Landscape Photography in Iceland - Part 2

In this landscape photography video we head to a remote viewpoint in the Southern Highlands of Iceland. Like many of my previous videos I go through my approach to making landscape photographs with a particular focus on composition and ideas (as opposed to technique). I capture a couple of images that are amongst my best ever from Iceland.
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[@JustAnIslandGuy]

Having recently visited Iceland - and completely fallen in love with it - i was drawn to your videos. Incredible work!

[@JUANORQUIO]

W❤️W! That’s Incredibly Awesome! 🤗❤️✨

[@robhutchinson4100]

Hi Alex, thanks so much for your video log. Great to hear your thought processes behind the photos and post shot analysis. Making me want to get out on an adventure. Be in touch soon, all the best, Rob

[@alexnail]

Yeah you should get adventuring Rob, spring is here!

[@curthostetter187]

I find the way you process these scenes with a subtile touch that is true yet dramatic to be very refreshing. It is something I find very difficult to do. I am an amateur photographer, an American living in Iceland, and this area of the Fjallabak which I have had the great fortune to visit often is always magical, not the least because of the short season of accessibility. Not to mention the often threatening, precarious weather conditions. Your instruction on framing and care in composition is very helpful to me. Each visit that I make is so dramatic that my emotional recall gets in the way of my processing. Your videos are extremely helpful gems. Thank you for sharing them.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Kurt, really glad you’ve found this video helpful and lucky you that you get to go to these areas more regularly!

[@CharlesParmar]

Absolutely amazing video! Looks like you and your clients had lighting conditions! Love the last image with sunlit rain… looks so incredible! Great video and thanks for posting!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Charles - yes it was really great! Thanks for the comment :)

[@PeterMcCabePhoto]

As usual Alex always enjoyable, and good to hear your thoughts behind the compositions.

[@elliswoodphoto]

Loved the video Alex, backlit rain showers are the holy-grail when shooting in the mountains!🤣 Lovely shots

[@alexnail]

Yeah pretty great to shoot for sure, also good from the other side - rainbows!

[@jbairdexp]

While I don't always get a chance to watch your videos when they are first published, they are always worth keeping on my Watch Later list. I enjoy both seeing the locations but I also learn a lot from your thought process. :-)

[@johnchambers6272]

Another excellent video. Your detailed description for and against each composition is very helpful and explained so well. The images at 11:15 and 16:40 are stunning. Thank you for sharing this one Alex.

[@alexnail]

Thanks John, that’s kind of you to say. Glad you like that image at 11.15 too, might be a bit of a marmite image!

[@ianlockhartphotography3072]

Great video again alex and im already looking forward to the next 😀

[@alexnail]

Thanks Ian - that’s it from Iceland, but I’m sure there will be more videos in the not too distant future!

[@bobk7132]

Awesome location and video. Any plans for doing a highlands trip in the future? I'd be interested...

[@donniebel]

Enjoyable episode Alex. I hiked through there in July. The water was high and nearly covered that sketchy steel “bridge”. Had a nice hot soak there as shown after a 20 mile day before finishing at the next hut. My group did not go up to the vantage point, sadly. I recall seeing the lake as we passed by and wondered What if? The highlands seemingly have a spectacular view around every corner!

[@alexnail]

Yeah the first time I went through there the water was much higher, but this time it was fine. I imagine this is largely driven by snow melt so it’s bound to be fuller in July. And yes there is certainly no shortage of great views out there!

[@donniebel]

@@alexnail Yes, last winter was a high snowfall and the early summer temps were unusually cool resulting in lots of snow patches that greatly enhanced the landscape views. Hiked on lots of snow and ice along with several ice bridges over water. One to three large river crossings per day- all running much higher than usual. Near freezing waist deep water is an unforgettable experience. The scenery is mind blowing!

[@DreamBig]

Awsome Alex ! It's never over until it's over ! 😂Never get a clear view from there, so far. Always rain and thick clouds around...

[@alexnail]

Well that’s just the way with the Icelandic Highlands I guess. Hope you have better luck next time around!

[@brendanlynch7296]

Another amazing location and an excellent video. It's always fascinating to hear a photographers thoughts on compositions. As per your suggestion I checked out your Icelandic gallery, and all I can say is I've yet to see a collection of photographs that make me want to visit Iceland more than yours. Quite breath-taking. And it's not as if dramatic images of Iceland are in short supply, but all too often you see the same locations over and over (stunning as they are). Love your editing style too ... as dramatic as your images are, they are also believable, and are all the more impressive for that.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Brendan. I’ve worked quite hard to build portfolios that are relatively unusual so whilst there might be some familiar locations in there, a good number are out of the way/novel. Glad you appreciate the editing too - keeping things realistic is incredibly important to me!

[@brendanlynch7296]

@@alexnail I recently heard your interview with Matt Payne (I'm slowly working my way through his podcast) and you certainly made your position on realisim quite clear 😁 It was an excellent listen, and very much hit a chord with me 👍🏻

[@MrDaveB123]

In the first pic Im on the side of too much foreground. Distracting and takes away from the amazing mountains in the back

[@alexnail]

Yeah, I know some people would say that. It just depends what you want to show and why!

[@icelandicwhitewater]

Did you check out Rauðibotn at the other end of that lake?

[@alexnail]

Yes, I’ve been there 3 times now, it’s an amazing spot for sure

[@Gvard2009]

Thanks for the great video! I have a question. Is it possible to walk or bike from Grafarkirkja to Maelifell on the f210 road in summer? I really want to visit but there is no way to enter the F210 Thanks

[@alexnail]

I'm afraid I honestly have no idea! Obviously lots of people mountain bike the highland roads, so I assume it is both legal and possible, but without having done it myself I couldnt say with any confidence!

[@joelbarto1103]

I’m planning a June trip to Iceland and have heard you weren’t supposed to walk on the moss. Can you comment one way or the other?

[@alexnail]

Where there are trails you must stay on the trails particularly in areas of feasibly high foot traffic like the Laugavegur. In other areas where there are no trails and low foot traffic you have to tread carefully so as to do minimal damage to the moss.

[@DarrenRussinger]

The link to sign up for the newsletter isn’t;t working.

[@alexnail]

Thank you for letting me know, it seems that page was taken down for some reason. This link should work: alexnail.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=96a51a9f5cc20420658f5ccc0&id=4d417e9b3e

[@81clive]

Iceland is very picturesque🗻 Great vlogs!

[@alexnail]

Thank you :)