From Moonset to Sunrise..
A few nights ago, our last night in Akureyri, I had a bright idea.. Following reliable information from the Icelandic Met. Office that the Aurora was in an active phase and we were in for a clear night. How nice it would be I thought to photograph Godafoss under moonlight with the northern lights thrown in. A plan was duly hatched to leave Akureyri at 2am which we did, in sub-zero temperatures and snowy roads.
Completely dark and clear skies are best for viewing the Aurora but even with a full-ish moon, if activity is good, the Aurora can be seen. We got the clear skies, the Aurora however, failed to show.. in super sub-zero temperatures, there is only so long one can hang around waiting. That said, we were at the falls for about three hours. As we left, mainly due to the cold having got through to our bones, the first rays of the dawn could be seen.
As we drove on, we were treated to a quite extra-ordinary sunrise. The colours were so vivid, rather than upping the saturation a little, which is usual with a RAW file, I was seriously thinking I would have to desaturate. As it is, I’ve left the colours just as nature presented them to my camera, nothing added, nothing taken away..
This post has been sitting around unfinished for a little while which as the last few days have been very intense, photography and travel wise, and there just hasn’t been time which, on reflection, is just how it should be. Click on the images for a clearer, sharper view.. :-)
52mm f/8 4 sec. ISO-50
24mm f/11 0.8 sec. ISO-100
24mm f/11 1/4 sec. ISO-100
24mm f/11 0.8 sec. ISO-50
24mm f/11 1/4 sec ISO-50
Cornwall Photographic 
These are really great !
March 7, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Thank you Kenny!
March 7, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Quite worth it! It’s hard to decide whether I like the dramatic first photo better, or those ever so subtle washes of pale color. Both!
March 7, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Thank you Lynn! The moonlight was quite harsh, the rising sun ever so soft and gentle to start, I like both too, the pastel shades were straight out of the paintbox.. :-)
March 7, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Sorry the Aurora didn’t show up, Adrian. The dawn light is intense and I particularly like the image with the road snaking into the distance
March 7, 2015 at 6:48 pm
There’s a couple of nights to go Andy.. Fingers crossed but the beauty all around, it’s almost too much for the senses to take in. The road image was one of my favourites. Thank you.
March 8, 2015 at 6:16 am
Marvelous colors and landscapes
March 7, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Thank you very much Lou! :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:17 am
Hope you were bundled up sufficiently. As Lynn said, quite worth it! I like both, too.
March 7, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Lots of layers Gunta, thank you. In fact difficult to move around I’ve got so many layers on but keeping warm is so important.. :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:17 am
Excellent series, Adrian.
March 7, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Thank you so much Harrie!
March 8, 2015 at 6:18 am
These are beautiful shots. I Like very much.
March 7, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Thank you Isabel! :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:18 am
WOAH! All the images are absolutely beautiful but that top image is superb! Glad you’re enjoying the moments. WordPress will always be here ;)
March 7, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Thank you Marina! I’ll have lots to keep me busy when I get home.. for now, too many more photographs to be taken yet.. :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:19 am
Beautiful images Adrian, letting nature do what she does best in all this simplicity. The last image holds my gaze like a moth to a flame, again just beautiful.
March 8, 2015 at 1:42 am
Thank you Lee! That’s very kind of you to say! :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:19 am
Great shots – I can feel the cold!
March 8, 2015 at 3:44 am
Thank you Carol! :-)
March 8, 2015 at 6:20 am
wonderful pictures, Chillbrook.
March 8, 2015 at 7:32 am
Thank you so much Shimon!
March 8, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Amazing images! In particular I like the shafts of light in the first photo.
March 8, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Thank you very much Rhys!
March 8, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Wow! Those skies are something else!
March 8, 2015 at 6:04 pm
They really were, thanks for commenting! :-)
March 10, 2015 at 8:33 pm
I was just checking out the Blog having seen the mention of Cornwall in the title. For a minute there I thought wow, I’ve really been missing something! Stunning pics.
March 8, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Thank you Paul! :-)
March 10, 2015 at 8:33 pm
shame the Aurora didn’t turn up, but you got some stunning images all the same. Truly saturated colours, must have been wonderful sights!
March 8, 2015 at 9:19 pm
It was very beautiful Sue! :-)
March 10, 2015 at 8:39 pm
Beautiful sunrise photos, Adrian! It was all well worth it. You seem to have been nicely infected by the Iceland virus, it happens all the time! :-) Enjoy, have a wonderful time up the North.
March 9, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Oh yes, Dina, very heavily infected :-) Thank you so much!
March 10, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Extraordinary scenes ~
March 9, 2015 at 10:50 pm
Thank you Mary, they are indeed! :-)
March 10, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Beautiful series Adrian
March 10, 2015 at 5:10 am
Thank you Beth, much appreciated! :-)
March 10, 2015 at 8:32 pm
A pity the Aurora didn’t show, but don’t give up. You obviously still get some exquisite images. Beautiful colour tones and lights.
March 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Thank you Otto. It was a shame the northern lights didn’t show this time but there will be other trips.. Next time I’m sure I will get the shot I have already so carefully composed in my mind.. That said, I certainly didn’t go short on lots of wonderful photographic opportunities.. :-)
March 10, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Beautiful colours Adrian….the land of fire and ice
March 11, 2015 at 10:53 pm
It is indeed the land of fire and ice, thank you Mark!
March 12, 2015 at 4:44 pm
STunning, Aurora or not!
March 12, 2015 at 12:10 pm
It’s a shame the aurora didn’t show but I was pleased with the photos we got anyway! Thank you again Elena! :-)
March 12, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Perfect set Adrian – excellent spectrum
March 16, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Thank you so much Scott! I’ve never taken pictures in such strong moonlight before. The light was perfect and with this backdrop, apart from the biting cold and searing pain in my fingers, it made for perfect conditions.
March 17, 2015 at 7:48 am