Life......its The Journey 😉

[klrk007]

To have...and to hold.......

I have a plan this year. Nothing too exciting or indeed unusual but new for me. I am going to get more and more of my images printed. To hold them and to show them off in the time honoured fashion many of us were used to as a kid.

So my first step into having images to hold on to was to create a photo book of my trips to Iceland last year. I have only spent a few weeks on the island however, it has grabbed hold of me and is a place I KNOW I will return to many many times.

So it was fate that @saal.digital.uk was offering photographers a great deal to sample their photo books. So I asked to be involved and they let me create a book full of moments I will never forget. I will leave a link at the bottom for you all to have a look and I'm sure you can let me know what you think too ;-)

The whole process from start to finish was easy. I downloaded the software used to create the size, cover, paper quality and templates then once that was decided the real fun began. Choosing and placing the images and words to each page was a great way to tell the story of my memories from Iceland. The hardest part for me was choosing what to leave out and I also wanted to keep words to a minimum. Once completed I saved and uploaded the project to the saal digital site. This was again all contained within the software provided. A quick update of details and delivery address then its sent off to be printed. 

The book arrived and I was delighted with the quality and “feel” of MY book. The A4 hardback cover I chose is impactful and clear. The thick pages of matt photo paper really shows off my memories in a way no computer screen can. I feel this is an excellent way to show off these images in a more immediate way than a large print or a collage of prints on a wall. The reader, and I can assure you there are very few words, can now experience this magical place through my eyes and start to wonder how it must have been to witness such scenes. Who knows. Maybe even be inspired to visit Iceland for themselves. :-)

Here is a link to view the finished book. Contact me if you ever want a copy :-)

https://www.saal-digital.co.uk/service/share-order/?avt33Y8xcapuZpGI4jzrleGlMpJbTIUnloTAuptI

[klrk007]

From digital to analogue......

I have lately had a feeling to step back, a loooong way back, to film photography. I have grown up being affected by images more than words and for the early years that was film images. Whether on magazines or newspapers to the films that I watched growing up. I loved the look and more importantly the “feel” of them. 

I LOVE digital photography. I will ALWAYS shoot digital in the main. I love the cameras and the places having these cameras has taken me. Whether its the East Lothian coastline, Edinburgh,Highlands of Scotland, overseas to NYC or the wilds of Iceland. I have seen many beautiful sights and met many wonderful people, including my soon to be wife, all through the joys of the  steep learning curve of digital photography. I have a number of people around the world sharing with me my love of photography through Facebook pages and I am humbled that I can share to so many. So why film???

I guess its the need to slow down and take things in more. I do go to amazing places and I do get good images of these places. I come back and I edit the photos and share them and in some way its like letting them go. Once given to the world through FB and my website www.klrkphotography.com they are no longer mine. I have them as a file on my computer but once out on the world wide web so can everyone. I want something more personal, more my own, a thing I can hold onto and cherish as my own. Even if I scan onto the computer and share the image its a copy not the real thing as I have the original here in my hand. A step back into what it must have felt like for all those pioneering and ultimately inspiring photographers going back over 100′s of years. To go somewhere and trust that you know your stuff and you can capture that once in a lifetime moment without the safety net of checking your LCD screen to see what you have captured and then taking another shot till you have it. 

That is to not belittle digital. Not at all. I have learned so much over the last 4 years that I can see a HUGE difference in the images I take now on my digital cameras. Its just a lot more “immediate” and an amazing tool to learn photography. So I am going to endeavour to take these years of learning the basics of photography and see if that translates into film. :-)

Today I took delivery of my first film camera and some rolls of film. Today was also the first day I made a mistake too. I ordered the wrong film. So my already shaky confidence has taken a dent. I DO still have so much to learn. I managed to figure out all the dials and buttons on my “new” film camera. A Minolta x-700 with a 1.7f 50mm lens. I even managed to put a roll of Black and White film into it and take it for a walk to one of my fave local places. St Mary’s Church in Haddington is a great wee place to take my first steps into film photography. A picturesque place with history and lots of little details to capture. So I did capture some images whilst taking my time and making sure I was doing everything right. I was shooting in Aperture priority mode and I am fortunate that this particular camera is famed for its metering and choosing the right shutter speed for scenes. So basically I was in training mode. I do hope in time, very soon hopefully, that I will shoot fully manual but the important thing is to get the best out of the equipment you have and this is the mode the experts suggested. :-)

So find a shot then check through the viewfinder, ensure you get it as you want it, manually focus, check aperture is what you require and then squeeze down the shutter button and BANG this amazing feeling as the cloth shutter opens and closes. A lot of recoil compared to digital. Almost like firing a gun for the first time. It takes a bit of getting used to but feels ace. I really enjoyed my first day and experience with this camera. The only downside is I have no idea if I will ever be able to share these images, I assume to have taken, as I have no idea if the images have taken or the film will survive me taking it out of the camera and on to be processed. :-)

I will keep you all updated..........

[klrk007]

Day two of our wee escape to the Northwest saw the arrival of yet another storm to hit Scotland. Storm Henry has made the weather we experienced today rather extreme. Even for Scotland. 

