THE BEAUTY OF AURORA BOREALIS

ICELAND

HASSELBLAD MASTERS

HANS STRAND8 DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

THE BEST OFICELAND

HASSELBLADEXPERIENCE

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH PASSION

Better Moments CEO and founder: Christian Nørgaard

Graphic design: Anders Lundgren

Text editor: Jeff Grant

All images and text in this catalog are under Internatio-nal Copyright Legislation.

However, Better Moment’s guests and potential custo-mers may download the catalog for private use, but not for any commercial use.

Any violation of the International Copyright Legislation will be reported to the International Court of Justice of International Copyright Legislation

Cover photo by Hans Strand

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Thanks for choosing Better Moments for your next adventure workshop.

Better Moments was founded in 2011 by Philip Boissevain and me, two experienced veterans of the international professional photography industry. We met when working at Hasselblad, Philip as the Global Marketing manager and me as the Global Photographer Relations manager.

Today Better Moments has become the leading photo workshop platform organizing high-end workshops for photo enthusiasts worldwide.

You will learn from the world’s most experienced photographers within their fields to refine your personal style and sharpen your technical skills. Additionally, we want you to share your excitement for photography and enjoy great moments in life. And we want you to explore your passion and expand your photographic skills and vision.

Better Moments mission is to deliver exclusive workshops in landscape, wildlife and travel photography at unique locations around the world. I want you to explore your passion for photography and work and earn from the world’s most renowned photographers who all have excellent teaching skills, local knowledge and experience.

Photography with passion,Christian Nørgaard

THE BEST OFICELAND

HASSELBLADEXPERIENCE

E X P E R I E N C E

T H E

Hosted by a selection of top photographers, you will have access to a range of professional Hasselblad equipment during the trips including the X1D and all existing lenses. Whether you are new to photography or an established photographer, you will learn a variety of techniques to develop your skills, and perfect your shooting and composition while visiting some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes.

INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD

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THE BEAUTY OF AURORA

BOREALIS

Winter time in Iceland is the perfect to enjoy one of the most spectacular natural phenomena, the aurora borealis. It leaves everyone who sees it in awe, and with memories of unforgettable beauty.

Iceland is the land of ice and fire, volcano craters, spurting geysers, glaciers, boiling mud pools and waterfalls.

Its mysterious landscapes are an inspiration for many artists and photographers, with a passion for landscape photography.

Encounter and marvel at Iceland in winter with the magical Aurora Borealis.

Photo by Hans Strand

THE BEST OFICELAND

HASSELBLADEXPERIENCE

TRAVEL WITH PASSIONBetter Moments’ mission is to deliver exclusive workshops. We want you to explore your passion for photography and work with the most renowned photographer, Hans Strand during your Iceland Hasselblad Photo Workshop.

HIGHLIGHTS

Shooting the Aurora Borealis.

Aerial photography over lake Hvítarvatn and the unchartered river Fulákvisl.

Shooting the steep basalt cliffs of Arnarstapi.

Shooting along of the beach of Djupalónsandur Beach with its black pebbles and cubistic basalt walls.

Glacier trip to the snow cap of Snaefellsjökull at 1446 m.

Brúarfoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and many other amazing waterfalls.

Volcanic landscapes and a unique oasis.

Shoot between continental plates and see the clearest water on earth.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Learn how to approach the unique challenges of landscape photography and how to capture expansiveness, dynamic energy and the simplicity of natural landscape photography.

ON LOCATION

Teaching and training in the best techniques and personal hints and advice.

Composition and focus on lines, golden section, perspective, foreground, middleground and background.

Work in different lighting and with short/long exposure times and aperture.

How to handle equipment with care on location.

Private hands-on lessons that can help in taking your photography skills to the next level.

IN CLASSROOM

Expert review and constructive criticism of the images taken during the day.

Workflow in Photoshop and/or Lightroom, and printing.

Portfolio Review.

A Better Moments Certified Photo Instructor is available during the entire workshop to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, and to generally guide and help.

Photo by Hans Strand

PRICE & BOOKING

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Hans was born in 1955 in Marmaverken, Sweden. For more than 20 years, the entire world has been his workplace. Photographing everything from the vast expanses of the Arctic, to steaming rainforests and dry deserts.

“My back broke down and I could

not sit all day long, like I was doing as

an engineer.

At this time my great hobby was landscape

photography, so I took a chance and became a

professional and it has worked since

1990.”

