Inspired By Iceland
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The Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.
In the year 1000 the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall.
Just before dusk on the drive back to our accomodation, we saw this beauty sunset reflected off the water.
Tjörnin is a prominent small lake in central Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Most visitors to the city pass along its shore, as it is situated in the city centre next to the Reykjavik City Hall and several museums.
Hvítserkur is a 15 m high basalt stack along the eastern shore of the Vatnsnes peninsula, in northwest Iceland. The rock has two holes at the base, which give it the appearance of a dragon who is drinking.
Another mono from the Icelandic back-catalogue.
This one looking down the gully cut by the meandering Rekaá stream just north of Húsavík. Tjörnes Peninsula, North Iceland.
Glorious late afternoon light out over Skjálfandi Bay and the distant, mountainous landform of the Fjörður Peninsula. Tiny island of Lundey sitting in the bay.
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4R, 1/250th sec at f/8, ISO 200.
The sea-stack of Arnardrangur from the Dyrhólaey promontory, South Iceland.
The famous black sand beach of Reynisfjara stretches east to the sea-stacks of Reynisdrangar looming in the mist. The town of Vík is beyond the distant headland.
A new frame. I took quite a few frames on this day but this one has not been posted before. One of my previous postings has been taken down instead :-)
XT2, XF14/2.8, 10 secs at f/8, ISO 100.
The abandoned farmstead of Hringver on the F85 north of Húsavik, Tjörnes in North Iceland.
Imagining seeing that view every day, it must have been with heavy hearts the people left.
That said, we were there on a simply stellar afternoon with little wind and gorgeous light. I am sure that in this exposed position the farm cops it regularly.
The little island in the middle of the Skjálfandi Bay is Lundey and the distant, mountainous landform is the Fjörður Peninsula.
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4R, 1/350th sec at f/8, ISO 200
While this is a re-up of a horrible edit, I'd previously found some information about the farm on an Icelandic Flickr user's photo from the same location - and repeat it below:
The last people to live at Hringver were two sisters who took over the farm from their parents. After their father passed away they lived there with their mother until she died. The sisters never used any modern farming machines. All job was done by hand. One of them was a big fan of the Beatles and her favourite song was Yesterday. In 1975 they moved to an old people’s home in the nearby village Húsavík and nobody has lived at Hringver since the sisters left.
La balade autour de l'Incroyable canyon de Fjaðrárgljúfur vaut le détour dans e Sud de l'Islande
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The sea-stack of Arnardrangur from the Dyrhólaey promontory, South Iceland.
The famous black sand beach of Reynisfjara stretches east to the sea-stacks of Reynisdrangar looming in the mist. The town of Vík is beyond the distant headland.
A new frame. I took quite a few frames on this day but this one has not been posted before. One of my previous postings has been taken down instead :-)
XT2, XF23/1.4, 8 secs at f/8, ISO 100.
This is the impressive Mosvallafjall in the Icelandic Westfjörds. We have Mosvallahorn at the right (701m) with Bakkafjall (731) in the centre and Krákur (720m) at the left.
The body of water before the camera is Önundarfjörður and the F60 or Vestfjarðavegur can just be made out going over the pass at extreme right. A new bridge connects the opposite sides of the fjörd behind the camera - it's the old road that can be seen on the lower slopes of the mountain.
Very overcast day. Swags of low cloud just brushing the tops of the mountains. As I wanted to keep the atmosphere oppressive, I deliberately retained a cooler tone. I want to be sure to have snow next time I'm here for high contrast monos.
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4, 12 secs at f/11, ISO100. Breakthrough Photography 10 Stop ND.
A little dip in the archives for a revisit of a problem pic I posted ages ago but have since removed. Not only was the previous mono a poor edit but I had the location entirely wrong!
The surreal, southern flanks of Snæfellsjökull Volcano on Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland.
Snæfellsjökull stands at 1446m with its last recorded eruption approximately 200CE.