We resigned ourselves to not getting out of the car much today, so we took our time getting ready and changed our plans accordingly. A drive around the peninsula just north of Fort William was decided as a good way to spend the day. I travelled this route a number of years ago and remember many beautiful spots for wildlife and landscapes. This route also takes in Glenfinnan, which, as Kim is a big Harry Potter fan, seemed to go down well ;-)

We first stopped off at Corpach to look at the boat wreck there but with the 80mph winds and driving rain we didn't get out the car. Still, it was a good recce for later in the day. Back on the road and heading towards Glenfinnan. I have driven past but never really stopped to take a wander up to the viewpoint to see the viaduct or the monument overlooking Loch Shiel, but today we did. I have attached a photo of the view looking out over the loch. Stunning!!

The weather really closed in after that and the next few hours we drove past many beautiful lochs, and up and down valleys full of stunning wildlife and views. Saw a few golden Eagles and many a deer and sheep. Luckily, only an odd human appeared now and then. You really feel a million miles away when up here. And that’s a good thing, I can tell you. :-)

As the day was ending and we were coming back round towards Ardgour on the north shores of Loch Linnhe, the clouds broke and lit up the Loch in golden light. We stopped opposite Fort William and I grabbed a few shots of the Nevis range in the most wonderful light. I started to think about the wreck at Corpach and wondered if I could get back there with this amazing light hitting it........

The race was on. :-)  Narrow roads, 80mph winds, logging trucks and mums on the school run! Not to mention Kamikaze sheep and the odd hail storm. But we were on a mission. 14 miles and about 20 minutes of light left. 

Don't worry, I realised I was never gonna get there :-(  The clouds closed in and the wind seemed to get even stronger with every mile closer to the wreck we got. By the time we arrived, I could hardly push the car door open, so strong the wind was. But I was determined to get something, so we headed to the beach.  I didn't get the light I wanted but the wind was pushing the waves right up against the wreck and it almost looked like the boat was being pushed onto the rocks as we watched. The photo attached is the final shot I took today. 

We got food and headed back to the pod to relax and get ready for our final day out and about tomorrow. The wind is supposed to get worse tonight so hopefully our pod won't be blown into River Leven and washed into the Loch :-)

Night all

[klrk007]

Glamping?? Should be Fun??

So as our birthday’s are only a few days apart I decided I would treat Kim to a few days in the wilds of Glen Coe and I decided we would stay at Kinlochleven in a glamping pod :-)

We have been looking forward to this, even though I only booked it a few days ago, a chance to escape to the wondrous scenes and peace and quiet. Also something new for us both and doing it together for the first time. :-)  

What could go wrong?? Hahaha well getting there and realising that there are no bed clothes or towels. Ach well a wee adventure it is then :-) The look on Kim’s face......... I couldn't even describe it. I think now a few hours later she is starting to get to grips with our lack of proper equipment and maybe will even enjoy this. MAYBE!!

Luckily the Glamping site is next door to and part of a hostel which has zero guests and we have it all to ourselves. :-) Feels like we have a mansion to ourselves. The plan is to “borrow” a pillow or two when its dark outside and no one will know about our lack of preparedness. Well you guys will.......you won't say anything??? will you??

The drive up through Glen Coe was amazing. As always. Beautiful scenery, Loch’s galore and a few stops to get some photos and a play in the snow at Loch na h-achlaise. Its a dream to be able to witness and get out and about in such beautiful winter conditions only a few hours from home.

If we manage to survive the night I hope to do some exploring around Fort William and Glenfinnan tomorrow.

The photos are from Loch Lubnaig from our journey here and I couldn't decide if I preferred Monochrome or colour. YOU decide :-)

[klrk007]

Day 5......

The Raining.......

So we were up at 03:30 this morning for the 5 hour drive south to Jokulsarlon. Why so early I hear you all ask?? Well it was our intention to make the most of the available light today and do loads of photography on the south coast and the Glacier lake. The days are quite short, sunrise 9am and sunset 6pm, at the moment and getting shorter. 

The drive down was fairly uneventful. A lot of snow up north faded as we got near the south. The mountain passes were fairly clear too which helped. So the day started well and we arrived at Stokksnes around 8am. Perfect time for the sunrise. :-) Except there was no sun in sight. The weather had really closed in and was rainy, grey and misty as the days usually are in Scotland. NOT what we had hoped for at all. :-(

In fact the rain was here to stay and never stopped all day.  A very frustrated couple of photographers we were.  We went to the Glacial lake at Jokulsarlon and on to a similar but more remote lake at Fjallsarlon. It was there that we decided to at least get a few shots and we walked and shot some images all around the Lake at Fjallsarlon. 

I have added one to this post. The ice chunks were huge and varied in shapes and colour. We got within 30ft the glacier itself and the scale was just unimaginable. 50 feet high at least and knowing the glacier stretched back for many 100km made me feel very humble indeed. This ice has been around for centuries and here I was very close to touching distance away. 

The rest of the day consisted of drying us and the gear out and a wee drive to Hofn to restock on all the bad food you could possibly imagine ;-) Tasty......but BAD!!

So again I will keep my fingers crossed for a better chance of shooting some ice on the beach at Jokulsarlon tomorrow but have given up on Stokksnes this trip. I will return............

