Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis Workshop in Iceland
September 29th– October 5th, 2014
Join timelapse filmmaker / photographer Henry Jun Wah Lee and Icelandic photographer/filmmaker Thorvardur Arnason for a once in a lifetime Northern Lights workshop and adventure in Iceland. This year is the peak of the 11-year solar cycle. The increased solar activity can provide stronger and more frequent displays of Aurora Borealis. Autumn is also prime time for fall colors, walking on glaciers, capturing waterfalls, and exploring/shooting around the world famous glacier lagoon, Jokulsarlon. We will show you why Iceland is a photographer and filmmaker’s paradise.
This epic 7-day timelapse and photography workshop will be held September 29th to October 5th, 2014, and is limited to only 6 participants. We will start and end in the Southeastern Icelandic town of Höfn, easily accessible from Reykjavik by air or car.
You will be in good hands as you learn from an incredible team: one of the premier timelapse shooters in the world assisted by an expert Icelandic photographer with intimate knowledge of Iceland’s hidden locations, fickle weather patterns, and various kinds of Northern Lights.
You will learn how to shoot different kinds of auroras, as well as day, day to night, and astro timelapse both on static tripods and motion control equipment. You will also learn how to process and edit your shots into professional 4K resolution timelapse video using Adobe Lightroom, After Effects and LRTimelapse. Autumn provides excellent opportunities to capture stunning compositions of Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes. We will spend a lot of time shooting so you will have plenty of opportunities to hone your skills and apply what you are learning.
The workshop is open to all skill levels and covers everything from the basics, to shooting motion-controlled time lapses, to processing and editing your footage into professional quality 4K video.
Please note that while the highest priority for the workshop will be shooting Northern Lights, it is ultimately up to mother nature and what the prevailing weather and solar conditions allow for.
Positive Experiences from Past Attendees
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to partake in these experiences with you. Your willingness to share your knowledge and secrets is rare and wonderful.” – D.W.
“The locations and experiences you provided were truly amazing!! Thanks again for your guidance and assistance – and patience! Many great memories!” – C.K.
“Thank you again for an amazing adventure and for sharing your insights. Page AZ is an amazing place with so many unique locations. Extra bonus for the awesome camping at White Pocket and the private tour of Antelope Canyon.” – K.G.
Sponsored by Kessler and LRTimelapse
Kessler Crane will be providing professional motion control equipment for participants to use during the workshop while LRTimelapse will be providing advanced timelapse processing software.
What You Will Learn
Timelapse photography is both an art and a science. You will learn all of the skills and techniques Henry uses to shoot professional quality timelapses, including understanding nature, workflow, planning, composition, camera gear, accessories, shooting techniques, camera settings, post processing and editing. We will also discuss common mistakes as well as known challenges and their solutions so that you will be prepared when things don’t go as planned. And things often don’t go as planned! More importantly, you get to learn the essence of timelapse beyond equipment and numbers that you can not get from books or online forums. For seven days you will be fully immersed in the craft of capturing the magic of nature through timelapse.
What You Will Need to Bring
Required:
- • Camera – DSLR. A camera that has manual exposure settings and can shoot RAW is highly recommended. Having a second DSLR is also highly recommended as backup or to shoot additional scenes.
- • Lenses – fast lenses (f/1.4 and 2.8) are highly recommended for capturing Northern Lights and the night sky. Bring all the focal lengths you want to shoot with but be sure to bring a wide or ultra wide angle lens. Manual lenses from Rokinon (such as the 14 2.8, the 24 1.4 and the 35 1.4) are highly recommended for timelapse.
- • Tripod with ball head.
- • Intervalometer.
- • Memory cards – 2 or more 64 GB or larger cards are highly recommended
- • Plenty of extra batteries and battery charger – expect to use 2-4 batteries per day. A battery grip that holds 2 batterys will allow you to shoot longer sequences without running out of power.
- • Headlamp or flashlight – One with a dimmer function and a red light / filter option is recommended.
- • Laptop computer – to preview, process and edit your shots. Bring a memory card reader or usb cable for your camera so you can transfer your shots.
- • 2 TB hard drive for storage. An additional hard drive is highly recommended for backup.
- • Smart Phone or tablet with GPS functionality– there are some helpful and powerful apps that will help us shoot.
- • Neutral density and graduated ND filters.
Highly Recommended:
- • If you already have your own motion control gear, bring it! It is a good time to put it all to good use.
- • Photographer’s insurance – to cover your equipment in case of accidents.
- • International travel and medical insurance – to cover unexpected travel or health issues.
Workshop Fee: $4795
Note: Workshop fee includes breakfast, snacks, transportation during the workshop and guide fees. It does not include lodging (approx. $150 per night), international transportation to Iceland, transportation to Höfn (airfare discount available), lunch or dinner. Please inquire for more details.
Cancellation Policy
Due to the small size of this workshop, there is a $500 nonrefundable fee if you cancel.
Cancel between August 1st and September 1st: $1000 total cancellation fee
Cancel after September 1st: No refund
Questions and Contact Information
If you have questions about this event or wish to sign up over the phone, please email info@evosia.com or call 310-980-8645
About Henry Jun Wah Lee
Henry Jun Wah Lee is an internationally-recognized filmmaker and photographer. His work has appeared worldwide on television and film. They have also been featured on Yahoo, MSN, AOL, The Weather Channel, Gizmodo, Mashable, Petapixel, io9, NPR, Pitchfork, Huffington Post, Slate, LA TImes, The Atlantic, and many more.
Henry’s clients include Canon, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Sigur Ros, Mono, BBC, PBS, Epson, SmugMug, Japan Railroad Company, the British Government and the European Union.
Read a recent interview with Henry in The Atlantic.
About Thorvardur Arnason
Dr. Thorvardur Arnason (Þorvarður Árnason) is a multi-disciplinary environmental scholar and landscape photographer/filmmaker who lives in Hornafjordur, Southeast Iceland, close to the Vatnajökull glacier. His main work involves research and teaching for the University of Iceland, concerning e.g. the aesthetic experience of nature, the foundations of nature conservation, and human perceptions of global warming. Thorvardur studied experimental filmmaking at Concordia University in Montréal and has also been an active photographer for over three decades. He has produced several short films and published an Iceland photography book.