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Can one single trip completely change your life?
With Dani Guindo (@hollow.sun)
"My name is Dani and I am a Spanish photographer based in Iceland. Since my childhood I have always enjoyed nature. Are you familiar with that feeling of belonging when you are in the wild?"
Perhaps this is why I feel more comfortable shooting landscapes rather than people. However, as I grew older, this passion for landscape photography vanished a little bit. It was kind of weird, since I could grab the camera and shoot a lot for a few months but then lose the motivation somehow.
But guess what! All this changed when I visited Iceland for the first time. I literally felt overwhelmed by the beauty of this island. So, as you can imagine, I spent most of my trip with my eye stuck in the viewfinder!
As I was born in Southern Spain, to discover such a different scenery was almost addictive for me. For a while I thought I was in a different planet! It was love at first sight, for sure.
After that experience, everything changed for me. I felt the need to move to Iceland, to explore that land deeply and document everything. So, after saving up for a while, I made the big move. I left behind my comfortable life in Spain and followed my instincts.
"Iceland was calling!"
Yet, starting a new life in a foreign country can be hard, especially if you don’t speak the language. In comparison to Spain, Iceland is quite expensive, so I spent several months working full-time in a “regular” job and feeling stuck in the city. But I was taking every opportunity I had to get out there with my camera and see what I could find. Actually, since I moved here, I haven’t spend a single day without feeling the urge of going out there to explore and look for new locations to photograph.
I think it’s the out of the ordinary what draws me the most. At the beginning I felt captivated by the northern lights, the black sandy beaches and the volcanic craters. But there’s always something new here to discover!
"Ash desserts, colossal structures emerging in the horizon, ice giants, the details in every frame, the isolation and melancholy that this land detach… Those are the things that attract me the most."
I love the whole creative process in landscape photography. For me, is just the best kind of therapy one can do. Sometimes with a photo or a plan in mind. Other times just with the sake of being out there and see what you can find.
I think it’s important to know what you’re passionate about in order to keep yourself motivated and inspired all the time.
Many things inspire me nowadays, from music and movies to other photographers. But there’s one thing that stands above the rest. Iceland’s landscapes, the brutal weather and the ever-changing conditions that comes with it
"When you have your main source of inspiration just in your backyard, it's difficult to not feel motivated!"
Last December I quit my regular job and decided to pursue my passion and become a full time photographer. It was a big step, and it’s challenging, stressful, unstable and scary at times. But being able to be out there almost every single day is what makes me truly happy.
I feel so lucky to wake up every morning in such a beautiful place…I just can’t get enough of it!
"Honestly, I can't see myself living anywhere else in the world. My passion for the North grows stronger every day!"
5/5
