Masks on and fingers firmly crossed, as the vaccine rollout continues at full speed, it looks as though there might just be light at the end of the Covid tunnel. If all stays on track then travel restrictions should also continue to be relaxed. And we can hug!

The pandemic has had a massive impact on the businesses of many full time photographers – as we saw from the very candid interview with Kevin Morgans last week.

We also spoke to another of the Wilki Ambassadors - James Rushforth – who’s itching to get back to one of his favourite locations on earth, Iceland. We asked James about his lockdown experiences, how he’s managed to keep his business wheels turning, plus what’s next once life starts to open up again…

Here’s what he had to say:

I was actually leading a winter workshop out in Iceland when the pandemic was first announced – my group got some of the last flights back home before the borders began closing. As someone who normally leads a very transient lifestyle, adjusting to the restrictions has been difficult.

‘Thankfully, I've been working on a two-volume set of photo-location guidebooks to Iceland for the last five years and the pandemic has removed just about every potential distraction and excuse for not getting them finished. In the last 18 months, I’ve fallen into a routine of writing and  illustrating - and running.’

 

 

A Photographic Guide to Iceland

I was leading an ever-increasing number of photography workshops in Iceland and taking the time to explore the country in-between groups. The more I discovered, the more I fell in love with the country. Much like the Dolomites, Iceland is a perfect playground for adventure photography and it was lovely to experience somewhere new after being based out in Italy for several years.

‘Following the Dolomites guidebook, I partnered with Wild Photography Holidays – leading Dolomites and Icelandic photography workshops on their behalf. Geraldine and Martin, the owners of the company had been living in Reykjavík for many years and already had a good portfolio of images. Their excellent local knowledge got me off to a flying start when the decision to write an Icelandic photo location guidebook was made.’

 

The guides are extensive! How many times have you visited Iceland in order to create such a comprehensive guidebook and image library?

‘The creative potential of Iceland is huge and it quickly became apparent I would need to spend a long time in the country. The owners of Wild Photography Holidays very kindly let me use their lovely apartment in Reykjavík as a base and I drove my van out from the UK – taking the Norröna car ferry from Denmark to Seyðisfjörður. I would spend up to 9 months at a time out in Iceland, exploring in the van before returning to Reykjavík to resupply and have a rest.’

 

What do you look for in a location - you mention both classic and undiscovered - can you say a little bit about the merits of both?

‘Essentially I’m looking for somewhere aesthetic with good creative potential and if possible, some historical significance also. Fortunately, these criteria are easy to satisfy in Iceland - the problem is narrowing down locations as opposed to finding them! I would mark up a master map on Google, colour-coding locations according to how much I liked them.

‘Where possible, I tried to mix both classic and undiscovered locations – I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t avoid somewhere just because it’s well known – locations are nearly always popular for good reason. But there are also so many fantastic locations that are seldom frequented, particularly in the east, north and Westfjords – areas that would benefit from additional tourism. Hopefully, the guides will help distribute visitors away from the busy south coast.’

What’s the best ‘new’ destination you discovered during this project (we’re assuming it will be in the book so won’t be a secret for long!)

‘Ah, there’s so many it’s hard to choose – I love the quaint fishing villages in the east and Westfjords, the rock architecture surrounding Rauðanes point was a great discovery; as was the abandoned herring factory in Djúpavík.

‘The highlands in particular has so many hidden gems, especially if you’re willing to spend some time hiking on difficult terrain. And of course, I’ve kept a few locations back – the books are very much designed to encourage self-exploration as well.’

It sounds like you have developed a deep connection with Iceland?

‘It sounds cliché, but for me, the main Icelandic appeal lies in its raw, untamed, yet accessible wilderness. This small island perfectly epitomises our constantly evolving planet and there are few countries so clearly defined by, and inextricably linked with, the elemental forces of nature.  I find the cultural history equally fascinating.’

‘Icelanders have stubbornly battled ferocious arctic weather, volcanic activity and inhospitable conditions for a millennium, before finally emerging as one of the world’s most progressive nations.’

In a country as wild as Iceland it can’t have all been plain sailing?

‘Yes, it’s not all fun and games. I’ve had a lot of flat tyres in the middle of nowhere, broken down vehicles, had to wait out storms in a tent for three days at a time, got stranded on the wrong side of swollen rivers and locked myself out of my van when the sliding door handle came off in my hand. While I love my career, it’s easy to romanticise guidebook writing – there is a lot of time spent killing time and waiting for suitable conditions.

Living Local

‘After working through some 80,000 Icelandic images, it was actually quite nice to take a step back from photography during lockdown – taking the camera out purely for fun on my daily wanders. I only really had two journeys of significance, both following the first lockdown:

‘During July, Comet NEOWISE was in the sky and I wanted to photograph it with a strong foreground. After consulting Photopills I made the trip to Stonehenge and spent a very enjoyable evening watching the comet pass directly over the monument.

‘Then in August – between lockdowns - I made a two-week trip to the Icelandic highlands and east coast to complete some outstanding locations for the books. Despite getting rained on nearly everyday it was lovely to be away again – and the inclement weather did make for some wonderfully dramatic scenes.’

‘I’ve also taken up tennis again (when the local courts are open) and enjoyed exploring Sheffield on foot with the camera. From a photographer’s perspective, it is amazing what you can find close to home once you start looking a little harder. My local park has been the source of much inspiration, especially throughout autumn when the wooded areas looked particularly striking. The garden has also been a great macro resource.’

Zoom ‘Travel’

‘The advent of Zoom has allowed many of the world’s camera clubs to keep meeting, even if only digitally. I’ve been delivering several two-hour presentations a month on my unexpected career in photography and guidebook writing. It has been a nice way of staying connected to the photography community and I’ve also enjoyed living vicariously through other people’s images.’

Has covid made you rethink any aspects of your photography/business going forward?

Yes, I think the last year has been a sobering experience for many of us. Certainly from my perspective, it has made me realise how much I took for granted, particularly with regards to international travel. As a self-employed sole trader who works predominantly in the tourism industry, it has also made me realise how important it is to be both adaptable and flexible with your business.’

 

What’s next, once travel restrictions are lifted?

‘I’ve just booked flights to Iceland on the 19th of May, with the hope that the travel restrictions ease as planned – and of course that the Fagradalsfjall volcano remains active for another few months! I’ve always wanted to see an eruption, so I’m currently keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

‘After that, I’m hoping to return to Italy and the Dolomites, to gather the material for the second editions of both the climbing and photo-location guidebooks.’

Find out more or order James’ two new Iceland guidebooks

Join James for a talk on Exploring the Italian Dolomites and Iceland

To follow James on his upcoming adventures, plus to enjoy endlessly inspiring past travels, visit his Instagram or Facebook!