[klrk007]

Day 4. 

Water chasing water down the waterfall........and geothermal power.

As you can probably guess from the title  the plan for today was to visit a few of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls. The weather was a lot kinder to us today and we did manage pretty much the full day shooting. :-)

We got up had a continental breakfast at the Guest house and set off west from our base at Reykjahlidh towards Godafoss. Godafoss is a place I visited back in April but I had no time to explore. I probably couldn't have done much back then due to a huge blizzard hitting the area the night before so was looking forward to spending some time there.

The weather was still overcast but no rain was falling and a few bright patches could be seen. In fact the light over Lake Myvatn as we drove past was too good to miss so we stopped for 15 mins and got a few shots of the volcano Hverfjall behind the calm waters of the Lake. There were some lovely pinky tones in the sky. (see above) :-) Here is a wee bit info on Hverfjall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hverfjall

We continued on towards Godafoss and the weather we were heading towards was getting worse and it started to snow. I started to fear for the worst but luckily as we arrived and started shooting the snow stopped and it got a little brighter. 

After a few successful hours taking photos at Godafoss, and managing to not fall in the river as we attempted to get some different angles, we decided to leave for Dettifoss. Just as we were leaving a guy thought it would be fun to fly his drone over to our side of the waterfall and crash it. poor guy :-) we left happy to have seen such an amazing place AND get some good shots too :-) 

Dettifoss is a good hour and a half drive from Godafoss and we went to the east side of the falls. The west side is much easier to get to as the road is tarmac. However the east side has, in my opinion, the better view so we braved a 28km gravel and pot hole road to see the “best” side. :-) Poor rental car :-)

I spent an hour at Dettifoss in April in a snowstorm so it really was good to see this amazing place in great detail and with good visibility. The size of the waterfall and the valley the river runs through are beyond words. Even the photos struggle to do it justice. It is PHENOMENAL!!!! You all must visit this place. :-)

We had to leave Dettifoss before we really wanted as the car needed gas and I knew the local filling station closed early. We had to make the trip back to Reykjahlidh to fill the car up as we are leaving very early tomorrow morning and heading to the south of the Island. So much to do and see down there but I am prepared for another long ass day of driving tomorrow. 

After filling the car up and a spot of tea we checked out a few local spots. First was Hverir which is a geothermal area with mud pools bubbling in the heat and large fumaroles with steam pouring out of them from many miles below as the fresh water gets heated up by the magma below and rises to the surface.

The last stop was a little landmark called Grjotagja. It was a series of caves formed by volcanic eruptions which have left heated pools of water within these caves. The heat was amazing. About 40 degrees celsius. The steam was rising out of these caves and it made quite a sight to behold. So obviously we climbed down and managed to get a few shots before the light faded completely. Then our minds turned to our journey south tomorrow. 

So now I am off to make sandwiches, shower and pack the car ready to leave at 3:30am.....

Night all. :-)

[klrk007]

Day 3, The Loooooong Road to Myvatn.....

Having spent the previous day on the Snaefellsness Peninsula we headed East to our next lodgings in Reykjahlidh on the shores of Lake Myvatn. Click the link for more info on this area :-) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mývatn

We knew the journey would take the whole day as we had planned a few locations to stop and photograph. The gravel and pot hole roads plus the incessant rain, and later snow, made the day a lot less enjoyable than expected. Most of the day was spent sitting in the car looking out into a grey mist. Having travelled most of this route back in April I was telling Dave how amazingly beautiful it was going to be and well worth the effort. I didn't expect it all to be hidden away. :-(  Poor guy still hasn't witnessed the amazing sights on this route. 

The one major plus point of the day was Hvítserkur. A 15 metre high Basalt sea stack that resembles a prehistoric beast drinking. I was a little unsure of the impact that this place would have on me. I was a bit apathetic to be honest but, I am glad to say, I was wrong.

Its a stunningly beautiful stack and a very peaceful location to spend a few hours with the camera. I will share a photo in an upcoming post. I have not had time to edit any shots from there just yet. 

So having left at 9am and arriving here at 9pm, and covered over 700km in 2 days, I am thankful to be lying here writing this and if I am honest really hoping the weather is kinder tomorrow.  We deserve it :-)

Keep everything crossed for us......

[klrk007]

Day 2 Heading North....

We got up early hoping for a decent sunrise but quickly realised that was not gonna happen. A very grey overcast morning it was then. A good day for a B&W seascape so we headed off in our very unwell sounding rental car to the coastline near the lighthouse we scouted out the previous evening. 

WOW!! was what we both said as we walked this particular part of Western Iceland. Just breathtaking. Sea stacks 50ft high sticking out the ferocious waves of sky blue set against a very dreich ( I am not sure if there is an Icelandic word for drench) backdrop. So even in the pouring rain we tried to take a few images to remember this scene. 

