Gram and White 1/2

For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger, photographer and photo guide based in Reykjavik, Iceland. I always go the extra mile to get the shots and get off the beaten track to my special off the map spots.  If you are interested in a photo workshop/tutorial whilst in Iceland, get in touch!

Ice cream comes as standard in all photo tours. As does fun, adventure and a tonne of awesome shots.

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After the New Life post, Im going back to what I do best, at least better: that is to say, go somewhere great with a great shooting partner and take pictures.

So off I went with Gunnar  (Icelandic Explorer) one glorious evening to shoot. We left very late, but it was OK becuase it was the height of the long summer nights: more than OK, it was perfect. We took a sweet Toyota Hilux from Toyota Iceland, made a quick entry into the highlands before descending into a lush green valley filled with farms and rivers. By the time we came out of the valley, the light was even better.  We continued onwards and upwards to the west, shooting all night until we could shoot no longer and collapsed in a mess of exhaustion.  

The second half forms part of the next blog post.

Photography by Joe Shutter and Icelandic Explorer

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter

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The Glow: 2/2

For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger, photographer and photo guide based in Reykjavik, Iceland. I always go the extra mile to get the shots and get off the beaten track to my special off the map spots.  If you are interested in a photo workshop/tutorial whilst in Iceland, get in touch!

Ice cream comes as standard in all photo tours. 

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This is the second half of my "glow series of posts, two in total. They were shots on the some day, about six hours apart from another. 

It was a light of majesterial quality and duration. It never got dark. The. "midnight sun" in all its glory

Often used as a marketing ploy by Icelandic companies, people get a little bit confused about the midnight sun in Iceland.  The sun does always set; that is to say, go below the horizon. Always. Except for five minutes on June 21st where it is visible as the "midnight sun".

My definition of the midnight is not "soft daylight all night from the sun which is just below the horizon" my definition is "sun shining continuously all night", and this is only possible within the arctic circle, below which Iceland sits by about 1.5 degrees north.

Technicalties aside, it is a site to behold indeed. There are also very few of these nights due to bad weather, the curse that comes with the blessing. Although it has to be said we have had a marvellous summer in Reykjavik this year.

Here are the shots from one such an evening.

Photography bf Joe Shutter

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter

Off the Map

For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger, photographer and photo guide based in Reykjavik, Iceland. I always go the extra mile to get the shots and get off the beaten track to my special off the map spots. Ice cream comes as standard in all tours.

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There is nothing I love more in Iceland than a special, little-known spot. As so many of the well-known begin to feel like "theme park Iceland", it is nice to be reminded/to discover that some things are still sacred. So it was that Icelandic_explorer and I set off to spend some quality time with a beautiful falls on the south coast. The weather was great which helped so much: its a magical thing when light and water meet. Earthly delights.

We explored, we danced, we rejoiced, we even had lunch! For one shot, I even had to take my shoes off and and cross the fast-flawing (but shallow) stream. The legs cramp immediately, and as long as you are safe, the ends justify the means.

On the way down, we also met some horses (they always like company) and found some old turf houses. Its amazing to think that for centuries, Icelanders lived in these very basic settlements, struggling against the elements all day, every day. Its amazing to consider how much easier life in this country is now today in relation to in the past. The houses are a humbling reminder.

We also found some lambs. cuteness overload. When they nurse from their mother, the tails wag really fast. I stopped the camera down about as far as it would go to get the shutter speed down to capture the motion blur. Worked out nicely.

Photography by Joe Shutter and  Icelandic_explorer 

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter

Sculptures

For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger and photographer based in Iceland. 

I pass on what I learn out here through my  tailor-made photo workshops and tutorials. They can be as long or as short as my clients need them to be, and I always go the extra ten miles (or ten hours) to get the shots and get off the beaten track wherever possible.  

If you are interested in a photo workshop/tutorial in Iceland, get in touch  through my email ( joeshutter101@gmail.com ) or through my Instagram handle @joe_shutter . 

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Today, I have very little to say. I swung out one cloudy but peaceful Afternoon with my friend Sahara Rós (Sahara Rose, a desert rose, nice idea don't you think?) Sahara knows this bizarre little spot out in a suburb of Reykjavik and we went there one day recently.

There is also a strange procession of large aluminium sculptures with a path that runs through, each about as strange as the last. A little more research about them certainly wouldn't hurt. It will be updating accordingly.

In the meantime, here the results of that lazy afternoon. I do hope you enjoy.

Photography by Joe Shutter and Sahara Ros

Joe Shutter

Trees of Green

For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger and photographer living in Iceland. 

I pass on what I learn out here through my  tailor-made photo tutorials and workshops. They can be as long or as short as my clients need them to be, and I always go the extra ten miles (or ten hours) to get the shot, get off the beaten track and share my special "off the map" locations.  

If you are interested in a photo workshop/tutorial in Iceland, pleas contact me through my email joeshutter101@gmail.com  or through my Instagram handle @joe_shutter . 

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Trees in Iceland. Its an interesting subject. Essentially. there aren't any, at least by most countries standards. For this reason, Icelanders have a modest definition of a forest.

Its an interesting story because no one really definitively knows why there are so few trees in Iceland. The fact remains: the growing season is very short indeed, about three months. 

This then has to be taken into consideration along with the theories available: one, it is postulated that Iceland was very well forested when the first settlers arrived, and that most of the land was deforested through animal husbandry and necessity.

The historical tales are replete with stories of Iceland as a green, fertile and wooded land, but it is not known for certain whether these were tall tales in order to encourage emigration to Iceland and further settlements

Anyway, as it is, this post is about a little ramble that Frank and I had through Iceland's largest forest, as well as the lake along which it lies 

Photography by Joe Shutter and Rock Scissors Taper

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter