New Year's & Aurora Hunting Photo Marathon

PROJECT: This is the eleventh year that SEEDS organizes series of International Photo marathons. Throughout the year participants from all over the world come to Iceland for an immersive photography related learning camp. SEEDS coordinators help the participants to develop their unique photographic skills through workshops and feedback sessions on technical settings, compositional considerations as well as developing conceptual frameworks which progress the participants individual style.

When the workshops end, we select some of our best pictures from the camp and prepare those images for an informal group exhibition in a local independent cinema. Participants should bring with them their own digital cameras, lenses, and laptops if possible.

Participants should be prepared for walking and visually exploring the city with a flexible time schedule, photographing in their free time outside of workshops with images to be discussed at group feedback sessions.  

Please note this project is more of a learning/sharing camp and not a regular work camp; we may be able to organize some voluntary service but it depends on our partners and weather conditions.  Apart from working on the photography tasks, participants may join the festive atmosphere during Christmas and New Years time.  

Celebrate the New Year in a vibrant city with new friends from around the world. Watch the large fireworks display illuminate the sky, celebrate around a bonfire and party into the night.  Participants should use the opportunity to share something about their culture, such as food, music, and films with the international group.

In this project SEEDS will organize a night photography and Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop to the countryside in the close vicinity of Reykjavík. This will take place during late evening and possibly into the night. We will choose a night according to the Aurora forecast by the Icelandic meteorological office. It is possible we do not see any northern lights during the trip but we will in any case organise the night photography workshop.

We cannot guarantee you will see northern lights as solar activity is irregular & depends on weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS participants will stay in an equipped house, located about 4 kilometers from the centre of the city. The facilities are basic with a shower, kitchen and a washing machine. The group will sleep in shared rooms and shall bring their own sleeping bag. Participants from other camps may also stay in the house.

Participants will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food, drinks and recipes from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: Reykjavik is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal- and hydropower. The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. Reykjavík is an International city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded with beautiful nature.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 350 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the camp and back into SEEDS office (on the first and last day), as well as the night photography and Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop.

Meeting time will be 17:00 (5:00 pm) on December 27 at SEEDS Office. Participants that cannot arrive on time (later or delayed flights) will be sent information on how to reach the camp on their own.

Other excursions (eg. Golden circle, South shore, Hot River Hike, Reykjanes and/or Snæfellsnes Peninsula) can be arranged at discount fares in case there is additional free time after the workshops and camp sessions.

Weather may be cold and/or rainy, so we recommend to bring warm and/or waterproof clothes (overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats) as part of the project takes place outside.

With the Christmas & New Years’ season well under way it is the great opportunity to see the festive decorations and lights of Reykjavik. There are many events like ice skating and locating The Christmas Creatures.

Age: 18+