My husband and I started to plan a trip to Iceland June 2018. Our plan was to navigate Iceland’s legendary and scenic “Ring Road” and the magical Snaefellsnes Peninsula. We did our research and in the early morning of October 2nd, 2018, we landed in Keflavík, Iceland. The clear dark sky, and the cold wind hitting our faces gave us a sense that we were definitely in the far north. We got our rental, a small Kia, packed our luggage and camera equipment in the small trunk and headed toward Reykjavik, for a good place to have coffee and breakfast. Our first day was to simply get oriented with our new surroundings; visit a few « must see attractions » in and around Reykjavik. Our GPS on our phone was proving to be dependable, reassuring us that we will find our booked hotels, gas stations and restaurants easily as we travelled around Iceland. After breakfast, we spent the day touring Reykjavik and the northern part of Pingvellir National Park. Some of the places that we got to photograph were the famous churches, Hllgrimskirkja in Reykjavik and Thingvellir in the National Park. We also got to photograph Oxarafoss Falls that is very close to Thingvellir. This was also the site of the first parliament of Iceland dating back to the 10th century. Hallgrimskirkia Church, Reykjavik Iceland Thingvellir Church in Pingvellir National Park Oxararfoss, Pingvellir National Park On October 3rd, we start to navigate around the island. Our first stop was the Golden Circle where we found the Geysir geothermal; a rare phenomenon located 116 kilometers from Reykjavik. This was our first glimpse of how important and successful tourism is to Iceland. Finding a spot to put my tripod and camera where I would have limited number of tourists in the picture was not evident; however, the Geysirs did not disappoint, a successful photo shoot indeed. The Great Geysir In the same area we ventured in the rain and sleet to the Gullfoss Falls. Gullfoss is one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland. My spirits were crushed because I was unable to capture the size, force and beauty of these grandiose falls due to bad weather. I decided then and there that we would be returning at a later date. In fact, I cancelled our trip to the Blue Lagoon that had been previously scheduled for one of the last two days in Iceland, opting instead to return to these falls for a second photo opportunity. Gullfoss Falls Selijalandsfoss Falls Skógafoss Falls As you travel south on route 1 you begin to notice that you see less and less tourists. The opportunities to photograph the flat natural environment, lighthouses, barns, ocean waves, rivers, ponies and sheep with little interference of tourists are endless. What should have taken us two to three hours to drive to our next destination is taking full days, as the urge to stop and take photographs of these magnificent sceneries is overwhelming. You always have things that if you could “redo” you would. Well the one thing that we would do differently is rent a Jeep. As you travel further east you begin to see signs that say, “Studded Tires” next 250 kilometers, remember we had a small Kia. When we got to Egilsstadir, we quickly understood why we should have studded tires. The next 400 kilometers were nail biting to say the least. However, it did not stop us from enjoying the beauty Iceland’s landscape had to offer. Each kilometer brought more exuberant vistas that I could not stop photographing. We travelled form Egilsstadir to Akureyri at an average speed of 40 kilometer per hour. The snow, the sleet and the rain tested our nerves to say the least. Coming from Canada, we should have known that there was the possibility of snowstorms in October. Before arriving at Akureyri we stopped at the Godafoss Falls. This falls is easily accessible from the road and depending on the time of the year you visit could be a little busy. Godafoss Falls, Iceland Akureyri the second largest city in Iceland with a population of 18,860 and it is just as beautiful as Reykjavik, if not more beautiful. It is an important port and fishing center for Iceland. It is surrounded by mountains but because of the fjord, Pollurinn, (the pool) it is known for calm winds and a good natural harbor. In the center of the town there is this beautiful church that is illuminated at night with a beautiful red color. We only got to stay one night but would definitely stay at least two nights the next time we travel to the area. In and around Akureyri, Iceland The next day, early in the morning we are heading toward Snaefellsnes Peninsula, to a town call Grundarfjordur. This part of the country was my favourite, so magical; it is where we got to experience our first Northern Lights. Grundarfjordur is a small town, situated north of the Snaefellsness Peninsula. The famous mountain Kirkjufell is located there and it is one of the most photograph mountains in Iceland. We stayed two nights to give us a chance to visit the Snaefellsnes National Park and hopefully capture the Northern Lights. This area is known for its beautiful and dramatic landscapes and lava fields. As you drive round the peninsula, you come across this “little black church” Budir Church located in Budakirkja. This church is well known to photographers for good reasons. It is beautifully sitting in a field without any other building near it. It is located in the rough nature of Iceland where the black color makes a beautiful contrast to the often-cloudy sky and the snow-covered mountains in the background. Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss, Grundarfjordur, Iceland - Tiny Black Church The evening is upon us and the big decision is where to set the camera and tripod in order to capture the Northern Lights. We decided that we would focus on Kirkjufell, the famous mountain. The evening sky cleared and we started to see the Aurora Borealis right in front of us as if they were dancing in mid air. Green is the most common color but I was able capture a bit of the purple waves. To the naked eye, you can see them In shades of gray and white. The DSLR camera sensors don’t have that limitation. We were successful both nights in seeing the Northern Lights. My husband and I would strongly recommend each and every one of you, if you have a chance to visit Iceland in search of the Northern Lights and its beautiful landscapes to go. You will not be disappointed. All photography ©Stella d'Entremont
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The definition of abstract is " existing in thought or as an idea but not having physical or concrete existence". Words use to describe abstract could be theoretical, conceptual, notional, intellectual, metaphysical, ideal and philosophical.
