Iceland Sunbeams, a photo from Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Asturland

Photographer's Note

Take a look at the larger clearer TE Beta Version
ICELAND SUNBEAMS .

Well, this is the reward for getting up at 6am and driving around the country, capturing sunbeams streaking in the sky. Its pretty hard to find anything more beautiful than that.

I remember this moment well. I had spent the night sleeping in my car because I couldn't find any accommodations. So obviously when I woke up, actually I didn't sleep well at all, I decided to hit the road and start driving at about 5am.

In total, I spend only 2 nights in my car, so overall I did pretty well. Driving around at 5 and 6am, it worked out in terms of capturing beautiful light. Obviously I don't recall this exact location, its just one of a thousand different farm houses along the hwy, but I do know it was on the drive very very close to Hofn, on the south eastern coast.

The light seemed to strike the farmhouse and the grass so beautifully, and perhaps the photo doesn't do it justice, because in person it was spectacular. I had to pull my car over to the side of the road and take a few photos.

jhm, snunney, papagolf21, jean113, Fis2, danos, ChrisJ, holmertz, dale54, cornejo, PaulVDV, PiotrF, adramad, ktanska, ikeharel, COSTANTINO, pierrefonds, worldcitizen, Cricri heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (171794) 2017-09-13 3:34

Hi craig

The green tint in the sky looks like the Aurora Borealis even though it's near impossible to see in broad daylight. The partly silhouetted horses enliven the scene. Good color & sharpness. TFS!

dkmurphys (79209) 2017-09-13 3:40

Hello,
A great scene with the superb sunlight all over the green fields. Amazing country, It's on my list!

Daniel

lousat (139170) 2017-09-13 3:44

Hi Craig,it's always interesting to read about your adventures in Iceland,and the pics too are always beautiful. This is a lovely scene of the countryside,the choice of the moment is a winner,the effectof the magic light of nordic morning is amazing! Very well done! Take a look of my last pic dedicate to you please...ehehe....have a nice day! Luciano

jhm (211736) 2017-09-13 3:56

Hello Crag,

The slope of the meadow with horses care for a lovely picture.
Of course wonderful for a picture with the nice colours.
This creates depth and perspective, the dark sky is sublime.
Your picture has nice composition and excellent presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

holmertz (102604) 2017-09-13 4:05

Hello Craig,
How could you not stop the car if you see something like this? It's a wonderful view with the sunbeams, the golden tones of the grass and the horses having spent the night together. The house (reminding me a bit of the house where I grew up) is not abandoned but looks nice nevertheless.
Best wishes,
Gert

Tue (92302) 2017-09-13 4:08

Hello Craig,
Wow, it really is a spectacular view, the light is amazing. You composed the foreground very well with the gentle hills, the old houses and the group of horses well put together. Very well done!
Lars

snunney (130967) 2017-09-13 4:25

Hello Craig,
It's been a very long time since I slept in the car and then it was only because we were close to running out of fuel and couldn't find a garage open:-) This is really a beautiful image with a scintillating atmosphere. Perfectly composed with the horses making a delightful counterpoint to the farmhouse. Lovely soft lights and colours. No need for a lady in a red dress and high heels here:-)

Nicou (193806) 2017-09-13 4:39

Hello

quel rayonnement sur ce champs tout doré avec ces chevaux fantastique effet de lumière et cette maison en fond sueprbe ensemble et compo.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

gervaso (28177) 2017-09-13 4:47

Hello, Craig!

The light is very interesting here, with the bright grass making a great contrast with the dark clouds in the sky! The silhouettes of the horses are beautiful with the shining hair! Wonderful place and composition! Very well done!

Sergiom (117241) 2017-09-13 5:59

Bonjour Craig,

C'est spectaculaire même si je n'y suis pas en personne quoique j'aurais bien aimé. Deux nuits dans la voiture c'est pas facile mais pour obtenir d'aussi beaux résultats, cela en valait la peine.Magnifique lumière.

Amicalement

Serge

papagolf21 (152607) 2017-09-13 6:05

Bonjour, cher Craig,
Encore une image qui mériterait de figurer parmi les images d'arrière-plan d'ordinateur.
La beauté sauvage de l'ensemble est magnifiquement mise en vedette.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jean113 (27819) 2017-09-13 6:28

Hello Craig,an excellent composition, 1/3 and 2/3rds.
The dark sky with the rays of sunshine appears to make the sunlight on the pasture even brighter, and the colours are so natural.
The texture of the terrain is also highlighted by the sunlight.
Lovely work and wonderful in the larger version.
Regards Jean.

Fis2 (170639) 2017-09-13 6:46

Witaj Craig!
Very nice landscape.
Good POV and composition.
I like colors and sharpness.
Amazing light.
Well done.
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

danos (110407) 2017-09-13 6:50

Hello Craig,
The landscape view is spectacular with the Ireland sunbeams to penetrating the grey sky.the house on the hill and the grazing horses on the green land complete perfect the whole scenery.Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.

