dj.tigersprout's photoblog
Basalt Columns & Sea Spires, Southern Iceland
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 16 December 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
with the enormous golden winter sun sitting just inches above the horizon from 11am - 2pm, i again found myself on the isolated and beautiful black sand beaches of Vik, southern Iceland. surprisingly, it was the warmest we had felt thus far, even though we were directly at water's edge. somehow the steady light and surprising warmth of the weak sun held us firmly, but gently between a calm sea and the thick basalt rock formations. we remained unknowingly for nearly an hour, rejoicing in the soft luminescent glow and the unexpected yet welcoming thermal embrace. there were no other visitors, just our wee band of travelers... and the further out of Reykjavik we moved the less cars we passed along the smooth 2 lane road that rings the island. in the thin winter light, and the current global financial crisis, Iceland was essentially ours to behold, ours to marvel and cherish.
all work protected by Creative Commons
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Hello, dj, I envy you for this trip to Iceland.
This is a marvelous image of the rocks and a great composition with light and shadow.
The colors have your imprompt, as always.
16 Dec 2008 5:25am
Emilio Garcia from Pleasanton, United States
Beautiful scenery and so well captured. Very "poetic" description of the place as well!. Welcome back.
16 Dec 2008 5:32am
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Such a wonderful composition. The colors are wonderful. Even the black sand is beautiful.
16 Dec 2008 6:20am
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
wow, strange rocks... beautiful shot dj, i love it, soooo mysterious!
16 Dec 2008 6:36am
Yvonne S. from Tilburg, Netherlands
Wow Jaycee, the colors are so bright!! Very, very, very beautiful!!
16 Dec 2008 6:54am
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
Great shot of this wonderful scene! the composition is fantastic and I like the sharpness of the photo!
16 Dec 2008 7:08am
San G. from Encino, California, United States
Sublime! You position yourself so well, that it transports us as well. What a beautiful presentation of a magnificent subject. It's SOOOO good to have you back!
16 Dec 2008 7:19am
@San G.: Thanks kindly Sandy! It is good to be back!! Of course -- now that i am back, i can't help thinking where i want to go NEXT!!! ;)
thierry from conde sur noireau, France
A very beautiful photograph with superb returned rock and a splendid light
16 Dec 2008 7:29am
LeenaM from Joensuu, Finland
Very special view and so excellent capture!
I have been looking at cruises to Iceland from Finland, perhaps some day :)
16 Dec 2008 7:36am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Well dj, this is just a superb image! I love the solid basalt columns with multi shades of gold and the 3 layers of sky sea and sand spreading out from them. Perfect composition indeed...wonderful!
16 Dec 2008 7:39am
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
Thanks for sharing this wonderful shot, DJ. Did I ever tell you that I dream of doing the trip around Iceland's circle road by bicycle one day?
16 Dec 2008 7:41am
@Mirko Herzner: Hey Mirko -- thanks and no -- but i fully approve!!! and i will add that you should consider bumping up that dream into reality -- NOW is the time to visit Iceland -- it has never been cheaper and they need the money!!! book a trip for this spring and fulfill that dream!!! think of all the pictures you can take!!! :D
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Beautiful shot, especially the black sand is a great detail! The light is just perfect, great contrast in colors!
16 Dec 2008 7:44am
Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom
Welcome back. Beautiful black beach with perfect lighting
16 Dec 2008 8:42am
@Hoshisato: Thanks mate -- i was thinking of you the whole time i was in Vik!!! ;)
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Wonderful shot, DJ! I love the composition, the bright colours and the light. Great work!
16 Dec 2008 8:58am
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Just brilliant dj, I've never been there but can imagine it's a landscape to inspire ones thoughts.
16 Dec 2008 9:06am
@Observing: yes indeed Mike -- yes indeed! i think i have formed a permanent bond w/ Iceland... i hope to return every other year... so much to see and enjoy!!!
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
Visiting Iceland must have a very special pleasure, considering the financial crisis and the impact it had there. But the beauty of this country will persist, as your fabulous image proves. I love that black sand.
16 Dec 2008 9:38am
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Amazing rocks just standing on the beach. Beautiful.
16 Dec 2008 9:43am
Veronelle from Lens, France
nice composition the colours on the rock are beautifull
16 Dec 2008 10:58am
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
A fabulous image with a surreal flavor, Excellent work.
16 Dec 2008 11:14am
@grouser: LOL.
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
This looks like a place of great contradictions - looking at the photo one would never guess the conditions were as you describe. Must have been a magical experience.
16 Dec 2008 11:33am
zOOm from Paris, France
The shape of these rocks are so unusual but utterly splendid... I love your angle of view... it evoks discovering clearly...
16 Dec 2008 11:46am
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Wow the light is sublime here. It really brings out the strong lines and wonderful textures of the rocks. Excellent composition.
16 Dec 2008 12:12pm
Wolfgang - vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
Superb composition, light and color!
