Drone fine art photograph — aerial photography by Xynn Tii

Dear Blue Lagoon,

Pride aside, you should know that it is not easy to get me sprung. It does not matter to me how celebrity you are, with the over-photographed geothermal seawater and that skin rejuvenation hype. Naw, to get me there you have to be raw and sexy by nature.

Let me tell you, it is not your landscape that has me head over heels. Nor Grindavik or the insatiable lava. It is your new hotel, The Retreat. Oh. My. Goodness. It has redefined the standard of boutique hospitality for guest service and product delivery.

And do not get me started on your restaurant, Moss, now in The Michelin Guide. That is for a different Story. Meanwhile, let me confess that I am indeed sprung. For the first time at a hotel, I felt at home. Geez, those hand-written notes got me all emotional.

Sincerely,
Xynn Tii



Thank you Guest Liaison Maria for support throughout this assignment.

Another one. Cold photograph temperature with needed Leica graininess.



35 miles south of Reykjavik. Fully-booked boutique hotel. I felt solo.

We do encourage you to walk around The Retreat in your bath robe.”



Lava rocks control the landscape surrounding Blue Lagoon. Sky drama.

This water has a rich blue hue that I have only seen in Icelandic outback.



Sense and feels of contrasting lava rock beds against The Retreat Spa.

Skin care bar opposite alcohol bar. Silica and algae with vodka cocktails.



A natural atmosphere bound by mountain ranges and resilient plant life.

How does endless miles of moss look as a backdrop for the yoga studio?



A coy, private lagoon nestled at the patio of each ground-level hotel suite.

Nature is undisturbed and untouched, highly respected by Iceland visitors.



Elements. Interior dark stone and wood grains complement brand identity.

Beauty of conscious architecture, dependent on and coexisting with nature.



Hakuna Matata

Thank you to The Retreat Hotel at Blue Lagoon. It must be highlighted the brilliance of locating this exclusive hotel on the opposite side of the public lagoon, far away from all of the daily visitors. As a result, the experience was of solitude and zen.

Because drones are not permitted at Blue Lagoon, I had to creatively dig deeper with angles on the ground and rooftops to fulfill my shot list. If only there was enough time to capture The Ritual inside the spa. Resembles a luxury underground crater.

It also feels good to explore different color grading techniques that play well with Leica look-up tables and film noise. Getting away from the commercial, over-saturated style is a breath of fresh air and my ‘problem-free philosophy’. See what I did there?