The peak was wreathed in cloud the whole time we were travelling around it and most of the day was grey and drizzly. In the late afternoon, Mr Sun finally got below the clag and lit up the fabulous lava flows and the rich, autumn-toned grasses very nicely. True golden hour splendour. Iceland is just magic in the autumn.
Háahraun and Seljahraun lava fields left and right of that black hill in the center.
From the archives, September 2017.
Fuji X-T2, XF14/2.8, 1/600th sec at f/9, ISO 200
Make it big :-)
This is actually Böðvarsholtshyrna (572m) on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It reminded me of Cirith Ungol in Tolkein's LOTR.
I estimate spending over 40 hours on numerous colour versions of this image but in the end called it quits and rendered the thing in mono.
The frame was always overshadowed by the Black Church at Búðir (the peak is immediately inland of the church on the other side of the highway) and the extraordinary Aurora that evening.
There was a lot of mist and rain kicking around during the day and it must have cleared for a second or two for this shot. It's the only frame in the day's shooting of this area and I seem to have shot it walking back to the hotel.
Fuji X-Pro 2, Fujinon XF 55-200/3.5-4.8, 1/200th sec at f/7.1, ISO 800
It's been 8 years since I watched this Auroral display over Iceland and the place still hasn't got out of my blood.
This is a blend of a left and right side pair featuring Kirkjufell from just outside Grundarfjörður. There was a first quarter moon off behind me as well as the lights of the town lighting up the mountain. The last two frames of the night, before the glory faded.
Fuji X-T2, XF 14mm f/2.8, 5 secs at f/2.8, ISO 4000
Looking south into the North Atlantic from near the lighthouse at Stórhöfði on Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar Islands, Iceland. The rocks, islands and islets in the frame (L to R) Geldungur, Súnlnasker, Hellisey and Suðurey islands.
The magical Surtsey at right of Suðurey appeared in 1963 following a four year undersea eruption. Surtsey is now an internationally recognised site of scientific significance - botanists and zoologists have been studying the flora and fauna on Surtsey since it was cool enough to set a sterile foot on. The species that colonise Surtsey and the associated timeline give many insights into the evolution of life on Earth.
This frame is a completely new edit from one posted years ago - was never happy with it back then.
Fujifilm X-T2, Funinon XF23/1.4, 1/500th sec, f/9, ISO 200
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in South Iceland.
From the archives of 2015. It was raining cats and dogs in 2017 so we only took a small number of frames - nothing like this sweeping view of the lagoon was even possible.
Another frame that I passed over back in the day so here it is brought into the light.
Fuji X-T1, XF14mmF2.8 R, 5 sec as f/8.0, ISO 200.
Lee Seven5 Big Stopper 10 Stop ND
Litli Bær
The ruined outbuildings of Litli Bær Farm beside Skötufjörður in the Westfjörds, Iceland. The F61 or Djúpvegur running alongside the fjörd at the left.
The farm was established around 1895 but is now a cafe and museum (closed for the winter when we were there). These are the remains of the barn and sundry buildings behind the original house.
Westfjörds, Iceland September 2017
Fuji X-T2, XF18/2, 1/420th sec at f/8, ISO 400
I felt my gallery needed a bit of colour to break up all the monos I've been posting so here is one out of the Icelandic archives....
Heading south through the Kaldidalur toward Þingvellir on the F550 - you come across the occasional water of Sandkluftavatn over which loom the ashen wastes of Ármannsfell (764m).
The lake clearly holds more water than was present in this pic - probably during the Spring - but as the valley floor is solely ash and tephra, the water simply drains away.
The F550 itself rolls right through the frame and out of sight.
West Iceland (Vesturland) October 2017.
Fuji X-T2, XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS 1/450th sec at f/5.6, ISO 250 FL ~ 85mm
Looking across the beautiful Arnarfjörður from the F626 (Hrafnseyravegur) to the village of Bíldudalur around 10km away.