16 Dec 2008 1:15pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Oh My God, that is so beautiful, the strenght of the rocks and the absolute beauty of the sea, wow Dj ;)
16 Dec 2008 2:36pm
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Thin light, do you call it? The colour transition in the sky is fabulous.
16 Dec 2008 2:43pm
@António Pires: thanks very much Antonio, and yes thin light does amazing things!! just think of early morning light all day long -- and on top of the globe! so colorful!:)
kerfendal from Paris, France
you should do a book with all your wonderful shots, and above this you got plenty of interesting texts (I don(t read everything my language being french), you must do something anyway !
16 Dec 2008 2:46pm
@kerfendal: thanks for the warm encouragement mate -- yes, maybe i should make a book my new year's resolution!!! ;)
PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Very nice! I like the texture and light on the columns!
16 Dec 2008 4:23pm
callemie from Belgium
I cannot believe this is Iceland!!! gorgeous! damn I want to be there too!!!
16 Dec 2008 4:34pm
@callemie: well -- i have a few more shots coming up so stay tuned -- and then go buy your ticket right away!!! the exchange rate is extremely good at the moment while Iceland digs itself out of bankruptcy!!! :)
Seb! from Gard, France
Composition...soooooooooooooooooo nice, sooooooooooooooooooooooo good ;-)
16 Dec 2008 6:25pm
@Seb!: thanks heaps Seb!!! sorry this is so long in reply! :) hope you are well!!
manel from Girona, Spain
Magníico contraste de colores. Supongo que con tan pocas horas de sol, tendrías que aprovechar muy bien los dias.
Cordiales saludos.
16 Dec 2008 6:52pm
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Incredible shot, the composition is spot on.
16 Dec 2008 7:26pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
What a brilliant capture, I am so envious of you having visited there, I have many friends and colleagues I have worked with over the years from there ad I have always wanted to visit there but just haven thad the chance to be able to yet, maybe one day
16 Dec 2008 7:54pm
@JJ: hey JJ -- do yourself the BIGGEST favor and take off 5 days and just GO!!! now is the time!! the Icelandic Kronur is 3 times cheaper than ever before!!! do it for the holidays! rent a car and drive through this amazing country!!! don't wait!!! you can thank me later!!! :D
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
Even the Title makes me shiver . . with anticipation and the cold ! Beautiful golden shot.
16 Dec 2008 9:56pm
Albert Perpinya from Badalona, Spain
The composition is brilliant and so are the colours. Perhaps the sand slightly darker to offer even more contrast. Beautiful shot
16 Dec 2008 10:25pm
vu@granby Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
Striking shot, the front rocks against the spires in background, Superb!
16 Dec 2008 10:26pm
peter from new york, United States
to marvel and cherish indeed! your shots make me want to go there more than ever! thats awesome that those rocks just jet out of the water like that : )
16 Dec 2008 11:00pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
A lovely rich colourful experience of sea, sand, rock and sky, nice to catch up with you again.
17 Dec 2008 12:16am
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Beautiful blue tone and composition.
17 Dec 2008 12:38am
Ivar from Indianapolis, United States
Great compostion and light / color tones, this looks like a place I would like to visit :)
17 Dec 2008 2:13am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
excellent composition - i love where you placed the basalt columns and then opened up the rest of the view behind them... the colour tones are beautiful and nicely contrasting here...
17 Dec 2008 2:49am
One from Açores, Portugal
That spectacular capture ! Truly a magnificent panorama !
17 Dec 2008 8:03am
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
5 stars ! The light, the composition. An art shot.
17 Dec 2008 3:20pm
@Calusarus: thanks very much mate!! :)
Scotfot from Kabul, Afghanistan
Superb image - I like the columnar jointing in therock ( basalt?)!
17 Dec 2008 6:35pm
Laurent from Lyon, France
WONDERFUL!! the light and the composition are just perfect
17 Dec 2008 9:04pm
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
This has got to be one of my all time favourite photos of yours. Stunning composition and light. This really is another world. I couldn't imagine it being done better.
18 Dec 2008 12:10pm
@Andrew Gould: hello Andre and thanks heaps for the kind words -- so sorry to be getting back to you this late, i am hopeless! :) hope things are going well for you down under. so many of my sydney friends have visited NYC since i arrived -- it is crazy awesome!! speak soon!
danthro from Suburbia, United States
love the light, color, contrast, lines, texture here
18 Dec 2008 11:32pm
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
This is an amazing scene and incredibly beautiful.
23 Dec 2008 1:03am
@Suzanne: thanks Suzanne!! :)
EYES WIDE SHUT from United Kingdom
Wonderful perspective, amazing light and colouration. Stunning
29 Dec 2008 7:28pm
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/40 second
F/11.0
ISO 400
18 mm
iceland
southern-iceland
columnar-basalt
vik-vicinity
black-sand