Pro-tip from someone who grew up where it gets colder than Iceland (apparently): Wool socks. If you wear cotton socks and they get wet your feet are going to freeze. If they're wool you'll be fine. And yeah, what Brendan says, you need to layer everything. Lots of thin layers. The reasons for this are 1) air insulates really well and layers creates layers of air as well as layers of clothing so you stay warmer longer and 2) if you have two layers on and you're too hot you're kind of screwed but the guy with 4-6 layers can take one or two off pretty easily.
Shower caps are one thing I always have in my camera bag (though tend to just collect them from hotels). Also for some wetter weather situations when you're shooting without the filters and have a lens hood. Rip a hole for the lens and protect the camera body, and then protect the front of the lens with the lens hood. Obviously not 100% foolproof, but does just help save your camera a bit more.
Hello Brendan, also another good tip for you and your subscribers is with your Lee filter holder pouch - is to remove one of the layered cloth sections closest to your belt. By doing this it allows you to fit your filter holder with a polarisor inside the pouch, rather, than carry it on the outside of the pouch.
God I hope this vlog is a few days behind. A friend of mine is in Iceland at the moment and managed to catch the recent northern lights with their phone so dare to think how amazing it would have been with a dslr. Looking forward to the rest of the Iceland vlogs, one day I'll visit my self. ✌️
Dang brother I keep missing you in these places. I was in Peru the week after you and I just got back from Iceland! I was able to get a Northern Lights timelapse in the West Fjords which was my first aurora experience. Absolutely amazing!
Brendan, let me tell you: the content you put out is so good and you're such a nice Canadian (eh), I wonder why don't you have way more that 43,000 subs. And I guess that this video answers it. It's 22 minutes of great vlogging + tutorial + travel tips. You could easily milk it for a week, with short 5 to 10 minutes videos that a lot more people would watch. Mind you, I'm not complaining, au contraire. But I would like to see you doing this for a long time still, being successful and making money. Please, consider.
I agree! He is very genuine and honest. He does his videos as he is talking to a friend. I really like the content and his tips. He deserves many more subscribers.
Great video. I just got back from Iceland 2 weeks ago, and have to emphasize the point you made......BRING BOOTS...I only brought my waterproof (I thought) hiking boots and had wet feet for most of my 8 day visit. Beautiful place to visit and photo graph.
looking forward to your shots. I went to Iceland in May this year, a fantastically beautiful place, whilst being extremely barren and moon-like at the same time
Great list! I know a doctor in Reykjavik but I've never gone there to visit him. It's on the top of my bucket list to do so! Your list will be invaluable to me when I go. Hopefully, I'll go in 2019, although I might in 2018 when I go to Scotland.
I pack.... 1) Nikon D850 (2 of them) 2) Nikon 14-24; 24-70; and 70-200 f2.8 EFL 3) Gitzo GT2542 tripod (1) 4) RRS BH40 (Bh55 too big to lug around for this travel). 5) 4 batteries for D850's 6) Nisi filter holder with polarizer, and Le SW150 10 stop ND and misc grads. Also 77mm adapter for other lenses. 7) Nikon Infra Red trigger 8) Nikon MC-36A cable release for long exposures. 9) F-Stop Ajna bag (Red Bull model) 10) Think Tank rain cover.
Interesting to see how you go with the Valleret gloves. Didn't work out for me on a recent winter trip to New Zealand. Style was not suited to a female hand, and my hands and fingers froze terribly on early morning shoots. Temps in New Zealand seem similar to Iceland. Fortunately the company has really great support and refunded me. They are bringing out a female version this year, plus now call them Spring/ Autumn gloves, as they don't really keep you warm enough in full on Winter conditions. Great video, enjoy your trip!
I recently went on a little outing myself, shooting wide for the "main" objective I was there for, but then I got the need for the 70-200mm lens to do more intimate landscape shots and I think I actually like them more than the original image/planned image, it's a fantastic lens to have in the kit for picking out details and getting new perspectives on things=)
You didn't mention that the last auk was spotted off that cliff you were on! Hence the statue of the bird. Great spot there, if the wind if right and the steam from the thermal plant is flowing you can get some great shots of the lighthouse.
Great info! Yes u should take a bit later flight... Ur eyes start looking red again... I should called u Rabbit Man from now on lol. Oh one thing, can u demonstrate how to clean the sensor? How often do u clean it? I got a set to clean but i was not suggested by my fd....
Great discussion about your camera gear. But unless I missed something here or on your blog, you need to be more specific about brands and models for all items you pack and why they really work well for you: for example, not all rubber boots are equal. I have found that out the hard way!