Route 63 - the Bídudalsvegur south to Patreksfjörður - can be made out snaking up the hill behind the village and hidden in the cloud somewhere is the mountain of Bíldudasfjall (531m). Most of the mountains that line Arnarfjörður hold to that 450 to 550m altitude.
The trip from Þingeyri on the poorly maintained, muddy and potholed F626 was in rain and thick, low cloud. As we dipped below the cloud into the fjörd, the view here opened out - we just stopped and took it in for several minutes. Possibly the most beautiful sight of that trip made all the better by the conditions that preceded it. The terrible road actually felt like one from home! :-)
Westfjörds, Iceland, September 2017.
Fuji X-T2, XF55-200/3.5-4.8, 1/55th sec at f/8, ISO 100 FL ~ 100mm.
Big it up :-)
Looking west toward the Dyrhólaey promontory and attendant sea-stacks jutting out into the North Atlantic, South Iceland.
Another new frame from the archives - taken between all the showers that day.
Fuji XT2, XF14/2.8, 18 secs at f/7.1, ISO 200 Nisi 10 Stop ND
Looking east from Höfn across Skarðsfjörður to the Vestruhorn. Klifatindur (881m) in the clag at left, Teitsbrekkutindur (672m) centerish and Litlihorn at the right. East Iceland.
Unable to find a name for the little island with the abandoned buildings.
A reworked archive pic from 2015 - previously posted a colour version that needed some love and attention.
Fuji X-T1, Fujinon XF 55-200, 1/250th sec at f/5.6, ISO400
Sunset over Húsavík, North Iceland.
Húsavík harbour is home to several former North Sea beam trawlers and seiners - all reimagined as whale watching vessels. Probably twice as lucrative, 10 times less dangerous and very fitting :-)
Fuji X-T2, XF 18/2.8, 1/105th sec at f/5.6, ISO 400.
Icebergs cast upon the shore in East Iceland where the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon empties into the North Atlantic.
The small island of Hrollaugseyjar can be seen just to the left of that big lump of ice.
More archival work from 2015 - there was little to no ice on the beach in 2017 due to a big berg-jam on the upstream of the bridge. I posted a slightly different version of this scene a couple of years ago but was never happy with it.
Fuji X-T1, XF18-55/2.8-4, 20 secs at f/18, ISO 200.
FL ~18mm. Lee Seven5 10 Stop ND Filter
Pretty good effort from a kit lens...
Feel free to make it big :-)
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in South Iceland.
From the archives of 2015. It was raining cats and dogs in 2017 so we only took a small number of frames - nothing like this sweeping view of the lagoon was even possible. Passed over this image back in the day so here it is brought into the light.
Fuji X-T1, XF14mmF2.8 R, 5 sec as f/8.0, ISO 200.
Lee Seven5 Big Stopper 10 Stop ND
From the 2017 archive - a lonely berg in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, South East Iceland.
This was my third visit to the lagoon and on a day with terrible weather and very poor visibility and frequent rain. We came away with only a few frames but it didn't matter, the place just resonates with those who visit.
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4, 10secs at f/8, ISO 320 - Nisi 10 Stop ND Filter
Dettifoss waterfall in North Iceland. Early morning and hardly a cloud to add drama.
Dettifoss is the giant of the North. Europe's most powerful waterfall. Dettifoss is on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river which drains the northern side of the immense Vatnajökull glacier. Some idea of the power of the river can be gauged by the standing waves in the foreground.
I guess I looked over the edge to see if anything was worth shooting and was immediately struck by the light on the opposite wall. So much spray from the waterfall hits that surface and it has its own glory in the early morning light.
People standing on the opposite side give some idea of scale, it's a monster. The wider shot from the XF14mm doesn't quite work. Make it big :-)
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4, 3.7secs at f/5, ISO 200 - Breakthrough X-4 6 Stop ND Filter.
From the deck of the ferry, Baldur, steaming into Stykkishólmur, the First Quarter Moon rises to the south east over the Snæfellsnes Peninsular. Iceland.
