Secluded beaches,
towering waterfalls
and spectacular landscapes
are all found in the West Fjords, Iceland's remote natural splendor.
Just look at the view. You can see how beautiful it is. The West Fjords are amazing.
There is no place on earth like it. And all around you have untouched beauty and land.
Isley Reust has lived here for almost five years. She draws inspiration from it for her
photography. And her enthusiasm is by no means hers alone. The Australian Lonely Planet
travel guide listed the West Fjords among its Best in Travel areas for 2022.
One of Isley Reust's favorite spots is the Dynjandi waterfall.
The most challenging things for me, I think as a photographer,
are the weather here and the elements. Because the weather and the elements can both be unforgiving.
They can be not so kind to you at times. And it's always good
to be prepared for all situations here.
The West Fjords are a vast maze of fjords and peninsulas.
Distances are long. The best way to get around is by car. But in winter,
many of the roads stay closed.
We have all this abundance of nature,
and there is no one around. You can go hiking, driving and there won't be anyone around.
And you'll have pretty much all to yourself. In some ways, I would say, the Westfjords
makes me feel like I am on another planet. Or it's just somewhere so far, like I am at the
edge of the Earth or something.
Only about 10 percent of Iceland's
tourists ever see the West Fjords, where summers are short and winters long.
The land kind of shows you like: who is in charge here – and the weather. Because in the end
the conditions are so harsh in the winter that it just gives you much appreciation for it.
The German-American is not only a photographer but also a filmmaker.
On her travels around the island, she observes orcas,
arctic foxes
surfers braving extreme conditions and much more.
Stretching 10 kilometers along the West Fjords southwestern edge is the Rauðisandur,
or red sands. The color of the sand is a rare exception to Iceland's normally
pitch-black-volcanic-sand beaches. Isley Reust likes to go jogging here.
I really enjoy this beach here in the West Fjords because of the remoteness and uniqueness of it,
specifically. If I were to go to the North Sea in Germany or a beach in southern California
it would be crowded with people. But here I can just enjoy the nature as it is.
Just to the west rises the Látrabjarg promontory, Europe's westernmost point.
The cliffs tower up to 450 meters high.
I really can spend hours here: just watching the birds,
listening to the waves, photographing the birds. Even taking a nap and just relaxing.
It's really beautiful and peaceful here.
Látrabjarg is also well known as one of the world's
largest bird cliffs, making it a popular photo subject.
During the summer, millions of seabirds nest on it, including puffins.
You can get up close and personal with them here.
I found it very easy for me living here in Iceland, and I think the challenges weren't so
negative in my opinion. The remoteness, I like the remoteness. I don't mind being by myself.
It can be lonely and you have a lot of darkness. But if you have a close group of friends and a
community to be with, then I find it ok.
Just over 200 kilometers northeast lies Ísafjörður,
the largest town in the West Fjords with a population of 2,700. It started as a few
wooden houses built by fishmongers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now, Isley Reust lives here.
I really can't at the moment see myself living anywhere else in the world. I mean look at this
place, where else can you find a view like this? Beautiful nature, being so secluded and
so far away from all the stress of big cities and life. Here is just perfect for me.
Iceland's West Fjords – a beautiful region still waiting to be discovered.