Capturing the midnight sun in West Iceland is a dream for many photographers – and for good reason. The soft, golden light that lingers for hours, the dramatic coastlines, and the quiet fjords create a natural studio that’s open all night. Staying with Ourhotels.is puts you right in the middle of this magic, with comfortable bases at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords.
Here are some practical midnight sun photography tips, tailored to these locations, to help you bring home unforgettable images.
First, plan around the light, not the clock. In summer, “sunset” and “sunrise” blend into one long golden hour. In Borgarfjörður, you can head out from Hvítá Inn late in the evening and still have beautiful, low-angle light well past midnight. Use apps like PhotoPills or Sun Surveyor to see where and when the sun will skim the horizon. Around Stykkishólmur Inn, this helps you line up the sun with islands, lighthouses, and the colorful harbor. In Ísafjörður, the surrounding mountains can hide the sun earlier, so checking the sun’s path is especially useful.
Use the unique quality of midnight sun light to your advantage. The light is softer and less contrasty than midday, which is perfect for landscapes and portraits. At Hvítá Inn, you’re close to rivers, waterfalls, and rolling farmland – ideal for wide-angle shots that show the warm sky reflecting in water. On the Snæfellsnes Peninsula near Stykkishólmur Inn, the long, low light sculpts sea cliffs, basalt formations, and distant Snæfellsjökull glacier, giving your images depth and texture. In Ísafjörður, the fjord’s calm waters often mirror the pastel sky, creating minimalist, serene compositions.
For camera settings, think flexibility. Shoot in RAW to preserve the subtle color gradients of the midnight sun. Start with aperture priority (around f/8–f/11) for landscapes, and keep ISO as low as possible (ISO 100–400) to maintain clean files. Shutter speeds may get slower as the night goes on, so a tripod is highly recommended. All three Ourhotels.is locations make it easy to bring and store your gear safely, and you can head out directly from your inn with a lightweight setup: camera, sturdy tripod, wide-angle lens (14–24mm or 16–35mm), and a mid-range zoom (24–70mm).
Composition matters even more when the light is beautiful everywhere. In Borgarfjörður, use the curves of the Hvítá river, farm tracks, or fence lines as leading lines guiding the viewer into the frame. Around Stykkishólmur Inn, the colorful houses, harbor boats, and small islands make perfect foregrounds against the glowing horizon. In Ísafjörður, frame the town between steep mountains, or use piers, boats, and reflections to anchor your images. Look for layers: foreground detail, mid-ground interest, and a dramatic sky. The midnight sun often paints the clouds in pinks, oranges, and purples, so leave space in your frame for the sky to shine.
Don’t forget about people in your photos. The soft, horizontal light is flattering for portraits. Traveling with friends or family? Place them as silhouettes against the glowing sky, or capture candid moments walking along the shore near Stykkishólmur or by the river close to Hvítá Inn. In Ísafjörður, a lone figure on a pier or a hiker on a ridge can give a powerful sense of scale to the towering fjords.
Filters can help, but they’re not essential. A graduated neutral density (GND) filter can balance a bright sky with a darker foreground, especially when shooting toward the sun over the ocean near Stykkishólmur Inn. A polarizer can reduce glare on water and enhance colors, useful along the rivers and streams around Hvítá Inn and the reflective fjord waters in Ísafjörður. If you don’t use filters, bracket exposures (for example, -1, 0, +1 EV) and blend them later to keep detail in both sky and land.
Be prepared for changing conditions. Even in summer, West Iceland can be cool and breezy at night. Pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, and thin gloves so you can operate your camera comfortably. Weather can shift quickly in Borgarfjörður, on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and in the Westfjords, so having a flexible plan is key. One advantage of staying with Ourhotels.is is that you can easily adjust your shooting schedule: if clouds roll in at Stykkishólmur, you might get clearer skies in Borgarfjörður or Ísafjörður on another night.
Respect nature and local life while you shoot. Stick to marked paths, close gates behind you in farming areas near Hvítá Inn, and avoid disturbing nesting birds along the coast near Stykkishólmur Inn and Ísafjörður Inn. The midnight sun can make it feel like the day never ends, but remember that locals still need their rest, so keep noise down in residential areas and around the inns.
Finally, give yourself time to simply enjoy the experience. One of the best things about staying at Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, or Ísafjörður Inn is that you don’t have to rush. You can scout locations earlier in the day, rest at your hotel, then head out when the light is at its best. After your midnight session, you’re only a short drive or walk from a comfortable bed and a good breakfast to start the next day.
The midnight sun in West Iceland is more than just a photographic opportunity – it’s a feeling of endless evening, quiet landscapes, and soft, glowing light that seems to pause time. By basing yourself with Ourhotels.is at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn, you’ll be perfectly placed to capture that magic, one frame at a time.
