The Sun Also Shines – Part Two
Last week I posted some sunny pictures from Iceland. These are not the pictures I like to take of the dramatic weather that happens there but when the sun shines, it’s a delight and so I decided to share some of my sunny day pictures for a change. These pictures were taken of the Vatnajökull Glacier as it spills down from the massive volcano summit at two of many locations, the much photographed Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the not so often visited Hoffellsjökull. I say not so often visited, I mean by tourists. There are hot spring pools here that are very popular with local people.
The day we visited there were a plethora of huge oversize wheeled pick-up trucks, the bigger the wheels the better apparently, as is the way with some Icelandic men and I have to say, probably unfairly, a certain piece of banjo music came into my mind. I’m sure in reality, they’d have been very welcoming (no not welcoming in the “Deliverance” sense) if I’d stripped off to my shorts in the sub-zero temperatures and joined them in the wooden tubs fed by the hot springs but I had photographs that needed taking. Maybe next time.
For those of you not of a certain age, I apologise for the movie reference made in this post but can recommend the film Deliverance, made in 1972 with Burt Reynolds, John Voight and Ned Beatty. A very scary movie with a brilliant bit of banjo playing at the beginning. Look up Duelling Banjos on YouTube if you’re not familiar. The film follows three guys who decide to take a canoe trip into back woods USA with terrifying results.
..And now I feel old. I’ve just realised that when I was a youngster they’d only just mastered sound on films 4o odd years old and certainly hadn’t cracked the colour equation yet.
But I digress, here are some pictures of these two beautiful locations. Glaciers can look downright grey and dirty and not at all attractive in the summer months but in winter, they are stunning.. :-)
230mm f/5.3 1/250 sec ISO-50
70mm f/11 1/80 sec. ISO-50
70mm f/11 1/50 sec. ISO-50
31mm f/11 1/40 sec. ISO-50
70mm f/11 1/40 sec. ISO-50
24mm f/11 1/30 sec. ISO-50
24mm f/11 1/125 sec. ISO-50
195mm f/11 1/160 ISO-50
Cornwall Photographic 
Absolutely stunning!
July 31, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Thank you very much. These Glaciers are incredibly beautiful in winter. :-)
July 31, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Great to see these images, Adrian – such a contrast to the winter landscape!
July 31, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Thank you very much Sue! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:46 am
😀
August 1, 2016 at 7:51 am
Very nice. I’m a bit farther now, but would still like to visit someday.
July 31, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Thank you Emilio! I hope that you do get there one day. I don’t think you’d be disappointed.
August 1, 2016 at 7:46 am
Vast beauty, a chilling set of scenes that you have the talent to capture like no other…great series Adrian.
July 31, 2016 at 7:25 pm
Thank you so much Randall. It’s such a pleasure taking photographs in this stunning landscape! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:45 am
Superb..that blue hue is so stunning…very well exposed, cannot be easy.
July 31, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Thank you Paula! The ice and snow in bright sunshine does present certain challenges. The colours are indeed amazing. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:44 am
Wow. All those shades of blue . . .
July 31, 2016 at 8:12 pm
The colours are delicious! Thank you for your comment! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:43 am
Stunning indeed Adrian. I esp liked the final shot. And know what you mean about the dirty, gray moments. But they’re amazing at any time IMHO!
July 31, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Thank you. The glaciers really are amazing at any time Tina, I agree wholeheartedly. To think the ice has been there for thousands of years is quite something to get your head around. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:42 am
Absolutely stunning pictures! You’re so talented :)
July 31, 2016 at 9:12 pm
You’re very kind to say. Thank you! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:41 am
Fantastic shots. Must be amazing to be there.
July 31, 2016 at 9:26 pm
It is indeed! Thank you! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:40 am
Must give Iceland a go – I think there is now a flight out of either Aberdeen or Inverness direct – I will save my pennies I think – fabulous set especially the 3rd image
July 31, 2016 at 9:36 pm
Thank you Scott! Iceland is definitely worth a visit. It’s suffering a bit from it’s popularity. It would be difficult now to repeat a lot of my shots because the vast numbers of tourists taking selfies in the way. That said, if you hire a car and get off the beaten track, there is a lot of stunning photography to be had. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:40 am
Stunning! I laughed remembering Deliverance, we are offering similar age I presume
July 31, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Must be! Thank you very much. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:38 am
Beautiful shots of a fascinating landscape.The thought of volcanoes and glaciers (together) is incongruent but it makes for a beautiful sight.
Yes, I’m feeling old, too. :)
August 1, 2016 at 4:45 am
Thank you Mr Dragon. Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice. The volcano below this particular glacier was threatening to erupt during one of my visits. The result was a lot of melt water from the glacier entering the rivers making the waterfalls in the north particularly spectacular. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:35 am
Another fantastic gallery, Adrian. I particularly like that last image with the strong foreground interest.
August 1, 2016 at 7:26 am
Thank you Andy. That last image is a particular favourite of mine. I love the way the wind and weather sculpts the ice. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 7:37 am
That’s exactly what the wind does high up in the Alps too. And I notice the blue and green ice you get in Iceland too – the colours can be extraordinary.
August 1, 2016 at 9:00 am
I expect by now Andy you’re very much looking forward to seeing it again! I hope the weather has improved a little.
