To be honest, I wasn't really enthusiastic about going and I only went because I felt obligated. It's the biggest viking festival in Iceland after all and it's just down the street. No matter how cheesy it sounded (come on people, it's put on by a local viking-themed hotel for crying out loud), these things are exactly what I'm here to experience. So I semi-begrudgingly grabbed my camera with 35mm lens attached and went. I became even less excited when I arrived and had to pay 800 kr. (about $6.50!) to get in.
What a tourist trap. As a wold traveler, I am above this. (Smug, much?)
Then I walked in... and within 30 seconds I had a big fat stupid smile on my face that didn't leave until hours later when I finally left.
(pwnd)
It's not very big, and there are definitely some stereotypical campy elements, but I gotta say I geeked out a little. Maybe it's because I'm sort of in my Game of Thrones phase right now, or because I idolized Guinevere and the Lady of Shalot as a little girl (only to suppress that nerdy side of me to make it through middle school unscathed... or at least less scathed), or simply because there is something primally interesting about bearded men doing manly things like blacksmithing, but I have to admit I really liked suspending reality for a little bit as I browsed through the market and people watched.
Thinking I wasn't going to be taking many pictures, I left my 200mm prime lens at home. It's my usual lens of choice in situations like these because I can stand away from the crowds and still get a good candid (read: stalking like a creeeeper), but with only my 35mm it meant I had to actually interact in close contact with people to take pictures. As much as I avoid it, this is a good practice I don't make myself do often enough.
What a tourist trap. As a wold traveler, I am above this. (Smug, much?)
Then I walked in... and within 30 seconds I had a big fat stupid smile on my face that didn't leave until hours later when I finally left.
(pwnd)
It's not very big, and there are definitely some stereotypical campy elements, but I gotta say I geeked out a little. Maybe it's because I'm sort of in my Game of Thrones phase right now, or because I idolized Guinevere and the Lady of Shalot as a little girl (only to suppress that nerdy side of me to make it through middle school unscathed... or at least less scathed), or simply because there is something primally interesting about bearded men doing manly things like blacksmithing, but I have to admit I really liked suspending reality for a little bit as I browsed through the market and people watched.
Thinking I wasn't going to be taking many pictures, I left my 200mm prime lens at home. It's my usual lens of choice in situations like these because I can stand away from the crowds and still get a good candid (read: stalking like a creeeeper), but with only my 35mm it meant I had to actually interact in close contact with people to take pictures. As much as I avoid it, this is a good practice I don't make myself do often enough.
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| Oh hey, Winterfell (amiright?). |
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| This isn't a very good picture, but look at that dude's leg tattoos! |
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| This guy rubbed fire all over his body... and then put it down his pants. Huh. |
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| What a great face on this old man. |
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| Ugh. Little vikings are so cute. |
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| The hair was strong with these ones. |
I ended up going home to grab my 200mm later, but by the time I went back the festival, it was starting to wind down in that location and there wasn't much left to photograph except these intriguing looking bones roasting over an open fire.
I dunno, I might just find my way back there again before it's over.
