I have been in Iceland for just one week... and I’ve already noticed a reoccurring theme.  Contrast. Iceland is a country full of contrast. Light and Dark. City and Farm. Fire and Ice. But nowhere have I seen it more apparent than with the weather. After two amazing nights with the people of the Grand Hotel in Reykjavík I was off to the wilderness to fend for myself in my tent... talk about contrast. Icelandic weather had treated me well up to this point… slightly overcast most days, but with no harsh temperature changes. 

My camping spot was located on a lush green pasture just a small walk from the roar of Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. My goal was to use some of that great evening light to capture it on my camera. I arrived to the same overcast conditions I had grown accustomed to in Reykjavik. With my tent set up, I ate a small meal, and then set off to have a nap before going out near midnight to take photographs. I awoke briefly at 10pm (22:00 for the rest of you) to check the conditions... they were the same as when I had gone to sleep... so I opted to return to my slumber and wait for a better light.

This is when the Icelandic weather decided to give me a proper welcome. The wind came out of nowhere and brought with it a LOT of rain. Because I don’t know how to measure wind speed (or anything for that matter) with the metric system (see... more contrast) I’ll just say it was REALLY fast wind... and it made the rain go in circles several times before smashing into my tent. I bought this tent because I had hoped it could withstand the Icelandic weather... one night into the trip and it’s already being put to the test. 

"If you don’t like the weather... just wait fifteen minutes."

That’s the motto here, right?

Well. I waited for 8 hours... and it never changed... unless you count getting worse as a change.

It was miserable. Even though my tent held up fine... once I had decided I didn’t need any more sleep... and that I wasn’t going to be able to even take out the camera... It was time to retire inside the service building of the campground and wait.

My day ended that way... with my trip to Seljalandsfoss being a bust. I saw it... but I had no photographs to prove it. So I went back.

The second time could not have been more of an opposite. The sun was out the entire day... and clouds danced through the sky, dragging with them mild temperatures and happy times. The campground was filled with youth ready to enjoy the outside for the first day of the weekend. I set up my tent, and after a few minutes... it was dry once again. Almost like the rain never happened. That night, the photography was out of this world. The sunset-rise was a light show of clouds and color unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was overwhelming to an extent. I ran from spot to spot... expecting it to end... only it never did. I photographed for two solid hours. I even took a nap in the middle of it, and when I awoke... it was STILL there... so I spent two more hours photographing. It was awesome. What a difference. What a contrast from the previous time. 

I begin to forget that I had spent ANY time in the wind and rain. I returned back to my tent, thrilled with the day… and the way I felt I had overcome the severity of the Icelandic weather.

Then... when I got in my tent... the wind picked back up and the rain came back.

Either my tent is bad luck... or the weather is just reminding me who is really in charge... 

Even though it’s only been a week, I’ve learned to respect the weather... and to take full advantage of every opportunity when it lets its guard down. I haven’t reached the state of mind as many Icelanders... to challenge the environment and take advantage of it whenever possible... but I still have 7 weeks to get there.

To follow me on my journey, and if you choose, even be a part of it. Check it out.

Or to see some of my other work, click here.