Skarðsvík Beach
Tucked near the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, this golden sand beach is one of Iceland's most surprising finds, offering a rare warm-toned shoreline set against dark volcanic cliffs and strikingly clear turquoise water. The contrast between the pale sand, jewel-toned sea, and brooding lava rock gives almost any composition a natural tension that does the work for you. Shoot wide from the dune ridge above the beach to capture the full sweep of the bay, or get lower on the sand to foreground the texture against the water. The soft, low-angle light of the Icelandic midnight sun or golden hour makes the sand glow and deepens the color of the water considerably. Waves here are deceptively powerful, so keep well back from the waterline and visit at low tide for both safety and the widest stretch of photogenic beach. A wide-angle lens in the 16-24mm range works well for capturing the full scene. (Hellissandur, Snæfellsnes, Iceland)
