Dark Skies Over Vestrahorn
The epic Vestrahorn mountain range in Iceland, captured in turbulent cloud which forms a blanket of eerie grey that shields the crooked mountaintops from view. ...
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The epic Vestrahorn mountain range in Iceland, captured in turbulent cloud which forms a blanket of eerie grey that shields the crooked mountaintops from view.
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Feb, 2018Views
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Contest Finalist in Black And White Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Moody Vistas Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot at the Vestrahorn mountain range on the Stokksnes peninsula in Iceland. Iceland had always been a 'bucket list' destination for me, driven largely by my passion for travel and landscape photography. I made my first visit in October 2017 and become instantly enchanted. I can't wait to go back and explore some more.Time
I got up early in the hope of capturing a unique sunrise shot, but the weather in Iceland is notoriously changeable and instead the dappled clouds and golden rays I was hoping for I got an incoming storm and sideways rain instead. I think people sometimes get deterred by bad weather for landscape shots, but in my view the weather is something that can make your shot truly unique if you 'lean in' to the challenge and try to adapt to it. The mountains of Vestrahorn are a well known vista in the landscape photography community, so I thought it would be a little playful to capture a scene with those iconic jagged mountaintops hidden from view. For anyone who has seen images of Vestrahorn before it's instantly recognisable despite the clouds, and for anyone who hasn't seen it the unique volcanic landscapes here still make for a compelling image.Lighting
Whilst I know some photographers would give up on trying to shoot landscape images in conditions like this, when I see dull overcast lighting conditions like this I see an opportunity for a dark and emotive image.Equipment
I'd just upgraded my trusty Canon 6D to a Canon 5D Mk IV before the trip, and this was one of the first shots taken on that new camera body. It was taken on a Canon EF 16-35mm f/4 L lens with a B&W 6 stop ND filter. I used a Sirui T-2204XL tripod to steady the shot in relentless wind and sideways rain!Inspiration
This location is without doubt one of the most captivating landscape scenes I've ever visited. From the early planning stages of where to visit in Iceland it instantly made the top of my list. Regardless of the weather not working out as I'd hoped on this occasion, I was still mesmerised by the atmosphere of the place. I wanted to capture something that would remind me of standing there feeling like I was looking at the kind of scenery Hollywood movies often characterise as 'other worldly'.Editing
When I was taking this shot I had a black and white image in mind, so I went straight to monochrome in post production. I underexposed the shot slightly to help emphasise the dark mood I wanted to evoke, and I processed the image using Lightroom and Nik Collection Silver Effects Pro to bring out the right levels of contrast across the tonal range, to ensure that the bright tones of the reeds in the foreground, the black lava sands and those rainclouds all stand out.In my camera bag
My go-to set of gear is a Canon 5D Mk IV, along with EF 24-70mm f/4, EF 16-35mm f/4, and a EF 14mm f2.8 lens. I also have a 50mm f/1.4 prime and a EF 70-200 f/4 which I'll pack if the trip allows - I travel a lot so size and weight is important. My Sirui T-2204XL slots on the side of a Manfrotto backpack to carry everything, along with a few spare batteries, a remote shutter release, etc.Feedback
My main suggestion is to embrace whatever conditions you find at a location rather than being deterred if you had something specific in mind. Sometimes those conditions you weren't hoping for can be the factor that allows you to capture something truly unique. In terms of this location, Vestrahorn is located in the east of Iceland, placing it well outside the 'golden circle' of locations within easy reach of Reykjavik city. However, if you have the time there are some amazing sights on the south coast of Iceland, and driving around is really easy. For this trip I landed in Reykjavik and drove directly to Stokksnes, then worked back to Reykjavik over a few days to take in some of the other sights on the coastal road. In Stokksnes itself there is also a mock viking village which was constructed for a film set, which is a short walk from the parking area for Vestrahorn - it's well worth a visit. There were wild Icelandic horses in the fields around the village which came to say hello, unperturbed by the ice cold rain and winds, and brimming with gentle character.
