A taste of Iceland

denisegoldberg

Iceland has been tucked in the back of my mind as a travel destination for many years. It jumped to the top of my list of potential journeys this year; I visited for the first of what I suspect will be many visits for 10 days in September. I could easily have spent a full month there, and I still would have felt the need to return.

Reykjavik is a 5-hour flight from Boston, close enough for one of my somewhat crazy long weekend journeys, far enough away to drop me into a place that looks very different from home, a set of volcanic and glacier-carved scenery. There were places that reminding me of Hawaii (the Big Island where the wares of Madam Pele are readily seen), and others that brought to mind scenes in Alaska.

After an overnight flight, I started with a quick wander on the Reykannes Peninsula while I waited for the Blue Lagoon to open for a soak in the warm waters there.

Next stop, 2 nights and a day in Reykjavik. I've learned over the years that when I'm adapting to a time change - especially when heading east - that I can use a semi-rest day. Rest? I walked, and I walked, and...

I arrived in Iceland with reservations for a car, and for a B&B in Reykjavik for the first two nights. Ah, two nights gone, time to wander. I followed the Ring Road and some offshoots, heading to the north and east. The weather changed, from rain, to dry, to lowering clouds, to rain again. Gray...

Heavy rain disappeared by the time I arrived in Stykkishólmur, my home for the night. I had to walk to the top of a bluff on the harbor, nice...

I dropped south a bit to pick up the Ring Road again to head north and east again. It was a usual "Denise with a camera" drive. I stopped whenever I felt the pull of the scenery. Ah, really, when I felt that pull plus found a reasonably safe place to pull offf the road...

Iceland, the land of 10,000 waterfalls! Goðafoss is spectacular!

I got as far as Mývatn. I thought about continuing on my clockwise voyage around Iceland, but then I looked at the weather report for the next day. If I changed direction, circled back the the west and south, then headed east again, it looked like I would have one full and one partial non-rainy day. If I continued forward, the next two days looked to be total rainouts. You're right, I changed direction, revisting land I'd seen in a few days before. But it does look different when you're facing another way...

I touched a piece of the Golden Circle, stopping at Kerid, Geysir, and Gullfoss.

As I dropped back to the Ring Road and continued to the east, the clouds dropped and the rain started.

It was a rainy, rainy night, with a wet start to the next day as I traveled from Vik to the Glacial Lagoon, and then back to Skaftafell.

The next morning provided a mix of dry and wet walking before heading back towards Reykjavik. My journey was close to over.

I'll be returning to Iceland, likely more than once!

Thanks for looking over my shoulder. If you'd like to see more, click for my words or photos.

--- Denise

cmkultradome

Denise - thanks for sharing! Looks like a great trip, lovely pictures. Iceland is on my "bucket" list and I guess I never realized that it was closer than I thought. Heck, its a 5 hour flight west to Las Vegas from the east coast, maybe I'll have to head east next year. The scenery is just breathtaking.

Stephanie

jackiejay

youve captured it beautifully thanks for sharing it

denisegoldberg

cmkultradome wrote: »

...Iceland is on my "bucket" list and I guess I never realized that it was closer than I thought. Heck, its a 5 hour flight west to Las Vegas from the east coast, maybe I'll have to head east next year. The scenery is just breathtaking.

Thanks Stephanie!

I highly recommend a visit there. I know I'll be returning; the only question is how long I'll be willing to wait in between trips.

jackiejay wrote: »

youve captured it beautifully thanks for sharing it

Thanks for looking too!

--- Denise

Awais Yaqub

These are beautiful, photos gave great sense of freedom.
Thanks for sharing

denisegoldberg

Awais Yaqub wrote: »

These are beautiful, photos gave great sense of freedom.

Thanks Awais! It's a truly beautiful place.

--- Denise

ian408

What a great way to spend a long weekend!

denisegoldberg

ian408 wrote: »

What a great way to spend a long weekend!

Actually, this was a 10-day trip. The long weekend will happen, just not sure when! (Although sometime in the short daylight time of the year somehow appeals to me...)

--- Denise

Stella7d

Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing....I almost felt as if I'd gone on the journey!

denisegoldberg

Stella7d wrote: »

Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing....I almost felt as if I'd gone on the journey!

Thank you!

--- Denise

Lesley Bray

Thank you Denise - I enjoyed each and everyone of those amazing photographs - Australia is so far from everywhere !
Lesley

Icebear

So mysterious looking. You really show how "bad" weather can make for beautiful photography.

chrisjohnson

Marvellous pictures - thanks for sharing.

denisegoldberg

Thanks to all who commented.

Icebear wrote: »

So mysterious looking. You really show how "bad" weather can make for beautiful photography.

It's funny you say that. I was quite happy to have gray decorated skies, but when I got home some friends told me it sounded like I had terrible weather; I think they would have wanted pure blue above them.

--- Denise

wpbarr

Wonderful photos! Especially the shot of the blue ice.

schmoo

I don't know how I missed these, but wow what a gorgeous place. You have no idea how envious I am that Iceland is only 5 hours away from you! It's high on my list of places to visit, and hoping to make it in the next year or two.

Looking forward to your subsequent visits. I can only imagine what great sights you can find as you become more familiar with locations and the weather.

denisegoldberg

wpbarr wrote: »

Wonderful photos! Especially the shot of the blue ice.

