07/06/2022
I was travelling in Iceland where the weather wasn't the most ideal for visiting. It had been drizzling most days with the occasions of heavy showers. This was my second time in Iceland and I had planned to do some photo shooting in a few places that I have researched before the trip.
Of all the photo locations that I wanted to see, Kirkjufellsfoss was the one I was most excited about and looked forward to.
I knew the weather wasn't going to be good before I flew into Reykjavik. Even so, I was praying and hoping there would be moments of light for some photo opportunities. My heart was pounding as I left Reykjavik in the rented car driving clockwise on the ring road,
I wanted to create some unique work that reflects my photography style on this trip. The landscape in Iceland is well known to be dramatic and out of the world, a perfect dream location for every landscape photographer!
The weather continued to be cloudy and drizzling as I arrived at the first few photo locations that I had planned. I couldn't get the photos that I had intended, I was utterly disappointed.
A week into the trip, I had arrived at the foot of Kirkjufell, a little town by the mountain in the evening. It was downpouring, the visibility was limited. I could only see the Kirkjufell mountain but nothing else.
I went to bed that night sighing, thinking the probability of getting any photos is very slim. Nevertheless, I set my alarm to wake up early the next morning to try my luck.
I got up at 5 am. I could hear the rain outside the window. I looked out the window, it was wet and miserable...But there was a dim light in the eastern direction. I could see a gap in the clouds.
I was debating if I should go out and give it a go, or just stay in my warm and cosy bed. The latter was really a tempting option at the time.
But I thought "heck it!". I probably won't be back here again, so why not just get out and see what happens. I quickly changed, grabbed my camera gear and drove towards Kirkjufellsfoss. When I got there, the rain had stopped and the dim light I saw earlier had brightened up more!
I quickly explored the area and found a lake (more like a giant puddle of water). As the sky gradually cleared up, I could see a reflection on the water's surface. I thought this was a great spot so I set up my camera waiting for the moment to come.
The sun started to rise behind the eastern mountains. The sky looked unusually bright and glowing after a night of downpour. The symmetrical reflection on the lake gradually became more obvious, it created a surreal landscape.
As I was just bout to take pictures, I noticed ripples on the water. The reflection was ruined, I was horrified and puzzled. I looked up and saw two men skipping stones. I was a little afraid to say anything at first, but not knowing when the weather would change again, I politely asked if they could let me get a few shots first.
As the water calmed again, I continue to indulge in the natural beauty. I was awestruck, but none of these could be compared to the gracefully drifting clouds that transformed nature in the Snæfellsnes peninsula into a gargantuan live theatre.
It was literally in the middle of nowhere. Completely silent without even the sound of birds or the humming engine of a distant vehicle driving by. The experience was eutierria - a feeling of connectedness with the earth. The positive feeling brings a deep sense of peace that obliterates the boundaries between self and the rest of nature.
Check out the canvas and poster print here πππ
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1215547328/iceland-nature-landscape-with-reflection