Hey Brendan! You are awesome.Keep it coming. But, I have always been curious about your choices of clothing. Hiking in sneakers, going to Iceland in Jeans(!) and a lot of cotton. Don´t want you to slip and fall or get sick man! That is the one thing this channel is missing, a proper pair of hiking boots :-)
Hi Brendan - when you were talking about your 2 sandisk external drives for backing up your stills and video, you said, "you dont really need to bring your computer(laptop) if you're backing everything up" - how do you back up to your externals if you don't have a laptop with you?
A word of caution Brendan, Andrew Marr had a Sandisk SSD and it came apart and he lost everything on it. Luckily he had a second backup to a portable WD Elements drive. Just be careful!
I had the same problem - the tiny plastic dividers snapped off and got wedged in the bottom of the memory card pins - couldn't read or write to the cards! Took a couple of attempts with a headtorch and tweezers to get them out again.
Pretty tough if you're not driving in Iceland. You'd have to do his tours. But, yeah, you can see a bit in 3 nights. I do think you want more time though. Most of the best stuff is not next to Reykjavik
...........hey Brendan, there's a friendly youtube vlogger there in Iceland - he's *Finn Snow* .........check out his channel when you have time bro........... :)
Your employers must not watch your videos. If they did, they wouldn't trust you to remember a damn thing lol. But you got that "asking forgiveness" thing down pat.
BVS, Do watch out for polar bears, and, uh, oh yea, other, less-deserving-of-making-images photographers. Neither demographic realizes how "special" and patrician you are, you know, what with your privilege to be the only important photographer at any location you deem to be yours, alone. I hope your prolific tears of disappointment and disgust of other's infringing efforts don't freeze to your fairest of all face. Thank-You, Mike
+Mike Mitchell also, as much as the sarcasm is noted, it should also be said that I actually love meeting other photographers in the field. Check out a video from Dorset recently at Pundit Rock. Meeting other photogs on location is one of my favourite parts of this career. So, not sure where the angst/judgement comes from - and hopefully I haven't given that impression of entitlemeny off on this channel. If I have, I'm sorry.
Brendan, While I previously watched your efforts, since your egocentric rant where all the photographers showed up at YOUR favorite lake, and ruined YOUR attempts, seemingly, purposive in their efforts to foil YOUR more important work, I no longer suffer your arrogance in viewing your self-important efforts. I waited awhile to voice this, because I thought my initial reaction to be "knee-jerk." But, my first impression is lasting, and has, in retrospect, not revealed itself to be inaccurate. Your opportunity to visit Iceland is a much-anticipated plan for me and my bucket list. Soon to be a pensioner, I will have the time to make that trip, but, the more photographers I encounter while there, the more rich the experience will be. I won't chastise their presence, I will celebrate the opportunities. Both theirs and my own. Life's too short and time too valuable to pay attention to snotty attitudes put forth by those who don't realize their own relative good fortune.Those who praise that behavior are the weak, needy souls, who gain nothing by anyone who promotes such suck-up pandering. It took me a long time to grow-up. The longer one waits, the harder the task. Be grateful for the blessings that may be too close to see and appreciate. Small pleasures make the most contribution to a well-lead life. Thank-You, Mike
Pro-tip from someone who grew up where it gets colder than Iceland (apparently): Wool socks. If you wear cotton socks and they get wet your feet are going to freeze. If they're wool you'll be fine. And yeah, what Brendan says, you need to layer everything. Lots of thin layers. The reasons for this are 1) air insulates really well and layers creates layers of air as well as layers of clothing so you stay warmer longer and 2) if you have two layers on and you're too hot you're kind of screwed but the guy with 4-6 layers can take one or two off pretty easily.
I can't wait for your blogs, shower caps I use them too
Shower caps are one thing I always have in my camera bag (though tend to just collect them from hotels). Also for some wetter weather situations when you're shooting without the filters and have a lens hood. Rip a hole for the lens and protect the camera body, and then protect the front of the lens with the lens hood. Obviously not 100% foolproof, but does just help save your camera a bit more.
Hello Brendan, also another good tip for you and your subscribers is with your Lee filter holder pouch - is to remove one of the layered cloth sections closest to your belt. By doing this it allows you to fit your filter holder with a polarisor inside the pouch, rather, than carry it on the outside of the pouch.
Watching carefully as I prepare for my adventure! Hopefully it works out for that farewell/welcome breakfast as we overlap! Haha! Enjoy the adventure!
9 days of vlogs of Iceland! Yeah! Looking very much forward to that!
