Grimsey Island Trip Report

My nonstop flight to Iceland was quick, only about 5 1/4 hours. My friend Michael Zajac is helping me with the driving during the workshop since I need two vehicles. He’s never been to Grimsey so it’s a new adventure for him. I’m excited to get back and see some puffins. I’m also anxious to try out my new Sony 100-400mm f/4.5 lens. AND I took my 400-800mm out of its case and brought it along. I’ve been meaning to use the 400-800 but it just never seems to make it into my bag :). But I brought it this time with the intention of using it. I’m also going to try out my new 7R6 camera body.

Day 1) We arrived on Grimsey via the local ferry (2 vehicles and 10 people). Our host was waiting for us with open arms; she is such a sweetheart. After getting settled into our accommodation we set out for our first photo shoot. It was crazy windy and I thought none of the guests would get any shots of the puffins flying given their incredible speed and erratic flight patterns. But to my pleasant surprise this talented group all managed some incredible captures. So, we were off to a great start. 

There were tons of puffins flying with mouthfuls of fish, sand eels, and krill. Of course, everyone’s dream shot is of a puffin flying with a mouthful of krill. Luckily, even with the strong winds everyone was able to capture that shot. Another shot everyone wanted was of a Razorbill showing its yellow- orange gape. We worked on getting everyone that shot as well. Arctic terns nest on the island and they were everywhere, all busy feeding their chicks. 

Day 2-5) During this trip we had cloudy and windy conditions, more so than in previous years. The photographs did not suffer. Every different element that nature threw at us, just helped us create something unique. One of the best things about being on Grimsey Island during the midnight sun is the ability to walk around the island at any time of night or day. Because of the strong winds I got some of my favorite flight shots. Cloudy days can be like a giant soft box and with the black and white on the puffins it helped with our exposures. Plus, we didn’t have to worry about sun angles or cutting shadows. So that was a big plus. 

There is a restaurant on the island where we had our lunches and dinners. There is also a “Cod Dog” food truck on the island and everyone was anxious to try one as they came highly recommended. They were delicious. 

I spent a lot of time doing portraits of birds with out-of-focus flowers in the foreground. Those types of images appeal to me. On our last morning before our ferry off the island, we revisited a few of our favorite photo spots. I ended up capturing a couple of photos that filled out my Grimsey gallery nicely. 

Overall, I loved the trip, so did all of the participants. There is something very special about having so many puffins, razorbills, terns, etc... just outside your door and then having the freedom to go out and photograph them at any time of day while feeling completely safe— no words. Harold Klein accompanied me on this trip as well. He had signed up for it long before I had asked him to join the team. He and Michael will now be taking over the trip. They both loved everything about the island and are eager to return. Harold is a dedicated workshop leader and is a lot of fun to be around. Everyone on the trip said they would like to travel with him again. 

As far as my gear selection that I brought for this trip: I could have left the 400-800mm lens home. With the conditions we were handed, the new Sony 100-400mm f/4.5 lens was a work horse. Plus, I used the new Sony 7r6. This was the first time I shot with both of these, and it is now my “killer combo”” for trips like one. I will also bring it to the Falkland Islands as my main set -up. It was crazy sharp and lightweight. Plus having an f/4.5 all the way through proved invaluable. The only tiny issue I see with the lens is the zoom slides from 400mm to 100mm when you put the lens downward. Even though it’s an internal zoom. There is a smooth/tight switch that you can put on tight to keep it from gliding, but it tightens up the zoom ring which does not help when photographing birds in flight. I ended up working it out, but I did get tripped up a couple of times thinking I was at 400mm. I’m sure the second generation will fix that but for now, I am happy to have this lens. I found it sharper than the 200-600mm and I liked being able to shoot a bit more wide open. As far as the camera, the auto focus worked perfectly. I had absolutely no issues with the camera and it was comparable to my a1. Plus, the files looked incredible!

I added a small sampling of my photos from the trip to this blog, I hope you like them.

Canadian Rockies Workshop- January 16-22, 2027

Join me on an adventure in the Canadian Rockies. This will be my first time leading a trip there, but I was in Banff almost 15 year ago hiking a bunch of trails and photographing at some of the most iconic spots. I fell in love with the beauty of the area and it’s time to go back! This time I will be joined by the very best drivers and expert guides to insure that we make the most of our photography time.