We took turns holding the brolly for each other as we set up the shot, cleaned the spray from the lens, focused, covered the camera again from the spray then quickly lifted the brolly to take a quick shot and then hoped we got something. This was repeated on numerous occasions to get us a few useable shots each. All of this done perched atop a small flat rock with barely enough room for us both. I shared one above. :-) Great fun!! :-)

So we packed up and headed back to the rental firm to see if we could get a car that sounded as if it might last a week around this volcanic Island. I was expecting a lot of negotiating but to be honest they were excellent.  We got a newer car without any issue. We both felt a whole lot more relaxed I can tell you. So off to Kirkjufell then......

The 2-3 hour drive up was fairly uneventful and the light was rather poor most of the way. We then hit the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the light Gods shone on us and we managed to get a few good shots on the way. The destination of our next guest house was in Grundarfjordur and we arrived about 5pm and went straight to the waterfall looking out to the mighty Kirkjufell mountain. Spent a few hours here taking a variety of shots in what was very flat and uninspiring light. I have attached one of my shots to this post. 

So off to bed we went quite early as we were both rather shattered. A good night sleep then off to Lake Myvatn.  :-)

[klrk007]

So I am back in Iceland for a week and tonights arrival went without a hitch. Well if you don't include a rental car that sounds like it may split in two on the slightest of bumpy roads. I am not exploring alone this time. Dave is with me and its his first time in Iceland. 

We got checked in and headed straight out, in the dark, to a location about 20 minutes away. Really just scoping it out for a sunrise on Tomorrow morning  but the cloudy skies cleared and some light came through the clouds. It dawned on us that the Aurora had made an appearance. :-)

so we tried to find the best angle to get the shots we wanted and I think we both got a few we like. So back to edit a them, write this, and get a few hours sleep before we return for sunrise and maybe even go and fight the rental company for a car that sounds whole. ;-)

Wish us luck :-)

[klrk007]

Expedition over and Homeward bound.......

Day 8 in Iceland and an 8pm flight back home........so what to do for a whole day??

Well I had a well deserved and much needed long lie in the guesthouse. :-) Had breakfast and packed the gear away for the last time. I had a few hours to kill as the drive to the airport was only  2 hours. So I took a wee detour around Thingvellir national Park which is a truly stunning and very Scottish looking area. So after this the I headed to the airport and took the road around rather than through Reykjavik as I was running late for returning the car. I will definitely have to return and explore Reykjavik some other time. :-)

So a very peaceful and uneventful day was followed by a stress free flight home and a bacon and egg sandwich waiting for me at 23:30 in Edinburgh on my arrival home. Its what parents do for their kids apparently ;-) 

After a good nights sleep I awoke with only thoughts of unpacking and restocking the house with food. :-) Oh and my memories and thoughts of my week long trip around one of the worlds untouched gems. 

So Iceland?? What is the appeal?? What makes me want to return?? What emotions does it evoke in me??

The appeal is the geology of the Island and the stunning sights that are the  consequence of such an active place. The huge beaches, jagged volcanic rock forced up from the ground below and the mountains high and rugged with so many shapes form the backdrop of the whole Island. I don't think there was a time where you didn't see a mountain in the background unless you were looking out to sea. Then the vegetation that manages to excel in such harsh conditions and the moss that covers the volcanic rock just amazes me.

I will return as there is still so much of the Island I want to explore. More time with some places I saw and time to explore new locations. Time in the summer months to witness the 24 hours of daylight. What an opportunity for a photographer. To capture a sunset normally you get a very small time frame. Iceland in the summer gives you many hours a day to witness the golden light and of course the effect it has on the Island. 

The emotions that I felt whilst travelling around this amazing place were varied from the euphoria of witnessing some of the truly amazing sights this world has to offer. To the feeling of fear when out in some of the wildest weather I have experienced. However even in those scary moments I was living out a dream. A dream I had hoped would come true but one I MADE happen as this place NEEDS to be seen. NEEDS to be experienced. NEEDS to be felt. 

No matter what you have planned for the rest of your life and places you no doubt want to see can I suggest that you put Iceland right at the top of your list. The sheer extremes of what you will witness are well worth the effort and you will be for the most part greeted with friendly and hospitable folk. 

Thanks to all of you who have followed this wee adventure of mine and I welcome any questions from you when you decide that its time for you to explore the land of fire and ice..........oh and WIND!!!!!!!!

#I<3Iceland

[klrk007]

Dreams can come true......

Day 7 in Iceland and a very very long day. Alarm went off at 05:30 and I was up showered and away by 6am. I had a long journey across the North of Iceland. The 454km was gonna take a while as the first half of the journey was on snow and ice covered roads. So I had prepared myself mentally for the day ahead. ;-)

The first stop along the way was Godafoss. Another of Iceland’s amazing waterfalls. Pictures just don't do these places justice. The drama and force at which these places hit you are hard to describe and harder to capture in a still photograph. Then when you factor in the conditions it truly feels like an accomplishment to just get there. :-)

 There had been a lot of snowfall here overnight and whilst the carpark was fairly near the waterfall as I got closer there was no obvious path to follow and it was very clear that it would have been very dangerous to try and get too close. So I took a few shots from a safe distance and carried on my way. I was cheered up further by a wee snow woman that a visitor must have made the previous day. So we shared a moment and numbers but I am not too hopeful of a serious relationship.......she had a frosty nature which even in our short time together was clear to see. ;-)

