Lost in Iceland

[SianZronG]

wow great pics man, things to add to the bucket list.

"See Northern Lights"

 

[deklan]

B E A UTIFUL stuff, care to share more abt ur trip, how much damage? was it with a tour?
always wanted to go see the auroras...

 

[benghui]

incredible series...i love the northen lights & swans

thx for sharing =)

 

[ricleo]

wow, so many replies to the thread happy to see that you guys/gals like the pictures from iceland. Many have asked about the tour operators, cost, etc, so i shall share the information below. Note that the costs for air tickets may not be as applicable for those flying out from Singapore as I'm currently based in London, and hence i flew to Iceland from London.

This was a free and easy trip where we booked the air tickets, accommodations and day tours all ourselves without the help of any tour agents.

Air-tickets with Iceland Express - GBP 220 (SGD 550). http://www.icelandexpress.com/
Accomodation in the salvation army hostel, GBP 100 for 5 nights (SGD250) www.guesthouse.is
Day tours
1 - Golden circle classic with iceland excursions - GBP 56. http://www.icelandexcursions.is/day...h12_the_golden_circle_classic-13/default.aspx
2 - Northern lights with iceland excursions - GBP 40 (SGD 100) http://www.icelandexcursions.is/day...ah33_northern_lights_mystery_-36/default.aspx
3 - horse riding and blue lagoon - GBP 52 (SGD 130) http://www.icelandexcursions.is/day..._tour_and_blue_lagoon_direct_-34/default.aspx
4 - Glacier walking. Include stop at the waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss - GBP 100 (SGD 250)http://www.re.is/DayTours/Details/1430

Foodwise can be expensive coming up to abt 20GBP per meal, but can be also cheap if you choose to go to those hotdog stands/ supermarkets to get your meals

 

[zoossh]

i'm quite touched when i saw the first few pictures, especially #1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, all shot at high image quality, and superb details, contrast and colors. i think u must have been anticipating the geyser to shoot up (as in #7) and thus frame #6 vertically, although i think the empty pale blue sky in #6 become rather redundant, and likely better in square or horizontal format.

many of the other pictures are nice too, but not as impactful as the first few, and rather repetitive.

i observe #15 must have been shot through a vehicle window judging by the motion blur of the road. there is a pepper and salt appearance around the sun which must have been due to the dirty window, which i get on my dirty filter too, probably amendable to pp. as for the rest of the flare and glare, which someone said why not pp away, i share your preference though in your case, it is very different as the white snow reflects back lots of light and dun give a backlit darkening. i like in particularly composition in #29.

just a pity i dun see much street shots and local portraits, but nonetheless variety is fairly good.

just noted that iceland is at risk of bankruptcy following collapse of its only bank, waiting to be saved by IMF. there might be a drop in the cost of this once very expensive place.

 

[happydog]

wow..impressive pics (really postcard quality) .. love all of them especially the northern lights...Are all the pics handheld including the northern lights? If so, I have to say thumbs up..

After seeing your pics, Iceland is gonna be added to one of dream vacations venue... Hope to go there one day.

 

[benleong84]

nothing short of breathtaking. WONDERFUL!

 

[happydog]

wow..impressive pics (really postcard quality) .. love all of them especially the northern lights...Are all the pics handheld including the northern lights? If so, I have to say thumbs up..:thumbsup:

After seeing your pics, Iceland is gonna be added to one of dream vacations venue... Hope to go there one day.

 

[sprintist]

OMG its amazing..those lights..simply magical and out of this world indeed...:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[dxsibo]

really very nice! love it!

 

[slacker123]

i logged in just to say that you have awesome pictures - particularly the ones of the aurora borealis that are absolute stunners.

 

[ricleo]

ok this is going to be a long post, will try to respond to everyone's comments/questions =p

Very nice place and very wonderful photographs taken! I hope i can have the chance to visit iceland, or alaska, before all the ice melts. Anyway, great job!

yup! I hope to visit Alaska soon as well! catch the northern lights in another location =)

beautiful series! tks for sharing......can't imagine this country's banks causing so much problems.....haha....

I hope that their financial turmoil will be resolved soon, their currency was devaluing at such a fast speed that it fell by 25% in the 5 days i was there! I actually noticed that the exchange rates given by the duty free shops i shopped at (when i paid in pounds) got better and better for me every single day.

wow!!!!!
the northern lights are beautiful!!!
Muz go country!!

Thanks! yes the northern lights are very beautiful. I wanna go and try taking them again =)

Brings back memories of Iceland for me...

