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Kevin Pages
@kevinpages_
Photographer and videographer based in Iceland
I remember my teachers at the photography school telling us that a photo isn’t finished until it’s printed – A photo print is the final conclusion of an image.
The quality of a print depends on the type of paper used but also on the management of the color profile used according to the printers. We must regularly start with tests because what appears on paper is not necessarily the same as what we see on our computer screen. I recommend all photographers to experience it at least once because the process is particularly satisfying!
When it comes to creating an NFT of your artwork, it is slightly different. An NFT is a digital version of a photograph or other digital art so the process is more simplified as what you see on the screen will not change once minted on one of the various NFT platforms. However, most artists either want to include a physical print or allow the collector to print it themselves, in which case it is best to ensure that the file is ready for printing.
What I liked when I got into NFTs was switching from Instagram to Twitter and starting to interact with a whole community of artists and collectors. What builds and maintains the foundations of the NFT market is the community. The best way to get started in NFT is to take part in this community in an honest way by interacting with people from different backgrounds and learning from each other. My experience has shown me that things just happen naturally if we are patient and do not get discouraged when we do not sell anything.
To be honest, I have always been bad at promoting my work and branding myself, and I feel that hasn’t changed much, but if you put passion and skills into your work, and involve yourself within the communities you like to be in/are useful to be in, things will flow.
From the NFTs I have created, my drone photo of the Þjorsà river estuary taken in May 2020 is really special to me. I sold this one in my 50 Shades Of Water collection on OpenSea – without promoting it really.
"This photo is a result of my first time flying over the river and ever since I had an obsession with all the rivers of Iceland."
Foundation is another NFT platform where I have a photo that is still available; one of a road in the middle of the lava field. It’s a straight road through a lava field that extends over tens of square km. What makes this photo so special to me is that it is an image that I have always wanted to create in order to show the vastness of the place. The challenge is that this place is very often subject to bad weather conditions, strong wind, rain, snow, etc… This makes drone flights very difficult, nearly impossible. I have passed this road countless times without ever having had the right conditions to take this photo, except this time. While I was guiding a photo workshop, the sky suddenly cleared and we were between two clouds of rain with a few rays of sunshine breaking through, creating magnificent lights on the green moss which surrounds the lava field. Ten minutes later the weather was again bad with rain, wind, and very low visibility. This is a typical example of being at the right place at the right time with a little bit of luck!
A photo that I still want to prepare for NFT is one of my photos of the eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano, taken with a drone on the very first day of the eruption. This photo is a vertical panorama that highlights the young chimney of the volcano, only a few hours old. This photo is so special to me because it represents all the emotions I felt that day seeing a volcano erupt for the very first time.
While for many people it’s a special place to visit and will never forget about, Iceland has become my home and still surprises and impresses me every day. The video that I created for the @colorpro Film Festival and video contest shows perfectly why, presenting the viewer with Iceland’s precious landscapes and a few of the locations I love creating photographs or videos most.
When it comes to my favorite places in Iceland, Fjallabak would definitely be in my top 5, it is off the paved roads in the Highlands. Nature there is wild and untouched with ancient craters, large expanses of black sand and rocks, and incredible colors. Although very touristy, I love and recommend visiting Jökulsarlón (the glacier lagoon) and its diamond beach. Stokksnes is also a must see with the mountain of Vestrahorn and its vast black sand beach. Further northeast is Stuðlagil, a canyon made of basalt columns with a river running through it. This is also definitely a place that you will want to see to not regret it afterward if you don’t! Finally, I would say that the Dynjandi waterfall located in the northwest is impressive and majestic and deserves a detour. As a visual content creator in and a local to Iceland, there’s so much I’ve learned and discovered about both my profession and nature.
"As a visual content creator in and a local to Iceland, there’s so much I’ve learned and discovered about both my profession and nature."
There is no magic recipe and it’s not easy to build a successful life in Iceland, especially when you don’t speak the local language. However, being truly passionate about what you do and never giving up will get you very, very far. On the way to becoming a professional visual creator and making a living through it, there are plenty of difficult times and you have to keep the strength to get up and keep your positive attitude. It’s a rewarding adventure worth fighting for and living.
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