Iceland - Snaefellsnes

Hi All

Last month I was lucky enough to get out to Iceland for a week with my camera. I had a day and a half on my own on the Snaefellsnes peninsular, before meeting up with Matt Emmett, and heading further north in a 4WD together up to the Westfjords. We both had the most fabulous trip, and will be putting a number of joint posts together for the Pentax Ricoh Facebook page over the next few weeks...

Just a bit of background: this was my third visit to Iceland. I've previously spent a fair bit of time around the south (Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon, Reynisfjara etc), including the trek from Skogafoss over to Porsmork one chilly October in the snow, and also spent a fair bit of time in the North around Lake Myvatn and Krafla. But I've always wondered about heading out west, and to Snaefellsnes and the Westfjords in particular.

I'm still editing the photos from our trip to the Westfjords, but thought I'd post some of Snaefellsnes for now. Considering it's only 3 or so hours north west of Reykjavik, Snaefellsnes is (compared to the South) surprisingly little visited (it's a fair way off route 1, which helps). It's not as unspoilt or brutal landscape-wise as the Westfjords, which I'll cover in detail in a few weeks, but it's very beautiful, and has a remarkable energy to it. Much of this is due to the Snæfellsjökull glacier, which dominates the centre of the peninsular with its rather masssive, brooding presence. Jules Vernes set "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" here, and it's also home to a fair amount of Icelandic folklore re trolls, elves etc... - it's easy to see why.

I had a couple of nights camping in Arnarstapi, and had a good look around the cliffs there, Hellnar, Londrangar, Dritvik, Malariff, Svortuloft, Skardsvik etc... had some nice light in Arnarstapi on my first night, so tried to make the most of it.

Anyway, enough chat, here are some photos. All K1, with DFA 24-70, A 20mm, Irix 15mm, DA 55-300 PLM. A couple of IR shots with a recently converted K5, and the Sigma 10-20.

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All thoughts, observations etc welcome as per...

Best

A WHOLE WEEK....!! FOR THESE...!!

Lol Just pulling your leg Bill,, Really enjoyed looking through them.. No 10 was my favourite. But to be honest I've no idea why Must be the sense of mystery..

Was it a 10 stop filter in use on the trip..?

Hi Stuart

Thanks for this ... these are from just the day and a half I had in Snaefellsnes... most of the week (5 days) was spent in the Wesfjords, which I'll post separately once I've had a chance to edit them...

Yes, the long exposure thing just seemed to go with the landscape and the conditions on these particular couple of days (mostly soft summer light)... less so in the Westfjords, interestingly... did have the 10 stop and the 6 stop out a fair bit, although many of these are just low light with a bit of help from a 3 stop (24 hours daylight when I was there)...

Thanks and best

Looking forward to seeing the rest...

Wow. I've always wanted to go, now even more so

Just lovely, Your treatment of water has always been outstanding, and it shows here as well. Love the way the landscape is sandwiched between the clouds and the sea.
Super shooting, and cant wait to see the rest

6 and 10 I think are superb

Thanks all...

Best

I went once, years ago, and didn't even have a decent camera at the time. I think it was views like these that lead to me buying my first Pentax. Needless to say, I don't think many could produce pictures of this quality, no matter what equipment they have. 13 and 17 don't do much for me, I have to say, but the rest - fabulous! Just my cup of tea, Bill!

Thanks John...

Best

I can't pick a favourite - they are all outstanding. You've captured the magic. mystery and majesty of this wonderful landscape. As Derek said, you have a special skill in photographing water.
David

Nice set....6+8 stand out for me.

Thanks both... a real treat to be able to get back there...

Best