Was there in August 2006 for a holiday. Went with Insight vacations but didn't get to see much snow or wildlife then...

Which tour operator did you go with or was it F&E?

I went on a free and easy tour =) booked day tours on a daily basis myself hee.... see post 44 here for the details http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4427048&postcount=44

WOW! WOW! WOW! Simply stunning!!! love them all!!!

btw... care to share how much did u spent to go there? and was the trip with a tour or F&E?

Thanks! see post 44 for details http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4427048&postcount=44

#63 and #64 - was it a poster to celebrate some occasions? Curious why they have all the children's photos.

How I wish I can get to see the northern lights.....

With current markets, looks like have to tighten belt first.... sigh

It wasn't a children's festival, just some posters covering the walls of a building being renovated. I couldn't read the icelandic words, but maybe it was a nursery or pre-school being renovated?

Wow... Iceland, one of my dream destinations..thanks for posting this series..
Wonderful pics... so nice and pristine..
Esp love the northern lights pics ..

Thanks! it was my dream destination too! i will go again in summer to catch iceland in a different light, hopefully can get to spot the bigger whales as well as puffins!

a very nice well captured. great moment.

Thanks!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos! Felt like I have joined in your journey to a remote place...

Thanks! yes iceland is a fairly remote place with a population of 300k+. The number of tourists that visit the country each year far outnumber the population itself!

AMAZING!.I've be super grateful if ever granted the chance to go there.

To witness the aurora borealis is one of my lifelong dream . These pictures touched my heart in so many ways. You got to experience every eccentric part of nature. Just spectacular! From the great icecaps, to the northern lights, the epic mountain, the beautiful swans, the gorgeous plant, the whale and dolphin, fantabulous! Did you get to visit any ice caves? And the pictures are gorgeous too.

Thanks! yes....i experienced many experiences i never got to experience before =) i did not visit any ice caves.

very beautiful pictures..

Well done.

The pictures taken at the lake, did ur camera get wet?

Thanks! my camera did not get wet at the lake, but it got sprinkled with water from the mist at the 3 waterfalls i visited! so much water on the filter that when i shot some of the scenes at F22, the water droplets were super obvious! Those pics were not posted here though hee....

Nice photos

How long would a trip like this cost and how many day will be needed.

f/2.8 at 30s ISO3200 with 5D, can imaging how dark it is, always though the northern light is clearly visible

Thanks! see post 44 for the costs, and i think at the very minimum, 4 days is required. I spent 4 days travelling around looking at the sights, and one day in city shopping and walking around in the 5 days i was there.

Yes the northern lights were clearly visible to the naked eye, but the light levels were still too low for the camera, hence F2.8, iso 3200 and 30 secs. The next time i attempt this, i will try shooting on a night with at least some moon light! so that the foreground is lit up and the images will not be as dull.

Very Super beautiful pix..!!!
I love the northern lights pix...!!!

Super Super Nice..!!!

Thanks for sharing..!!!

Iceland is in my travel list..... Hope you visit there soon...

Thanks! hope u get to visit there soon! i hope i go there soon again too.

yep, most people i know who have shot the northern lights usually use film, and extremely long exposures..

yup! in fact, i saw a guy shooting using a film slr on the same night tour i was participating in. Hope he had good pics!

Wow! Impressive! It's amazing to witness the Northern Lights. This series is really enjoyable and an eye-opener. :thumbsup:

Iceland shall be one of my travel destinations when I grow up!

Thanks!

very nice series

Thanks!

 

[ricleo]

Part 2 of replies =p

Very cool set!

Always wanted to go Iceland..
Which tour agent/agency did you use? Can forward contact? thanks!

Thanks! see post 44 for the day tours i used http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4427048&postcount=44

this series is really very nice! beautiful country with nice pictures taken!
but, may i ask why do you leave the flares in some of your pictures instead of ps them away?

ha...hope it doesn't sound too weird! i love having flares in my pictures! adds an additional dimension to the pics and makes them more interesting. I don't see them as imperfections, unless they make the image dull and wash out the contrast.

Awsome. Nice set mate.

Thanks mate!

Beautiful set of photos. Love your shots of the northern lights. Looks like you had a great time there.

Thanks! yes i had a great time, and my heart is still lost in iceland

Nice photos! Post more please!

Can you share your itenary with us please?

yup! i will post some more pics in a short while hee..... see post 44 for for more details on my iternary.

wow great pics man, things to add to the bucket list.

