Notes from the Field — Iceland total solar eclipse

Mother Nature can be fickle — and definitely not predictable.

We started planning this Iceland photography adventure shortly after our last total solar eclipse workshop in April 2024. For the 2026 eclipse, we had three possibilities: Spain, Greenland and Iceland. After plenty of deliberation, we chose Iceland.

I’ve been to Iceland many times and never seem to get tired of it. The diversity of the landscape is incredible — glaciers, mountains, fjords, waterfalls, ice, black sand beaches — and the photographic possibilities seem almost endless. It’s one of those places where you can go looking for one photograph and come home with something completely different.

We knew the total solar eclipse would be the centerpiece of the trip. We planned, researched, watched the weather and did everything we could to put our group in the right place.

The day before the eclipse, things were looking really good. The skies were cooperating, the landscape was incredible and everyone was getting excited.

Then Mother Nature changed her mind.

Eclipse day was cloudy, rainy and completely different from the day before. We were fully clouded in.

It was disappointing. There’s no way around that.

But what really impressed me was our group. Everyone was obviously disappointed about missing the eclipse photographs we had hoped for, but I never once heard anyone say the trip was a waste or that they shouldn't have come. Instead, I heard things like, “I can't believe how beautiful this place is,” and “I definitely want to come back.”

That says a lot.

It also reminded me of something: Photography is a little like fishing.

You go fishing intending to catch something. You pick your spot, choose your gear, make the cast — and then you make another cast. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you spend the day fishing and never get a bite.

Photographers aren't much different. We make the plans, do the research, watch the weather and envision the photograph we want to make. But there are always things we can't control.

You know what they say: They call it fishing, not catching.

I think the same can be said for photography.

The good thing about photography is that we can pivot. We can look around, use our brains, get creative and find something else. And Iceland is about as good a place as any to do that.

We didn't get the total solar eclipse photographs we came to Iceland for. But we photographed incredible landscapes, experienced the strange and unforgettable darkness of totality, and even had a bonus opportunity to photograph some of the last Atlantic puffins before they headed back out to sea for the year.

And maybe that's where the inspiration for the next adventure comes from.

Inspiration comes from so many sources. A photograph, a conversation, a landscape — or maybe a few puffins at the end of an eclipse adventure.

Sometimes you get the photograph you planned for. Sometimes you don't.

But if you keep looking, keep thinking and stay open to what's in front of you, there's a pretty good chance you'll come home with something.

And sometimes, that's the best part of the adventure.

Questions, comments or your own eclipse story? I’d love to hear from you.