Iceland revisited for unfinished business.

[Timolgra]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect as we walked through the garden......

I'm sure Hilmar gave a soft chuckle as he opened the door, here was his paradise.

There were bikes, engines and parts everywhere and I'm sure Hilmar knew exactly where everything was.

Hilmar doesn't use a computer, the bikes aren't 'over restored' like so many we see at shows where all parts are sent off for powder coating and polishing then rebuilt using new stainless parts etc etc.

These bikes are restored by hand, a loving hand which retains the patina and character of his bikes.

There's two more sheds!
Almost like Hilmar's own showroom.
The walls are covered with photos of bikes which he's restored in the past. Countless bikes all with a story!

Earlier, when I'd been looking through his photo album there had been one bike which kept drawing my attention, a beautiful Ariel Red Hunter.
What I didn't know was that he still had it, when I did see it, my eyes were as big as saucers and I could see how quietly proud he was.

Stunning!!

Thank you Throstur for introducing me to your good friend, that afternoon the three of us were in heaven and it's a moment I'll never forget

 

[mcinlb]

Now , that's a man cave.............

 

[ButtonMoon]

I'm not a classic bike fan normally but that Ariel is beautiful !

 

[Rich C]

As you can see, it was a stunning place to be on an evening like this.

Tim,

Great report, thanks for taking the time to post this as I'll probably never get to Iceland. Instinct somehow always has me heading south or east rather than north. Perhaps I need to recalculate the brain!

Love the pics, particularly this one. Just curious though.. which of your camera collection you had with you did you take it on, at what settings and have you done much post production adjusting? Been trying for years to improve my photography and never stop learning..

cheers

Rich

 

[fritz]

Absolutely bloody fantastic , made me laugh and remember a few of the situations, regognised a fair few places and greatly enjoyed the images. Top stuff. I did write our trip up but never ever posted it anywhere. Maybe I'll get round to it this winter even though it's 'old hat' - scenery looks similar The stop-over on the Faroes brought a great appreciation that the weather could get even worse (I'd never have believed it).

Going to start all over again and read again in more detail Tim - top write up

 

[Timolgra]

Tim,

Great report, thanks for taking the time to post this as I'll probably never get to Iceland. Instinct somehow always has me heading south or east rather than north. Perhaps I need to recalculate the brain!

Love the pics, particularly this one. Just curious though.. which of your camera collection you had with you did you take it on, at what settings and have you done much post production adjusting? Been trying for years to improve my photography and never stop learning..

cheers

Rich

Thanks Rich,
you've probably read Mikeyboy's excellent RR who was in Iceland the same time as us but for less time and seen the weather can make or break a trip there, at least heading south sooner or later we're guaranteed of good weather.
There's no guarantee when going north.

I was using an LX7 or my old iPhone and Ange was using a TZ20 which I bought for her or her iPhone.

Yes I like that pic too, from my LX7 and just checked the details from it.
I quite often use RAW and Jpeg at the same time but this one is just Jpeg.

I like to limit the upper range of the ISO to 80, less grain and noise.
Looks like I've used an aperture priority of f2.8 and shutter speed of 800th.

There's no adjustment other than the slight framing.

Looking at it again, it's really nothing special other than what's there, it's not even my favoured composition as I needed the fjord on the left to highlight where I am, although yes, I've tried to lead the eye in the direction the bike's pointing a bit.

The sun's low and looks to have been behind a bit of cloud which has softened the light around my bike but still shining on the background to highlight the greens and shadows and if that worked, it was pure chance as I was more concerned with the light in the background.

So really if the subjects good and the light's right you can't go wrong especially if you take several with different settings and vary the view point slightly

Changed the frame in my phone

 

[Rich C]

Thanks Rich,
you've probably read Mikeyboy's excellent RR who was in Iceland the same time as us but for less time and seen the weather can make or break a trip there, at least heading south sooner or later we're guaranteed of good weather.
There's no guarantee when going north.

