Angelic Aurora

In late February, I ventured back to Iceland for a week-long road trip. My previous visits were always in warmer months, but experiencing it in the winter has been a goal for some time. Primarily, I hoped to witness and photograph the northern lights. Within 6 hours of arriving, I was fortunate to accomplish both.

Shortly after arriving, I picked up my vehicle and drove 4.5 hours (at night) on snowy/icy roads to reach the area with the best chance to witness the spectacle. There was no guarantee that the weather would allow a glimpse of the northern lights, but the forecast was promising.

I arrived here at 10 pm and the skies started to clear around 11 pm. I eagerly awaited the appearance of any aurora activity, and at midnight the first glimpses started to be visible. Their activity increased over the next 45 minutes and it became a genuine light show. Despite the freezing, windy conditions, I was immune to the cold as I witnessed the dancing and swirling over Kirkjufell (Church Mountain). Around 1 am the clouds moved in, the show came to an end, and I started noticing the tingling in my fingers and toes.

As I packed up my equipment and walked back to my vehicle, I reveled in what I just experienced. Having been to Iceland 5 times, I have come to appreciate these precious moments when the weather cooperates. All you can do as a photographer is give yourself the opportunity for a great image.

The next 6 days were dominated by winter storms, "white-outs" of blowing snow (where driving was impossible), cloudy night skies and few, if any photo opportunities. I continued to put myself in position for photos, but during one 48 hour stretch, I did not even take off my lens cap.

This can be Iceland...frustrating, unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving. However, when everything aligns, it is magical…and why I keep coming back.

Majesty

This is not new...the location or the image. It is, of course, Kirkjufell in Iceland.

While I have previously shared 2 other images of this majestic mountain, this image has been lingering in my library for years. It is one of my favorites from my first trip to Iceland, but I was reluctant to share it until now. The main reason for the delay is that this location is one of the most photographed places in Iceland. Most of you have undoubtedly seen similar images on Instagram or online. With so many images floating around already, I figured there was no rush to post another. However, I saw the image the other day and it made me smile, so I reasoned it was time to share it.

I was blessed with a beautiful sunset that lit up Kirkjufell as it fell beneath the clouds. As I often do, I tried my best to take it all in as the colors formed in the sky and the sun slowly disappeared. It was the first of many moments I have spent in the presence of what I now consider to be my favorite mountain.

Yes, there are seemingly countless images online of this iconic scene. None of them, however, can replicate the splendor of seeing it in person. Everyone (photographer or not) who has stood here will agree with me on that. It is a special place.

You can see more evidence of this by revisiting my previous posts on Kirkjufell here and here.

Kirkjufell (Church Mountain)

This is Kirkjufell, one of the most famous mountains in Iceland. It is situated on the coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, near Grundarfjörður, a small village in western Iceland of about 900 residents. It may also be the most photogenic mountain in Iceland as it can be photographed from many different angles. This is not the most popular view of Kirkjufell, but I love it though as the symmetry of the landscape is almost perfect. Not only is the mountain shaped like a pyramid, but the distant hills on the left and right mirror each other just as the road mimics the left shoreline. It was just starting to rain and the dramatic sky was the perfect complement with the clouds swirling around the tip of the mountain. I stayed for three days in this area photographing Kirkjufell from every angle in constantly changing weather. It is a magical place and I will share more photos in later posts as it never fails to disappoint. It is one of my favorite places in Iceland and I can’t wait to return to see it (and photograph it) again.