I wanted to tell you about an impressive  Iceland Kickstarter project. It is a beautiful photographic hardcover book called “A Sense of Place – Imprints of Iceland”. The author is the acclaimed Icelandic photographer, Charlotta María Hauksdóttir. The book contains 36 separate works. Many of the pieces are triptychs or panorama images, so for a better viewing experience, the book has many fold-outs. This is her first book but you can follow her art and photography on her website, Instagram and Facebook. 

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Thank you
Jon Heidar, Editor of Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine

Hey Charlotta and thank you for taking the time for this interview. Can you give me a little background information about you?

TopographyStudyII by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place - Imprints of Iceland
TopographyStudyII by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place – Imprints of Iceland

Thanks for spreading the word about my Kickstarter! I am originally from Iceland but have lived in the United States for a long time. My studies were in Italy,  where I studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Photography, and I have a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. I live in the States with my husband, two kids, a dog, and two cats. 

What is the inspiration for your Iceland Kickstarter project?

I’ve been photographing the landscape in Iceland since 2003 with other projects in between. In the beginning, I was doing horizontal diptychs and triptychs where I moved the camera to indicate time passing and the inability to really hold on to experiences. The work is quite dreamlike. In 2007 that changed to vertical pieces assembled with 3 sharp photographs making the landscape more lifelike. The images are all taken in the same location and I purposefully choose images that flow together but do not line up perfectly. This way I present an alternate view of the landscape where the discontinuity suggests gaps in memories and experiences.

Walk on Water by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place - imprints of Iceland
Walk on Water by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place – Imprints of Iceland

Making images human scale

These images are human scale and are meant to envelop the viewer and draw them into space. In my latest project, I have been abstracting the landscape even more by physically cutting up photographs and layering them. All the work is visually very different but the most recent project that I began working on in 2017 brings it all together conceptually. So when Daylight Books contacted me and was interested in publishing the work I felt it was the right time to do a book.

What are your favorite places in Iceland?

I love the southern part of Iceland, the landscape there is just incredible but I think my favorite place is Landmannalaugar which is in the highlands. Þórsmörk is magnificent too and a hidden gem in the East is Mjóifjörður.

ImpressionsXIV by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place – Imprints of Iceland
ImpressionsXIV by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place – Imprints of Iceland

What is it about Icelandic nature and landscapes that inspire you?

There is definitely a sentimental aspect to it. I remember traveling with my family when I was younger, camping and picking berries. I loved the bright summer nights and the light in Iceland is just amazing. Occasionally here in California after it rains and the sun comes out there is the same vivid brightness as in Iceland, all the colors pop and it just warms my heart. 

Can you tell me about the creative process for the Iceland Kickstarter project?

With my most recent landscape work, I will go to different locations and shoot dozens and even hundreds of photographs in each. I photograph the ground, the sky and everything in between, in both closeups and wide angles. After I get back to California I select multiple photographs and arrange them in layers in Photoshop. I then apply a pattern mask I feel fits the work and erase parts to reveal the images underneath. For the Topography work, I usually end up with 4-7 images that I print separately, cut them by hand and layer them with the material in between. This results in 3-d sculptural pieces. With some of the fingerprint patterned work, I merge together 2-3 images in Photoshop to alter the landscape and then apply the mask. 

Topography StudyXIV by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place -Imprints of Iceland
Topography Study XIV by Charlotta Hauksdottir from A sense of place -Imprints of Iceland

What equipment do you use for your photography for your Iceland Kickstarter project?

For the last 4 years, I’ve been using the Sony a7R camera and most often use a 75-200mm and 24-105mm Sony lenses, but my older work is shot on a Hasselblad. I do shoot some video and for that, I use a tripod.

What advice would you give to those who are visiting Iceland for the first time?

I would read as much as possible about Iceland to take advantage of everything it has to offer. There is so much to see and do, so it’s important to prioritize. Iceland is famous for the public swimming pools that are everywhere and I highly recommend trying those out. I would say be careful if you are going to rent a car and drive, especially in the highlands. The rivers can be deep and unpredictable and the roads are unpaved. There are also some single-lane bridges where there have been accidents. As with any place you wish to see extensively it’s good to be prepared. Fortunately, there is a lot of information on Iceland online.