Gullfoss

Location: 64°19′34″N, 20°07′16″W
Time of Visit: May 24th, afternoon

About 5 miles away from Geysir is Gullfoss, Iceland’s most famous (but not largest) waterfall. It is about 90 feet high. It is approached via a series of stairs and paths and is swarmed with tourists. The gorge is quite dramatic and the water can be heard from far off. It is difficult to photograph here because the crashing water fractures into constantly shifting mists that will drench your camera. But that seems to stop few from taking as many shots as possible. Some of the most dramatic viewpoints had tourists lined up waiting to get their chance.

Most of the photographs I’ve seen in postcards and guidebooks are made from these recognizable viewpoints. Certainly, light conditions, seasons and weather bring some variability…but most look the same. I suspect most tourist shots are endless variations. My own attempts at artful treatment are again, repetitions.

It was a treat to photograph the tourists here. I felt some resistance in the motivation department…I simply felt awkward about playing the documentary photographer. Once I got going, however, I couldn't stop. There was so much going on…so many gestures, expressions, and dynamics. I would often tag along a group as they made their way from the bus to the falls. Sometimes I would capture a sequence as people automatically passed along as if on a conveyor belt. If you look closely, you may be able to recognize certain people throughout the series of images. I felt some guilty pleasure, as my subjects were completely unaware that I was turning my lens on them. They probably thought that I was photographing what I was supposed to be photographing. In a way, I was.



Gullfoss Location: 64°19′34″N, 20°07′16″W Time of Visit: May 24th, afternoon About 5 miles away from Geysir is Gullfoss, Iceland’s most famous (but not largest) waterfall. It is about 90 feet high. It is approached via a series of stairs and paths and is swarmed with tourists. The gorge is quite dramatic and the water can be heard from far off. It is difficult to photograph here because the crashing water fractures into constantly shifting mists that will drench your camera. But that seems to stop few from taking as many shots as possible. Some of the most dramatic viewpoints had tourists lined up waiting to get their chance. Most of the photographs I’ve seen in postcards and guidebooks are made from these recognizable viewpoints. Certainly, light conditions, seasons and weather bring some variability…but most look the same. I suspect most tourist shots are endless variations. My own attempts at artful treatment are again, repetitions. It was a treat to photograph the tourists here. I felt some resistance in the motivation department…I simply felt awkward about playing the documentary photographer. Once I got going, however, I couldn't stop. There was so much going on…so many gestures, expressions, and dynamics. I would often tag along a group as they made their way from the bus to the falls. Sometimes I would capture a sequence as people automatically passed along as if on a conveyor belt. If you look closely, you may be able to recognize certain people throughout the series of images. I felt some guilty pleasure, as my subjects were completely unaware that I was turning my lens on them. They probably thought that I was photographing what I was supposed to be photographing. In a way, I was.