LODGE.
The ever so cosy Kviar 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.
FAQs
WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY DO WE 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.
WHAT AND WERE 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’M A VEGETARIAN / VEGAN / HAVE ALLERGIES WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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?
If it's dark and it is clear and we are a bit lucky then yes!
HOW WILL THE WEATHER BE?
The Icelandic climate varies considerably, on a season-to-season, and a year-to-year basis. 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!).
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 OTHER EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO BRING?
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.
Good, sturdy, ankle-or-above hiking boots.
Waterproof coat (GORE-TEX or similar).
Base layers.
Mid-layer (like a wool jumper or fleece).
Backpack to carry your gear and other things you might need during the day.
APPLY TO JOIN
THE GREAT EXPEDITION.
Charly and Joe’s Arctic Fox Experience is open to 8 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 8 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.
Fill out the form below to join us!