B&E Photography: December 2014

When we first landed in Iceland, we weren't sure what to expect. However, the obvious hit us hard and fast: it's cold here. The time of sandals, shorts and a t-shirt have all been replaced with beanies, Patagonia double layered jackets, water proof boots rated for -22 degrees, and our rental car's heater on full blast.
The second thing? It's light for about only five hours a day. Which means it doesn't become light until 11 and sunset is at 3:30. For a photographer like myself, it's a dream. The light is practically always golden allowing every photo opportunity the near perfect conditions one craves.
On our way from the airport, we made a quick pit stop for breakfast then headed to our beautiful cabin in the countryside, an hour outside of the capital Reykjavik (yeah, try pronouncing that correctly..."Pat, I would like to buy another vowel!"). Our cabin, a modern and stylish home, is nestled into the hillside overlooking a beautiful snowy and windy-river valley below. Oh, did I mention the cabin comes complete with hot tub and heated floors throughout? After a frenzied and lightning fast unpacking, we wasted no time getting to the nearest sights that Iceland had to offer.
Our first stop, on what is known as the Golden Circle, was the Strokkur geyser; a wonderful display of boiling sulfuric water reaching heights of 90 feet every 8 mins or so. The immense power is a bit alarming but nonetheless a spectacular view.
The next stop on the Circle was the biggest waterfall on the island: the gargantuan, multi-layered stair-casing Gullfoss. If at first glance it doesn't surprise you, remember that during the wintertime it's only running at about half capacity. The way the water drains into the cavity below has you second guessing that the water doesn't disappear within the crevice all together. However, after walking along a rope fence that barely makes any protest from putting yourself in the hands of almost certain death below, your view extends down a beautiful canyon where the water will eventually make its way to form several streams, ultimately leading to the ocean. It was a truly spectacular sight to see.
As if our first day couldn't get any better, we headed home using the last bit of daylight to navigate back to our cabin. That night we experienced a truly breathtaking event: the Northern Lights. It is so hard to describe the effect it has on you. It is as if someone took a can of lime green spray paint and colored the sky and then electrified it making it wave to and fro, flowing across the night sky that is already majestic with its star riddled atmosphere. This may likely be the best thing I have ever seen and, as I gazed slack jawed at the performance laid before me, I realized I needed to start breathing again. Truly a night to remember!

To see a time lapse of the Northern Lights from our cabin click here.

UP NEXT: stay tuned for our adventures to Skogafoss Waterfall, the glacier and icebergs at Jokulsarlon, and the coldest scuba dive of my life at Silfra.