Photographing Arctic Foxes in Iceland
Bret Charman led our Arctic Fox Photography tour to Iceland last month and shares his experience and photographs from his trip.
In March I led our first Arctic Fox Photography trip in Iceland’s Hornstrandir National Park. This remote peninsula, situated in Iceland’s north-west, is considered to be one of Europe’s most remote regions. Based at the isolated Kviar Lodge, we photographed these charismatic mammals in all weathers.
On arrival in the town of Ísafjörður, we were transferred the short distance to the harbour where we boarded the incredible boat to take us across to Kviar Lodge. It is important to say, that the boat crossing can be rough - so if you are susceptible to sea sickness I highly recommend taking the necessary precautions - but for me I had soon forgotten this once I had my first and rewarding encounter with an Arctic fox. We made a wet landing on the rocky foreshore, after an hour’s journey across the fjord, before carrying our bags up the steep snow bank a hundred yards or so to the lodge.
Kviar Lodge is a basic, but comfortable wilderness lodge that provides the perfect refuge from the Arctic weather that abounds in this rugged landscape. Situated on the edge of a picturesque fjord, the lodge is in prime Arctic fox habitat and one doesn’t need to wander far to capture some breathtaking imagery.
Within an hour of settling in, we were out in the snow and wind, photographing our first Arctic fox – the resident female. It is important to note that the foxes here remain brown throughout the winter months, a rare genetic trait known as the blue morph. It’s just incredible sitting in the snow, with the foxes coming to and fro, providing a wealth of photographic opportunities. It is possible to quickly build up a portfolio of images, capturing the foxes in some exquisite settings.
There is something magical when an animal sees you as a curiosity. One particular fox, had clearly grown up seeing people on a regular basis and was particularly obliging. In fact, the problem was often that she came too close to photograph with telephotos lenses and so wide-angle lenses and even phones often became the preferred option.
In total, throughout the duration of the two trips, I saw eight different foxes, each with their own characteristics and appearance. The four foxes were easily seen and photographed, all in a range of different scenes, from the rocky foreshore to the high snow banks and fields. Whether you are using a telephoto or wide-angle lens, the photography is second to none.
It is a trip for the adventurous, a trip for those looking to embrace the wilderness and reap the rewards of focussing on an individual species. If you are looking to capture a wealth of images of the Arctic fox, keep Iceland in mind and join us on a future photography adventure based at Kviar Lodge.
Join Bret on our Arctic Fox Photography holiday to Iceland. To find out more or to book your place, contact a member of our team.
