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If you missed my first article, please see Iceland in 16 Days: Day 1, South Region, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Those planning a trip to Iceland will find my Iceland Guide packed with information about what to bring, where to go, what to do, where to stay, what to expect in each location, and what literature to read before your trip.

Feature Image Details: Canon 100-400 MM F 4.5-5.6 L Lens at 135MM, F/10, ISO 200 for 1/1000th second.

That’s a beautiful lens that also came in very handy for whale watching in Husavik and photographing the Arctic Tern colony at the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Those images are coming up. Check out my Equipment List page for additional ideas and discussion.

The feature image above was taken from a gas station in Vik, right across from the beautiful Vik church, the morning of day 2. I was not at the gas station because I wanted to be there. Rather I was there waiting because of an experience I mentioned in my Iceland Guide.

Gasoline
Unlike in the US, gas stations can and do close early. After hours, the only way you may be able to get gas is with a prepaid card, or a credit card with both a PIN and a chip.

I was stuck the morning I took the above image because I had a credit card with a chip but no PIN, and a debit card with a PIN but no chip. When the station opened at 9:00 AM I was able to use my credit card inside, to buy a gas card to use outside. Credit or debit cards must have a chip for any use.

Buy a prepaid gas card at your first chance. Fill up often. N1 has the most stations.

Vik Church

Lupine Image Details: The image of the church and lupines was shot with a Canon 16-35MM F4 L lens at 32MM, f/14, 1/400 second ISO 200. The 16-35MM lens is my favorite general purpose lens.

Between Reykjavík  and Vik

On the first day, prior to arriving in Vik, I photographed Skógafoss Waterfall, the Reyniskirkja Church and the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall shown in my first article.

Skógafoss

Image details: Canon 16-35MM L lens at 16MM 1/160 second.

I always ask “what could I have done better?” In this case I was a bit late in the day, about 6:30 PM. The left side of the scene was in a strong shadow, but I was able to bring out much of that detail in Lightroom.

I like like water to be silky smooth, and the above image does not qualify. Polarizers can help, but you have to be careful in how they are rotated or they will obliterate the rainbow. A better choice would have been a neutral density filter. I now carry B+W ND Filters of strength 3.0 (10 stops), 1.8 (6 stops), and 0.6 (2 stops). Six stops would have changed the exposure to about 1 second. That would have given me the effect I wanted.

Reyniskirkja Church

Image details:  Canon 16-35 MM L lens at 25 MM, f/13, ISO 100

The Reyniskirkja Church, built in 1929, is located very close to Vik. I cannot take credit for the beautiful clouds. They were in place when we arrived.

My camera was pointed slightly up which made the flag pole look tilted to the right. I corrected the perspective in Lightroom. A 24mm Tilt-Shift Lens would have eliminated the need to make that perspective adjustment.

If you are eyeing a Canon T/S lens, I would strongly recommend the newer 17MM Tilt-Shift Lens over the 24MM lens. I have a shot from Reykjavík on the last day of our trip that will show why.

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Up Next: Jökulsárlón Ice Beach

Mike “Mish” Shedlock