During this 7 day Canadian Rockies Photography Workshop it is prime time to photograph the famous methane bubbles at Abraham Lake. Frozen bubbles are not the only thing on the ticket though—snow covered scenics, icy waterfalls, glacial ice caves, stalactites and stalagmites, and the auroras are just a few of the items on the list of things to photograph. A grey wolf spotting is always a possibility.

Dates: January 16-22, 2027

Cost: $5595. single supplements available for $950.

Difficulty level-Easy, with no long hiking.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO SEE A LARGER, SHARPER VIEW.

TO SIGN UP CLICK HERE.

We will spend at least two full days at Abraham Lake, exploring the endless compositions this lake has to offer. If there is an aurora and we are able to photograph it —we will. Nothing is more captivating than the glow of green and purples dancing over snow capped peaks.

We will be staying at a comfortable hotel in downtown Banff for the duration of the trip. This ideal location offers easy access to most of our photography spots, as well as a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and nearby attractions. A detailed itinerary along with gear and clothing suggestions will be sent out to participants.

Included:

A multi -award winning professional photographer to assist with compositions, settings, etc..

Local drivers/experts.

Transportation to and from airport.

Ground transportation in spacious van.

Accommodation for 7 days and 6 nights in hotels.

Not Included:

International flights.

Food, alcohol, snacks and beverages.

Travel insurance, visa if needed.

Deposit Information:

A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 due now to hold your spot. Final payments are due September 15, 2026 via check or wire transfer only, fees on both ends are the responsibility of the participant. Credit cards will not be accepted for any payment other than deposit. Full payments are always welcomed via check or wire transfer . All checks made payable to: Denise Ippolito LLC. Please note that I will do my very best to secure you a room mate; if I am unable to secure you a room mate then you will be charged for a single supplement.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

All images provided to me by my guide.

Tiger Canyon Lodge Trip Report

Let me start by saying WOW! Tiger Canyon Lodge is a first-class destination. I say destination because it immediately felt like we had arrived somewhere very special. The accommodation, guides/ drivers, food and staff were all five stars! Plus, the photo opportunities were endless and the tigers were amazing. 

I’ve always wanted to photograph tigers in the wild but have not wanted to visit India. Nothing against the country, I just haven’t felt the draw to go. After learning about tigers in South Africa, I couldn’t wait to go— and believe me, I am so glad I did. This conservation area is a vast wilderness with free roaming tigers that have all been born in the wild, with the exception of one tiger (now very old), he was brought in at the early stages of the conservation efforts. There are currently eleven tigers at the reserve. Hopefully there will be some more tigers with hopes of cubs in the near future! At least that is the rumor. 

“Our work advances cheetah population recovery and global tiger conservation through responsible tourism revenue, education, research partnerships, and a commitment to wildlife welfare and ecological integrity.”

— Tiger Canyon Lodge

Each morning and late afternoon we headed out in our safari vehicles searching the expansive reserve for tigers. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was on day one with our very first sighting, a six-year-old tigress under a tree waiting for the rain to stop. Our group was lucky in that every day we located tigers, sometimes we got lucky and found them before the morning light faded. But all of our sightings were a real treat. One morning we watched a tigress as she chased a herd of zebra and antelope only to come up empty, but it was still a great experience watching her hunt. 

In this photo, the adult is fighting with one of the sons while the daughter grabs the meal while they are not paying attention and makes off with it.

Our best or maybe most exciting tiger encounter was with a family of four (father, daughter and two sons). We came upon them as they were fighting over a half-eaten warthog carcass. Our guides were pretty sure that the three-year-old female made the kill and then the father and male liter mates took it away from her. The two sons stay pretty close to dad. Remarkably, they still allowed their aging father (he didn’t have any teeth and could not make a kill on his own) to feed first. Apparently, he still held the power, but I don’t think that will last much longer. The father fed for far too long making the young ones go crazy! They continually growled at each other and at him trying to take the warthog for themselves. None of them got seriously injured but you would never have known that as they looked and sounded like they were fighting for their lives. At one point the father was challenged by one of his sons who was trying to get a last piece of meat for himself. Once the two tigers started to fight the young tigress came in and grabbed what was left of her kill and snuck away with it. 

On another of our game drives we got a “proof of life shot” of the female White Bengal Tiger. She claimed the part of the reserve that was difficult to traverse, so spotting her was a real treat. She is the last remaining White Bengal Tiger in the world living free in the wild. And she is a fierce tigress. Our guides said that she killed her own sister, all the tigers stay clear of her. She lost her vision in her right eye after a terrible fight when she was younger. Still, she is a beautiful creature commanding respect that is no doubt well deserved. 

