When I first arrived in Iceland, it took a while to let the thoughts fully sink in that I was indeed, actually, in Iceland; the number one country I had dreamed of visiting for years. The first couple of days passed with that dreamy, hazy feeling, not quite believing life is real. On the third day (a month ago today as I write this), my team and I went to visit some waterfalls… We were at Skógafoss, where I set up my tripod and camera while staring in silent awe at the cascading water. I began to shed my layers of scarves, coat and sweaters in preparation to put on my red dress for this self-portrait… and then I patiently waited. Waited for the sun and clouds to line up correctly to light the waterfall just right. Waited for the surrounding tourists to finish taking their photos. Waited for the breeze to blow the mist away from my camera lens. After almost 45 minutes, I finally saw my chance. I slipped off my shoes and ran towards the falling sheets of water, camera clicking away behind me… and was suddenly engulfed in the freezing, falling mist as I spun around joyously at the bottom of the falls. It was that very moment, when my clothes were soaked through and my feet kept slipping between rocks and I felt absolutely frozen, that my mindset finally changed from “dreamy, hazy” to “Oh my frognoggin’ firecrackers this is freaking real” before I had to run back to the safety of my coat and scarf. It was one of those moments where I felt most alive… My heart felt so big and yet the rest of me felt so small. I have greatest respect for these places in nature and I simply can’t fathom how beautiful this world is. It blows my mind over and over again.

___________________________
Website | Facebook Page | Tumblr | Instagram

http://ift.tt/1vwX7pg