The weekend forecast promised nothing but rain. When clouds parted for thirty minutes at sunset, Cannon Beach delivered pure magic—complete with an unexpected kelp treasure perfectly positioned for the shot.

When photography rules say "avoid midday sun," sometimes breaking those rules yields unexpected rewards. Discover how I transformed harsh daylight into a moody, monochrome study of Iceland's mythical Hvítserkur rock formation.

With minutes to spare before an approaching storm, I raced to Kirkjufellsfoss and captured this fleeting moment when sunset painted the sky in vibrant pinks and purples. Little did I know this would be our last glimpse of calm during our Icelandic adventure.

The eastern approach to Dettifoss isn't for the faint-hearted—a kidney-jarring hour on unpaved roads. But as I stood before Europe's most powerful waterfall from this less-visited vantage point, capturing its raw force up close, I knew every bump was worth it.

In the quiet dawn at Skogafoss, my wife stood alone before the thundering cascade, arms outstretched. This moment—one human embracing nature's raw power—perfectly captures why I wake before tourists arrive. Some photographs need both solitude and scale to tell their story.

The moment was pure serendipity—Iceland's famous turquoise waters of Bruarfoss Waterfall framed by the first blush of autumn. I hadn't planned for this perfect collision of seasons, but nature delivered a color contrast that photographers dream about.