I was using an LX7 or my old iPhone and was using a TZ20 which I bought for her or her iPhone.

Yes I like that pic too, from my LX7 and just checked the details from it.
I quite often use RAW and Jpeg at the same time but this one is just Jpeg.

I like to limit the upper range of the ISO to 80, less grain and noise.
Looks like I've used an aperture priority of f2.8 and shutter speed of 800th.

There's no adjustment other than the slight framing.

Looking at it again, it's really nothing special other than what's there, it's not even my favoured composition as I needed the fjord on the left to highlight where I am, although yes, I've tried to lead the eye in the direction the bike's pointing a bit.

The sun's low and looks to have been behind a bit of cloud which has softened the light around my bike but still shining on the background to highlight the greens and shadows and if that worked, it was pure chance as I was more concerned with the light in the background.

So really if the subjects good and the light's right you can't go wrong especially if you take several with different settings and vary the view point slightly

Changed the frame in my phone

Tim

I have indeed read Mikeyboys RR and enjoyed that too. He has a great turn of phrase..

Thanks for the info here. I'm on the cusp of buying an LX-7 to go along with my D90 which is great but gets a little bulky for bike travel.. I was therefore hoping you were going to say it was that one you'd used. I'm amazed you got such a good depth of field with quite a big aperture? Its the lens on the LX7 that I think makes the camera.

I like the composition in this shot, the angle of the bike and in particular the contrast between the ground the bike is on and the water and the valley and hills with the light on it.. well it works for me anyway!


Cheers

Rich

 

[Timolgra]

I'm amazed you got such a good depth of field with quite a big aperture? h

Yes, I'm not sure why I used that aperture because at 800th sec there's plenty of scope to stop it down to perhaps 5.6 which is around the LX7's 'sweet spot'.

Seems the photo's a fluke unless I can think of a legitamate reason

 

[BRD]

Seems the photo's a fluke unless I can think of a legitamate reason

In my experience it sometimes just works, you can think about what you're doing and settings, but the conventional "correct ones " don't always give the best result.

Brilliant RR, absolutely brilliant.

 

[Timolgra]

Final day and we need to take the bikes back to the shipping company and pack them up, the staff there were fantastic and very helpful.

As we wait for Throstur to pick us up we feel a loss now we're parted from our bikes

I buy my friend an apt T shirt, although I didn't think Silla would allow him to wear it when we all went out for dinner later.

Our flight home is early next morning so take a last walk around town.

An old man picked up a half empty bottle of Coke from the street then on one crutch shuffled past a poster.

Age, which is the illusion and which the reality?

Of course we should fulfill our dreams whenever we can, so if Iceland's on your bucket list..............

HTA

 

[Micky]

Wonderful ... thanks Tim, enjoyed that

Just had a very pleasant hour, with a single malt, going back over your ride report. Crackin' write up, great photographs

Thanks ..

 

[BAKERMAN]

Not the iceland I saw

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Sat this morning and re read this. A beautiful place I am sure the weather helped

As ever Tim you have keen eye for a good picture,as does your better half, did you see that Arctic Fox

Now don't over promote it as every beggar will go and spoil it.
Thanks for taking the time to post most enjoyable rr

 

[Timolgra]

Not the iceland I saw

I remember you once said that about Morocco

 

[Timolgra]

I WANT TO GO !!!!

You will!!

Told you

 

[ButtonMoon]

Told you

Thanks for making it happen! I was certain I'd be doing it alone, this is much better !!!

 

[Ash]

I WANT TO GO !!!!

So do I

 

[Lee Frost]

With a name like that you'd be very much at home . As the tee-shirts say 'You wanted cash, we have you ash!'

 

[Timolgra]

With a name like that you'd be very much at home ��. As the tee-shirts say 'You wanted cash, we have you ash!'

On our previous trip there, we took this photo for Ash

 

[Ash]

On our previous trip there, we took this photo for Ash

only wish it could happen for me TG.
But tarmac only for me, but i get to go trough your eyes when you boys and girls post reports...