In early July I traveled to the northeast of Iceland searching for a site as close to the sun, the Arctic Circle,  as possible.  When the clouds cleared, I was amazed and overcome by the strength and power of the sun.  The sun felt so close, too close.  The energy of the sun’s rays made me feel like a pillar of salt.  All of the ancient myths and legends were right, the sun can never be captured, only seen indirectly through reflection.

I had assumed that the site for the project would be on the northern coast, looking toward the north and the sea.  With the sun burning in my eyes, I retreated inland and began looking for a place where the sun could rise and set over land.  I found myself at a farm in Ardlur at a fork in a river.  The branch to the west was perfectly aligned with the sunset and the branch to the east with the sunrise.  Both were to occur within a hour of each other just after midnight with the northern point dividing them only slightly for a few degrees.

The farm owner Sweinn and his son Einar were interested in the project and flattered to have me working behind the chicken coop and exploring their river.  They allowed me to set up shop on their hillside for 2 days and nights.  They generously shared their lives, farm, horses and home.  As the sunset through the clouds about 1 am, the moon rose over the barn behind me, directly south.

The final project will be a “real time” HD video approximately 3 hours in length.