Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows Everywhere..
Touring the Reykjanes Peninsular on our third of this last trip to Iceland, autumn colours were vibrant and as we were heading back along the southern side of the Peninsular, the rain showers were massing and with bright sunshine interspersed from behind us, the inevitable result was rainbow after rainbow. None of us had ever seen such vibrant rainbows before. As with a lot of things about Iceland, the drama is always heightened… :-)
Sony ILCE-7R 24mm f/11 1/200 sec. ISO-100
Two of my Iceland pictures have just been shortlisted in the Outdoor Photographer of the year competition and will be published in a book due to be released next year. The two pictures are the waves crashing through the ice that I posted on my last post from Jökulsárlón and this one that you’ve seen before, in fact I posted it a little while back but it remains one of my favourite pictures. It was favourited by two National Geographic Editors a few weeks back and can be found under Editors Favourites with around 700 likes on the National Geographic website.
It was taken on my first ever trip to Iceland and I think it was the afternoon that I took this picture that confirmed I was smitten with this amazing island. From a photography point of view my inspiration was rekindled and from a personal point of view, I’d never before visited somewhere that brought me such peace. That said, I did find something similar on the slopes of Fuji-san in Japan when I lived there in my late 20’s. Both volcanic regions thinking about it. Perhaps paradoxically, the raw energy just below your feet has something to do with that..
Nikon D800 70mm f/11 1/15 sec. ISO-100
Cornwall Photographic 
Two stunning photographs!
November 24, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Thank you Jane! :-)
November 24, 2015 at 9:57 pm
So beautiful. I especially liked the second one.
November 24, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Thank you very much Shimon!
November 24, 2015 at 9:57 pm
Outstanding photos!
November 24, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Than you very much!
November 24, 2015 at 10:07 pm
Very beautiful, and awe inspiring photos deserving recognition, congratulations.
November 24, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Thank you so much! :-)
November 24, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Congratulations on your photographs being selected, doesn’t surprise me with the professional quality you captured with each and every shot. Your last photograph here is absolutely stunning.
November 24, 2015 at 10:39 pm
That’s very kind Mary, thank you! :-)
November 24, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Stunning photos Adrian, especially the second one!!! :-)
November 24, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Thank you very much Andy! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:47 am
You’re welcome :-)
November 25, 2015 at 9:41 am
Huge congratulations!! Well deserved too :-) You’re an inspiration Adrian, as are these stunning images!
November 24, 2015 at 11:15 pm
Thank you so much Sarah! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:49 am
Really pleased for you :-)
November 25, 2015 at 11:03 pm
:-)
November 26, 2015 at 7:11 pm
You are very talented Adrian and deserve recognition. I especially love the second image.
November 24, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Thank you Jude, I really appreciate that! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:49 am
Your photos of Iceland always leave me starstruck, Adrian. “Heightened drama” is a very good description indeed. Your images make me want to see what you have seen in real life, but actually the photos are so good that I’m quite content just to drink in their beauty. Congratulations on being shortlisted on ‘Outdoor Photographer of the Year’ and also on all the likes you’ve received on National Geographic. Awesome achievements! :)
November 24, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Thank you Sylvia! It’s been an amazing year! I first visited Iceland just about a year ago this week. I can’t quite believe I’ve managed to clock up five visits but EasyJet fares at under £50 made that possible. I’m looking forward to many more visits! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:52 am
You are so lucky to have these travels, and great photography. Or should I say magic. Especially the last one, it will be classic!
November 25, 2015 at 12:40 am
Thank you Bente! I do feel very lucky. Iceland is pure magic! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:45 am
Sigh…just brilliance in these photos. It is inspiring to see what can be created by a lens and the determination & skill of a photographer’s eye. Beautiful work Adrian, and of course congratulations!
November 25, 2015 at 2:38 am
Thank you so much Randal. It’s been a good year that’s for sure! I like your use of the word determination. I think it’s so important with photography like any art and craft. It takes time, time and determination to keep honing skills and developing a voice and working through those times when you just want to throw in the towel when you feel you’re not getting anywhere and you’ve just junked another day’s photos. It certainly doesn’t happen overnight. We all have to just keep getting out there and keep taking pictures which I certainly intend to keep doing. :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:04 am
You define the term of professional photographer very well ~ “determination to keep honing skills and developing a voice and working through those times when you just want to throw in the towel ” ~ and as you’ve shown once you’ve gone through all of this the reward is some stunning captures. Cheers to a great finish to the year :-)
November 26, 2015 at 2:40 am
Thank you Randall! It has been a good end to the year. Lots to look forward to in the next.. :-)
November 26, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Easy to see why that second image won such honors. Both images are incredible. You’re certainly done Iceland proud.
November 25, 2015 at 2:55 am
Thank you Gunta! Iceland has done me proud! I can’t wait for the next trip. :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:04 am
This is stunning Adrian!
