Happy Valentine's Day - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

The northwestern Iceland has always been noted for its horsemanship.  But having a herd of Icelandic horses waking up to the first ray of daylight right out of our bedroom sliding door was more than what I could ask for.  In Hvammstangi, I got to meet some characters, including these two.  What do you think they were talking about?  

Maybe, something like this:

"Do you like the flowers?"
"Yes, they are delicious."

Haha, this Valentine's Day, don't make him/her mad, make him madly in love! :-)

Leave your caption below in the Facebook comment box.  The best answer will be rewarded with something of these two horses. :-)
 

Icelandic-Horse-Couple-Talking-Hvammstangi-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

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"Say Hello to Obama" - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

If going to Iceland is an adventure, visiting its highlands, which are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert, elevates the idea of adventures to a whole new level.  On this fall morning, we set off on the infamous gravel road F35.  

Road-F35-to-Kerlingarfjoll-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

When there could be any kind of weather all in one day, meeting such a group of men in bright orange could be comforting.  A short exchange of words with one of them even made me giddy.  It goes like this:
He: "Where are you from?"  
Me: "Los Angeles... Where are you from?"
He: "Iceland."  He then went on to say "I'm a sheep farmer."

Sheep-Farmer-on-Horse-Back-En-route-to-Kerlingarfjoll-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

I knew almost nothing about people of this land and their life.  As I searched for words to respond, he then turned around and disappeared quickly with his horses in his last sentence: "Say hello to Obama!"

Finally waking up from the clip-clop of horses, I muttered into the cold air "oh, thanks, I will pass it onto him!"     

What Not to Do as a Photographer's Assistant (2 of ...) - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

To make great images when traveling in unfamiliar turf is never easy.  Photographing in Iceland has its extra set of challenges, such as coldness (winter temperatures in summer months), heavy rain, and gusty wind.  As many have eloquently summed up, Iceland has got "unpredictable weather".  But, nothing compares to a unique challenge that I have at hand.

I thought I'd debut my series of Iceland stories with one of its icons, the Icelandic horses.

Approaching northwestern Iceland made me giddy as that part of the island has always been noted for its horsemanship.  I was looking forward to recreating a classic like this image made in Italy.  However, when my eyes finally met the viewfinder, this is what I got:         

Blocked-View-Human-Horse-Interaction-Vatsnes-Peninsula-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

I could get upset.  But I have no one to blame but myself.  Since the last time I wrote about this issue with my assistante, I have not done anything other than laughing about it here.  And, I continued to have him along, without pay.

Well, moments do not repeat and horses don't stay in one place for long.  So I chose to rise above the situation and make the best images that I creatively and professionally could.

Do you want to see what turned out?  I mean, do you want to meet the Icelandic horses without the "blocked view"?  Raise your hand below in the Facebook comment box.