VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

APRIL 2014

ICELAND EXPOSED

TAKE THE ROAD

LESS TRAVELLED

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Once or twice a year I like to get away for 10 days to some remote location of the globe. It helps to clear the mind and to create new stories for myself which then serve as inspiration for future work and for my clients.

One such trip took me to the mostly untouched and uninhabited island of Iceland. Ex-colony of Denmark, ex-British and American naval base and home to four times as many sheep as there are people, I have never felt more connected to our planet as I did in this wild, beginning-of-time type of setting. With over 10,000 waterfalls, 15 active volcanoes and 4,500 square miles of glacier, less than 20% of the island is habitable. In fact, you can only access the entirety of the island by vehicle for about 6 weeks a year: a unique window between July and August—the rest of the time you’ll need crampons and a lot of stamina.

Stunning landscapes aside (and they’re not that easy to forget in the first place) Iceland is the ideal backdrop for almost any idea you may conceive. Want to film your latest 4x4 monster conquering a 60° sloped, ash-covered mountain? Pick the first one you see on the horizon. Want to shoot your latest couture collection with liquid explosions in the background? There’s a tar pit out there just for you. Need to capture a few “sounds of nature” for that jingle? Leave an audio recorder on a cliff, go hiking for a few hours and voila!

So with that we welcome you to the ICELAND EXPOSED edition of the Eugene Theodore Storytelling Bulletin, your guide to visual marketing and storytelling.

TOP IMAGES OF THE MONTH

© All text and images Eugene Theodore

Photo courtesy of Pierre Trichot

THIS MONTH’S FAVOURITE VIDEOS INDIA—Incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE30L4ia9BU

SOUTH AFRICA—Scenic Beauty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ….

PERU—There’s Only One Place That Has It All: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiNcuQjN9LI

www.EugeneTheodore.com www.VIMEO.com/EugeneTheodore/EugeneTellsAStory

© All text and images, Eugene Theodore

ICELAND EXPOSED: What You Need To Know—to Survive Any time you might choose to visit Iceland you will come across something visually spectacular. In the winter there are the Northern Lights, in the summer there’s 23 hours of daylight which—if you are like me—you can take full advantage of for several days back-to-back. However, if you are interested in doing more than just the capital, Reykjavik, and what is touristically called “the Golden Circle”—a four hour marathon of sight-seeing which ensures that you’re back in your hotel bedroom by 6pm—then the best time to go to explore the true beauties of the island is the mid-July to mid-August period. The snows have melted (mostly) from the dirt tracks that lead off from Road 1—the one and only national road of Iceland that hugs the coast all the way around—allowing you to go deep into the interior. This will bring you to glaciers, moon-like landscapes, hot springs and geysers (of which there are over 800), not to mention several ferocious rivers you will have to cross and the numerous frightened sheep that normally roam around undisturbed and at their leisure.

WHAT TO PACK & WHERE TO STAY

If you’re going to do any walking off the Road 1 asphalt, you will definitely need a proper pair of hiking boots with ankle support—there’s always a hill to climb or a cliff to scale to get that perfect view. Windproof/waterproof jacket and trouser shells are a must because the occasional black cloud or North-Atlantic gust of wind will creep up on you even if the sun is in full view. The last thing you want is to have a whole day’s adventure ahead of you in drenched gear. As for the rest, embrace the layering system principle, i.e. bring clothes which supplement each other so that you can quickly add or take-off something depending on how cold or active you are.

When it comes to planning your overnight accommodation, the truly adventurous will have their tents and sleeping bags already packed and need no further guidance. For those seeking (slightly) more comfortable arrangements, plan early and contact the hiking shelters that are dotted throughout the mountain ranges. While most come with complete cooking facilities, you will have to bring your own food!

Red Bull could do a feature of Iceland as this place truly does give you wings. So push your energy levels to the limit because there is so much to do; just watch your footing!

Want to see more of the Theo’s Travels? Catch our ICELANDIC ADVENTURE video below

http://vimeo.com/eugenetheodore/icelandicadventure

www.EugeneTheodore.com www.VIMEO.com/EugeneTheodore/EugeneTellsAStory

Every image tells a Story…