Photo by Ross Brown

MADE IN SWEDEN

His work has been displayed in numerous exhibitions and published in many international photography magazines. He has received several awards for his photography, including the Hasselblad Master Award in 2008. Hans has lectured on his photography internationally and published a number of photography books, with more on the way.

HANS

”Photography is not about capturing what you see,but to interpret what you feel”

T R A N D

Photo by Hans Strand

CAREER CHANGE

After working as a mechanical engineer for nine years he made a career change.

“The complexity and the sense of being a part of nature. After all, all living things have their origin in the wild landscape. I have always found myself drawn to the untamed and unmanipulated nature. The wilderness is the mother of all living things. It is always honest and never trivial.”

BAD WEATHER IS TERRIFIC

As a professional and especially having spent many years in the northern hemisphere, Hans has developed a style very much reflecting his attitude towards weather.

“The right weather is important, but not everything. Shooting a rugged landscape like Iceland in sunshine is not what you want. There you want moody conditions to get the right drama in the landscape. On the other hand, you have to work with the light you have at hand and try to make the best of it. You can’t just skip taking pictures because you don’t get what you have anticipated. There are always possibilities in every kind of light. Often landscape photographers regard grey weather as bad weather, but I think it is terrific.”

Photo by Hans Strand

A NORTHMAN OF ICE AND FIRE

In the late 90’ Hans went on a unique expedition to the icy Arctics.

“The Arctic landscape is virgin territory. In 1999 I visited the island of Ellef Ringnes in Northern Nunavut. Hardly anyone has been there since 1904 when the island was discovered, and definitely no one has been photographing there. The silence and the long lasting light are fantastic. It is very minimalistic compared to a rainforest but nevertheless complex. In 2004 I visited Svalbard and was even taking pictures of polar bears. Normally I am not so interested in wildlife photography, but seeing a polar bear in its natural habitat is something very special.”

Hans has travelled between the deserts of America to the Tasmanian outback and photographed a wide range of landscapes, but when it comes down to the favorites he always ends up in Iceland. “Each year since 2000 I have returned to Iceland to take pictures.”

”I find its landscapes the most spectacular in the world. Nowhere else have I seen landscapes with such complexity and color. I have also practiced aerial photography a lot and have found new perspectives to take my landscape photographs.”

THE FIRST ROLLS OF FILM

Hans was 25 years old when he bought his first camera during a school trip to the United States. That’s where he took his first rolls of film, on the holy ground for landscape photography since Ansel Adams first captured his iconic images there. But it wasn’t the last rolls of film for Hans Strand either. Today he’s a widely acclaimed landscape photographer with high workshop expertise in the northern landscapes.

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN ICELAND

Better Moments will meet you in Reykjavik at our hotel for dinner and present a detailed briefing on the coming week and workshop.

DAY 2

SNAEFELLSNES, BASALT CLIFFS AND BLACK PEBBLES

Departure for Snaefellsnes. Stay at our hotel on “the cliffs” overlooking the Northern Atlantic. Shooting the steep basalt cliffs of Arnarstapi and the motion of the sea.

Just a few kilometers north are the huge sea stacks and lava formation of Lóndrangar.

We’ll also be shooting along of the beach of Djupalónsandur Beach with its black pebbles and cubistic basalt walls.

DAY 3

GLACIER TRIP AND AURORA BOREALIS

A full day trip to the snow cap of Snaefellsjökull reaching 1446 m. Later we’ll have a evening session of the mesmerizing aurora borealis at Kirkjufell on the north side of Snaefellsnes.

DAY 4

MAGICAL BRÚARFOSS AND MAJESTIC GULLFOSS

Departure from Snaefellsnes. A full day shooting waterfalls. First stop at the complex system of waterfalls at Hraunfossar. where the water comes straight out of lava field and enters a 1 km long canyon.

Next stop is Brúarfoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

In the evening shoot the aurora borealis at the gigantic waterfall Gullfoss. We stay at our hotel near Gullfoss.

DAY 5

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND AURORA BOREALIS

This is our aerial photography day where we’ll be shooting over the mystical river Fulákvisl and lake Hvítarvatn.

In the evening we’ll admire and shoot aurora borealis over Gullfoss.

DAY 6

VOLCANIC LANDSCAPES AND UNIQUE OASIS

We will go into the fantastic volcanic landscape of Kerlingarfjöll with its memorable waterfalls and to Ásgarðsá river canyon with rolling hills of rhyolite.

In the evening we scout for the aurora borealis at the unique oasis in the highlands, the hot spring area of Hveravellir.

