Iceland Photography Competition: Striking Iceland Pictures from Our Travellers

There’s something about Iceland that brings out the photographer in all of us.

Whether it’s the golden light catching on a waterfall, or the dramatic contrast of black sand against snow-dusted peaks, Iceland images capture the imagination like nowhere else.

To celebrate 50 years of Regent sending travellers to Iceland, we launched our Iceland Photography Competition - and you didn’t disappoint! We were overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the submissions.

From magical landscapes of ice and lava to snapshots of the roaring waves over the volcanic black sands of the south coast, these Iceland photos reveal just how awe-inspiring the Land of Fire and Ice can be!

Read on to see all of the fantastic entries (in no particular order) and scroll to the end to see the winning shot that scooped up a hamper of Icelandic goodies - and serious bragging rights.

Entries from Our Iceland Photography Competition

Photography 

From ice-sheathed waterfalls to candid wildlife encounters, our Iceland Photography Competition entries captured the country’s wild beauty in all its forms. Each image tells a personal story - moments frozen in time by travellers with an eye for the extraordinary. Below, we’re proud to showcase every photograph submitted by our talented entrants.

1. Al Punja

Al's journey through Iceland's south coast offers a glimpse into the beauty of the black sand beaches when drenched in sunlight:

Sun shining over a black sand beach in Vik, South Iceland - captured by Al Punja 

"This image was taken on 9th December 2023 on a wonderful tour with Regent Holidays to Iceland to celebrate my wife's birthday. The photograph was taken in very cold and windy conditions on the black volcanic sand beach at Vik in southern Iceland." - Al Punja

2. Bryan and Jane Sissons

After Bryan and Jane Sissons embarked on their journey through the south of Iceland with Superjeep, they captured some of the most captivating pictures from ice cave tunnels and mighty waves crashing into the unique cliffs on Reynisfjara beach, to the plunging waters of Skógafoss Waterfall in the sun. Out of all their incredible shots, here are the highlights of their tour:

Katla Ice Cave on the South Coast - captured by Bryan and Jane Sissons

Waves crashing into the cliffs of Reynisfjara black sand beach - captured by Jane and Bryan Sissons

Rainbow over the waters of Skógafoss Waterfall - captured by Bryan and Jane Sissons

"We have just returned from an amazing holiday that you arranged to Iceland for us. We had the most wonderful time and experienced a lot of fantastic natural phenomenon thanks to Emma who sorted out all the excursions for us. (Some of) the photos were taken on the Super Jeep tour organised for us to the South of Iceland to see the waterfalls, glacier, and black sand beach. This was an amazing trip and actually going into the Katla ice cave at the glacier was probably the highlight although with so many amazing places on the tour it is hard to single one out.
 

The (other) photos were on the Super Jeep tour to the golden circle. This was another fabulous tour and showcased the best of Iceland’s spectacular nature. The amazing Gullfoss Waterfall, the beautiful Thingvellir national park and the chance to see Strokkur the stunning geyser that is breathtaking when she erupts.
 

We had the most memorable holiday and absolutely loved the wonders of Iceland and its friendly people." - Bryan and Jane Sissons.

3. Gynesta Coppin

Gynesta Coppin embarked on the ultimate journey through Iceland, stopping to take a snap of some of the country's extraordinary landscapes. Read on to take the journey together through the eyes of Gynesta:

Blue Lagoon on a sunny day in Iceland - captured by Gynesta Coppin

"This was taken outside the Blue Lagoon, this shows the natural beauty and rugged landscape at its best that surrounds this very popular tourist attraction." - Gynesta Coppin

Sunny skies over the volcanic sands of Reynisfjara Beach - captured by Gynesta Coppin

"This was taken on the south coast wonders tour. You can clearly see the black volcanic sands contrasting against the white snow and waves." - Gynesta Coppin

Reynisfjara Beach - captured by Gynesta Coppin

"This photo was taken when we were on the south coast wonders tour that was booked through Reykjavik excursions which was very easy to book, and all the pickups went smoothly. The guides were all very knowledgeable and made the day an unforgettable experience and left us with memories that we will treasure forever." - Gynesta Coppin

4. Anne Denmead

There's nothing quite like watching the sun set over some beautiful locations like Iceland's glacier lagoons and black sand beach, and Anne has captured it perfectly:

Sunset over Reynisfjara Beach - captured by Anne Denmead

"Glorious sunset on Reynisfjara Beach." - Anne Denmead

Sunset over the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon - captured by Anne Denmead

"Sunset over the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon - so cold but well worth for the spectacle." - Anne Denmead

"Sunset on the Diamond Beach. Such a magical place made all the more special by the time of day." - Anne Denmead

5. Marie Johnson

One of our favourite things here at Regent is reminiscing about the past - especially when it involves those first unforgettable journeys to Iceland. So, as we celebrate 50 years of sending travellers to this remarkable country, we were genuinely touched to hear from someone who was there right at the very beginning.