So off I went along the ice roads of North Iceland only passing the odd car or snow plough along the way. I didn't stop much through this part of the Journey as the roads were terribly slippy and for the most part down to one lane. I didn't want to stop to take a photo of the quite stunning landscapes in case of causing an obstruction or worse an accident. I do have to say the drive into Akureyri was one of the most stunning scenes I have witnessed in my life. The town is surrounded by mountains which were obviously covered in snow and it was just a picture perfect scene. :-) (with no picture to prove it lol )

 So I will fast forward a few hours to tell you about the Snaefellsnes peninsula. This peninsula is on the west of the Island and I had been told of its beauty beforehand and of course had seen some images that I wanted to get my version of. The 6 hour drive was more than worth it. The snow covered mountains and ferocious coastlines were a dream to see. The mountains here are very jagged and angry looking. Great for adding some drama to images. Then there are the little settlements all dotted around the coastline just looking idyllic even in the -7 degrees and snow showers. Really pretty places. I can imagine how they will look in the constant low golden light of the summer here. So much so that I want to come back in the summer months one day to witness it. 

I stopped in Budir a tiny settlement on the south of the peninsula. All I could see was a Hotel and farther down the road one of the main reasons I wanted to travel to Iceland. The Budir Kirk. I have shared an image on my Facebook page already with some history so won't repeat myself here but I love this place. It is a beacon standing in the wilderness. A real contemplation place for me. I feel tranquil just looking at the images of this place and standing there beside it I could feel the history and sense the many stories I am sure this building could tell. 

The final stop for me on my Journey around this amazing Island was a Guesthouse in Grundarfjordur. This place is also another reason for coming to Iceland. This picturesque village is dwarfed by a mountain named Kirkjufell. (See above photo) Shaped like a wizard’s hat it truly has a unique look and a waterfall not far from it and the combination of the two have made it a mecca for photographers from all around the world. I deliberately planned this as my last stop so my final memories of this great Island will signify at least once in my life that dreams can come true...........

[klrk007]

400km, 600 mtrs, 1 Blizzard and 4 studded tyres.......

Day 6 in Iceland and the most dramatic yet!! I came to explore the Island and have a wee adventure. I got one today.....

 So I awoke at 05:30 and decided to just get up pack the gear into the car and start the 400km journey from Jokulsarlon Glacier to Lake Myvatn in the North of the country. A 5 hour journey according to Google Maps. The day started of very well and I made good progress heading East along the South Coast. Stopping off only a few times to take photos of the Reindeer out early for their breakfast. Beautiful creatures indeed. They really compliment the beauty of the landscape along the South of Iceland. It is something I won't spoil for you but you need to experience it. Stunning!!!

After a few hours going along the coast the No.1 road (the main ring road which goes all around Iceland) takes a turn inland over a mountain range. “That looks like a good opportunity for some dramatic photos” I said to myself.  The weather had been quite fierce and especially windy at the start of the week but nothing wintery so I never really thought anything of it when I planned my route. 

As the climb started up the mountain range so did the snow start to fall. It was light flurries and very beautiful to see. Then in a blink of an eye the climb got steeper and the snow started to lie on the ground. I then started thinking do I turn back and add 2 to 3 hours onto my journey or do I just carry on?? I carried on. I love the snow and don't mind driving in it. The car I hired has studded tyres so I am equipped for a wee bit of the white stuff. I must admit to being very impressed with my driving skills to this point as the climb was very steep. At the top I was 600 mtrs above sea level. My ears were popping like I was taking off on a plane. However with every metre I climbed the weather worsened and at one point I had zero visibility and had to slow down quick whilst trying to see the road markers at the side of the road. These are spaced out every 20 metres or so and all of a sudden they are gone!!! SQEAKY BUM TIME!!!

Luckily I had my 4 Studded tyres to thank for keeping me on the road and in one piece. I had no idea how great these tyres were. I drove 200km on ice and snow and at times felt like it was a normal road. WOW gonna buy me a set of these for the 3 days extreme snow we have in Scotland every year. :-)

Sooo drama over for a wee bit and I made it to my lodgings at Lake Myvatn a few hours later than planned but a good part of the day still left to play :-) unpacked and had some lunch then I made the 40 minute trip to Dettifoss. 

Dettifoss is somewhere I have wanted to witness for many years. The ferocious waterfall is used at the start of the film Prometheus and they didn't need any special effects thats for sure. I had to endure another blizzard on the way there and the entire road there was 23km of ice. I don't wanna go on about those tyres but..........WOW!! 

So I got to the carpark and it was deserted. I sorta know why. Who in their right minds would even attempt to get here today?? The weather and driving conditions meant surely NO ONE would try it!! Well maybe a stupid but determined wee Scotsman?? Thats who!! 

The whole place was under 2-3 feet of snow and there is me wandering around aimlessly trying to find out where to go. Ended up knee high in snow and huge frozen puddles till I sussed out what those red sticks were sticking out of the snow for!!! A path at last ;-) So I set off very happy and excited till I realised it was about a mile trek through 3 feet of snow and sometimes more. All of this in a blizzard too. :-(

 I was walking along then you would  put your foot down thinking the ground is there but alas no!! Its 3 ft further down and you have one leg up to the knee in snow and the other trying desperately to save you from falling face first in the snow. Least it was a soft landing :-)

After a few slips and falls I made it to the waterfall. Just WOW!! I have no words!!! I didn't have the conditions today to take that award winning, million selling photo of Dettifos. Sometimes its not about the photos but the Journey and the Story........night folks ;-)

[klrk007]

Troll’s, Tides and Tiredness........

