My name is Thorsteinn Roy Johannsson and I am a photographer and filmmaker based in Iceland. I grew up in the Icelandic countryside, on a farm called Svínafell. Growing up in a place like that shapes you for a lifetime. When you live so close to nature, you experience and understand the environment in a different way. I only realized that when I moved away from Svínafell; living in such a beautiful area was so normal to me, that I took it for granted.
Now I am aware that I’m quite lucky to live in Iceland, being a photographer; in the same day Iceland can give you all kinds of weather and the light can change dramatically in matter of minutes. However, I always enjoy traveling somewhere else to discover new places. I share that interest with most people and probably 99% of photographers. When so many people are “playing the game” of Instagram, traveling around and posting amazing pictures, it is very easy to get carried away and try to compete in the posting game.
This is the most important part for me. I want to keep doing this, because I love to do it. I don’t want to keep doing it for anyone else. Your motivation for doing something should come from within. Social media is such a great tool to share your work and to get to know people. But it can be tough on you as well, because it is in our DNA to please others. And sometimes, pleasing others can direct you in the wrong direction.
That is why I always try to stay close to myself while editing the pictures. Because even though nothing really beats exploring the outdoors and playing around with the camera, I really enjoy the editing process as well. It’s always a great feeling when you are heading back home from a mission with a lot of new material that you look forward to edit.
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