God I hope this vlog is a few days behind. A friend of mine is in Iceland at the moment and managed to catch the recent northern lights with their phone so dare to think how amazing it would have been with a dslr. Looking forward to the rest of the Iceland vlogs, one day I'll visit my self. ✌️
Dang brother I keep missing you in these places. I was in Peru the week after you and I just got back from Iceland! I was able to get a Northern Lights timelapse in the West Fjords which was my first aurora experience. Absolutely amazing!
Brendan, let me tell you: the content you put out is so good and you're such a nice Canadian (eh), I wonder why don't you have way more that 43,000 subs. And I guess that this video answers it. It's 22 minutes of great vlogging + tutorial + travel tips. You could easily milk it for a week, with short 5 to 10 minutes videos that a lot more people would watch. Mind you, I'm not complaining, au contraire. But I would like to see you doing this for a long time still, being successful and making money. Please, consider.
Luis Fernando Moran de Oliveira well that's why i subbed him... Informative, generous n candid.
Totally, me too. On the other hand, I see much less talented photographers and less entertaining vloggers with multiples of subs. Not fair.
I agree! He is very genuine and honest. He does his videos as he is talking to a friend. I really like the content and his tips. He deserves many more subscribers.
Great video. I just got back from Iceland 2 weeks ago, and have to emphasize the point you made......BRING BOOTS...I only brought my waterproof (I thought) hiking boots and had wet feet for most of my 8 day visit. Beautiful place to visit and photo graph.
Great vlog as always Brendan, can't wait to see the rest of the trip. Thanks.
I get the shower cap idea, lots of great information.
looking forward to your shots. I went to Iceland in May this year, a fantastically beautiful place, whilst being extremely barren and moon-like at the same time
I love the way you make your vlogs. Keep it going!
The shower cap tip made me subscribe.
Also all the good content I've been seeing since I found your channel, but the shower cap has been decisive.
Great list! I know a doctor in Reykjavik but I've never gone there to visit him. It's on the top of my bucket list to do so! Your list will be invaluable to me when I go. Hopefully, I'll go in 2019, although I might in 2018 when I go to Scotland.
Thanks man, booked my flights to Iceland last night so this is very useful!
I pack....
1) Nikon D850 (2 of them)
2) Nikon 14-24; 24-70; and 70-200 f2.8 EFL
3) Gitzo GT2542 tripod (1)
4) RRS BH40 (Bh55 too big to lug around for this travel).
5) 4 batteries for D850's
6) Nisi filter holder with polarizer, and Le SW150 10 stop ND and misc grads. Also 77mm adapter for other lenses.
7) Nikon Infra Red trigger
8) Nikon MC-36A cable release for long exposures.
9) F-Stop Ajna bag (Red Bull model)
10) Think Tank rain cover.
Interesting to see how you go with the Valleret gloves. Didn't work out for me on a recent winter trip to New Zealand. Style was not suited to a female hand, and my hands and fingers froze terribly on early morning shoots. Temps in New Zealand seem similar to Iceland. Fortunately the company has really great support and refunded me. They are bringing out a female version this year, plus now call them Spring/ Autumn gloves, as they don't really keep you warm enough in full on Winter conditions. Great video, enjoy your trip!
Looking forward to the series Brendan. Hope the weather is in your favour
I recently went on a little outing myself, shooting wide for the "main" objective I was there for, but then I got the need for the 70-200mm lens to do more intimate landscape shots and I think I actually like them more than the original image/planned image, it's a fantastic lens to have in the kit for picking out details and getting new perspectives on things=)
You didn't mention that the last auk was spotted off that cliff you were on! Hence the statue of the bird. Great spot there, if the wind if right and the steam from the thermal plant is flowing you can get some great shots of the lighthouse.
Great info! Yes u should take a bit later flight... Ur eyes start looking red again... I should called u Rabbit Man from now on lol. Oh one thing, can u demonstrate how to clean the sensor? How often do u clean it? I got a set to clean but i was not suggested by my fd....
Great vlog, lots of useful info for travels just about anywhere👍✈️
Cool video and nice to see a Canadian in there national dress @5:22 lol
Great discussion about your camera gear. But unless I missed something here or on your blog, you need to be more specific about brands and models for all items you pack and why they really work well for you: for example, not all rubber boots are equal. I have found that out the hard way!
Too late! Already packed everything 😀 I can't wait to get there too.
Hey Brendan!
You are awesome.Keep it coming.
But, I have always been curious about your choices of clothing. Hiking in sneakers, going to Iceland in Jeans(!) and a lot of cotton. Don´t want you to slip and fall or get sick man!
That is the one thing this channel is missing, a proper pair of hiking boots :-)
Brendan, how do live without a polarizer?