Day 5 here in Iceland and I had a longer lie this morning. ;-) only because I was up till 2am doing some night photography at Jokulsarlon Glacier. No Aurora but some stunning cloud formations and lots of stars. :-) It was also in my head to have a less busy schedule today. I am getting old after all. :-)

So after a quick shower and a bite to eat I headed to Stokksnes which was about a hours drive. The weather was as nice as it could be. Sun was out and only a stiff breeze. It really did show off this amazing country to its best today. So after stopping off to chat to some ponies........they really are everywhere and very friendly too. :-) I arrived at Stokksnes. The carpark was empty and it resembled a building site. Their was a no entry sign on the road to the beach so I got out and started the walk across to the Beach. Its about a mile or so over to the beautiful black sand beach with huge jagged mountains as the backdrop. I was excited  to finally get here. :-) 

So you wanna see the photos??? Well your not gonna get to lol. This is when I encountered a Troll. These are no longer mythical creatures it seems. A guy in his 50′s in an old Ford 4x4 pickup truck came racing along the road and pulled up beside me. I wasn't going fast as the gear ways a tonne and it was warm so he caught up with me fairly quickly. I looked round flashed my big smile and said morning in Japanese just to confuse him (I never really but you are probably losing interest so just wanted to make you giggle ) He then mumbles in broken english something about I cannot be here and 600 krona!!

Now I am in his country so his english I can forgive and I speak zero Icelandic but you just know when you have met a TWAT don't you. I again tried to communicate with him and he again said I couldn't be here and its 600 krona to drive to the beach. I said I was walking. He said I couldn't be here and it was 600 krona to go to the beach and the viking something or other. He then said there was a sign and a box to put money in. I didn't argue any longer and turned and walked back to the car. When I arrived at the car I looked for sign and a box. it was there. It was the most embarrassing thing I have ever seen. A 2 yr old could probably write a better sign. You know when you start writing and think you will fit it all in and then half way through you realise that it ain’t gonna fit.........well that was his sign. Started ok but by the end it was a cramped mess. So I took umbrage to his amateur business brain and refused to pay the 600 Kr. (its about £5 lol) and headed back to the guesthouse. :-)

I had said earlier that I was not planning much so I was not too unhappy to get back and chill for a few hours. Edited a few photos whilst listening to my playlist on spotify. I was tired and glad for a rest. :-) I also planned the next stage of my Journey. A 400km drive tomorrow to a place called Skutustadahreppur. ( easy for you to say )Taking in the sights and stopping off at Dettifoss ( a big waterfall) and Lake Myvatn  on the way. So a long day ahead. :-)  I guess I wanna see as much of Iceland as possible but realise there is no way to do it all in a week. So unless the Aurora alarms go off I am planning an early night and an early start tomorrow.

The relaxing didn't last too long. The weather was starting to cloud over and the wind had died right down so being only 10 minutes from Jokulsarlon I had a few more shots in my head I wanted to get. I love seascapes and I have saw many from here with the big chunks of Glacier ice getting washed up on the black sand beach. I really wanted to get a few of my own. I grabbed all my waterproof gear and headed down to the beach. The conditions here are wild. I was very aware that the waves are unpredictable and ferocious. I had been warned by a friend that I would find it hard to get the shots I was looking for and that I would end up wet. He was right on the latter point. I did however get some shots I am really pleased with :-) The bit he was right about came right as I was getting ready to go. I was feeling really smug as I had got loads of shots and only slightly wet boots :-) Then as I was taking my last photo (see above) this monster wave came hurtling towards me and my camera. I had just took the photo as the waves got too close for comfort. I picked up the camera and tripod from the sand and started to run towards safety. Now this beach is beautiful but littered with ice cubes that vary in size from a golf ball to a big car and beyond. I was running away from the wave but didn't see this chunk of ice so over I went falling my length onto the soft sand  beach. I fell on my right side whilst holding the camera above my body to protect it and then CRASH as the waves swept over me. I indeed got soaked. So the first thing i did........yeah I looked around to see if anyone was looking. :-) Luckily not hahaha. 

So off to the guesthouse to dry off and relax again before tomorrow’s drive around the east of the Island. :-)

[klrk007]

Ice, wind and warmth..........

Day 4 in Iceland saw an abundance of contrast. I  expected a lot yes. However I really never expected to be constantly blown away, figuratively and literally. 

So up early (again!!) and headed to Reynisfjara Beach to take some shots of the sea stacks there. The sun was shining and it really was a beautiful spring morning. Well that was apart from the wind. I thought the wind was strong yesterday. Oh no just warming up it seems. I have never experienced constant gusts of wind like this.