Marie's story brought more than just a smile - it brought a tear to our eye. It’s a beautiful reminder that the memories made on these adventures really do last a lifetime:

Icelandic coastal scenery - captured by Marie Johnson

"Well, it's no one's idea of a high-resolution photo but then in 1973 this is what was possible with a Kodak Instamatic, sailing along the southern coast, getting my first glimpse of Iceland. I was 19 and having "my year off" as we called gap years then.

Yes, that year, before you arranged tours to Iceland, Regent Holidays (Isle of Wight) booked my passage from Leith to Reykjavík on the wonderful ship Gullfoss - pause for misty-eyed remembrance by Icelanders and Brits of a certain age who sailed in her. 

I hitchhiked alone for several weeks (no concern for my safety; just that a car might not pass for 24 hours). I saw Gullfoss and Geyser, stayed in a cabin on þingvallavatn with some Icelanders, hitched from Reykjavík to Akureyri with a trawlerman, his wife and two children in a tiny Moskvitch car - just the two punctures on the way, got a ride to Mývatn with a disabled USA Vietnam veteran and his wife. I could go on...

I returned for a visit in 1976, lived in Iceland from 1977 to 1979 - working in fish factories for some of the time, and took my family there in 1997 and 2003 as tourists.

This year, now I am 70, I am going again with Regent Holidays - possibly for my last time. You have arranged a trip for me and a friend and how luxurious it will be compared to 1973. Thank you for topping and tailing my Iceland odysseys." - Marie Johnson

6. Roger Handcock

We love to hear the stories behind the picture. Roger and his daughter enjoyed a wonderful winter road trip around southern Iceland, soaking up dramatic landscapes, geothermal wonders and unforgettable adventures along the way. Their journey was filled with memorable moments—but this serene sunrise on New Year’s Day truly captured the magic of the experience:

Sunset in Arnarstapi - captured by Roger Handcock

"This photo was taken just after sunrise 11.00 am on January 1st 2025. A magical moment at the start of a new year. It’s the statue of Bardur at Arnarstapi right out the end of snaefellsnes peninsula.

My daughter and I did a road trip around southern Iceland over the new year period. We visited many places including jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, reykjadalur hot springs, fagradalsfell volcano, geysir, kirkjufell, secret lagoon, horse riding, into the glacier and snowmobiles on the glacier to mention just a few of our activities. To cap it all the northern lights came out on New Year’s Eve at our hotel in Reykholt.

The trip was organised by Regent after we said what we wished to do. We were very pleased with the organisation and everything went really well. We have so many memories and photos now to savour.

Thank you ever so much for the organisation of our trip." - Roger Handcock

7. Ellie Williams

Some entries just shimmer with atmosphere - and Ellie’s certainly does. Travelling the iconic Golden Circle, she captured the ever-changing moods of Iceland in all their glory. Sunshine and rainstorms danced across the landscapes, creating vivid rainbows and panoramic views, while towering glaciers left a lasting impression. A true celebration of Iceland’s wild contrasts:

Rainbow over Icelandic mountainous landscapes - captured by Ellie Williams 

Sunny skies over mountains in Iceland - captured by Ellie Williams 

Plunging waterfall through the caves of Iceland - captured by Ellie Williams

"We were fortunate to have bright sunshine in between rainstorms on the trip, so saw lots of rainbows, which made up for seeing no northern lights. Thus, the panoramic views were made all the more spectacular.