Amazing tips! Thank you!!!
very informative. great video
The wide angle lens makes the green bag look extremely big
Seriously that bag looks like it weighs 200lbs, LOL
Loosing a filter holder next! Can we blame Jody for that too??😀
Hi Brendan - when you were talking about your 2 sandisk external drives for backing up your stills and video, you said, "you dont really need to bring your computer(laptop) if you're backing everything up" - how do you back up to your externals if you don't have a laptop with you?
A word of caution Brendan, Andrew Marr had a Sandisk SSD and it came apart and he lost everything on it. Luckily he had a second backup to a portable WD Elements drive. Just be careful!
Trevor Hughes yeah... I heard some ssd r rather fragile....
I had the same problem - the tiny plastic dividers snapped off and got wedged in the bottom of the memory card pins - couldn't read or write to the cards! Took a couple of attempts with a headtorch and tweezers to get them out again.
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing
Awesome
How should the layers underneath fit? Snug? Or loose? I'm from a tropical country and have zero experience with these.
They should be comfortably loose - not too tight - as the layering traps layers of air too.
Thanks Mate 👍
+hawkwut thank you! 2 points.
BVS my man! Would you say 3 nights is long enough for a solo non driving UK traveller to get some decent photography in at Iceland?
Pretty tough if you're not driving in Iceland. You'd have to do his tours. But, yeah, you can see a bit in 3 nights. I do think you want more time though. Most of the best stuff is not next to Reykjavik
@@BrendanvanSon thanks bud. Currently looking at tours now. Shame bad time of year and no Northern Lights.
Exchange the Canons for Sonys and we have a very similar kit. Mavic Pro same filters, Zhiyun Crane, Rode Video Micro.
Hi. Regarding the size of your backpack, did you have to check it? It's always sth I'm struggling with: fear of having to check my camera bag 😔
Nope. I've never had to. Due to weight, I've had to pay extra before, but I'll never check it
Brendan van Son Thx 👍🏻
Have you considered whether the logo on your hat will complicate the releases you likely sign when passing photos to your clients? Thought.
+Jeff Whyte any time I send it to an agency, I photoshopnthe logo off. Solves the problem.
All youtube photographer are going to Iceland lately :)
what L bracket is that, and are you still using the lee filter holder? I shoot the 6d too!
+tarheelgarden that's the 3 Legged Thing universal L Bracket. And, yes, the Lee holder.
...........hey Brendan, there's a friendly youtube vlogger there in Iceland - he's *Finn Snow* .........check out his channel when you have time bro........... :)
How budget in equipment does one need to start photography? $10,000? $5,000?
I started with $800. No need to buy a crazy professional kit right off the start.
12:30
Hello ^_^
Why do not you use my songs on your videos ?
I think you should use
Your employers must not watch your videos. If they did, they wouldn't trust you to remember a damn thing lol. But you got that "asking forgiveness" thing down pat.
BVS,
Do watch out for polar bears, and, uh, oh yea, other, less-deserving-of-making-images photographers.
Neither demographic realizes how "special" and patrician you are, you know, what with your privilege to be the only important photographer at any location you deem to be yours, alone.
I hope your prolific tears of disappointment and disgust of other's infringing efforts don't freeze to your fairest of all face.
Thank-You,
Mike
+Mike Mitchell wow. I have no words for the amount of sass in this comment. Lol. 4 points?
+Mike Mitchell also, as much as the sarcasm is noted, it should also be said that I actually love meeting other photographers in the field. Check out a video from Dorset recently at Pundit Rock. Meeting other photogs on location is one of my favourite parts of this career. So, not sure where the angst/judgement comes from - and hopefully I haven't given that impression of entitlemeny off on this channel. If I have, I'm sorry.
Brendan,
While I previously watched your efforts, since your egocentric rant where all the photographers showed up at YOUR favorite lake, and ruined YOUR attempts, seemingly, purposive in their efforts to foil YOUR more important work, I no longer suffer your arrogance in viewing your self-important efforts. I waited awhile to voice this, because I thought my initial reaction to be "knee-jerk." But, my first impression is lasting, and has, in retrospect, not revealed itself to be inaccurate.
Your opportunity to visit Iceland is a much-anticipated plan for me and my bucket list. Soon to be a pensioner, I will have the time to make that trip, but, the more photographers I encounter while there, the more rich the experience will be. I won't chastise their presence, I will celebrate the opportunities. Both theirs and my own.
Life's too short and time too valuable to pay attention to snotty attitudes put forth by those who don't realize their own relative good fortune.Those who praise that behavior are the weak, needy souls, who gain nothing by anyone who promotes such suck-up pandering.
It took me a long time to grow-up. The longer one waits, the harder the task. Be grateful for the blessings that may be too close to see and appreciate. Small pleasures make the most contribution to a well-lead life.
Thank-You,
Mike