Regards,Danos

Silvio1953 (221463) 2017-09-13 7:56

Ciao Craig, fascinating landscape, magic atmosphere, wonderful natural colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

rychem (72187) 2017-09-13 8:01

A photo made by light, an idyllic shot with fantastic sunbeams, beautiful scene with horses and a small farm house, great composition
regards Ryszard

dale54 (17768) 2017-09-13 8:49

good afternoon & hello....yes,this shot sure does have some awesome light in it,with these horse's lazily starting the day,great all around work here! tfs dale

cornejo (61504) 2017-09-13 10:48

Hello Craig, very good photograph of this beautiful dawn in the charming place, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Great and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations, my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy rest of the week.
Affectionate greetings from the south of Spain.
Angel.

dta (98848) 2017-09-13 11:32

Hello Craig ;
The composition is excellent . But what is exceptionnal here are the wonderful golden light and the sunbeams in the Bg .
And it as not so easy to manage the backlight !
Regards

GyurMaster (24818) 2017-09-13 11:35

Hello Craig,

Its a marvelous view with the strong sunbeams and the dark mountains in the background.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

PaulVDV (62846) 2017-09-13 13:11

Hello Craig,
Very remarkable that the sunbeams are found over the entire length of the picture.
A very nice foreground with the dark horses with light coloured manes and tails.
The distance between the house and the horses gives good depth to the picture.
Best regards, Paul

LuisGustavoLima (5184) 2017-09-13 16:03

Oi, Craig!

A luz é realmente divina! Ela ilumina a foto tão bem. Os cavalos do primeiro plano, e a casa na outra ponta e mais ao fundo são elementos que enriqueceram a foto do lugar. Uma cena bem vista.
Bom trabalho!

PiotrF (54538) 2017-09-13 16:58

Hello Craig,
A amazing picture from Iceland.
Wonderful composition with horses in foreground.
Excellent sharpness and the overall technical features.
Nice presentation.
Regards
Piotr

emka (158030) 2017-09-13 23:51

Hello Craig, amazing picture. Nice lone house, looks old but still there are people living there, nice horses, but the light here and the view of the sky is just stunning.It looks a bit like aurora.
I can imagine that sleeping in the car was not specially comfortable, maybe cold, but you saved some money for accommodation, haha. But then when you drove early in the morning you were rewarded with fantastic views . Not for early risers though :).

Kind regrad s Malgo

adramad (72934) 2017-09-14 9:25

Hi, Craig.
Splendid sight, which has a wonderful contrast of lights, with that gray sky so threatening, while the grass of this undulating meadow has a special light, and the horses are in a beautiful backlight, the house up the hill is a beautiful complement of lifetime.
Great color, which gives a lot of appeal to the image.
Very good brightness and perfect sharpness.
Well done. I like very much.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jemaflor (147018) 2017-09-15 23:40

Hi Craig,
Lovely light well captured, nice details with these rays of sun,pleasant composition well balanced between horses, house and green grass,tfs.

ktanska (44714) 2017-09-16 2:22

Hi Craig,
Backlight is just fantastic here. And mountain face in the shadow provides dramatic background. Good framing with the house and horses. Again a house you've chosen to show us has seen better days.
Kari

ikeharel (113241) 2017-09-16 10:10

Hello Craig,
Wonderful to see the herd of those magnificent horses in their natural place, the open fields.
They look fit and content. Picture which showing the farm complex across the fully lit field with the far side fogy slopes as a great backdrop to the scene.
An excellent take, bravo.
Have a nice weekend,
Ike

COSTANTINO (116377) 2017-09-16 10:27

Hello dera craig and have a nice time
and a happy Sunday
the title of this photo could be as
the coming storm simple and peacefu
landscape with the animals in the foreground
and the big house on the top of the mounatisn
bukolic photo indeed
regards
Costantino

carlo62 (81265) 2017-09-16 14:00

Ciao Craig
si tratta di un meraviglioso paesaggio e la luce è determinante per renderlo più attraente.
La casa e i cavalli danno equilibrio alla composizione oltre che creare due punti di notevole interesse.
Saluti
Carlo

pierrefonds (114347) 2017-09-16 17:58

Hi Craig,

The wideness of the area is creating depth. The point of view is showing the details of the horses and of the house. I lik the effect of the sun rays on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

worldcitizen (16048) 2017-09-18 12:28

Hello Craig,
The lighting here is definitely magical. We can clearly see the diagonal beams of light shining down. The horses in the foreground are wonderfully silhouetted, too. This must be an amazing view to wake up to.

Polakowski (1285) 2017-09-27 4:32

Hi Craig,
When I watch an amazing shot, I know it's from Iceland. Although I've never been there, unfortunately
The lens flare adds rainbow charm.
Regards,
Tom

mkamionka (74311) 2017-09-29 0:04

Hi Craig,
wow this is very impressive indeed. My favourite is of course the background with the diagonal sun rays.
The light was magnificent, it was definitely worth to wake up in the morning to be there in a moment like this.
The horses make a fantastic foreground, it feels so wild and remote.
Spectacular scenery, great work!
M

Cricri (176) 2017-11-10 9:39

Hi Craig
Quelle belle aventure, elle est très belle cette image, déjà pour les rayons de la lumière, la maison au loin un peu en hauteur, j'aime beaucoup la présence des chevaux sur le champ lumineux, vraiment une belle image
Belle soirée
cricri