All the photos were taken along the Golden Circle, my favourite being the glaciers, truly magnificent. It was amazing to be so close to them. Iceland is a land of contrasts, vivid colours versus the black/grey of a volcanic landscape... truly breathtaking!" - Ellie Williams

8. Ian Ellis

We know that it can be particularly difficult to snap the perfect shot of any animal, but this didn't stop Ian from taking some incredible pictures of Iceland's wildlife, from colourful puffins to elusive whales:

Close-up of a puffin - captured by Ian Ellis 

"Puffin at hafnarholm reserve - We arrived at Eglisstadir in East Iceland to be told that the puffins had arrived within the last few days. An hour away at Hafnarholm, we were able to get really close to the colony. The puffins were busy building nests and fishing and took little notice of the humans watching them. It was a rare opportunity to get close to these beautiful, if clumsy birds." - Ian Ellis

Whale breaching the surface - captured by Ian Ellis

"Whale watching at Husavik - It is not often one gets to see whales at close quarters, but a visit to Husavik in whale watching season provides a great opportunity. Whilst not guaranteed, most trips out into the bay seem to see something. Our experience was capped by a number of whales breaching up close. I was hoping for a photo of the tail fin and was lucky enough to capture this photo." - Ian Ellis

Dettifoss waterfall under snow and ice - captured by Ian Ellis

"Blue and black ice flows at Fjallsárlón - As you walk around the lagoon at Fjallsarlon you can see some of the older, larger icebergs that have cleaved from the glacier. Over time and as they undergo freeze/thaw, larva dust mingles into the ice and creates some incredible patterns. The combination of blue ice with black and white ice is really surprising. A place to spend time and take in the ever-changing views." - Ian Ellis

9. Sarah Kirkham

We know that getting a picture of the unpredictable geysers can be tricky. But Sarah certainly caught it at the perfect moment:

Exploding geysir on the Golden Circle - captured by Sarah Kirkham

"The photo was taken at The Geysir. It was amazing waiting with the rest of the crowd, each of us from many different countries around the world, for this watery wonder to work it's magical. When it did go up, it certainly didn't disappoint!" - Sarah Kirkham

10. Claire Palmer

Some places leave a mark that lasts long after the trip ends - and for Claire, it was the snow-draped majesty of Gullfoss that truly stole the show:

Gullfoss Waterfall under snow and ice - captured by Claire Palmer

"We visited Iceland for the first time and booked on a golden circle tour. The gulfoss waterfall was the most beautiful and awe inspiring sight I've ever seen. It made me emotional to witness such an amazing natural sight. In my opinion it looked even more majestic covered in snow and ice. Definitely worth a visit. It's truly breath taking." - Claire Palmer

Our winning Iceland photo

Chosen by our in-house photography expert, the winning image captures a truly once-in-a-lifetime moment. Congratulations to Elizabeth Banks, whose dramatic aerial shot of an active volcano in Iceland’s south perfectly frames molten lava spilling across the rugged landscape - a powerful reminder of the raw, untamed forces that shape this extraordinary island:

Lava eruption, taken from a helicopter - captured by Elizabeth Banks

"This photograph is taken from a helicopter as we circled over the volcanic eruptions near the Blue Lagoon and Grindavik. We had been staying at the Blue Lagoon and were evacuated due to the eruptions resulting in lava running over and blocking the main road in to the Blue Lagoon. We were transferred to Reykjavik for our final night in Iceland and managed to arrange a helicopter trip back over the eruptions to see exactly what was happening. The lava is clearly erupting and the photo shows the route as it flows down the hill at speed This was an experience we hadn’t expected on our holiday but we can truly say it was an experience of a lifetime." - Elizabeth Banks

Some more of Elizabeth's entries

Elizabeth’s winning image blew us away - but it wasn’t the only one. Here are a few more of her spectacular shots that we couldn’t resist sharing.

Seal resting on ice - captured by Elizabeth Banks

"This photograph is also taken at the Glacier Lagoon with one of the seals presenting an inquisitive look at us. Either that or it was thinking "can’t these tourists just leave a sleepy seal alone?" - Elizabeth Banks

Rainbow on a waterfall - captured by Elizabeth Banks

"We took this picture at Dettifoss, Selfoss og Hafragilsfoss, on our way from Eastfjords to Husavik. Neither of us have ever experienced a rainbow so close that we thought we could just reach out and touch it. Once again, the weather was in our favour - a day later and the road to Dettifoss was closed with snowstorms, and we would never have seen the falls and this beautiful rainbow." - Elizabeth Banks

From thundering waterfalls to quiet, glacial stillness, these Iceland photos capture the country’s breathtaking contrasts through the eyes of our travellers.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our Iceland Photography Competition - we’ve loved seeing your adventures. And a big well done to Elizabeth for her spectacular winning shot.

Keep an eye on our blog and social channels for future contests, travel inspiration, and even the chance to join one of our Iceland photography tours.