BruceLeventhal
BruceLeventhal

Jokulsarlon_BTL9307-Edit-Edit



Views

169

Likes

Awards

Peer Award
jerseybrat611 Obidon michaelstephens bob_phillips_6919
Superb Composition
EJGJRobyn Jomcpark
Top Choice
lizertle Rwozney
Jaw Dropping
lizaotrefy
Outstanding Creativity
dwreid68

Top Ranks

Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 2Top 20 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 2Top 20 rank week 1
Clash Of The Pros Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Clash Of The Pros Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Freshmen 2016 Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 1
New Community Member Photo Contest Vol 18 Top 10 rank
See all

Behind The Lens

Location
I am a nature photographer who has spent the better part of thirty years traveling and shooting areas as diverse as Alaska, Costa Rica and East Africa. After visiting Tanzania in 2008 and Kenya in 2010, I thought had experienced the best that photographic adventure has to offer. About two years ago I began seeing photographs from Iceland and became enchanted by the raw beauty of its simple landscapes. The raw beauty of Iceland became an overwhelming allure, and in the summer of 2016 I decided to do a self guided photo trek along the south of "the loop road." One of the most captivating locations appeared to be on the southern edge where glaciers calve icebergs into a glacial fed lagoon. The image presented image was made on the western edge of the Jökulsárlón lagoon during a stormy morning in June.
Time
Knowing that I would need to visit Jökulsárlón more than once, I arranged a three day stay at an inn near the lagoon. This photo was made during my second visit to the lagoon, in a shoot which lasted nearly five hours. Beginning around 5:00 a.m., I shot continuously, yet took only 75 pictures or so. Most of the images were redundant compositions where I varied focus and exposure in order to maximize depth of field and dynamic range. In the end, the shoot led to ten uniquely different photographs that are now a treasured part of my portfolio.
Lighting
While images from this area emphasize the blue lagoon and blue ice floating about and reflecting the light, I was drawn to the graphic nature of the day and location. While I have processed this in color, I knew that the image would be a black and white photo from the moment I squeezed the shutter release. The light in the distance reflected off the water and sky and ice "sculpture" in a way that I had never seen before.
Equipment
The photo was made with a Nikon D810 and Zeiss ZF18mm f/3.5 lens. I used an Induro GIT303 tripod and Induro BH3 head to get low and produce a stable platform for a 1/30 second exposure at f/16. In addition, I used a Lee filter holder and 3-stop hard ND filter to bring down the exposure of the sky.
Inspiration
Inspiration is a funny thing. I had seen a number of images by Martin Bailey from the same location. The photos that seemed quite compelling were black and white images of waves sloshing around growlers (ice blocks) where the icebergs meet the ocean. While I admired that work, I wanted to do something different. Rare for this location, my wife and I were the only people in this lesser visited region of the lagoon. The solitude allowed me to study the area and provided me with the liberty to improvise. As I was sitting at the edge of the water, I saw a block of ice drift by. Like the facets of a diamond, the ice caught my attention. I walked into the ice cold water, flooded my boots and retrieved the ice. I then propped it up against a rock and started to play with the composition. What you see is both a mix of something very natural and something contrived.
Editing
Post work is fifty percent of every photograph I take. I am an unabashed pixel pusher. While I do not do collage work, I will work exposure and sharpness to match my final vision. This photo began in LightRoom CC where it received a typical treatment that I do to virtually every raw image. I then created a tonal mask to create some separation between the clouds in the sky. The black and white conversion was aided by Nik Silver Effects Pro. I began with a "smooth structure" preset and modified the tones to differentiate the ice from the rocks on which it sits.
In my camera bag
I am as much a wildlife photographer as I am a landscape shooter. As a result, my bag contains quite a bit of gear. I generally carry a Nikon D810 and Nikon D500. My lenses include a Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 AFSII, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6G VR, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G VR, Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G, and Zeiss ZF18mm f/3.5. I pack all of this and my filters into either an FStop Tilopa bag with the XLarge Pro ICU or the Gura Gear 22L bag... I pretend that the gear does not matter, but this is a big fat lie!
Feedback
I've been making images and blogging about the process for a long time. A former field ecologist turned high school biology teacher, I learned something very useful as an academic: Invest personal time to learn and study your subject. There are times when this investment should be done at a computer or with a book, however, when it comes to photography, I think time spent in the field is your best investment. As stated above, I made arrangements to visit this location on multiple occasions in a short period of time. The repeat visits allowed me to study the light, the movement of water and patterns that include peaks and lows in tourism. The time spent studying a location allows for novel ideas to emerge and provides you with the opportunity to be creative and do something different.

See more amazing photos, follow BruceLeventhal

VIEWBUG
Join to share your photos
Already have a VIEWBUG account? Log In

*By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and to receive VIEWBUG emails & updates and acknowledge that read our Privacy Policy.