The land of Ice and Fire
Feb, 2019Views
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Awards
Action Award
Zenith Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 22
Creative Winter Award
Hidden Gem Award
Spring 21 Award
2020 Choice Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Virtuoso
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Behind The Lens
Location
This Photo of the Skaftafel glacier was taken in Iceland when I visited in December, 2018.Time
When we found that there were vacancies in a glacier tour. We booked it promptly and started the 150 km drive to Skaftafel from Vik. With the Icelandic weather being as it is known for, we soon started to see the clouds part and by the time we reached the glaciers the sun was shining brilliantly. What followed was beyond my wildest dreams as I was greeted at Skaftafel with the most amazing lenticular cloud formation which is what you see on the lst of the frame. It shone brilliantly from while to gold to pink as the sun went down. This has remained one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.Lighting
This is a handheld panorama, as I did not have wide enough lens with me at the time but I decided the scenery was too grand to be captured fully in a single frame and just ignored all the rules I had learnt at the time. I had no idea that they would even stitch until I sat down in front of my computer days later. The brilliant clouds are reflecting the golden sunlight with the backdrop of a teal sky. The clouds also lit up the glacier beneath. the clouds are obviously the first thing to notice here and I wanted the viewer to guide through the scenery in the same was as I saw it. The clouds to the mountains beneath to the glacier which leads to the sun on the right and the molten glacial river.Equipment
Shot on Nikon D750 with an Irix 15mm, f/2.4 lens.Inspiration
This was an unexpected gem. My original intention was to shoot the glacier and the mountain and find compositions with some of the icebergs. but the majestic cloud just took over everything and had to be the star of the show.Editing
Usually any Raw image will need a bit of post processing. For this one, it is a handheld panorama and I was not even sure if it was going to stitch. But after I stitched it, I did some basic processing with lights and highlights and made some area specific changes to have all the stitched photos be consistent in color and mood. At the time, i had limited knowledge of Photoshop so stayed in lightroom mostly.In my camera bag
A Nikon D750, a 15mm or a 20mm depending on where I am going and a D3400 for those quick long unexpected compositions that may creep up on you. A flashlight, a wipe cloth and a remote shutter.Feedback
Iceland is amazing and one of the few things in Landscape photography is understanding that there are every chances of finding unique landscapes even in the most visited places since chances are that the light and sky you are getting is unique. Light is the ruling factor in landscape photography in my opinion. I know people who have spent days or months in a place to find the perfect light or have been back a number of times in search of it. All you need is one good lighting condition, so just shoot away and practice so you know what to do when you do get that light.