Thanks Bill! I've always been fascinated by the color of glacial ice.

schmoo wrote: »

I don't know how I missed these, but wow what a gorgeous place. You have no idea how envious I am that Iceland is only 5 hours away from you! It's high on my list of places to visit, and hoping to make it in the next year or two.

Thanks Schmoo.

I can't believe how many years I spent thinking I should visit Iceland instead of just jumping on a plane. I always have too many places I want to see and too little time - but Iceland is staying high on my travel list.

--- Denise

Travel

Very nice. I have always wanted to go there. Thanks for sharing.

kdog

Wonderful journey, Denise! I don't believe I've ever seen a travelogue of Iceland like this before. Beautiful place and beautiful shots. So much water and greenery. It reminds me a lot of Arizona.








Not. But seriously, it looks like a photographers dream there. I can see why you want to return.

Ed911

Very nice...made me feel like I was there. Can't wait ot see more.

Thanks for sharing.

OfficeHeroes

Wow! This has made my yearning for Iceland even stronger, I've wanted to go there for years! Now I really have to start planning a trip!
I just love the power the blue water and ice has in these pictures.

Elaine

What a beautiful place and wonderful photos! Amazing to think it's only 5 hours away. Thanks for sharing!

urbanaries

Oh Denise!!!

Iceland is high on my list...I don't think I could ever do it justice the way you have though!

For anyone who is waiting on their Iceland trip piggy bank to fill up too:D, I highly suggest spending $20 on this DVD in the meantime. Iceland for all the senses...AHHHH!

Love the grey skies and clouds and wet feel to everything. Although, I am stunned by the symmetrical beauty of your pond reflection shot.

jasonstone

Nice shots! I loved Iceland when i visited

if you get the chance go for a whale boat trip from the north (i could find the company we used with a little work...)
had 2 cameras one with 24-70 and one with 70-200 and naturally using 70-200 thinking i won't have enough reach with that
then we look down and the entire length of the boat - RIGHT BESIDE US - was a big Minke whale - incredible!!!

hmmm got me wanting to go back again too now must look for cheap flights hehehee

denisegoldberg

Thanks to everyone who has replied here. It brings memories of my trips flooding back (not that those memories were too far away).
I haven't planned a return visit yet, but then again I haven't planned any trips for next year yet (either). I wonder...

kdog wrote: »

...So much water and greenery. It reminds me a lot of Arizona. Not. But seriously, it looks like a photographers dream there. I can see why you want to return.

It absolutely is a photographer's dream. But hey - I'm going to get a chance to shoot some of your desert landscapes too since I'll be heading to Death Valley in just a few weeks.

urbanaries wrote: »

Iceland is high on my list...I don't think I could ever do it justice the way you have though!

....Love the grey skies and clouds and wet feel to everything. Although, I am stunned by the symmetrical beauty of your pond reflection shot.

Thanks for the compliment, but I've seen your work - you absolutely could do it justice (and more!).

That pond reflection was just to the side of the Ring Road. It was one of those Denise stopping moments... I saw the pond, the reflection, and I immediately looked for a reasonably safe spot to pull off of the road. It was really hard not to stop!

jasonstone wrote: »

...if you get the chance go for a whale boat trip from the north (i could find the company we used with a little work...) had 2 cameras one with 24-70 and one with 70-200 and naturally using 70-200 thinking i won't have enough reach with that then we look down and the entire length of the boat - RIGHT BESIDE US - was a big Minke whale - incredible!!!

I may very well take you up on that offer at some point. Thanks!

--- Denise

lnorm

Great photos Denise, we've discussed possibly going to Iceland some time next year, it looks amazing!

R.Jay

Hi Denise, Fantastic series - it is on my 'bucket list' as well - but as someone has already said - everywhere is a long way from Australia. In the meantime I watch the DVD Heima by Sigur Ros. The sights and music of Iceland.

Cheers, Richard.

linandjirsa

Gorgeous country. The skies are so dramatic in the images. I'm glad you didn't blow them out! As a personal preference, I would have done some dodging and burning on the skies to bring out the drama a little more.

jpope42

From the images you shared, Iceland seems like a truly magical place. I'm really impressed by the sense of space in the landscape, really endless. I think you're on the right track about the short day time of year. Somehow it seems like the low light angles would really add to the magic.

jasonstone

denisegoldberg wrote: »

I may very well take you up on that offer at some point. Thanks!

--- Denise

Hi Denise,

I remembered it - here it is
http://www.northsailing.is/home/

very cool place and nice people with beautiful traditional boats

denisegoldberg

Thanks to all who posted. If you're thinking about heading to Iceland with your camera, think no more! Just GO! I can't wait to see your photos...

jpope42 wrote: »

From the images you shared, Iceland seems like a truly magical place. I'm really impressed by the sense of space in the landscape, really endless.

It really is magical, beautiful, calming. It's a good place to visit with a camera, but it's also a good place to sit or stand or walk, absorbing the beauty.

jasonstone wrote: »

http://www.northsailing.is/home/

very cool place and nice people with beautiful traditional boats

Looks wonderful, definitely on the list for my next trip. Thanks!

--- Denise