November 25, 2015 at 3:23 am
Thank you Marina! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:05 am
Great rainbow! And congrats on the photos and book etc – well deserved :)
November 25, 2015 at 3:42 am
Thank you Stacey! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:05 am
Congratulations Adrian!
November 25, 2015 at 4:40 am
Thank you very much! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:05 am
now i am confused with which one i like more ;)
November 25, 2015 at 7:54 am
Thank you Joshi! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:13 am
Congratulations for the OP and NG selections!! Gorgeous photos!
November 25, 2015 at 8:19 am
Thank you Mercedes! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 8:51 am
Wonderful … complete arcs of rainbows over the landscape… I remember this moment very well ChillB .. it was a real stop and start kind of day for sure .
Many congratulations too – as you already know – :-) on your successful entries and NG photos , so well deserved x Keep it up :-)
November 25, 2015 at 9:56 am
Thank you Poppy. It was a memorable afternoon wasn’t it? The rainbows were incredible! As you say it was a real stop/start kind of a day. But then most days in Iceland seem to be like that! Here’s to the next trip! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Great news Adrian….the last shot is one of my favourites too. I’m not surprised at all that it was selected by National Geographic.
November 25, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Thanks Mark! Much appreciated!
November 25, 2015 at 7:00 pm
This is photography on his best! Magical feeling.
November 25, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Aww, thank you Lou! :-)
November 25, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Truly beautiful compositions! !
November 25, 2015 at 9:40 pm
Thank you Trees! :-)
November 26, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Indeed vibrant, both with respect to colours and light. And two stunning images, as you always to be able to create wherever you go.
November 26, 2015 at 9:47 am
That’s very kind Otto! Thank you! :-)
November 26, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Congratulations on the well deserved recognition. No question that the photo of the church, barn and amazing light on the clouds is captivating – and it happened because you were there at the perfect moment, and knew what to do bring it to others.
Interesting thought, the contrast between the fiery underground action and peaceful above-ground feeling. Have you read Robert Macfarlane? I’m reading “The Old Ways” about walking the land. The sections on islands in the outer Hebrides might be of interest – he’s a great writer and was able to see this old land, that’s not so far from Iceland, with new eyes.
November 26, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Thank you Lynn. The book you’re reading does indeed sound interesting. Robert Macfarlane isn’t a write I know. I really like the sound of ‘The Old Ways’ and will definitely take a look. I can download to my tablet. Thanks for the introduction. Looking forward to the book having read the back cover! I think it’s really important for us all to connect with our planet in a meaningful way. I’ve found that very easy in Iceland and as I mentioned, Japan. Sitting surrounded by bubbling pools of boiling water, and clouds of sulphurous gases at Hveravellir, where I felt a particular connection, it’s a bit easier I think to really get a sense of the ‘living’, breathing earth beneath our feet.
I found it to be a very humbling experience, knowing that whatever we do as a species, the earth will go on. It’s barely started to cool in the eons since its formation. I found that very calming and comforting in a strange way. Perhaps not so strange. I just hope we, again as a species, can learn to live in symbiosis as we used, to with our planet rather than behaving like a particularly nasty virus in the way we (more so corporations and their greed of course) treat our host. Oops, gone on a bit. I really never used to think about such things Lynn, until I took up photography and started to connect with what I was photographing. :-)
November 26, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Congratulations Adrian. Both these images are stunning. Look forward to seeing the book next year.
November 28, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Thank you very much Simon!
December 1, 2015 at 9:04 pm
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Congratulations! …. although, for me, your last image is the ‘top shot’ – I’m sure that speaks volumes about me rather than your photography! :D It’s really beautiful and ‘speaks’ to me …
November 29, 2015 at 10:22 am
Thank you Noeline. The last image is certainly my favourite.
December 2, 2015 at 5:21 am
Strikingly beautiful, Adrian…..
November 29, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Thank you Scott! :-)
December 2, 2015 at 7:26 am
Beautiful pictures. And the second one is stunning!
November 29, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Thank you Andrea!
December 2, 2015 at 7:26 am
Two wonderful pictures!
November 30, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Thank you! :)
December 2, 2015 at 7:27 am
Outrageous beauty!
December 8, 2015 at 8:13 pm
It really is! Thank you again! :-)
December 15, 2015 at 7:18 pm
The second image is that truly special moment that would grace any fireplace – outstanding
December 18, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Thank you so much Scott! A lovely compliment!
December 25, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Such a lovely post! Happy to connect 😄 Do check out my writings too, will appreciate your reviews 💕
December 23, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Thank you very much. I will certainly take a look! :-)
December 25, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Stunning images, Adrian, and congratulations…I have literally only just seen this post as WordPress seems to have ‘unfollowed’ me….I decided to go looking, as I hadn’t seen anything from you for yonks
January 28, 2016 at 8:28 am
Thank you Sue! WordPress does have a habit of doing this sort of thing!
February 8, 2016 at 6:14 pm