 I have atop the Storr and Quiraing on Skye experienced really strong gusts. This was constant. I could lean into it with my full weight for minutes on end knowing that if I didn't  I would be blown over.  It was quite an experience. So anyway I only got a few shots as the driving wind was picking up the sand and making it impossible to keep my eyes open. Taking photos with out opening my eyes just wasn't working out too great...... ;-)

So on to Vik. A small village just a short drive away. I had scoped out a few locations to capture the Kirk there. A beautiful Icelandic Kirk atop a hill. Looks awesome as you drive in to the village. I wanted to get some day shots as I had previously dodged the rain showers last night to try and get a shot with the lights shining on the building as it really stands out. I did get one but not as good as I had planned. (see above)   I got the shots I was looking for, and surprisingly, with no dramas. :-)

The next part of the day was a long drive over 200km to my next lodgings in a small place called Heli. I was planning on stopping at the Glaciers at Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon but had no other stops planned so expected to get there in a few hours. I hadn't planned on stopping nearly every 15 minutes to photograph the ever changing landscape.  It just blew me away how mother nature can create soooooo many different moods in one place. 

I saw picturesque rolling mountains, barren rocky moonlike surfaces, to jaggy volcanic rocks, to vast expanses of black sand, to 1000ft high rock faces carved by the elements into jagged patterns, Glaciers carving through the landscape to the most soft and beautiful moss covering the craggy volcanic rock like it is mother natures way of taking the edge off. The moss is amazing. The quilt like feel to it is something you have to experience to believe. You could almost fall asleep on the rocks. Even the wind seemed to disappear as I got there. I actually lay down looking up at the cloudless sky and asked myself “How lucky am I??”

After all the distractions of the day I finally got to Skaftafell and after the 2km walk to get there in the springtime sun I had to remove my jacket as the heat was like a Scottish summers day. So different from a few hours earlier and later as it turned out. ;-) I had never seen a Glacier before. Well on TV but you know what I mean. Its a humbling sight for sure. Throughout the last few days I have had one thought that keeps coming back to me. Nature is gonna win!!  I guess we all have our lives to live and we are on this planet for a very short time so we  all go and do what is important to us. Work, play, go on holidays and buy nice things. In the background, especially here in Iceland, so many other forces are at play. The constantly changing landscape and the ferocity of the weather makes me feel really insignificant. Very lucky but insignificant all the same :-)

So my last stop before checking in to this lovely guesthouse was Jokulsarlon. The wind had picked up again and trying to take photos in the sandstorm it created was not fun. It is a stunning thing to see. Huge chunks of ice coming off the glacier and heading down the estuary to the sea where the waves smash the ice up into smaller blocks and deposit on the black sand/pebble beach. WOW!! I am heading back there now to try and capture the sunset. :-)

Wish me luck..........

[klrk007]

Water, Pain and Ponies........

Day 3 in Iceland and it was an early start. Up at 04:30 to gamble on a sunrise at Dyrholaey and Kirkjufjara Beach. 

The snow had been falling overnight and left a pretty dusting of the white stuff. :-) I LOVE snow. I won't go into that now it will take a while ;-)

So off I set and whilst it was still a bit overcast there seemed to be a few breaks in the sky and that was enough for me. I didn't come all this way to sleep till 10am lol.

So I arrived at Dyrholaey a smidgen too late as the colour in the sky started to show as I was driving there. :-( I still got a few shots off looking over Kirkjufjara Beach though. :-)  It was actually good to see some colour though. There was to be a few breaks in the sky as the day went on....Still after not much of a sunrise I walked up to the lighthouse at Dyrholaey and took a few shots of the sea stacks. The overcast conditions and the gale force winds didn't give me much of a chance to get too creative so I left for Kirkjufjara Beach. 

As I arrived it coincided with a break in the sky. YAY!!!  So  I quickly rattled off quite a few shots of the single stack on the Beach and at last I was getting some shots I had envisaged getting. :-) The light only lasted 10 minutes so I set off to the pebble beach and hoped to get some nice seascapes with the white surf contrasting the black pebbles. :-)

So I named this post Water, Pain and Ponies.........the water part starts here and continues all day. :-) The waves were pounding the Beach with a ferocity I have never witnessed. Crashing into rocks and hurtling 30-40 feet in the air. I know this as I was “safely” up high on the cliff looking in awe as the waves set about changing the landscape right before my eyes. Then CRASH the most unexpected of waves crashed against the rocks before me sending gallons of water high into the air. I really should have foreseen this event..... but there is me down wind of a lot of water. I did mention it was a “little “ windy earlier didn't I?? Well the wind grabbed all that water, moved it 20 feet right on top of me. :-) Well all I could do was close my eyes and brace myself and my gear for the inevitable. Sooooo when its 6am and you and your gear are soaked through there is little else to do but smile, dry yourself off and get the FECK out of there. :-) after trying to catch the next big wave on camera that is ;-) So I did and left :-)

Then as I was walking to the car the first bit of the “Pain” from the title happened......Hailstones. Now!! I have experienced hailstones before. Loads of times. They weren't even very big!! 

Just think of when you were playing snow ball fights with your wee sister or brother. You would stand there and let them hit you as you knew it wouldn't hurt. Would you let the biggest guy at school do the same?? No! course not!! It would hurt right??  Well think of the wind I mentioned earlier as that big school bruiser. Would you let him throw one as you stood still?? NO!! Boy even the smallest Hailstones fecking hurt when accompanied by a Gale Force wind. OUCH!!!!