"See Northern Lights"

yes! i can cross off the northern lights from my list finally.

B E A UTIFUL stuff, care to share more abt ur trip, how much damage? was it with a tour?
always wanted to go see the auroras...

thanks! see post 44 hee...http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4427048&postcount=44

incredible series...i love the northen lights & swans

thx for sharing =)

Thanks and you're welcome

i'm quite touched when i saw the first few pictures, especially #1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, all shot at high image quality, and superb details, contrast and colors. i think u must have been anticipating the geyser to shoot up (as in #7) and thus frame #6 vertically, although i think the empty pale blue sky in #6 become rather redundant, and likely better in square or horizontal format.

many of the other pictures are nice too, but not as impactful as the first few, and rather repetitive.

i observe #15 must have been shot through a vehicle window judging by the motion blur of the road. there is a pepper and salt appearance around the sun which must have been due to the dirty window, which i get on my dirty filter too, probably amendable to pp. as for the rest of the flare and glare, which someone said why not pp away, i share your preference though in your case, it is very different as the white snow reflects back lots of light and dun give a backlit darkening. i like in particularly composition in #29.

just a pity i dun see much street shots and local portraits, but nonetheless variety is fairly good.

just noted that iceland is at risk of bankruptcy following collapse of its only bank, waiting to be saved by IMF. there might be a drop in the cost of this once very expensive place.

Thanks for the detailed analysis and comments, glad that at least a couple of the pics managed to touch you will viewing. #15 was shot through the mini bus while it was moving, hence the dirty windows. On the flare, i don't quite get what you mean by the backlit darkening and snow reflecting back lots of light, can elaborate a little so i can learn? hee....

yes, hope that the banking system can be saved! the costs have indeed dropped, their currency has devalued by quite a great deal these few weeks. ITs actually a good time to travel to iceland now if you have the chance. The shops will be more than willing to accept foreign currency at rates that are much better than those given by money changers!

wow..impressive pics (really postcard quality) .. love all of them especially the northern lights...Are all the pics handheld including the northern lights? If so, I have to say thumbs up..

After seeing your pics, Iceland is gonna be added to one of dream vacations venue... Hope to go there one day.

Thanks! the northern lights are taken using tripod of cuz hee....how to hold a 30 sec exposure still! The winds were so big that even my tripod was shaking a little, one gust almost toppled it even! luckily i was standing behind it when that happened. phew!

OMG its amazing..those lights..simply magical and out of this world indeed...:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thanks!

really very nice! love it!

Thanks!

i logged in just to say that you have awesome pictures - particularly the ones of the aurora borealis that are absolute stunners.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[hlw8888]

nice series of pics.

 

[lyrrad]

Is anyone else reading this thread a Sigur Ros or Mum fan?

 

[ricleo]

Is anyone else reading this thread a Sigur Ros or Mum fan?

hmmm didn't hear abt the 2 you mentioned, but i'm a sigurgeir sigurjonsson fan bought 2 of his books in iceland hehe....my lost in iceland title was inspired by one of the books i bought hee

 

[ricleo]

opps juz realise sigur ros is a rock artiste? hee....so not related to photography huh, but its an icelandic band haha

 

[zoossh]

On the flare, i don't quite get what you mean by the backlit darkening and snow reflecting back lots of light, can elaborate a little so i can learn? hee....

you are too humble lah, my senior. when i said i'm touched, is becos i didn't managed to feel emotive although there are a few good landscape threads, in particularly for new zealand. the first few pictures have explored the foreground interest very well, or display intricate attention to fine details, and #2 is simply the one, lovely.

as for backlighting, typically the subjects facing you will be dark in front, i.e. and may have rim lighting depending on the angle of lighting. if there is no ambient light that helps to illuminate the front, it will either mean a full silhouette, partial silhouette, blown background (metering for subject), or need fill flash to balance, or need post processing to reduce the tonal discrepancy. for your subjects, they are not too dark becos sunlight bounces off the snow and light up the front of the subjects. the snow works like a huge reflector.

for example, one of my backlighting looks like that...

the cow on the left only appears slightly lighter becos of filter flare, but is otherwise dark, though showing some rim lighting, especially in the hairy tail

 

[velasco]

wow, so many replies to the thread happy to see that you gays/gals like the pictures from iceland. Many have asked about the tour operators, cost, etc,

:bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[HTCahHTC]

breathtaking view! Northern Lights are great! great series!
but weren't you afraid of damaging your 'wife'?

thanks for sharing!
will visit before i leave this place -.-