DJI Mavic Air 2 - Drone photography in the Forest

This morning I went for a session of forest photography. The autumn colors are starting to show.

But for this shoot I went and only used my drone this time. Trying to find and shoot some compositions from beneath the treetops and a little lower to the ground. It was quite dark here and there still. Since I was out in the early morning. Luckily my DJI Mavic Air 2 shoots decent HDR images. So I went and took a 5 bracket shot, and merged them in Lightroom on the computer in post processing. This gave me a larger dynamic range towards the challenging lighting conditions.

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Iceland: Gaukshöfði, Vik, Laxa i Kjos, Strandarkirkja

In this blog post I will share 4 images, of 4 amazing locations in Iceland. Some well known and "touristy" others a little more undiscovered.

Gaukshöfði

A small detour from the Rte 32, a steep climb up the rocky cliffs — and you’re rewarded with fabulous views over the wide aquamarine Þjorsá river. In the distance is the low mound of Hekla volcano.The overlook point, with narrow trails on two rocky hills, perhaps 300 feet tall, is named for Gaukur, a 10th century resident of nearby Stong, a viking longhouse. The stories say he was murdered by his foster brother. Bones and weapons were found at the base of the cliffs, which everyone assumed must belong to the combatants.

Gaukshöfði

Vik

Iceland has several volcanic beaches along its coastlines, but Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is by far the coolest and most famous on the island. It is easily accessible from the main road running through Vík í Mýrdal and taking a walk on the black sand beach is a must. Together With basalt columns, unique lava formations, towering cliffs, and caves the area is a nature lovers delight. 

Vik

Laxa i Kjos

The Laxa i Kjos is the centrepiece of one of the most stunning glacially forged valleys in Southern Iceland.  A narrow upper canyon splays into a gentle, peaceful, arable valley before cascading down the final falls and pools into the sea.  This exceptional river and its beautiful tributary can be reached within an hour’s drive from Reykjavik.

Laxa i Kjos

Strandarkirkja

Strandarkirkja is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Selvogur, on the southern coast of Iceland. The church, rising from the coast and pointing its tower towards the heavens, has been a beacon for those travelling at sea. It has more supporters all over the world than any other church in Iceland and is often referred to as the 'miracle church' with the locals' longstanding belief that it has profound, divine powers. Many miracles have been attributed to Strandarkirkja and there was a time when it was one of the richest churches in Iceland from the donations of Icelanders coming from all over the country in hopes of having their prayers and wishes realized.

Strandarkirkja

Too late for sunset.

I didn't expect to get away with a decent shot yesterday evening. Because I arrived to this local spot a little bit to late. Right after sunset. I though all color and detail in the sky was gone by the time I was there.

De Beegderheide. Probaly my favorite landscape location close to home.

Rushing out of the car getting all my gear ready, I didn't even look up the sky that much. Because I was, yeah rushing myself. As soon when I had me gear ready to go I started walking towards the waterfront, and actually really came to a sudden halt. Wow!!
How wrong was I? There was still quite some drama up in the sky! This fine image is the result of my amazement and awe admiration for gorgeous sunsets during sunset. Or in this case, a little bit after, haha.

Tech: Nikon D500 & Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 ED DX

Spring is here!

The temperatures are rising again, the trees and flowers are turning green and colorful again. People awake from their winter sleep and head out into nature. As much as I love the winter, Spring is always welcome. I just love the seasons, as they pass. They all bring their own beautiful assets to the table.

Therefore my wife and I decided it was time for a little bit of outdoor fun today. And we drove down to the south of the province that we live in (Limburg) To the town and area around Gulpen. Its so gorgeous. Super green, nice hills (which are rare in The Netherlands) and we just had the best weather for a decent hike. Below are some shots from our day in Gulpen, check them out. And if you ever are in the area be sure to make your way outside of the town for a bit, to get a amazing panoramic view over the town

*All shots in this blogpost were shot on my Iphone 8 and edited with the VSCO photo editor.

Panorama of Gulpen