Join Isleifur Elí as he takes us on a virtual trip to showcase the extraordinary beauty of Iceland, a land that often feels like being in multiple worlds. In this article, Isleifur shares his most valuable experiences that have shaped his perspective on this mesmerizing country. Get ready to be enchanted by the wonders of Iceland!
My love for travel and adventure has always been my top priority. Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated with exploring new destinations and seeking unique experiences. Photography came into my life later, serving as a means to capture all cherished memories, primarily for myself. However, I soon realized that sharing these moments with others brought me immense joy.
Nowadays, photography has become my true passion, and I find myself inseparable from my camera. It has become a constant companion, and I rarely step out of my house without it, always ready to freeze time and create lasting impressions through the lens.
Getting my driver’s license was a huge moment for me. It meant I could be free to go wherever and whenever I wanted. During that summer, I embarked on my first solo road trip around Iceland, and since then, I’ve been seeking out adventures as much as possible.
For a while, I stuck to taking photos with my phone. However, the turning point came when I climbed with my friend one night under the mesmerizing northern lights. He captured an amazing shot with his camera, blowing me away. I knew I wanted to take pictures like that too. That’s when I finally decided to invest in a proper camera, and soon after that experience, I bought my very first one.
After many trips and countless photos taken, four valuable lessons stick out:
1) Don’t hesitate to adjust your plans as you go. Sometimes things don’t go as expected, and you have to be ready to adapt fast.
2) Stepping slightly out of your comfort zone is the key to personal growth, and some of my fondest memories were created that way.
3) Being with friends who share your passions is crucial and fulfilling.
4) Keep some emergency snacks in your bag because photo sessions often take longer than you expect.
I want to show a glimpse of what makes Iceland so unique. Iceland’s nature is often compared to being on another planet, but it’s like being on multiple worlds. In a single day, you can experience lush purple lupine fields and waterfalls, barren black sand deserts, soft green mossy hills, rough and colorful geothermal highlands, frozen icy blue glaciers, and sometimes active volcanoes. Such a variety of incredibly beautiful landscapes is rare to find anywhere else.
I feel proud of my latest work because I’m improving and learning more with each photo I take. Right now, I’m genuinely proud of this drone shot I captured. It shows a volcano surrounded by smoke, with another ancient volcano framed in the background.
I aimed for a dramatic look, toning down most of the blues and greens, leaving a vibrant fire orange that cuts through the landscape.
The framing of the photo before editing was crucial. I wanted to ensure both volcanoes aligned perfectly to create a striking contrast between the old and the new. The rest of the editing mostly involved color correction and basic masking to enhance the scene’s mood.
I learned the importance of taking a break and starting over if needed. I edited this photo three times before achieving a truly satisfying result.
Based on my experiences with photography and my passion for travel and adventure, here are my four key ingredients for a fantastic landscape photo:
Choose stunning and unique places to capture breathtaking sceneries. Road trips normally offer the most possibilities, and this is particularly true in Iceland.
Utilize the most beautiful lighting conditions for your photography or as inspiration, such as the enchanting glow of the northern lights that motivated me to invest in my first camera.
Experiment with different angles and perspectives to create visually captivating shots. The photo I mentioned earlier, with the volcano surrounded by smoke and another ancient volcano in the background, always comes to mind in this regard.
Infuse your photos with a narrative or emotion, allowing your audience to connect with your adventures and experiences. This storytelling aspect has been essential to my photography journey.
One of the most significant projects throughout my career was during the last volcanic eruption in Iceland (the previous year). I had always dreamt of capturing photos and videos of me and my friends biking down to the volcano, and I finally made it happen.
Surprisingly, those images allowed me to collaborate with some brands I now work with regularly. This experience taught me not to doubt myself and to follow my vision, even if I wasn’t certain about its success.
My ultimate goal is to be happy and live a life of freedom. So, I will continue doing what makes me feel fulfilled and allows me to embrace that sense of happiness and freedom.
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Chris first honed his craft as a concert photographer in Toronto before his love for travel led him to explore over 30 countries. Now based in Miami, he focuses on capturing the essence of places through intentional composition, immersive color, and a deep connection to his surroundings, creating images that transport viewers into the moment.
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