Three people gathered around the white cloth under the late-day sun. One woman shook a small leather pouch, whispering a question to the gods as she did so. She emptied its contents into her bejeweled hands, exhaling once over them before releasing the lot onto the cloth. Strips of nut wood landed on the fabric.…
A long time ago, before humans were created, three gods walked the worlds searching for answers. Along the way, they encountered many beings. From the mighty giants of Jotunheim to the talented dwarves, there was no shortage of life in the Nine Realms. However, the three gods craved more. One evening, when the sky turned…
Do you want to photograph puffins in Iceland but can’t decide which island to choose? I got you covered in this side-by-side comparison of the two most popular places in Iceland for puffins! Like many other places in Iceland, this scene was otherworldly. Long grass glowed golden in the midnight sun as I walked along…
In the beginning, there were no stars, no heavens, and no earth to walk upon. Only two uninhabitable worlds existed: the icy realm called Niflheim and the realm of fire, Muspelheim. Between the worlds was the yawning gap called Ginnungagap. Hvergelmir, a bubbling cauldron in which eleven poisonous rivers flowed, soared from the depths of…
A huge god stands atop a jagged peak, his eyes fixed on his target. A giant looms in the mist below. With one hand, he swings his hammer, which glints like lightning in the darkness. The weapon connects, and the giant falls. The ground quakes and the obsidian valley splinters to forever shape the landscape.…
How Oliver, aka @sailing_with_phoenix, has inspired us all. I stood alone at the Northern tip of the island. There was nothing but the vast ocean ahead. It was satisfying to know that it was my hard work and determination that had brought me here. At the time, I had no idea getting up at 3…
When I booked a trip to photograph Arctic Foxes on a remote nature reserve in Iceland, I had no idea the experience would not only change my photography but also my life. Everyone has those moments that we know were pivot points in our lives. Whether it is overcoming a challenge, achieving a long-term goal,…
Healing and finding myself through nature in a remote part of Iceland Every day was the same, yet it wasn’t. I would wake around sunrise. The sounds of the oystercatchers and snipes would waft in through the open window. Before anything else, I would watch the sky turn pink. Then it was coffee, writing, a…
An unplanned journey to the remote Grimsey Island delivers more than I expected. I ascended the steep path with caution. My desire to go as north as possible urged me onward. The ground was slick with dew, but the sun promised warmth ahead. Cool air hit my skin as the sound of the ocean drew…
Opnaðu hug þinn. gakktu hjóðlega. Open your mind, tread softly. – a sign at the start of the walking paths on Hrísey While attending an art residency on the island of Hrísey I felt compelled to write poetry again. There was little wonder why this happened. The island’s landscapes whispered inspiration at every turn. A…