Where the World Bleeds White
I’ve been drifting through this last week in a haze, my feet hovering a couple of inches off the ground coming off of an epic trip with some of my favorite people.
ICELAND
Even the name sounds like some mythical place only imagined under the most creative minds in fairy tales.
It didn’t disappoint.
Every bend in the road revealed a new and fantastical scene of eye candy to feast upon. One moment my gaze is met by spectacular snow-capped mountains only then to be greeted by black sand beaches stretching out to infinity. The next turn finds me indulging in a glacial lagoon and then wrapping myself in the lichen covered landscape of the lava fields, letting the earth fold me in her arms. Another curve exposes the most surrealistic rock formations… I could swear I was trapped inside a Salvador Dali painting. Maybe Dali dreamed of this far off land before picking up his paint brush. Canyons cutting deep into the land displaying mossy fingers and grooves… and HORSES! (The 8 year old inside of me couldn’t get enough!)
Mother Nature certainly had her way when she created this island. I eagerly awaited every new change in direction in anticipation of her next unveiling. What new magic trick did she have up her sleeve?
And the waterfalls a plenty…they cascaded down curtains of rock everywhere. Plenty of Icelanders so strategically built their house with this in mind. Nothing quite like a waterfall in your very own backyard in the summer time. And the purest water at that. We filled our bottles right from the source, no fear of repercussions and better than any water out of the tap back home.
Far and few are the places untouched by man. And boy are they grand.
I’ve always said that my church was on top of a mountain. It’s also beside a waterfall. Or perched atop the edge of a cliff overlooking majesty. Finding those moments when you realize how small we really are. A tiny piece of the bigger puzzle. Comprised of the same.
CARBON.
Original Posting - June 2015
Ever since Captain Awesome and I set foot on this island, it's all he can talk about. He even peruses a web cam deep in the heart of Akureyri, (I still can't pronounce that word as hard as I try!) the second largest city in Iceland. The topic even came up in conversation today over lunch. I think if I agreed to move, he'd figure out a way to get us there tomorrow. But I digress. That place beckons from afar with landscapes so beautiful and surreal one would think they are living in someone's imagination. But it's real. And after 20-ish months of standing in one place, the pull is strong.
I still stand in awe of how breathtaking this world is....
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Behind the Scenes - Where the World Bleeds White
Words really cannot express how blessed I feel to have been a part of this whirlwind of excitement. It was a love affair of friendships and inspiration as 18 people, just strangers a year prior, embarked upon the RV Caravan Express! I have to admit I was fearful that time would erode the magic from the previous adventure. As time tugs at the years, my natural inclination is to limit the close friendships in my life. So this new tethering felt elusive and precious. Any and all concerns immediately flew right out the window as soon as Bonnie and I arrived, the last two in from the States, we were greeted with gusto. The door to the taxi flew open, bags taken quickly from our grasps only to find ourselves lost in a sea of arms…like a hug from a thousand bears. We were home. And my heart will forever beat like a jungle drum.
I don’t often say this, but I’m kind of in love with this piece. We are all our own worse critics and I am no different when it comes to my art. I was hesitant to begin this concept, not really knowing if I had the skill to pull off what I intended. I often thought of waterfalls as the long flowing hair of the earth. Maybe they displayed Mother Earth herself or perhaps a nymph rooted to the land, bathing in the landscape. This particular waterfall, named Svartifoss, of the thousands we experienced up close and afar, resided approximately 3 miles into Skaftafell National Park. Surrounded by very geometric rock cuts, it carved out a theatrical stage for proper attendance.
A very popular place, most of the seats were already occupied for the show as many photographers lined up with their tripods to capture the power of Svartifoss. All those red dots in the photograph to the left are people!
So I moved to a different vantage point. Let’s call it stage right.
This was the original shot on a rather gloomy and overcast day. Spring had not quite graced us with her presence yet. Many of the Icelanders exclaimed that summer was a month off and the current weather was more of May than June. The flowers were just beginning to bud.
A new edition to our Fromagi family, this is Mia Hutchinson, a beautiful 18 year old along on the ride to model our concepts. Luckily enough, also a dancer, she had the flexibility to contort herself to my vision. And her long wavy hair matched the flowing tendrils of water cascading down the rocks perfectly. Despite her youth and the tendency toward electronic forms of communication, she has the most wonderful personality. Engaging. Spunky. Humble. Able to talk easily with people twice her age (uh, yeah, that’s me!) Thank you, Mia, for being a part of our experience. :-)
Did I mention the horses? Aside from sheep, these fuzzy horses with their rock star hair could be found at every turn. Brazen, they had no problem coming closer to investigate me while my curiosity and desire to touch anything fuzzy brought me closer to them.
Did you miss those beautiful creatures in the original image? You can find them resting bottom right at the base of the waterfall/hair, quietly watching you as you watch them. Perhaps we all have a little voyeur inside…
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