Fine Art Photography

My Encounter with a Troll in Iceland (Part 2) - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

I stood in the shower, befuddled.

I had turned the knob to hot water. Nothing happened.

It may have been me. We just came back from an early morning trip (before sunrise) to
Hverir, the geothermal location. And for the ones that know me, I donโ€™t function well early morning.

I switched off the hot water and turned it on again. Still nothing.

Double checked the hardware. Yes, it is a knob for the shower that I turned.

Three-Amigos-Sunrise-Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Three-Amigos-Sunrise-Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

It was mid-September. In Iceland terms, it was getting cold. Some areas were going to be covered with snow/ice and roads be closed in a few weeks. So, in Southern California terms, itโ€™s putting-on-all-our-winter-gears kind of cold.

The water lineโ€™s clogged up?

I turned on the cold water. Cool liquid came flowing out as expected.

Even more confused, I went back and forth between hot and cold for what felt like a long time. The last thing I wanted to do was to wake up my dedicated driver who was trying to catch up on some sleep.

Being a self-proclaimed problem solver, I then tried to decide if I could tell any difference between the actions for either in the sound or smell or anything else that I couldnโ€™t think of.

When every possible stone has been turned, I had to give up on solving this problem by myself.

I couldnโ€™t believe my eyes, or ears, when hot water came right out with an easy twist on the knob from my Assistante, eyes half shut.

Feeling awkward, I was searching for a logical explanation in my head โ€ฆ

Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

I remembered the mountain at Hverir.

It had rained the evening before. The accumulated water at the foot of the mountain gave me a new way to create. I decided to get down from the ledge of the road before heading back to the hotel. I approached the edge of the water ever-so-gingerly. You never know what could be hurt or waken up at each step, especially at such an un-adulterated location.

The lower elevation gives me a better angle for reflections. I started moving side ways to compose creatively.

Suddenly, I felt a strong presence around. I knew I was the only one down there. My Assistante was high up on the other side of the road. I turned around. I couldnโ€™t see them.

Feeling uncomfortable, I quickly retreated my foot steps and ascended to the surface of the road. Soon, we were back at the hotel and I completely forgot about this incident, until I was in the shower.

Man-and-Rising-Sun-in-Mist-Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Man-and-Rising-Sun-in-Mist-Hverir-Namaskard-Geothermal-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Do you have any encounters like this?

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A Little Cold for Your Hot from Yellowstone National Park - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

What comes to mind when you hear these two words of the opposite nature? Conflict? Confrontation?

How about the idea of taking a hot spring bath in winter?

The day on which we arrived at the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone at sunset was the last day of the park was open for winter season. Everybody was supposed to leave the internal park. The temperatures were forecast to drop so low that the cars wonโ€™t start. The snowmobile did not take a chance and we left ahead of schedule. On the few stops for photographs, the engine kept on running. We couldnโ€™t afford to have a stalled car in the middle of the park.

Sunset-Blue-Palette-Spring-Yellowstone-National-Park-USA-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography.jpg

Sunset-Blue-Palette-Spring-Yellowstone-National-Park-USA-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography.jpg

It was in such a survival mode that we arrived at the edge of the park. Taking a risk that the road may be frozen over (which is disaster for us Southern Californians that canโ€™t even drive in rain :-) ), we took a detour onto the Palette Spring. Getting out of the car takes courage. Seeing the steam from the geothermal feature, I drew closer and closer, picturing exactly the idea above - taking a hot spring bath in bone-chilling winter.

โ€That outfit looks familiarโ€, says someone that recognized the clothes from the company that we went to the Antarctica with.

โ€Thatโ€™s right. And you know what? This cold beats Antarctica!โ€ I replied.

I donโ€™t know about you. We just survived an extended period of heat wave. I thought a little (visual) coldness will bring comfort to you. Me, on the other hand, enjoy the beauty brought out by the contrast of cold and hot.

Sunset-Glow-Palette-Spring-Yellowstone-National-Park-USA-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography.jpg

Sunset-Glow-Palette-Spring-Yellowstone-National-Park-USA-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography.jpg

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Flying Through Thick and Thin - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

For some reason, the image of this little bird resonates with me today. Amongst the roaring storm, with no end to the difficult time in sight, the seemingly minuscule bird was determined to cut through the wind and fire to reach her destiny in fading light.

It all of sudden reminds me of
another brave little bird in Iceland. Do you think our humanโ€™s fascination with flying is somehow rooted in the admiration in these tough little flying creatures?

Little-Bird-Flying-Throug-Storm-Camargue-France-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Little-Bird-Flying-Throug-Storm-Camargue-France-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

I was going to show a sequel to my โ€œeyes in Porto, Portugalโ€ post and I digressed. I really hope you donโ€™t mind. This tough little bird needs a sip of margarita before facing a world of storm again.

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