Icelandic Coast - Iceland Aerial Photograph
by Duane Miller
Title
Icelandic Coast - Iceland Aerial Photograph
Artist
Duane Miller
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
I'd never flown in a helicopter before so I was a little apprehensive climbing into the rear seat of the Eurocopter at the hangar in Reykjavik. I was last in (strategically), thus I ended up sitting by the open door, belted in only by a car-like lap and shoulder belt. I guess I was expecting something more elaborate, with a double or triple locking mechanism to keep it from becoming unbuckled accidentally.
I slid the door closed for takeoff, but after we were aloft and out of the city, the pilot told me I could open the door as needed as long as I told him in advance. As we reached the lava beds of the Reykjanes Peninsula I asked the pilot if it was okay to go ahead and open the door. He agreed and I did, locking it into place. My right hand kept unconsciously returning to feel the seat belt buckle to assure that it was still secure.
I leaned out the side of the helicopter with my long lens and began shooting. It was colder than I expected and a strong wind was blowing sleet pellets, stinging my face. I didn't care; I was having a blast.
We circled over the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, then down along the southern Icelandic coast before going inland and up and over the volcano Eyjafjallajokull. As we reached the volcano, the wind picked up and started tossing the helicopter around a bit. I still had the door open and spent about half the time shooting and the other half holding on for dear life. The pilot reduced altitude to get out of the stronger winds and things finally calmed down.
We finished up at the volcano and then headed back to land at a local lodge where a car would take us back to Reykjavik. The trip lasted around an hour and a half, but it was over much too soon. I got some great shots from the helicopter and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Iceland. There's really no better way to see this beautiful countryside.
Uploaded
October 24th, 2014
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