Of the Gods

As photographers, we often have "the shot" we want to get in our mind's eye before we get to a location. When we arrive, we discover we have so little control over so many factors. The only rational response is to be humbled by nature and to put aside expectations. I photographed Godafoss in Iceland in June of 2013 and there had been a lot of snow over the winter. It, of course, was all melting at this point and there were near-record amounts of water flowing over the falls, so they looked quite different from what I was expecting. The water level in the basin was so high that it was impossible to stand where needed to get "that shot".  In such moments, a few deep breaths are always helpful in clearing our noggins of preconceived notions and allowing our eyes and our hearts to take over.

Foss

"Foss" is the Icelandic word for waterfall. If you say it slowly enough, you can hear the water falling.

Ice Age

Jokulsarlon is a glacier lagoon in Iceland and is one of the most spectacular places I have ever visited. At the edge of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, which has been in retreat since the 1930s, icebergs of various sizes break off into the lagoon creating a ghostly procession. The luminous chunks of blue ice punctuated by striations of black lava create an endless variety of beautiful forms and designs.  I spent the day  capturing a multitude of icy compositions, eating hot fish soup to keep warm, and riding out on a Zodiac to float amongst the icebergs.

All the Pretty Horses - Part 2

More of the beautiful creatures I encountered on my journey through Iceland. I bet that their hair is a lot thicker and longer (like the fella in the second photograph from the top) now that the cold weather is setting in.
I also wanted to announce that my Black Friday sale has begun. All items are 20% off until December 3 in my Etsy Shop and December 8 in my Eye Poetry Shop. To my American friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

All The Pretty Horses

These beautiful creatures are yet another reason to love Iceland. There are approximately 80,000 Icelandic horses in a country with a human population of 300,000. It is not uncommon to see many scenes of horses standing in front of awe-inspiring landscapes, bathed in magical northern light ... that is, until you return home and you realize how very special it was. horse photos

A Foggy Encounter in a Green Land

"Iceland is green and Greenland is ice." So how did Iceland get it's name? Flóki Vilgerðarson was one of the first Norwegian Vikings to settle the country. After a good summer, but having poorly prepared for winter and desperate for the arrival of spring, he climbed a high mountain for a better view of the surroundings. In the distance, he saw a fjord full of ice. He called the fjord Isafjordur (Icefjord) and gave the country a new name 'Island' (Iceland).