Discover the real Iceland through the lens of amateur photographer Einar H. Reynis

The amazing thing about the internet is how everyday people can apply their skills and reach millions of other people from all over the globe. I have achieved modest success in this regard. However, sometimes you notice that other people have, in their quiet way, reached seemingly impossible heights. The other day, I was relaxing and scrolling through Facebook and noticed a status update from a former colleague, Einar H. Reynis who worked with me at the same telco decades ago. We also worked together when we were on the board and the editorial board of the Icelandic Computer Society. Einar was right at home in both roles, one of the unassuming professionals who implemented new and exciting technological innovations that have transformed our lives.

Surpassing Ellen

Einar recently reposted a message he got from the photo-sharing platform Unsplash. The message stated that his photos had reached over five million views. Cheekily, the message from Unsplash compared this to a famous selfie by TV star Ellen and pointed out that Einar had gotten more views on his photos than Ellen did! Einar has already gone far beyond five million views on Unsplash, and if you look at his feed there, it is easy to see why. I have used some of his photography on my site, but I had no idea how big his presence on Unsplash is.

Einar’s photos are a mix of nicely composed pictures from everyday life in Reykjavik and the Icelandic countryside. His photos are authentic and genuine, which I love. There is no oversaturation of colors or silly filters that you sometimes see added to photos from Icelandic natural wonders. I also enjoy Einar’s quest for the perfect Icelandic hamburger; every once in a while, he gives his honest review of burgers he tastes here in Reykjavik and around the country. Einar is a motorcycle enthusiast, and he was one of the many extras for Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed war movie, The Flags of Our Fathers, filmed here in Iceland.

I checked in with Einar to see if he was available for an interview, and he was.

Thank you, Einar, for taking the time for this interview. Please give my readers a little background information about you.

You are welcome. I work as the Information Technology Manager for the New National Hospital building project and photography is one of my hobbies [This project is one of Iceland’s biggest building projects in history]. It so happens that photographing the construction site is also one of my duties. How cool is that! My other hobbies include music, baking, and history. I’m 65 years old, have two children, and live in Reykjavik.

How did it come about that you started to post your photos to Unsplash?

I read an article in The Daily Telegraph about Unsplash, that this was a website for amateurs who wanted to make their photos accessible to all free of charge. So, I thought I would try it, publish a few pictures, and add them to the collection now and then.

What are you looking for when you go out photographing?

Sometimes, the subjects arise by chance, sometimes, I just want to catch the mood of the place where I am, but I guess that how light and colour play together is the foundation. If I take photos in Iceland, I try to take shots outside the usual popular places. A side project of mine is then-and-now comparison photos. That project engages Icelanders but is not part of my Unsplash catalog.

What is your most popular Iceland photo on Unsplash?

I think a photo of signs in the wilderness is the most viewed, a little over a million. I was photographing a waterfall and a nearby mountain. There, I noticed this lonely sign in the middle of nowhere, so that is how that picture came to be.

Do you have a favorite photo you posted to Unsplash, and what is your most popular image there?

Just as I arrived at the family summer house late one autumn at dawn, the ground was covered in frost. The combination of frost, color, and light from the rising sun was just perfect. I have noticed that this image is used in Iceland. For example, it was used in two reports, one by the University of Iceland and the other by an environmental group. That pleased me a lot, apart from that, my pics are all over. One family abroad wanted to enlarge a shot to cover a whole living room wall. A band in Chicago used my photo as a record cover. One of my shots was used in an English book about Iceland, a picture from the island of Flatey. Once again, in all shots, I thought the lighting was unique.

You are a burger connoisseur. Where, in your opinion, can travelers find the best burgers in the country?

Some of the best places have gone, but Yuzu and Craft Burger Kitchen are really, really good.

Can you describe your experience as part of the Flags of Our Fathers production?

How much space do I have?!! I was on the movie set for six weeks, and it was an unbelievable experience from the first to the last moment. It was an adventure of a lifetime, and mixing this with my interest in WWII was unique. The extras went through basic WWII-era military training and were issued real weapons. After that, we shot various scenes and as the filming progressed, those extras that stayed on got closer and closer to the cameras. When we went out on the ocean in LVT to do the invasion on the beach of recreation of the landings at Iwo Jima, I had to pinch myself. It was too good to be true! I met Clint Eastwood a few times. On one rainy day after filming, he offered me and another extra a ride in his car to the camp.

You are a motorcycle enthusiast. Is there a favorite area or stretch of road here in Iceland you would recommend to fellow motorcyclists?

Unlike many, I avoid gravel roads at all costs, so no highland riding for me. I like riding in Hvalfjordur, near Reykjavik, which was the main road for decades. After opening the undersea tunnel which diverted traffic away from Hvalfjordur, that area turned into a riding paradise, at least for me. Winding roads with no traffic, followed by a coffee stop in Borgarnes and back again, is the perfect ride for me.

What are your favorite places and activities in Iceland?

After decades, I finally went on a well-planned trip to the Westfjords. The rugged landscape and villages are so great to visit. Apart from that, a trip to the summer house is something I look forward to on a Friday afternoon.

What advice do you have for those visiting Iceland for the first time?

When I’m in a new city, I take the hop-on-and-off buses just to get my bearings and then follow it up afterward with a visit. Doing that in Reykjavik would be a good thing. Traveling to the Westfjords would be great, but that has to be done in a rental car. Bus trips to many popular places are also a good bet, especially when the weather is the coldest, as the roads can be dangerous. But the Internet is such a great place to prepare and plan according to the length of your stay. However, Iceland is referred to as “small” the distances are not that at all.