Land of Fire and Ice; Iceland.

He received his B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina in May 2016 with a major in advertising and minor in media arts, and currently works in Washington, D.C. as a Marketing Leader and Photographer for ARC’TERYX Equipment.

Colin strives to travel the world using photography as a means to study and explore it.

While many of my images are focused on landscape, I am interested in weaving together an expanded idea of adventure by documenting the relationships between natural and cultural aspects of the places I visit.

 

I strive to document the unique personalities of each geographic region I visit and the people I meet along the way, and stay motivated by my own passion for adventure. — Colin Rex. 

In this feature we have a selection of breathtaking vistas from the Nordic land of fire and ice, Iceland. An ever popular tourist destination world renowned for its dramatic landscape with it’s volcanoes, massive glaciers, geysers running deep into the northern earth, hot springs, Aurora Borealis and dynamic national parks.

Here we get to take a glimpse of this climactic country through Colin’s lens.

Glacial cave

Much of the scenery of this sparsely populated land looks like it could be straight from the set of a Sci-Fi movie!

Aurora Borealis

Iceland is one of the prime locations to witness the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) as they illuminate the Icelandic skies from August through til April, and you’re just as likely to spot the dazzling Northern lights during any of these months, so long as the weather permits!  There are even Northern Lights tours dedicated to searching the skies for this natural spectacle, such as the 7 day Northern Lights Tour which involves a scenic drive down the south coast of the country.

Land of Magic

Iceland’s unique environment has given birth to a rich history of equally unique folklore, with tales of trolls, elves, sea monsters, ghosts and more. Surveys show that wonderfully, half of the nation believes  in elves or ‘hidden folk’ as they are called. So the rich folklore of Iceland is very much alive and kicking. Many of the landmark rock formations are named after trolls who are said to have suffered the fate of the sun and turned to stone.

Land of Waterfalls

The collection of water falls in Iceland rivals those of perhaps everywhere in Europe, and they are everywhere! Luckily these glorious aqua features are difficult to miss as you travel around the county, however some of the famous ones include ‘Kirkjufellsfoss’ (church mountain falls)  near the distinctive Kirkjufell mountain on the north side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Gullfoss Waterfall which is a main ‘Golden Circle’ attraction, a vast two-tiered waterfall which is partially obscured until you get really close. And Skogafoss, a former sea cliff, which is now situated between Iceland’s Highlands and coastal area. It is perhaps most famous for its rainbow which can be seen on most days provided there is adequate sunshine.

With the wealth and variety of caves being one of Iceland’s biggest attractions, there are several cave specific tours to choose from ranging from helicopter tours to photography workshops!

 

In this harsh climate, the fauna and flora in the country were largely introduced by viking settlers, such as the Icelandic Sheep, Icelandic Dog and Icelandic Horse. One exception however is the Arctic Fox which is native to the country. The variety of migratory birds draws many a keen bird watcher during the summer seasons also.

 

 

For more of Colin Rex’s vivid photo stories head over to www.colinrex.com 

How to travel to Iceland

Suggested connections from India are via Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, Oslo, Frankfurt and Helsinki. Direct flights to Iceland are available from the majority of European countries, and it cuts down costs to take a stop-over flight.
Once you’ve arrived in Iceland it is relatively easy to travel around due to it’s small scale, and buses are available to all major cities. Popular options are renting cars, four wheel drives, and bicycles to travel around. Internal air travel tends to be a convenient option during the harsh winter months.