Icelandic Summer in Time Lapse Photography

There is something indescribable about the light in Iceland.  There is something equally indescribable about the energy and vibrancy of the landscape--especially in summer when the sun shines 24 hours a day. This time lapse video comes as close as anything I've ever seen to capturing the essence of the midnight sun in Iceland. It was made in July of 2011 by cinematographer Joe Capra .

Enjoy... and for a  look at the original post where I found this amazing video, plus a video of the out-takes.  Go here.

Why Icelandic Pilots Are The Best

A few years ago, I sat next to an American air traffic control expert on an Icelandair flight from Keflavik  to the USA.  He was returning from an international air traffic control conference in Europe and  we got to talking.  He told me that if he were ever in a bad situation in a commercial airplane, he would want an Icelandic pilot at the controls.  This video willl show you why.

Icelandic pilots all start out doing a variety of challenging domestic routes before they tackle international airspace and they all have to fly in and out of Ísafjörður at some point-- no mean feat especially in winter when  it's snowing and the wind is blowing.  You have the sea on one side and sheer cliffs on the other.  It takes skill and nerve to do it, yet planes safely land and take off there every day.  These guys really know what they are doing.

And if you wonder why Icelandophiles like me rave about the beauty of Icelandic nature,  take a look at the mountains in the background as this pilot lands his Air Iceland Fokker 50  as if he were  putting a baby in  a cradle.

Thoughts on an Icelandic Volcano

The Icelandic volcano is the top story on all three cable news networks this week-end. They keep talking about how air traffic in Europe has been crippled by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano. Then, they describe what volcanic ash can do to a jet engine and interview a few folks waiting in airports with lots of teeth gnashing and hand wringing

Lastly, they offer worst case scenarios about how long the situation could last and make it all sound like a nuclear winter is in store for the world. Every reporter manages to mangle the word Eyjafjallajökull ( the name of the volcano) in unique and unimaginable ways.

The Real Story

 For my money they are missing the real story, which is the character of the Icelandic people and the special attributes of the fantastic land they inhabit., Iceland is an amazing place.  The landscape is truly alive, even when volcanoes are not erupting. The people, and even the animals and birds,  of Iceland seem almost organically connected to the land in some almost mystical way. The light in Iceland really cannot be captured with a camera and the landscape has a unique beauty all its own.  When you get off the plane at Keflavik International Airport it is as if you have arrived, not just in another country, but in another world.

Icelandic Web Cam Links

With that in mind, check out this link: Eyjafjallajökull frá Hvolsvelli   Have a look at this one too. Eyjafjallajökull frá Valahnúk  And don't forget to check out the video below which contains dramatic aerial footage. Iceland is one of those places in the world where nature reminds you from time to time of your place in the universe.

Need I say more?