I remember when I shared the first image from my Iceland trip on instagram. I was in our hotel room in Reykjavík and had just crushed a quick lightroom edit. My IG was exploding, likes were streaming in and an IG account ,“Straps by Elroob”, featured me. I thought- “Wow, visit’s Iceland once”.
I visited Iceland in August, 2016. My loving parents, who have always supported me, made it possible for me to visit. At the time, I was a couple years deep into photography and was just discovering my love in nature photography. I meticulously planned this trip and compiled something that resembled a check list of locations to photograph. I’d use the term “locations” loosely because what I really jotted down were just icons - Kirkjufell, Goddafoss, Vik, etc. Around this time, I don’t think you could get away from IG and Iceland. Social Media adored and still adores the country and for good reason. Iceland is breathtaking! I believe this is also in large part due to the accessibility of these icons. Days began with two hefty hot dogs from the gas station and a 2 to 3 hour drive to various icons. Smashing through my checklist of icons by stopping the car, getting out, capturing an image, and driving to the next location. I never really settled into the landscape or grew familiar with these areas. I don’t resent this experience. At the end of the day, I still visited this amazing country. An image isn’t always the end goal. BUT there is an image in my portfolio that I really like from this trip . When I review all of the images I captured and the image below that has remained in my portfolio, the resounding difference is that this photo is completely mine. It isn’t a waterfall that’s been photographed many times over. It isn’t a fallen aircraft in a desolate landscape. It is an image that I found and composed. It is unique to me.
“Just as planned” - A large piece of ice and two other friends feeling the cold rush of water as they enjoy the sunset.
This area of Iceland is very popular but the beach never looks the same upon repeat visits. What I fondly remember is spending hours on this beach and finding different pieces of ice washed up and just marveling at the different types, shapes, and sizes of ice chunks. This sense of wonder is what I hope translates through my image. This idea of photographing a landscape with much more thought, patience, and forming a relationship with the area is a method I’ve been attempting to follow as of late. After visiting Iceland, I was hooked and wanted to visit as many different locations as I could. Years have since gone by and am now really happy with just visiting locations I am familiar with.
I have battled with this new sense of guilt when visiting new landscapes I don’t have any prior experience with. I struggle with the idea that I visit these beautiful landscapes, walk among them for a couple of days, and walk away with images that can “embody” the landscape. I feel as if I am not truly paying respect to these beautiful environments. Greedily taking without truly understanding what I am photographing. It is why I have emphasized growing more and more comfortable with locations I visit often. An example for me is Zion National Park. Although not the closest park to me, it is an easy location to visit from Los Angeles. Over the past 5 years I have visited and explored the park more than I can count. I feel like I am now developing a relationship with the park. I am familiar with aspects of the park that were before alien to me. I’ve formed fond memories and am generally just happy to be within the confines of its wilderness. I think these feelings must translate into my images. There is a respect and patience that I owe to this park. As I walk through the park, I am not seeking out compositions, icons, etc. I am allowing nature to gently show me what to photograph.
“Sacrifices” - An arrangement of cottonwood trees braving the snowy conditions.