As the year comes to an end, I wanted to share here an unreleased image from 2015 and what is now one of my all time personal faves. I often avoid detailed explanations and stories behind my work, perhaps to avoid coming across as pretentious. However this one holds some fond memories, so I began writing about the experience. However what was meant to be a brief recollection of one of the most memorable moments I’ve had behind the lens somehow transformed into a novel capable of putting to sleep a room of pepped up insomniacs. So I deleted it. But it kinda went like this . . .
I began by explaining how Kirkjufell is one of the most photographed locations in Iceland and that I had no real intention of shooting it. But then running on spontaneity and necessity to avoid bad weather led my friend Cameron and I right into the presence of the beast. I described how we were both impressed by it’s sight and decided against all odds to perhaps find a new perspective to shoot. Surprisingly, a little walking and climbing did just that but the overcast sunrise couldn’t produce an image worth keeping.
Around page 100 of the novel I told of my habit (both good and bad) of becoming fixated on capturing an image once I have the concept in my mind. It was this habit that plagued me for the remainder of our 10 day Iceland journey as I kept envisioning the possibility of the shot at Kirkjufell and how it could have looked with decent light or dare I imagine, even the aurora. So on our last night to shoot Iceland, the thought of ‘what if’ couldn’t be ignored and we made the decision to return to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the small hope of seeing this vision become reality. Even if a blizzard was forecast.
I then shared the experience of us two Aussies driving through a snowstorm, consuming large amounts of caffeinated beverages (and pizza) in a new favourite cafe and then trusting that after midnight the clouds might depart and the green glow of heavenly light might find a way to grace us once more.
The landscape was now snow covered unlike the previous week and hype was building as the darkness and cold was well set in. In the front seat of our 4×4 we got comfy and anxiously waited it out.
It was by this stage that things got interesting. The rain ceased and the occasional star was revealed between clouds. And then, it began.
The unmistakable, definitive glow of the Northern Lights intermittently revealed itself through the cloud and although faint, it was enough for us to eagerly pack our bags and start hiking into the night. After what felt like an eternity but far from it, we were standing before a scene we were both deeply grateful for and so relieved that we captured something to be proud of. Although the sky remained semi-clouded, there was still much beauty to behold. We walked back to the car exhausted as the journey had officially come ot an end. After a celebratory tea around 2am, we settled into the front seats of the car for some much needed rest.
And this is why the original blog dragged on because the story doesn’t end here. You see I was awoken suddenly around 5am, still facing the mountain, head tilted to the side in a painful yet strangely comfortable position. This time however, I was greeted by the sight of a star filled sky and a dragon-like aurora waving across the sky. It’s this part of the story I’ll remember most because I will never forget the abruptness of my awakening and how incredible it was to behold such a sight. My mind and heart went from 0-100 as I scurried to grab my camera and tripod. And although I attempted to wake my comrade, he was lost to the soothing hold of much needed rest. I began running (and sliding) to my destination, afraid to look up and see the light display I was potentially missing, although the green glow on the snow let me know too well.
The rest of what happened in those early hours of the morning are captured in this image below. In my 4 years of photography, I felt like everything I had learned and experienced was really put into this moment and capturing it accurately. There’s no real words that a guy like me could conjure up to truly describe what it’s like to literally have a vision in your mind become reality, even against unlikely odds. As a landscape photographer, there’s no greater reward. I consider myself blessed to have shared this quiet moment alone, surrounded by a divinely intricate scene in the presence of the creator.
Thanks for reading, I hope you like ‘Arise’.
WP
Gorgeous, Will! Awesome job!
Thank you so much for stopping by Mel 🙂
Inspiring story, really love the images you come home with from Iceland!
Thanks Legend !!
Hey Will,
Unbelievable image. Can I ask how long of a shutter you were using? It seems like you’ve captured the beginnings of star trails but not as much trailing as I usually see. It produces a killer effect. Something I don’t usually see. Any reason behind this? Also, is does shooting the Aurora come with any unusual challenges? Just curious- I’ve never seen it.
