I think it was two, or maybe three, years ago that I wrote down for my new year’s declarations that I was going to do a dedicated photography trip that did not involve cycling. This past July when I had a bike trip cancelled later in the year, a couple of my friends and I booked a trip to Iceland for a photo tour. It may have taken two or three years, but gosh darn it, it was going to happen.
I’ll be honest, I did zero planning for this trip. Thank you Glenn for your work in planning. It sure went well and paid off! My life is busy and other than clothing and camera gear, my only duty was to find a great coffee shop in Rekjavik to get good coffee and good coffee beans for the trip. I’m happy to report that I found a spectacular shop, Rekjavik Roasters, that after our initial visit and enjoying the roasted beans throughout the trip, that we went back prior to departing for more coffee and to purchase more beans.
But….Back on track, the trip. Our approach to the trip was to not race around the entire, beautiful land in the time that we had. Rather, it was to go to a couple of locations and enjoy it, learn it and spend time at each location. Honestly, looking at the photos that I am sharing below, none of them were first shots in a location. That staying and learning and waiting for the right time and shot paid off.
The following are my favorite 15 shots from the trip, at least from my initial pass through the thousands of images I took. Given I do this for fun, these are not photos that are intended to be used other than on my walls of my home. Some of you reading this that are photographers may see these pics and think they are not that great. So be it. I am attached to these images and the stories behind them. The people behind them. Some of the build up to these shots simply cannot be expressed through the images alone.
When I left for this trip, I said I wanted 10 really good images. My initial pass was 12 and rather than cut 2 good images, I added 3 that had some meaning.
I will absolutely go back to this special landscape to explore the parts of the island we did not explore. . The only other place in this world that gave me the feeling of awe that I felt here was New Zealand. It is worth the trip and I hope that you enjoy my images.
Please click on any image below to move to slideshow mode.
I will likely write more and share more pictures later on, but in case not, I really encourage you to plan a trip for yourself. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any specific questions about the trip or these images.
Thank you very much!
ImagineGnat 
Beautiful work. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
Thanks keith! Really appreciate the comment and you checking in here every now and then!
What great shots! I love the contrast of the black church with color of the natural landscape that surrounds it.
Thanks Jeff. Yes the black church in that landscape is quite photogenic.
Stunning shots. What two spots did you visit outside of Rekjavik?
Stunning shots! Who two spots did you visit outside of Rekjavik?
Thanks for the comment BG. We were in the SE near the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Skafatell glacier area and then near Hellnar on the Snaefellsjokull peninsula north west of Rekjavik. We didn’t even touch the entire northern part of the island. Just too much to see and we wanted to take our time.
Did you drive to each of those locations? And was it relatively easy? I’m planning a trip for August and am hoping to drive to those areas. Thanks!
Kate, thanks for the comment. Yes we did drive and it is quite easy. A couple of notes though. Many of the roads are two lane and some are gravel. Also get the insurance or make sure you have insurance that covers international (we broke a windshield and without insurance it would have been 1500 Euro!). Lastly, pay for an AWD. You will want it.
Thanks, that’s super helpful. I appreciate it!
Beautiful place-great images! Which camera are you using now? Thinking I need a smaller one!
Thanks Steve. I rented gear and used a new Olympus OMD Em1ii
Thanks-looks like an amazing place-so need to go there!
I was there a few years ago. I recognized the church and waterfall. I need to go back. It is just such a stunning place.
Thanks for sharing your photos, they are really nice.
Thank you very much for the comment and kind words. I loved Iceland and cant wait to go back and see the rest of it.
Wow. wonderful. I want to go there!
I saw your work on Steve Huff Photo, your Iceland photos. Really nice, drew me here and I’ve been looking through your photos, some great images. Different compositions from those usually seen in Icelandic landscape photography, I like that.
Funnily enough I had a feature on Huff’s site, about a bike ride around Iceland last Summer on a newly built Surly Disc Trucker! I see you like your bikes too. I’m new to all that but learning – some beautiful bikes in your photos here. Keep sharing and happy riding!
Here’s my page on cycling in Iceland if you’re interested –
http://www.jpstevenson.co.uk/photography/iceland-2016/
James thank you! I remember reading your entry on Steve Huff and have been to your blog. Nice work to you too! BTW – I work in bicycle manufacturing and manage a number of brands including Surly. Thank you! Also, I really do appreciate your comments. I really wanted to try to shoot Iceland a bit differently. I know some of the famous spots are sometimes difficult. I made sure to take the “postcard” shot but then I also challenged myself to see it differently and see where it led me. Again, thank you.
It’s great that you took the time to find different compositions, it makes me which I had! Another photographer I like who takes unique, distinctive photos of Iceland is a guy called Andy Lee (google Andy Lee galleries). Very stylized, dramatic images. I think you’d like his work.
Also interesting that you work in bicycle manufacturing! I’m so happy to have invested in a good bike, I thought this would be my last but it doesn’t really work like that does it! I love the Surly but there are a few things that niggle, I think one day I will change the frame for something else. Maybe I could write to you personally and share my thoughts, I’d certainly be interested in yours! It’s a learning curve, that’s for sure 🙂
I look forward to seeing more of your work, keep sharing your adventures!
Oh lastly! Check out Sidetracked magazine… I think you’d like that too. I recently discovered it through Alastair Humphreys’ adventure blog, it’s full of amazing photography and inspirational adventure stories. I feel sure they’d be interested in publishing some of your stuff!
Wow, thanks for the great comment. I will certainly check out both the photographer and the mag you reference. Thank you . If you ever want to contact me, feel free at G N A T at L I V E dot C O M
Hey.. Wonderful to watch your epic venture. It looks so amazing! We are doing a similar trip in August this year.
Thank you and congrats on being able to go!!!. I am planning a second visit.