Blue Hour, September 28, 2017.
Fuji XPRO-2, XF 55-200/3.5-4.8, 1/125th sec at f/8, ISO 100 ~128mm
Svartifoss (Black Fall) is one of the unique waterfalls in South-Iceland. It is situated in the popular Skaftafell region, part of the Vatnajökull National Park.
The falls are surrounded by remarkable columnar basalt columns revealing the history of previous volcanic eruptions.
Another frame from the 2015 archives getting a dust-off.
Fuji X-T1, XF18-55/2.8-4 R, 2.6 secs at f/4, ISO 200
10 Stop Lee Seven5 ND Filter
The Aurora Borealis over Skógafoss waterfall in South Iceland.
This frame has been a very long time coming. I could never recover the shadows around the falls without horrible noise and other artefacts but time spent learning over the last 5 years has been worth it. This frame is a blend of two exposures, one of the falls and one of the lights. The exposures I took of the lights left the waterfall in the dark and the exposures of the falls blew the lights out. I hope you think the blend was worth waiting for!
Fuji X-T1, XF 18-55/2.8-4.
8 secs at f/2.8, ISO 3400 for the lights and
15 sec at f/8 ISO 1000 for the waterfall.
September 15, 2015
The burning Bifröst rainbow bridge between Midgard and Asgard hangs open over Kírkjufell, Snaefellsnes Peninsular, Iceland.
Archive pic of a spectacular Aurora Borealis event, from 28 September 2017 getting a dust off. A bit happier with my editing some years on but still having a few noise issues.
Kírkjufell is partially lit up by the sodium vapor lamps of Grundarfjörður town to the right, behind the camera - hence the grungy green/brown colour of the mountain. A half moon was hanging in there too somewhere to the west along with quite a deal of thin cloud resulting in reduced contrast in some of the beams.
The faint white spot at extreme left is near the carpark for the famous Kírkjufoss waterfall. Apparently there was a total scrum over there at the time with lots of rude photographers being not at all collegial.
I knew it would be a shambles at the waterfall so gave it a miss and shot this from an empty carpark just outside town. At one point the display was so intense I just stopped taking pictures and lay on the grass looking up (and feeling incredibly small :-)
Fuji X-T2, XF14/2.8, 5 secs sec at f/2.8, ISO 4000
The iconic Skógafoss waterfall in South Iceland.
I know the waterfall has been shot to death by everyone that's been there - it's not hard to miss! Some other folks frames I have seen are just extraordinary! However, I had a strong reason to revisit this one of mine. I went looking for it again after recently doing more LE work with my new/old lightweight walking camera - Fuji X-T1 Graphite edition.
The frame dates from September 2015 on our first visit to Iceland. We arrived at the waterfall well after sunset, there was only a little light and a little colour remaining in the sky. The LE I took back then left me really disappointed. It was dark, it was flat, it was really noisy in the shadows, the colour was all over the shop. I hated it and came very close to ditching it. I was not in love with the camera either...
Five years later and it seems that patience is indeed its own reward... I'm a little happier with it now, even if it is a moody, brooding frame but it is much closer to what I remember - the way the waterfall just hangs there in its chasm and dominates your senses. The remainder of the frame is OK now too - even the faint blush in the sky and those two blokes getting soaked.
One thing I can't fix is the OOF foreground - that was a whole other learning all about hyperfocal distance and f-stops...
Fuji X-T1, XF 18-55/2.8-4 R LM OIS, 5 secs at f/5, ISO 400 FL~21mm. Lee Seven5 10 stop ND.
Two shot stitch of the Bæjarvaðall lagoon behind the Red Beach (Rauðasandur) on the southern coastline of the Westfjörds, Iceland.
Another frame from the archives inspired by the date... 27th September 2017
Fuji X-T2, XF23/1.4, 1/500th sec at f/9, ISO 200
A very big 'Thank You' to everyone that views, faves and comments on my work! I really appreciate your visit :-)
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