High lands

 For those that may be tuning in for the first time, I am Joe shutter: a blogger and photographer based in Iceland.

I pass on what I learn out here through my  tailor-made photo workshops and tutorials. They can be as long or as short as my clients need them to be, and I always go the extra ten miles (or ten hours) to get the shots and get off the beaten track wherever possible. 

If you are interested in a photo workshop/tutorial in Iceland, pleas contact me through my email ( joeshutter101@gmail.com ) or through my Instagram handle @joe_shutter .

So there I was, minding my own business one polite afternoon, when I get a spontaneous message from an Instagrammer with whom I had recently been speaking, @bensimonehn. It went something like this: Lets go somewhere cool, alright then!

And off we went: Before we knew it, we are up in the highlands at near freezing temperatures (its supposed to be summer) and negotiating flash hail storms.  So in between car breaks when we put some life back into our extremities, we grabbed some shots until it got too dark. Here are the results of that escapade

Photography by Joe Shutter and Ben Simon

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter

End of day 1: Vik

To tie up day one of our road trip, we made a short stop at Vik, with its iconic sea stack. As the sun sank below the horizon at Dyrhóleay in the last, we stopped to enjoy the magic hour in Vik, embers of the golden, low sun and the rich blues from the sea and horizon. I included both sides of the cliff, for context.

Photography by Joe Shutter and Rock Scissors Taper

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter

Living On The Golden Edge

The sea cliff Dyrhóleay at this time of year was truly magnificent, with the low sun setting in the perfect location for some dramatic, golden raking light across the cliffs. The sparkling glacier in the background adds to the magic.

A dramatic high five was the celebration of choice.

Photography by Joe Shutter and Rock Scissors Taper

For your enjoyment, 

Joe Shutter

Weight of Water, Wet and Windy

Its only 500 meters from Seljalandsfoss, but Gljufarfoss exists in a warld of its own. It’s a small waterfall that falls into a cave. Open at the top, as the water falls, air is drawn down. This means windy. And wet. And wet and windy.

Shooting in here is a nightmare: you have exactly three seconds from a dry to a wet lens. Take tissues. You will got wet too, if you visit. Take a weather sealed camera or put it inside some kind of waterproof bag.

Poor Frank got soaked to the bone, it even got into his shoes! My (self) waxed leather Belstaff kept me dry on top, the car seat warmer taking care of the rest. It was totally worth it

Here are the shots.

Photography by Joe Shutter and Rock Scissors Taper

For your enjoyment,

Joe Shutter