With much of North America getting ready to brace themselves for the harshest teeth that winter’s bite has to offer, now might not seem the best time to call attention to the magnificent Highlands region in Iceland. But for those looking to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds in Iceland, one can do no better than the beautiful Highlands. This largely uninhabited area occupies much of the interior of Iceland and is characterized by the barren beauty of lava fields, volcanoes and glaciers.  Many of Iceland’s impressive natural attractions can be found here, in a pristine setting that offers silence, serenity, and extreme natural beauty. It’s a favorite destination among hikers and photographers.

We’ve visited Iceland before in our Video Share series (see Dramatic Iceland Part 1 and Part 2), and we’ve seen the work of Detroit-based photographer Cody LaPlant previously (as in his visual tour of New Zealand’s South Island), but each videographer captures a selected destination in their own unique way and the talented Mr. LaPlant is no exception. This film, entitled Gusts From The Highlands, is actually his 3rd travel piece featuring Iceland, but it is the first time we’ve shown his work in that locale. Mr. LaPlant’s decision to bring along his Leica Q2 from the photographer’s toolkit was a great addition to this piece. You’ll see many shots taken with that Leica, some in black and white, featured in this film. Those images, along with the “wind chill” inspired title and soundtrack add to the frigid vibe of this work and may make you want to cozy up to a fireplace beneath a warm blanket. We can’t blame you if that’s how you choose to view it and we promise, somewhere warmer next time!   

Enjoy!

The Avant Team