Love you’re work!
-Ryan
Thanks Ryan. This is one of the most technically demanding images I’ve captured due to the low light, great depth, freezing temps, rushing water, moving aurora and stars. To get this shot as clean as possible and to do justice to the scene I used some depth of field and focal length blending and shot in bulb mode for the foreground, mid ground and mountain. The aurora was then shot immediately after at a higher ISO for 20 seconds. After I shot this I noticed only some of the stars have the trail and honestly am not sure what it’s from. You can see it only effects some of them so it’s nothing to do with the exposure duration (like normal star trails) and there’s still a sharp point on those stars. I’m wondering if has anything to do with being so far north. Either way I didn’t mind the effect so I kept it in 🙂 Thanks for the support mate!
Thank you, Will!
Thank you for being such an inspiration. Your photographs are amazing and I always ends up with my jaw almost dislocated and my eyes dry from staring at them. Not to mention your snapchat, that thing is hilarious! I always look forward to your updates because it puts me in such a good mood.
To find talented photographers is easy these days, but for me, there is few that can dislocate my jaw. Only two actually. You and Chris Burkard. It’s very hard to explain what I mean but some photographers just gets under your skin, and you sit there in awe and can’t really describe what it is with the picture that just moves you. It just does.
I wish you and your family a wonderful new year and keep on doing you thing.
Enough seriousness. Cheers from Norway. 🙂
Thank you so much Sigrid, it means a lot having your support and I am really stoked I can dislocate your jaw haha hope you have an awesome new year and hopefully I make it over your way sometime!! 🙂
Wonderful story and amazing read! As I just experienced the aurora myself for the first time a couple weeks ago in Yellowknife, Canada, I felt thrown right back into the moment. Also realizing how hard it is to capture it’s greatness (let’s face it, it’s impossible) I am purely amazed by your shot! Keep up the great work and I hope 2016 will bring you even more of these unique moments!
Hi Christoph! Yellowknife is where I first saw the Northern Lights too! It was February in 2014 and -42 degrees haha such brutal conditions but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. It really is something that must be witnessed first hand to truly appreciate it, especially when it’s during a solar storm like what I had in Iceland. Thanks for stopping by!! All the best for 2016 my friend.
Dude this is so epic! Absolutely love what you wrote about the experience of taking this photo too.
Thank you Holly, appreciate you stopping by, I always appreciate your comments 🙂 Cheers!
Unbelievable image will! Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Hi Will
What a spectacular image!! I loved reading the story behind your image…it made the image really come alive for me. Interesting how you woke up & were inspired to get out in the cold & go & see what was waiting. And it was well worth getting up for. And that green!!!!
Iceland is on my list…and to see the Northern Lights has been up there for a while now. As I have just moved from Australia to England for 6 months there is a definite possibility I will get there:)
Best & brightest 2016 to you!
Hey Will great shot and great story. I totally get it about being fixated on capturing a certain photo that you just know you can get if the conditions are right. Against the odds you struck gold that night – alllllright!!!. And congrats on finding a different perspective, it was that as much as anything that got my attention. Landscape photography is like fishing, you never really know what you’re going to get. As I keep reminding myself, if you don’t go, you’ll never know.
Cheers
Alex
Hi Alex. Thanks so much for stopping by man. Really appreciate your comment and totally agree with what you’ve said. It’s all about the thrill of the chase and the element of the unknown. Cheers!
Hey mate, just read the article in Australian Photography and have been memorised by your recent snaps of the auroras! I noticed in one of your bts snaps that you are shooting at f/1.4. Which lens are you using it? Is it the Samyang 24mm?
Thanks man, appreciate you stopping by. Yeah just picked up the Sigma 24mm 1.4 however all of my aurora images you have seen were shot on a 16-35mm f4. Cheers! PS the Sigma 24mm is very nice.