Puffin Portrait
Our drive back to Reykjavik would be relaxed, lacking the excitement we experienced seeing Iceland from the air. We had come so far, there was no need to rush home. Our first stop was to photograph some cute puffins. One excited photographer lady we spoke to said most had flown away the night before. Humm. “You should have been here yesterday” is a statement I have frequently heard throughout my photographic career.
My goal was to catch a puffin with a scoop full of small fish in their mouth. I saw that scene for a split second when I first arrived, then nothing for the next 30 minutes. I saw nothing more than these head shots.
Certainly cute birds. They can be found on menus in fine restaurants in Reykjavík. However, I was told the locals did not really eat them much and it was a tourist thing to do. I easily refrained and had none.
OK. So now you know how cute these puffins are and we can move on…
Skógafoss Waterfall
Continuing our drive back to Reykjavík we visited Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls. Here you will find food vendors, more paid parking and many buses full of tourists. My camera is pointed upward to cut out about 100 visitors…
Just like Niagara Falls on a sunny day, there is a constant rainbow at the base of this waterfall.
Staring at the immense amount of falling water can be mesmerizing for this photographer.
Moss Fields of Iceland
This soft carpet of thick moss is not an advertised tourist stop. It seems to exist just in one extra rain prone area. This moss is soft enough if you fall, which we did, you bounce right back up. There was, however, some blood in the car. We will ignore that for now.
The roots of this moss are slowly, very slowly, turning the volcanic rock, into more life sustaining soil.
Other plants seem to be creeping in.
Strokkur Geyser
Here is the sequence of events for Strokkur and all geysers it would seem. However, what made this one interesting was how close we were to the geyser and trying to time the moment of the unevenly timed eruptions. I enjoyed focusing on the initial bubble and recording how it would eventually burst into a geyser.
If anyone wants about 40 of these bubble photos, let me know before I delete them…
The infant geyser.
Bruarfoss, Iceland
Continuing our drive back to Reykjavík, we visited Bruarfoss. It was my second visit to these beautiful turquoise waters. The website says this waterfall is known for the vibrant colors of the water from the glacier runoff.
In hindsight I would like to have zoomed in and gotten more close-ups, rather than this broad view.
For you photographers out there, this is a five shot panorama photograph, stitched in Photoshop.
Here is a link to one of my prior trips to Iceland should you wish to see more photos of this beautiful waterfall. Iceland trip 2015
From lush greenery and waterfalls to among the driest spots in the US. Next stop is the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico. (OOPS, blogs got posted out of order)
Nary a plant, bug nor mosquito in sight for many miles…
I wonder if Dr. Pimple Popper would like the bubbles pictures in her waiting room. Magnificent water fall photos.
Thank you for sharing the adventure.
That is a good idea. Always looking for a new outlet. I did learn that psychiatric wards do not want abstracts or photos which may confuse…
Fantastic photos Harold. I had a decent camera when I was there but did not manage to capture a bubble photo. I would love to have one since you offer. Also spare of the moss if there are any. Just for me looking at them. I am looking forward to seeing and taking photos, and painting puffins in May! As usual I love browsing your photos.
Fantastic photos Harold. was there any other wildlife in Iceland? What other birds reside there? What do puffins eat? Is there freshwater fish? I have questions.
Puffins eat little sardine looking fish. They can be found with 6 or so in their mouth at a time. Yes, we saw other birds, but I did not photograph them nor do I know the names of them. Please do not tell Ken.
Thanks for the OOPS thought I had run into a time warp or fallen down the rabbit hole or just dozed off 🙂
Moss is intriguing but now I am wondering about the blood in the car 🙂
I have seen a lot of geyser shots but that bubble first series and the baby geyser are unique and cool 🙂
Yeah the Puffins are cute and they are a bird but the geyser dilation before the birth of the geyser is unique.
You really read and study these, Ken. I appreciate it.
Thank you for sharing your trips and photos!
Glad you are still following along
I only have seen Puffins one time in Scotland and they were so far away and the light was so poor that my photos weren’t worth keeping. Love yours! and all the rest as well. Thanks for the post. I know how much work this is and appreciate you doing it.
I at one time had built up an inventory of six blogs to release. I’ve squandered that luxury and now have only a week to develop photos and post…