We ended up having a couple more brief, photo sessions with the white tigress. She was very elusive but that just piqued our interest. I’m looking forward to another chance with her. Donna and I are returning next year with most of the group—we all loved our time with the tigers. I do need to clarify that this is not a game farm. The animals are not trained, fed or handled in any way. The reserve does not step in to assist the tigers with medical needs or food. These are wild animals, born on the property, living and roaming free. 

In addition to the tigers, there is also an expansive wilderness area dedicated to the conservation of cheetahs. Here we photographed a family of four. One female with her three male sub adult offspring. This area is sectioned off from the tiger wilderness, and the cheetahs roam free and are completely wild. We watched the adult chase a Springbok, after successfully taking it down. The entire family ate the prey quickly. Their bloody faces and full bellies warmed our hearts. But it was our first sighting of the cheetah family that will be a memory I’ll cherish. We were able to get out of our vehicles and watch the family of four at a safe distance, as they sat together under a tree. I loved my photo from that morning. 

Morning frost

It is worth mentioning that we were the only photographers at the 6,000 hectares private reserve. The lodge only accommodates 8 people, so we had the entire place to ourselves! Imagine that, only 2 vehicles and each client with their own row!

Fingers crossed that next year when we return, there will be tiger cubs!! 

Magnolia Madness

This year I spent a few extra days in South Carolina with a private client, but she felt more like a best friend than a client. We will be chasing more images in the near future, I am sure of it.

After working with Margie for 2 days, I went back home to prepare for my group. Magnolias were on the ticket and wow did they provide us with countless hours of inspiration and photography. One in particular made my excitement level off the chart. Because it was the very first full bloom from the small 4 foot tree I had planted when I moved in. I won’t tell you which one of the images below it is— but it is definitely going on my wall. I’d love to hear which of the magnolia shots below you like best and which one you feel is worthy of a print (for my SC home).

My group and I spent one morning at my house drinking iced tea on my porch and working on images in my small event space (perfect for 8 photogs). And yes, they got to photograph my first bloom too! It was the best day of the trip in my opinion, we had lots of laughs and shared all kinds of stories. During our Magnolia Madness time we also visited other places and shot a few different scenes. I’ll try to share some of those in another post.

For all of my flower images in this post, I used natural light, handheld, manual mode and manual focus. I used a combo of my Voitlander lens (linked below) and my 12-40mm f/2.8 Olympus lens. I love the Olympus system for my flower photography because of its lightweight and manageability. The image stabilization is fantastic and allows me to shoot handheld without ever worrying about sharpness. The fully articulating screen helps me get into odd positions. I use reflectors to help direct or block the light. I also manually focus stack when needed but I do appreciate the softness that comes from shooting wide-open.

When I get back to NJ in a few days, I will head out to South Africa for tigers, wish us luck on our scouting expedition!

I love the addition of color that the stamen scars provide. For this image (above) and many others, I used my Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 Nokton Micro Four Thirds Lens with my Olympus system. I varied my apertures between 0.95 and f/4. This is a (manual focus only) lens and it does not beep when focus is achieved, it is a bit of a challenge to use but I have grown to love the challenge and the visual effect that the lens helps me capture. Of the many shots I took of this magnolia, I liked the photo directly above the best, the bokeh in the background really added to the overall image.

The pollen grains that have fallen remind me of matchsticks.

A bit of an abstract, cropped to a square and converted into a B&W. I revealed a hint of color.

Plans are underway for another Magnolia Madness workshop next May, exact dates to be determined. If you are interested, let me know. Thanks.

New Book- A Work in Progress!

It’s About the Journey ~ My Life on the Road

by Denise Ippolito

My newest book reads like a journal. It is a compilation of my favorite blog postings, some of my interesting short stories and of course some of my best images. Right now, it is a work in progress with 190 pages and over 9,000 words. But at this point I have really just started the outline, added a few blog posts and dropped in a few images. I am writing at least one page per day, at least that is my goal for now.

Surprisingly, I get a lot of writing done while I am on an airplane. I often say, while everyone else is reading a book, I am writing one. Being on a plane with my noise cancelling headset gives me the ability to concentrate on my writing without any phone interruptions. I wait until everyone is settled in and the flight attendants are finished with their meal service.

Anyway, keep an eye out for my new book. It may end up being my first coffee table book…who knows.

*Above image copyright Michael Zajac, this is not he cover of the book but I liked the shot, from the Dolomites at sunrise.