In the Shadow of the Storm is a deeply personal visual narrative that explores human emotion during a season of drastic life changes. The photographs, which were captured during the wild beauty of Iceland’s winter, reveal parallel storms, both external and internal, that shaped this transformative period. Through intimate perspectives, icy blues, somber grays, and moments of light, the series examines the conflict between creation and loss, fragility and strength, stillness and chaos. It is a memoir about facing life’s challenges and finding strength in embracing both joy and sorrow.
This project was created through an intuitive and reflective process, capturing moments that unfolded in Iceland’s winter landscapes. The approach emphasized randomness, with the environment dictating the narrative. Storms, fleeting light, and snow-covered scenery were natural elements of the storytelling.
By juxtaposing images, I attempted to highlight the project’s underlying themes. Each pair combines a dominant with a complementary segment. These contrasts and complements play with hues, tones, and perspectives, combining wide-angle shots with intimate close-ups. The deliberate composition reflects the emotional tension between creation and loss, chaos and calm.
The majority of the photographs were taken in the remote Westfjords, specifically in Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík. The dramatic fjords and unpredictable storms shaped the visual and emotional tone of the project. The Westfjords offered a unique blend of raw beauty and isolation, with snowstorms and powerful winds increasing the sense of introspection.
Reykjavík served as a starting point for this journey. Although I only briefly stayed there, the images I took were distant wide-angle views of Mount Esja under dramatic, storm-laden skies. Framed by heavy clouds and intense winter light, these images added a dark, moody element that complements the more intimate scenes from the Westfjords.
The series represents Iceland’s winter as both a physical and emotional metaphor. The monochromatic palette of icy blue, somber gray, and sharp white creates a visual language that explores the tension between light and shadow, fragility and strength.
The combination of snow-covered fjords and dramatic skies evokes the themes of isolation, perseverance, and transformation. The contrast between wide vistas and detailed close-ups symbolizes the balance of emotional extremes, reflecting the quiet strength found in vulnerability. Each image contributes to a narrative of facing life’s storms and finding moments of stillness within the chaos.
This project emerged from a complex personal period of transition. During its creation, I navigated the conflicting emotions of the joy of pregnancy and the grief of my grandmother’s terminal illness. Iceland’s winter landscapes became a mirror for these dualities.
The storms reflected the turbulence of life’s changes, while the soft light represented hope and resilience. The Icelandic idea of að sjá ljósið í myrkrinu (“to see the light in the darkness”) resonates throughout the series, offering a universal message: that transformation comes from embracing both joy and sorrow, chaos and stillness.