These moments in Iceland will always stay with me. Nothing could ever interfere with the joy they bring because I worked too damn hard for them. These are not lazy beach memories. Instead, they are the ones I fight for with initiative and perseverance.

Sometimes I just have to go for it, regardless of external noise and my own self-doubt. Despite fatigue and lack of instant gratification. When I listen to my instinct and seize an opportunity that is calling my name, there is never space for regret, only joy.

Iceland lifted me to an uninhabited dimension of visual hysteria. With landscapes so naturally beautiful, they left me wide-eyed and confused at the same time. These are the kinds of moments which come to those in control of one’s own progress.

Roadtripping around mountain ranges of Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðuháls.

The Leica feels with graininess, green-tinted shadows, and 5:4 photograph ratio.

With 24-hour summertime daylight, there was no rush to chase the light.

Outdoor rock formations with better organization than interior designers.

Icelandic people were gracious. Horses were friendly. Sheep kept running away.

The only native animal of Iceland is the Arctic Fox. Challenging to track down.

Icelandic people were gracious. Horses were friendly. Sheep kept running away.

The only native animal of Iceland is the Arctic Fox. Challenging to track down.

Ever witnessed a midnight sunset? Soft light kissing rugged mountain peaks.

On the way back to Reykjavik from Grundarfjörður at Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Thank you Iceland for your modest geographic makeup and those moss rocks.

Spoiler for Series 54: That blue milky water was not as warm as I thought it was.

Kawhi Me A River

Returning to New York with a terabyte of photographs seemed depressing at first. The thought of having to curate and edit all of this content, yikes. Quickly after this cognition, I realized how pathetic it sounded to complain about having to work hard.

As if I had not already accepted that this assignment was going to be an exhausting grind the moment flights were booked. Through my career, it has become more valuable to be your own hype man when you want to cry over self-inflicted predicaments.

Wilson Phillips, I hear you. I am holding on. During that 40-kilometer hike from Skógar to Þórsmörk. Encountering all four seasons in one day. From tank top to parka as we climbed in altitude. Note to self, pack a much lighter bag next time.