Just got back from 9 days driving around Iceland in a 4x4 camper. Its a place that allows me to unplug, get out of the US for a while and soak up days of landscape photography heaven. I took two drones, two cameras and an iphone 13 pro max. Something like 2,000 images from the GFX100s, hundreds of drone images and video and lots of fun video on the phone.
So far here are some highlights.
Sigoldufoss in the Highlands. GFX100s
Brennisteinsalda in the Highlands. Autel Evo 2 pro drone
Braided river near Landmannalaugar. Autel Evo 2 pro drone
Highlands landscape. Autel Evo 2 pro drone
Glacial ice on my favorite beach. GFX100s
Lake Frostastašavatn GFX100s and Canon 100-400 ii
One of many roadside views. GFX100s and GF45-100
Winding river shots reflecting sunrise on the way back to the airport. Autel Evo 2 pro drone
Thanks for looking. I already want to go back and I haven't been home 24 hours...
I really do love Iceland. This was my 5th trip. The weather forecast said rain all week but I was always able to find sunbreaks and tried to make the most of them.
I really like the Autel. I've never had any issues with it and its been all over the world. The IQ is stellar for a folding drone and I had 6 batteries with me to be able to always fly while charging 1 or two.
I also had an Inspire 2 with me and the X5S camera. Charging the TB50s is a challenge on car power and it flew only twice. Beautiful results though using the 50mm lens.
Really pleased with the images and video from the Iphone 13 pro max.
I like last image even if each one has unique feature (One of many roadside views. GFX100s and GF45-100) and
2nd of 2nd series (beautiful wild flowers and cliff)
Thanks so much for saying that. Its not only finding the composition but the spot to pull over to get it. The trick seems to be to look for gravel driveways. I was basically shooting from about 9pm until 4am which meant little traffic (sunset around 11pm into sort of a dusk light to sunrise at 3am). I would then drive to the next place to sleep for 6-8 hours and repeat.
Jim: I slept in a Mitsu Pajero converted with a bed and cooking area from GoCampers.com
I usually head straight to Costco from the rental lot, get supplies and a large pillow and then head east. I had a down quilt and was definitely warm enough. Two days, I slept 12 hours so it must have been working.
dakel wrote:
Beautiful work Mike. Look forward to seeing more. Your photos make me want to go to Iceland too, more so for the experience than the photography.
Thank you so much. The experience for me is one of bliss, having found a place where I feel like I belong and can breathe. It is relentless natural beauty coming at you in vivid colors and rugged textures. The photography allows you to hold on to this sense of something that is beautiful and right in the world and carry it back home.
mike reid wrote:
Thank you so much. The experience for me is one of bliss, having found a place where I feel like I belong and can breathe. It is relentless natural beauty coming at you in vivid colors and rugged textures. The photography allows you to hold on to this sense of something that is beautiful and right in the world and carry it back home.
Fascinating and gorgeous images Mike! Also love and resonate with your words in the above quote. Thank you for sharing your passion.
Great images, I've been wanting to go back ever since I went in 2017 in a campervan. When I was there, the 4x4 were outrageously expensive. Did you venture into the 4x4 roads? That's something I couldn't do with a van.
Yes still not cheap. I've rented the Dacia Duster twice now. Not the best for crossing the swollen June rivers and the interior is cramped. Last year, I had one with the clamshell popup tent on the roof which is best when its dry and not windy
This year, I went up a notch with a Mitsu Pajero with the rear modified with a small cooking area, sink with running water and bed. It worked well. I slept fine and it wasn't too bad with my luggage and pelican case.
I got up into the Highlands and roads F208 and F206. I would have done more but that was what was open last week.
Thanks for posting these great photos. I can't wait to go back and I plan on doing exactly what you have done here. I have not stopped thinking about returning and you have kept that fire alive. Thanks for sharing sir, great photos.
-Ken
An observation: My photo setup is two 27" monitors. A good number of the photos in your post more than fill the 27" monitor, and I cannot see the entire image on my screen, even with these rather large monitors. Maybe a smaller posting size would be worth considering?
(FWIW, from this forum's posting guidelines: ""Suggested" photo size for posting is 1200px longest side.")
Nice photos Mike;
it seems we were visiting about same time, but I was a bit more unlucky with weather in some areas I wanted to take aerials shots - like southern braided rivers; the winds and rain were too fierce for my mini2
Jokulsarlon, Vestrahorn and most of east Fjords were either severely clouded or rainy, and even Kerlingarfjoll - which I ended braving sideways rain sweeps after waiting for 6 hours for a clearing was not fully visible ofcourse. Early summer in Iceland is misleading.., but I would not stand the overcrowding of August either.
Thanks for sharing
An observation: My photo setup is two 27" monitors. A good number of the photos in your post more than fill the 27" monitor, and I cannot see the entire image on my screen, even with these rather large monitors. Maybe a smaller posting size would be worth considering?
(FWIW, from this forum's posting guidelines: ""Suggested" photo size for posting is 1200px longest side.")
Thanks.
Dan
The photos he posted are easily viewed in a browser on a 27" screen. If for any reason it overflows, you have to click on the image and a Lightbox opens and automatically resizes the images to fit the screen.
I'm glad Mike posted these large sizes and I hope he continues to post in these sizes.
, but I would not stand the overcrowding of August either.