August 1, 2016 at 2:34 pm
We’re hoping it will have done by the time we get there
August 1, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Fingers crossed for you Andy! :-)
August 1, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Your photos make me want to jump into them to be there the fast way… :-) What a magical country! And what magical pictures to show it…
Deliverance… yes… same generation more or less, I guess ;-)
August 1, 2016 at 11:48 am
Thank you very much! Really appreciate your comment. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 2:34 pm
I love Hoffellsjökull ! A bit off the main road and not very visited, featured in the Batman’s begin movie (you can also use that as a movie reference :p). So pretty.
August 1, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for your comment Gin. I didn’t realise that was a location in Batman Begins. I’ll have to take careful note if I watch the film again. :-)
August 1, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Apparently that’s where they film the Razalgul and Batman training/fight in the first opus :-) Iceland is so famous for super hero film/tv shows and I think they have decided to create special tours with that kind of thematic :-)
August 1, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Interesting. I guess there would be a market for that sort of thing.
August 1, 2016 at 4:07 pm
Gorgrous pictures of high quality
August 1, 2016 at 6:48 pm
Thank you very much Lou! :-)
August 2, 2016 at 6:35 am
Absolutely stunning images, Adrian. Surreal is the word which immediately comes to mind. Now that you’ve mentioned the movie ‘Deliverance’, I think I’ll have to watch it again. Those dueling banjos were amazing. :)
August 1, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Thank you Sylvia! The banjos were amazing. Scary film though.. :-)
August 2, 2016 at 6:35 am
Yes I remember, although not too clearly. I think we will watch it this evening. 8O
August 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Enjoy Sylvia! :-)
August 2, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Brilliant Adrian
August 1, 2016 at 7:25 pm
Thank you Mark! :-)
August 2, 2016 at 6:35 am
Wow…fantastic photos…this mountines cover with snow is something fantastic…this shadows and clouds and white color of snow gives mountins something beautiful what I can not describe with word…it shows that winter in mountins are great season…
August 1, 2016 at 7:26 pm
I now see my mistake has been to visit glaciers in summer – these are great shots. I just love the aqua colour in the ice “waves” in the first few shots.
August 2, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Thank you Lindy. Glaciers in the summer months, although magnificent are not the most attractive things but in the winter months, the transformation is incredible. The depth of colour and shape to the ice is so beautiful. I’ve yet to visit one of the ice caves that form at the foot of these glaciers in winter, my disability has so far precluded me from making the hike necessary but I hope to be able to make it one day. :-)
August 2, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Totally staggering! I esp enjoyed the last shot. What’s more, recognize what you mean about the messy, dim moments…this mountines spread with snow is something awesome… this shadows and mists and white shade of snow gives mountins something delightful what I can not portray with word… it demonstrates that winter in mountins are incredible season…
August 3, 2016 at 7:24 am
Thank you for your lovely comment! The mountains really are very beautiful, especially in the sunshine! :-)
August 3, 2016 at 9:03 am
It’s an entirely different world in the sunshine. Especially loved the bottom half of the last shot… it’s surreal.
August 3, 2016 at 8:31 pm
It is indeed Gunta! Thank you! :-)
August 4, 2016 at 5:49 am
Marvelous beauty.
August 5, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Thank you so much Elena, Iceland is a stunning country!
August 7, 2016 at 9:18 am
Such wonderful shapes in these.
I like the progressive layering the in the first one, different textures and colors as space recedes…in the third, fins of porpoises (the ice) and in the fifth, a great whale. I hate to anthropomorphize usually but I see them here and it makes sense here.
The eight has SUCH pleasing rhythm to it!
I appreciate your remark about glaciers – dirty snow is dirty snow; I’ve seen it on the streets of new York and on the side of the road, just last week, in a pristine mountain location. Still dirty snow.
You need Patti Kuche (nylondaze.com) with you next time, to photograph the guys in the tubs !
August 6, 2016 at 12:44 am
Thank you Lynn. I’m so glad you enjoyed these pictures. Seeing the ice like this is really quite something. The day I took these pictures I also flew my drone across the ice and have some lovely video as a result. I’m always very awkward photographing people and from what you have said of Patti in the past, I think you’re right, she would have got the job done! :-)
August 7, 2016 at 9:21 am
Another series of gorgeous sunshine landscapes. And, yes, Deliverance was quite a disturbing movie, wasn’t it!
August 11, 2016 at 5:09 pm
It was indeed a very disturbing film Otto! Thank you! :-)
August 12, 2016 at 8:33 am
This is absolutely brilliant, Adrian. What a smashing set of faboulus images! Noone can capture the true beauty and the real essence of Iceland and its mountains and iconic glaciers like you do. You are a great ambassador for the North. Thank you.
I’m sorry for being so late with my comment. As you know,have had some severe trouble with my Mac for weeks and it’s now in the intensive care unit at the Apple store in Norwich. I’m currently using Klausbernd’s high tech Samsung and that’s a pain too; the gesture board is programmed according to his fingers and strength …
Anyway, Apple called today and they have diagnosed the fault deeeeep into the system and they take care of it. :-)
Have a wonderful weekend in Cornwall,
safe travels,
Hanne & co
August 13, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Dear Hanne, Thank you so much for your comment and your wishes of safe travels. I really like the idea of being an ambassador for the North. It has been so wonderful to explore Iceland the way I have been able to and to share my experiences with so many peopl. I think it will be lovely to explore Norway in the same way if I get the chance.
I’m glad to hear that your Mac will soon be fixed. It’s not much fun being without our computers. We have become so reliant on them. Speak soon! :-) x
August 13, 2016 at 3:33 pm