DAY 7

BETWEEN CONTINENTAL PLATES AND THR CLEAREST WATER ON EARTH

In the evening we arrive at our hotel in Reykjavik. But first we stop at Thingvellir to shoot the crack between the North-American and the European continental plates and the volcanic landscape.

We’ll also shoot at the crystal clear

waters of Silfrá. This dreamlike water area with its 200m visibility, has some of the clearest water on earth.

DAY 8

DEPARTURE

Departure after checkout.

ITINERARY

Photo by Hans Strand

PRICE & BOOKING

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THE BEST OFICELAND

HASSELBLADEXPERIENCE

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GETTING THERE

There are several flights from a number of major European and North American gateways to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland.

Flight times are approximately 3 hours from London and about 5 hours from New York.

Keflavik is 48 km to the west of Reykjavík. Domestic flights, flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands operate mostly out of Reykjavík Airport, which is located in the city center.

VISA

Iceland is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Nationals of EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) countries only need a valid national identity card or passport for entry.

All other visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay, and some will need a visa.

Please check with the local embassy.

WEATHER

Iceland enjoys a cool temperate maritime climate thanks to the Gulf Stream, but the weather is known to change quickly and often. The average daily temperature in Reykjavik ranges from -3°C in January to 11°C in July.

LANGUAGE

The official language is Icelandic, but most Icelanders speak English.

CURRENCY

The Icelandic monetary unit is the Krona (ISK).

QUICK GUIDE

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa and the most famous sight in Iceland.

The Gullfoss waterfall is spec-tacular.

Geysir, the namesake of all geysers, and its neighbour Strokkur, which erupts every five minutes or so.

Þingvellir National Park, a beautiful landscape of watercut lava fields, which is historically important as the site of Iceland’s parliament from 930 AD.

Vatnajökull glacier is in Southeast Iceland and is Europe’s largest glacier.

Jökulsarlon, the largest glacier lake in Iceland, is located off Route 1 and part of Vatnajökull glacier.

In the colder months, one may frequently get stunning views of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), anywhere away from city lights.

Whale watching available all year from Reykjavik and during the summer from Husavik.

Iceland is one of the safest places in the world, and there is almost no risk of getting robbed or harassed.

EMERGENCY Emergency phone number: 112.

QUICK GUIDE

Photo by Hans Strand

We wish you to travel with the greatest possiblecomfort and to know that you have received as much

information as possible

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Due to weather conditionswe may need to change the

flight plans and locations

PRICE & BOOKING

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Photo by Hans Strand

EQUIPMENTWhether this is your first trip or your ”hundredth” workshop with us, it’s always helpful to have a rundown of what items you may want to pack so you have a travel checklist. Bookmark this packing list, because you’ll want to refer back to it to make sure you’ve thought of everything you might want to pack.

CLOTHING

The camera list is for inspiration, since you know better than any-one what equipment you prefer.

Bring you own laptop compu-ter and storage medium

Camera bodie(s)

Tripod

Lenses, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar lenses are very good

Bag for all camera gear

Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories

Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses

Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses

Charger for batteries

Spare batteries

Standard power converter

Raw processing software

Memory cards and card wal-lets

Memory card reader

USB key to exchange images

NICE TO HAVE

Lens extenders

Camera straps for ease of changing from one camera to another

Graduated filter set

Filter holder

High quality polarizing filter

Lens belt

A good plan is to dress “lay-er-by-layer”. You then are well prepared for whatever weather arrives.

Wind and waterproof jacket

Wind and waterproof pants

Rubber boots - with room for extra (wool) socks

Hiking boots

Wool underwear

Fleece/sweater

Cap

Gloves

Waterproof outdoor cushions - nice to sit on when we sail in the arctics or when we sit and enjoy the scenery on land.

A small backpack

Binoculars

NICE TO HAVE

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

A swimsuit (for hot springs in Iceland only)

CAMERA

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BETTERMOMENTS.COM

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Jack Pasht participated in the Iceland 2015 workshop. “My love of photography has spanned over forty years, from the traditional wet darkroom to the most current trends in digital photography. My photographic interests are constantly changing, but have focused primarily on landscape, wildlife and urban space and structures.”

Jack Pasht was awardedPhotographer Of The Month, June 2016

Each month we select a photographer from one of our many workshops who deserves special recognition. The Photographer of the Month is chosen by the Better Moments workshop experts, including Better Moments CEO, Christian Nørgaard.