ICELANDIC MAGIC ~ Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall.
Iceland has one of the most unique and dramatic landscapes on the planet with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Iceland is also one of the best places to view the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. A truly spectacular light show that’s only visible during certain times of the year in the northern hemisphere. Technically (here comes the boring science), the phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gaseous particles like oxygen and nitrogen. It’s a surreal experience and worthy of seeing at least once in a lifetime. I shot this photograph of the aurora over Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and the Kirkjuvell mountain along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. It was a truly breathtaking sight and a moment in time that I’ll always remember.
ARTIST STATEMENT: As though by a magnet, I’ve always felt the world pulling me, luring me to explore its mysteries and wonder. For a long time, I put my dreams on hold. Then one day in my practice as a radiologist, I met a patient whose journey would forever change my outlook.
In the Fall of 2006, a man came to me with a nagging discomfort in his chest. At 38 years old, he was so young that I thought surely it must be something benign or otherwise inconsequential. In a matter of a few short hours, his CT scan revealed that he was suffering from terminal lung cancer. His story is a reminder to us all that each day must be viewed as a very special gift.
I’ve witnessed hundreds of patients whose lives have been abruptly changed by a life-altering or life-ending diagnosis. At times we may convince ourselves that we are immortal, and that cancer or some other catastrophe only affects others, but we have no guarantees in this life. Time is too short to get lost in a blur of days, weeks, and months.
And so, I began to think more seriously about all those overseas adventures waiting for me, and soon enough, I grabbed my camera and voyaged to all 7 continents. I’ve observed Tibetan monks in prayer, hiked up the Virunga mountains of Rwanda to marvel at the Silverback gorillas in their natural habitat, and watched Bengal tigers cool off in a shallow lake to escape India’s searing heat.
I’ve met people, young and old, who have lived amazing yet ordinary lives. Along the way, I’ve spent several decades honing my craft as a portrait photographer. Whether I’m making candid images of women immersed in prayer in Abu Dhabi or portraits of television actors in my Venice Beach studio, I’ve continuously sought to capture life’s fragility and beauty.
There are no rewinds in life, so find the time to discover your inspiration, explore the extraordinary, create the unimaginable, and then leave nothing on the table.
~ Harv Greenberg, M.D.