River Braids

LOCATION: Iceland

DATE: May 2018

LIMITED EDITION PRINT: Just 40 prints available World-Wide.

AWARDS: 

⭐   Nature/Aerial Photographer of the Year - 2019  International Photography Awards

THE STORY:

Iceland has grown in reputation over recent years for its epic landscapes. Professional and amateur photographers, along with my sightseers, have flocked to Iceland for its incredible natural beauty.

Having been to Iceland once already to shoot landscapes, my mission this time was to shoot from above.

I spent months researching online the best locations. Then it was a matter of finding the right pilot to take me up.

Fortunately, my hours spent on social media had not gone to waste. I found and then followed a man known as ‘Volcano Pilot’.

I messaged him many months in advance to let him know of my intentions. I set aside five days to find a window of weather to get up in the air.

Arriving in the main town of Reykjavik on the Monday, the weather wasn’t looking good for my trip. Cold, dark and miserable are three words that come to mind.

I patched a call through to my pilot. I was told to be on standby to go up at any minute on any given day.

Tuesday morning 8am my phone rings. “Tom lets go! You have an hour to get down here to the airport. This is the only chance this week to fly. If you’re not here within the hour, we don’t fly.”

My reply was simply, “I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

Driving into the dodgy backstreets of the airport precinct, I found our meeting point – a small building with no more than a kitchen and lunge area. Oh yes, a toilet too.

Harald burst open the door. “Hello my friend, come in!” We click straight away. For the next half an hour, we chat about all things photography, flight plans and of course costs. And we’re off.

For the next two-and-half-hours we glide effortlessly over the coastline of Iceland. Harald pipes classical music through my headphones which takes me to another level. We communicate via hand signals and have the best time admiring and photographing the stunning Icelandic landscape. Even Harald gets his camera out and shoots one handed as the other hand steers the plane.

As the glacial rivers flow from the mountains to the coast, one in particular stands out for me. The river has volcanic sulphur that gives the illusion of fire - a River of Fire.

In the end, Harald has shown me all the good spots. We land and say our goodbyes. But I know I’ll see him again, that’s for sure!