The last few months I have been experimenting with abstract photography and I can honestly say that it is truly getting my creativity juice flowing. Photography is not just a simple click of the shutter. As they would say in French "au contraire" or as Jon Black would say, it allows you to think outside the box. Abstract photography allows me as an artist to see beyond the surface and capture the imagery in a conceptual manner. Below are some of the imagery I have recently taken. Enjoy! As you are driving on Route 333 you come to a top of a hill revealing your first glimpse of a spectacular view of “The four corners of the Earth”. From that moment, you have a sense of being forced into their world; the world of tenaciousness, survival, endurance and strength.
Fogo is one of nine villages on Fogo Island: Tilting, Joe Batt’s Arm, Seldom, Stag Harbour, Island Harbour, Deep Bay, Eastern Tickle, and Cape Cove being the others. In the early 60's, these villages thrived on the northern cod fishery and shipbuilding. In 1992 the government declared a moratorium on fishing northern cod putting 40,000 people out of work in Newfoundland, Fogo Island was not spared. There are plenty of remnants everywhere you look of what it used to be. The fishing industry being all but dead, employment is very limited for its inhabitants. After graduating from high school, those wishing to continue their post secondary education have to leave the island and very few come back. Many of whom that have remained on the island, have found work in Western Canada; the islanders refer to this as "doing the fly in and fly out". We noted that a few come back to retire after being gone for many years. I guess home is always home. The locals are very welcoming and eager to make you feel at home. One day my husband and I were walking toward a Brimstone trailhead for a small hike when a local stopped just to chat wanting to know where we were from, where were we heading and simply wanted to know what did we thought of Fogo Island. Stopping at the local restaurants the waitresses eagerly wanted to share with us what traditional meals they were serving that day. Let me just say; they still serve the northern cod. Their homes are what we will forever remember. They are known as The Salt Box. They are a very square with a door in the middle of the front of the house and small windows on either side of the door and three on the second level. During our stay in Fogo, we actually stayed in one of them. These homes are very similar in styles and shapes but more importantly, give you a sense of intimacy. Fogo Island seems to have been given somewhat of a rebirth with the Fogo Island Inn situated in Joe Bett’s Arms overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Today this Inn provides employment for craftsmen, artists, service providers and other who cater to the many tourists visiting the Inn. In Partnership with the Inn are very distinctive studios located across Fogo Island where artists from around the world are invited to participate as an “Artist in Residence”. Do I dare say; I am hoping to be an artist is residence on Fogo Island some day. Fogo Island is a place rich in culture, a place that welcomes you with open arms and a place you can feel like being! Have you ever just sat in front of a waterfall and let you be awestruck by the rushing water or hypnotized by the sound of the cascading water falling into a stream? Whether the waterfalls are small, wide, long or skinny they all seem to have the ability to bring a sense of “amazement” to each one of us. Photographing beautiful waterfalls can be challenging projects depending on what image you are trying to capture. It may seem easy to photograph waterfalls and making the water look silky smooth; however, if you do not have the right equipment and you do not understand how the three pillars of photography - Shutter Speed, ISO, and Aperture – work together it is almost impossible. To achieve the ghosting effect of smooth water flowing from the edge of a cliff or flowing down stream wrapping itself on the rocks you need to use slow shutter speed. As you slow the shutter speed, it makes the subject appear smooth and blurry creating that look you are after. When slowing the shutter speed it is impossible to hold the camera without movement. That being the case you need is a tripod. The tripod will allow you to slow the shutter speed without movement. A shutter release cable will allow you to take a photo without touching the camera eliminating any chance of movement. However, if you do not have a cable you will need to put your camera on self-timer for about 3 to 5 seconds giving the camera time to stabilized after you have pushed the shutter. The ISO is also important factor when photographing waterfalls. If you lower the ISO to 100 it will allow you to decrease the shutter speed by 2 or 3 full stops. Additionally, lowering your ISO increases the quality of your photograph. Using filters lowers the amount of light that passes through the lens and helps to create the ghost and blurry effects. However, if you do not have a filter you can lower the aperture and increase the F/number. This will decrease the amount of light that passes through the lens and help create the look you are looking for. The images below are photograph without a filter and a higher F-stop. Another helpful tip is to go out there and find as many waterfalls as you can and practice. There is no secret on how to become a great waterfall photographer; it is simple… just practice. 1/13 sec, F18, 56 mm, 100 ISO
Thomas and John Knoll created Photoshop in 1988. Since then it has become the de facto industry standard for graphic and image editing, such that the word “Photoshop” has become a verb as in “to Photoshop an image”.
