If the South Coast is where most Iceland trips end, the southeast is where ours really took off. The further east you drive on the Ring Road, the bigger the mountains get and the fewer people there are, and the landscapes have a beautiful, desolate, pristine feeling. This stretch, from Skaftafell to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Stokksnes and the East Fjords, was the top of my list for the whole trip.
In this guide I share my favourite Southeast Iceland photography spots, with tips for photographing Jökulsárlón, Vestrahorn and the Icelandic horses you'll meet along the way. It covers days four and five of our 8-day road trip. The full route is in my Iceland Ring Road photography guide, and the days before are in my South Coast and Golden Circle guide.
A roadside waterfall to start the day
Our first stop on day four was a small, wide waterfall just off the Ring Road, with snow-capped mountains and a little hut in the background. The weather was moody, which I love for photos. It was definitely a spam-the-shutter kind of place.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Portraits by the waterfall, edited with Disposable Film.
The first of many Icelandic horses, edited with Disposable Film.
Svartifoss, Skaftafell
Svartifoss is framed by dramatic black basalt columns. The walk up from the Skaftafell visitor centre took us about 40 minutes. It's mostly uphill but a good way to stretch your legs and warm up between long drives.
Svartifoss, edited with Disposable Film.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Jökulsárlón was my favourite place of the entire trip. The lagoon is full of floating icebergs in every shade of blue, it's incredibly quiet, and you can hear pieces of ice breaking off and splashing into the water. There were ducks flying around too. I practically filled a whole memory card here.
Jökulsárlón, edited with Dulce.
How to photograph Jökulsárlón
- Go in the late afternoon. Our portraits were taken in the evening, when the light was softer and the ice glowed blue.
- Use a 35mm for portraits. It keeps the icebergs big and recognisable behind your subject.
- Shoot from the shoreline. Standing low on the black gravel puts the icebergs right behind your subject.
- Bring a tripod. We used one at 35mm for photos of the two of us.
35mm portraits at Jökulsárlón, edited with Dulce.
Edited with Dulce.
Jökulsárlón at golden hour, edited with Dulce.
Edited with Dulce.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is just across the road from Jökulsárlón, where chunks of ice wash up on the black sand. It's an easy stop to add on, so check whether there's ice on the beach when you visit.
Golden hour and Icelandic horses
On our way back from dinner, golden hour broke through the clouds and the light was reflecting in the water, so we pulled over on the side of the road. Some of my favourite landscapes came from shooting through the car window when I was too cold to get out. Then the horses came running over to see what we were doing. That happened twice: Icelandic horses are so friendly and curious.
Edited with Meadow.
Edited with Meadow.
For animals, the 70-200mm is your best friend. It lets you fill the frame from a respectful distance, and the compression makes the mountains look huge behind them.
Icelandic horses with the 70-200mm, edited with Meadow.
Geese by the road, edited with Disposable Film.
Edited with Disposable Film.
Stokksnes and Vestrahorn
Stokksnes, near Höfn, is home to Vestrahorn, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. When the wind stops, the wet black sand turns into a mirror and you get a perfect reflection of the jagged peaks. The catch: you have to stand in the wind waiting for those moments.
Vestrahorn, edited with Meadow.
The sand is very fine and wet, so if you're using a tripod, spread the legs wide or it will slowly sink and tilt. You'll also want to walk out further than you think to get the full reflection.
Portraits at Stokksnes, edited with Meadow.
A tripod shot at Vestrahorn, edited with Meadow.
The East Fjords
Heading north from Höfn, the Ring Road winds through the East Fjords, with snow-capped mountains everywhere you look and calm fjords reflecting them. We stopped by the water for a few portraits between gusts of wind.
Edited with Meadow.
East Fjords portraits, edited with Meadow.
Edited with Meadow.
I really wanted a reindeer photo, and East Iceland is the only part of the country where they live in the wild. We spotted a small herd grazing beside the road.
Reindeer in East Iceland, edited with Meadow.
Edited with Disposable Film.
From here we took a detour to see the puffins. Read my guide to where to see puffins in Iceland, then continue north in my North Iceland and Reykjavik photography guide.
Southeast Iceland photography FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Jökulsárlón?
Late afternoon and golden hour give softer light and make the icebergs glow blue. We took our favourite portraits there in the evening.
Is Diamond Beach near Jökulsárlón?
Yes. Diamond Beach is just across the road from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, so it's easy to visit both.
How long is the walk to Svartifoss?
It took us about 40 minutes from the Skaftafell visitor centre, mostly uphill.
How do you get a reflection of Vestrahorn at Stokksnes?
Walk out onto the wet black sand and wait for the wind to drop. When it stops, the sand becomes a mirror. Spread your tripod legs wide so they don't sink.
What lens is best for photographing Icelandic horses?
A 70-200mm lets you fill the frame from a distance and compresses the mountains behind them.
Where can you see reindeer in Iceland?
Wild reindeer only live in East Iceland. We spotted them grazing beside the road in the East Fjords.
The photos in this post were edited with my Dulce, Meadow and Disposable Film Lightroom presets. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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