This photograph was taken in South Iceland in 2019 during a road trip to celebrate turning thirty that year. Back then, it didn’t just mark a birthday, but also a personal milestone, one that was of pausing, reflecting, and choosing to step into a new decade with curiosity and courage. This image wasn’t easy to capture. Iceland is known for its powerful winds, and flying a drone against those winds meant that the drone's battery would drain much more quickly. I quickly realised that flying harder was not the way to go, and that I had to think differently. Instead of forcing my way through the wind, I had to allow the wind to work with me. So I landed the drone, hopped into the car with my friends, and drove nearly two kilometres ahead before launching my drone again, allowing the winds to guide me as I surveyed the landscape. By then, a storm was approaching, and I felt a strong sense of urgency, but I knew I had to stay focused and calm. Then this river stood out amongst the smaller streams, carving its way into the distance. In that moment, I knew I had to find the right composition. After capturing the shot, I felt an immense sense of satisfaction and elation. Not just because I succeeded technically, but because the photograph embodied something deeper. It reminded me to adapt instead of resist, and that sometimes, working with the forces around us leads to something far more meaningful.
This photograph was taken in South Iceland in 2019 during a road trip to celebrate turning thirty that year. Back then, it didn’t just mark a birthday, but also a personal milestone, one that was of pausing, reflecting, and choosing to step into a new decade with curiosity and courage. This image wasn’t easy to capture. Iceland is known for its powerful winds, and flying a drone against those winds meant that the drone's battery would drain much more quickly. I quickly realised that flying harder was not the way to go, and that I had to think differently. Instead of forcing my way through the wind, I had to allow the wind to work with me. So I landed the drone, hopped into the car with my friends, and drove nearly two kilometres ahead before launching my drone again, allowing the winds to guide me as I surveyed the landscape. By then, a storm was approaching, and I felt a strong sense of urgency, but I knew I had to stay focused and calm. Then this river stood out amongst the smaller streams, carving its way into the distance. In that moment, I knew I had to find the right composition. After capturing the shot, I felt an immense sense of satisfaction and elation. Not just because I succeeded technically, but because the photograph embodied something deeper. It reminded me to adapt instead of resist, and that sometimes, working with the forces around us leads to something far more meaningful.