SCENE 01 / NIGHT VISION FILMING
Night Vision Filming
Low-light and infrared cinematography for your Icelandic production.
Here is how this works in practice. Night vision filming uses specialized infrared and low-light camera systems to capture footage where conventional cameras fail. In Iceland, this technique is key for logging elusive wildlife—Arctic foxes in the Westfjords, Atlantic puffins on the Westman Islands, and humpback whales in Húsavík Bay—as well as for capturing the legendary aurora borealis across pristine dark skies from Vatnajökull to Snæfellsnes.
Here is the short of it. We source night vision and infrared camera packages through Reykjavik rental partners and Truenorth Post. Set up skilled crews familiar with the Ring Road, highland F-roads, and the Westfjords. Our team works alongside Film in Iceland. The Environment Agency to secure permits for filming in Þingvellir, Vatnajökull National Park, and other covered fragile landscapes.
Capabilities
Night Vision Services
Specialized equipment and expertise for filming in darkness.
01
Night Vision
- Gen 3 intensifiers
- Digital night vision
- IR illumination
- Starlight sensors
- Low-lux cameras
See in Darkness
02
Camera Systems
- Sony a7S series
- RED Komodo
- Canon ME series
- Specialized sensors
- High ISO capability
Ultra Sensitive
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IR Lighting
- Covert IR floods
- Near-infrared LEDs
- IR laser illuminators
- Invisible to eye
- Long-range units
Invisible Light
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Applications
- Wildlife documentary
- Security content
- Paranormal filming
- Night landscapes
- Surveillance scenes
Diverse Uses
See the Invisible
Capabilities
Our Process
Requirements Review
Knowing your night filming needs, look needs, and tech way.
Equipment Selection
Choosing the right night vision technology based on your creative and practical needs.
Production
Pro night filming with proper IR lighting and camera setup for best results.
Post-Production
Processing night footage with appropriate grading and noise reduction.
On Location
Our night vision crews film in near-total darkness across Iceland — exploiting the long midwinter nights for wildlife, low-light scenes and the dark-sky landscapes beneath the aurora.
Here is how this works in practice. We supply night vision and extreme low-light camera kits with the operators who run them — image-intensified and infrared-lit rigs. High-sensitivity cinema cameras pushed to capture scenes lit only by moon, starlight or aurora. Night vision suits shoots that need to film wildlife or sensitive scenes without introducing artificial light. Iceland's long midwinter darkness gives ample working hours for it. Our crews plan around that seasonal light: midwinter delivers extended true-dark hours, while the summer Midnight Sun leaves little genuine night.
Here is the short of it. Cold is a serious factor on night shoots, with crew working long hours in sub-zero conditions, so we plan warming, rotation, warmed batteries and condensation control on sensitive sensors. Our operators integrate night vision coverage with the main unit and handle the IR lighting and exposure technique low-light capture needs. We staff from the skilled Reykjavík crew base and bring in extra low-light and night vision systems from the UK and mainland Europe under ATA carnet for larger shoots.
Here is the breakdown. Iceland is well suited to night vision and low-light work. A subarctic island, it has long midwinter nights — only four or five hours of low daylight at the solstice — which gives extended darkness for filming, and dark-sky areas away from town light, such as the Mývatn region and the rift valley at Þingvellir, where the aurora borealis looks overhead. That natural darkness and the aurora are themselves part of the appeal. The country's wildlife is covered, and night vision allows wildlife filming without disturbing animals with light.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Cold and the country's fast-changing subarctic weather are real production factors on any night shoot. Filming in covered areas is set up with the Environment Agency of the country. Eligible crew and gear spend can count toward the country's production reimbursement of 25 per cent, rising to 35 per cent for qualifying projects, administered by Film in the country.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What night vision technologies do you use?
Here is the breakdown. We source Gen 3 image intensifiers, digital night vision, Sony a7S high-ISO cameras, and infrared-sensitive sensors through Reykjavik rental partners. Gear selection depends on whether you're filming Arctic foxes in the Westfjords or aurora cinematography on the South Coast.
Can you film Icelandic wildlife in complete darkness?
Yes. With IR lighting we can film in zero-lux conditions without disturbing nocturnal species. This is key for capturing Arctic foxes, Atlantic puffins during nesting hours, and wild Icelandic horses across Snæfellsnes and Landmannalaugar.
What's the difference between night vision looks?
Image intensifiers deliver the classic green-tint look, IR cameras produce monochrome visuals, and high-ISO cameras can capture natural color in very low light. We match the technology to your creative brief.
Is IR illumination invisible to animals?
Near-infrared (850nm) is invisible to humans and most Icelandic wildlife, while 940nm far-infrared is completely undetectable. Both are ideal for filming Arctic foxes and nesting birds in fragile reserves without disturbing them.
What resolution is possible at night?
Modern systems capture 4K and beyond in very low light. Actual resolution depends on ambient conditions and chosen technology—we advise on the best fit for your shoot.
Can you film aurora and night landscapes in Iceland?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Yes. Using high-ISO cameras we capture aurora borealis over Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón, moonlit lava fields in Reykjanes, and Milky Way astrophotography at Kirkjufell. Iceland's pristine dark skies give some of the world's finest aurora and night-landscape cinematography.
Related Services
Productions in Iceland that need this often pair it with Thermal Imaging, Wire Cam Systems, and Gimbal Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Director of Photography Services and Time-lapse & Hyperlapse.
On Set
Need Night Vision Filming?
Tell us about your low-light filming requirements and we'll light the darkness.