Ran......well walked quickly to the car, threw my in my gear and jumped in. PHEW!! I was still alive ;-) I then headed back to a few areas I had scoped out Yesterday. First off was Skogarfoss a very big waterfall :-) I love waterfalls. The single minded water heading to the sea and there is no stopping this stubborn entity. Just stand back and look on  in awe of the sheer power of perseverance. I luckily got a break from the wild weather for an hour or two and set about capturing some shots. I was early so no real tourist buses had dumped 40 very excited people on “my” territory just yet. :-) 

There are steps to the top of the waterfall. A good 200-300 feet up. I didn't count all the steps......there were hunners. ;-)  3/4 of the way up I stopped for a breather and to take in the scene around me. Then “Pain II” struck me!!!! I had dropped my filters at the foot of the stairs.............I actually swore ;-) then started the trek down all those “hunners” of steps again. Jees I was rather annoyed then eventually relieved to retrieve my filters. I guess for those who don't know too much about photography these filters help me get some creative effects in my images ( see above pic) not the pony one!!! So armed with my precious filters I look up and see they have installed even more steps and the waterfall is now 500ft high. :-) Well thats how it felt as I looked up lol. Its all about the Journey eh!! Up I went to the top. Spectacular it was too. :-) I took a walk along the river that feeds Skogarfoss to see where the Hell all that water was coming from.........apparently it was a very big river. I am glad I made the trek as there was a lovely set of smaller falls and the way the water had carved out the land was beautiful. The Pic that accompanies this blog is from here. I must have spent a good 2 hours there waiting for the showers to stop then quickly get a few shots then hunker down through the next shower and so on.

So Skogarfoss was done and I packed up and headed back down to the car and all those steps again. Still its way easier going down?? Right?? WRONG!! The school bully returned with his mates. Bigger hailstones and stronger wind equals PAIN III. The waterfall was getting blown back up the river  the wind was so strong. The fact I had left my gloves back in the Hostel sorta just summed up my day. I got back to the car rather sore and very cold. I threw everything in the car and switched the car on to try and heat up ASAP.  After a good 10 minutes I could smile without hurting :-) Grabbed a sandwich for breakfast then headed to what was my last location of the day (unless this weather changes quickly).

So now that I had eaten and was warm :-) I headed to Seljalandsfoss to get the shots I couldn't yesterday. On the way I spotted some Ponies. Now I had seen pictures of Ponies from Iceland before but I think they LOVE Ponies here. They are everywhere.....even in the sandwiches ;-) JOKING!!  The ones that caught my eye were more for the backdrop than the actual Ponies although they are cute eh :-) Thats the pic up top. :-)  Anyway, got to Seljalandsfoss and the weather was fairly calm so I managed to get a good selection of shots but not everything I had hoped. So I will need to come back again another time :-) However the last bit of “Pain” happened here and I got really lucky. I was using my “wee” camera to capture some tourists viewing the falls when a huge gust of wind blew my tripod over with my  “Big” camera and lens attached. I just caught this out the side of my eye and threw out my leg thinking “I would rather my leg broke!!” and whilst I softened the blow my camera hit the deck quite hard. Not grass oh no rocks and river. :-(   Luckily the tripod caught the worst and I still have all my gear intact to finish off the week....... :-)

Wonder what day 4 will bring...........

[klrk007]

Today was my first full day in Iceland and the weather has been overcast, very windy and very wet!! Pretty much a standard day back home ;-) 

After a decent sleep and pretty good breakfast at my Hotel in Keflavik  I headed south to Vik. The intention was to stop off at many locations on the way and get to Vik in the early evening. The weather pretty much scuppered that plan. Visibility was zero at times and the driving wind and rain never let me get the camera out much. That said you might expect my mood to be low.........NO CHANCE!! 

This place is soooooo different to anywhere and anything I have witnessed. One minute you are surrounded by jagged volcanic rock then 5 minutes later a black sand beach then onto a huge 200 ft waterfall. Soon after you are driving on a moon like surface with nothing to see all around you. It is a surreal place for sure and great for a photographer as whilst there may not have been much colour today the texture was everywhere I looked. 

So I arrived at my second location early and managed to have a wee scout about looking at a few more stunning locations. If the weather eases I am right bang in the middle of one of the most stunning and fierce coastlines I have seen. So join me in my dance for some sun and better light. :-)

Oh.......the Photo that accompanies this blurb is something that pretty much sums up the day. I took a wrong turn as I am not getting along with my Sat Nav and I ended up here. A nice wee Church in Grindavik.

[klrk007]

So the best part of travelling??????? I love a few hours in an airport waiting and watching. The people are different.....different nationalities and people you will probably never see again. You also see them at either their best or worst. By that I mean happy to be going on a holiday with their loved ones or just stressed to the max trying to find their gate or getting through security or trying to communicate with folk who speak a different language. Always a drama to see 😃 I love photography but people come a close second. Always wondering what is "their" story? Where are they going? Reading body language and emotions. Time just flies by...... 😃