Iceland

Break The Night

4am in Iceland. After driving through the night to escape cloud and wind, I briefly rested my eyes soon to be awoken by a restless sky. This was an intense and somewhat intimidating aurora display, that violently flashed and pulsed across the entire sky. No doubt these shows would have aroused some fear and much wonder for those living in former times. For me, shooting the aurora is quite difficult, mainly because I just want to sit back and admire in awe and indeed, this is what I typically do.

South Coast, Iceland

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Relic

A survivor from the past, underneath the soft skies of the north.

Husavik, Iceland

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Crown The Sky

For most of the night, the aurora held a powerful blast of beams rising from the horizon. On occasion these would sporadically expand and fill the whole sky, warranting a burst of applause. In the distance, ice would often calve off the terminal face of the glacier and echo through the valley and into the night. The ice in the foreground washed up just hours earlier after a large surge wave brought many ashore. These ones were around my size, so I had to sit upon them to reach this angle. The background is a single exposure and I used focus stacking to get the foreground sharp.

South Coast, Iceland

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The Wreck Of Hope

The title of this is inspired by the 19th century painting by Caspar Friedrich. Birds filled the sky and seals darted across the waters as the afternoon light flooded the landscape behind Jokulsarlon in Iceland. An ever changing scene that was soon gone. A glacial tongue can be seen in the distance, in the land of fire and ice.

Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Allure

As you drive the south coast of Iceland, not only do the number of waterfalls become innumerable, but also the glacier tongues begin to multiply. The large Vatnajokull ice cap covers 8% of the country, where many rivers of ice (glaciers) flow down from its heights. Here, at the terminus, ice regularly calves off and slowly melts into oblivion as the landscape is constantly sculpted by the hands of time and change.

South Coast, Iceland

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Melt

The unique landscape of Iceland, viewed from high above a river delta, along the South Coast.

South Coast, Iceland

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Inside The Vortex

What you need to know about the northern lights is that they vary in intensity, not just from night to night but second by second. Some displays may be dim, like a faint glow and other nights like this, the lights move and pulsate through the sky like a serpent, so bright that the ground and faces of your accomplices glow green. I had the pleasure of leading one of my Iceland tours during this solar storm, which lasted through the entire night. Shouts of joy echoed off the nearby cliffs with every burst of energy from the green blasts, which rippled from one horizon to the other. Yes, they really are spectacular to the naked eye.

South Coast, Iceland

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Dawning

Through running my Iceland workshops, I’ve visited Kirkjufell dozens of time now yet haven’t shot here for almost 4 years. What unfolded this morning was really special though, as the sky began to glow and anti-crepuscular rays beamed from the horizon. A sight worthy of praise and of course, getting the camera out.

Kirkjufell, Grundarfjordur Iceland

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Soar

Fresh snow layered across the uplifted earth that comprises this unique land of fire and ice.

Interior of Iceland

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Affirmation

Planning a shoot with the northern lights is certainly not a given. So many factors come into consideration that can either make or break your night. On this evening though, everything came together for myself and my workshop clients. After many trips to Iceland, this was the first time seeing the shore frozen at this location. We knew it would make for a special foreground, particularly with the dim green glow of the aurora illuminating it. I couldn’t shake the thought. 8 hours later we were able to behold such a sight. There’s also several meteors visible flying across the sky which were captured during the long exposure.

Vesturhorn, Iceland

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Ventus

Wind gusts exceeding 125km/h made this one hell of a shoot. Black sand ripped across the sky and into my skin and the surf was a violent, chaotic force that was nothing short of inspiring.

Vik, Iceland

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Into The Night

I don’t really shoot at night often, however I’m always happy to make an exception when it comes to the aurora. There really is nothing quite like it and although I’m fortunate to have seen it on multiple occasions, it certainly doesn’t get old. It’s unpredictability and fast pulsating movement (during a good show) really makes for an exciting and mesmerising shoot. During these times, I can’t help but wish I was sharing it with those I love.

South Coast, Iceland

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Born Of Storms

The ones that still stand, through it all.

Reynisfjara, Vik Iceland

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This is not the end

Some beautiful light above one of my favourite falls in Iceland. Everyone was happy on this afternoon.

Bruarfoss, Iceland

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Fracture

Shattered pieces, seperate but together as one.

North Iceland

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Set free

There are a few factors that must come together to view the aurora and it’s certainly no guarantee, so any sighting is something I always cherish. On special occasions, the lights will really flare up, sometimes bright enough to be captured on an iPhone. The ground glows green and the sky dances like a neon serpent. This was the case here, but only for a mere 60 seconds or so. Fortunately I was set up here ready to go, arriving just a few minutes prior. My buddy Nick and I shared this moment and were screaming with laughter into the night sky.

Bruarfoss, Iceland