In the world of photography, photoshop has become one of the tools used by photographers to do editing. The editing process can range from minor to major manipulation of the images. Recently I have been asked if photographs that I had posted on Facebook or on my website had been photoshoped. The question surprised me because all of my images are edited. Given that I shoot all of my images in “raw format” I have to use photoshop for minor editing. For those of you who are not familiar with what is meant by “raw format” it is equivalent to a negative in a film. Remember before the digital cameras, we would develop our pictures from the negatives in dark rooms. The editing I do in photoshop is similar to that process and usually includes adjustments such as manipulating the exposer and sharpening the photograph. Since I have been asked the question a few times; I am wondering myself if an image is “photoshoped” does it mean that it is any less an “art”? I think the answer is that we should not get hung up on the process but focus on the product itself. What are your thoughts? There are many symbols and images that can be used to describe true balance and harmony such as yoga poses, scales and inukshuk status to name a few. Our earth demonstrates true balance on the beginning of spring known as the equinox. The equinox is an astronomical event in which the equator is aligned with the sun. On the equinox, day and night are of equal duration all over the planet. This event signals the beginning of spring. Here is a photograph of an inukshuk that I took on a beach near Yarmouth, NS that symbolizes balance. Nikon D750
f/11, 1/640 sec 200 ISO I would say you can get self-confidence, recognition, and acknowledgment. Yes that is right, you can get all of this for .25$.
This morning I checked my phone as I do each morning. To my surprise I had a notification from Shutterstock.com, a web site where I had downloaded images to sell to individual or companies from all over the world. Of the approved photographs I had submitted last week, one had been purchased and my commission was .25$. You may be asking yourself why would anyone put so much energy for so little reward? As an artist, I would say it is to get self-confidence, recognition and acknowledgement. Artist creates art in the hope that it will emit emotions whether positive or negative to its audience. How an artist can reach his or her audience is not always an easy task; therefore, getting a “hit” is enough to seduce the artist in believing in her creation and continue to seek the recognition. Thank you to the “Lunenburg Dingy”. You have given me the confidences to continue doing what I love! Why would I call my first blog "It's not all about the F Stop. Well it is the title of a book I have been wanting to buy. The book is written by Jay Maisel; a world renown photographer from New York City. If you have not heard of him, you should definitely check him out.
Really, the reason for my title has all to do with what drew me to photography. Those who know me would say that I eat, sleep and breath photography. There are many reason why a person is drawn to photography; the technical side of it I would say is the last reason. As Mr. Maisel would say, always have your camera with you because you never know when that "perfect shot" will be in front of you. An early morning in May, I happened to look out my window and saw this beautiful image that I just could not really believe was in front of me. I grab my camera and went out on my patio and started to shoot. The result was an exceptional image of the fog on the Bedford Basin. The fog created a movement between the boat that had taken refuge in the bay and the water. The photo will be published in the March/April 2016 of Saltscape magazine. It has won a honourable mention from the judges for its artistic imagery. So the to summarize, you never know when that perfect shot will be in front of you so ensure that you always have your camera with you. Do not let the technical aspects of photography stop you from experimenting. Go ahead and shoot, shoot and shoot some more! |
Stella d'EntremontAuthor | Accredited Photographer of Canada Old Post
March 2024
Photographer's Story |