Michelle Chan was studying abroad in Scotland this past fall and took the opportunity to travel with other adventure-minded friends. Iceland in particular has always been a dream of hers to visit, largely because of the landscape's beautiful, dreamy mystique but also because of its relative obscurity and isolation from the rest of the world. Besides snapping these photos while traveling, she tried to learn as much about the country as possible.

I took all of these photos with my Nikon D7100. Fun fact: I carried my camera in a plastic bag throughout my trip to protect it from rain as well as the spray from all the powerful waterfalls! This project is titled "This Is Iceland", but this is also not Iceland -- this country (nor any country) cannot be encapsulated in just a handful of photographs. Rather, I hope that my photographs inspire viewers to seek the missing pieces themselves, to learn about a foreign part of the world that is so much more than just stunning waterfalls and geothermal energy. I want people to think about what lays beyond.
-Michelle Chan

I also stand by my desire to invest in experiences instead of things. While I know that not everyone has the means to travel, I hope that people will at least be encouraged to push outside their comfort zone and explore their surroundings, whether it be a new hiking trail or an unfamiliar neighborhood. There is so much beauty in the unknown!
-Michelle Chan

I am still defining and refining my style, but I definitely drift towards natural light and beauty. Rarely do I use Photoshop (though I have much love for Lightroom), and my efforts focus on composition and color as a means of evoking awe. While I experiment with various types of photography, I especially enjoy landscape and environmental portraiture; my inspirations in this realm are photographers Whitney Justesen and Elizabeth Gadd, whose joint trip to Iceland actually sparked my first interest in visiting! I'm also hugely inspired by travel and conflict photojournalists who capture pressing global issues to bring to the public's attention. I would love to one day work for National Geographic as a travel photojournalist.
-Michelle Chan

It can sometimes be hard to stay motivated as an artist, especially when feeling drowned out by everyone flooding social media and other online outlets with their work. I am constantly searching for fresh sources of inspiration because it fuels me to improve my art and develop my own style. I love browsing photos online to be helpful in receiving constructive criticism. I'm also always eager to find and talk with mentors whose experience I can learn enormously from.
-Michelle Chan

I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about these incredible sites upon visiting, having already seen several pictures from visitors before me. However, as I stood beneath Skógafoss, soaking in its immensity and becoming conscious of my small role within the nature's grander scheme, I realized the value of direct experience. There is so much to see and feel and absorb with your own senses that cannot be relayed through a photograph. I hope people understand that while "This Is Iceland", this is only my experience of it and there is so much more to experience for themselves.
-Michelle Chan

The internet is honestly overflowing with resources. Most photographers are largely self-taught so let that inspire your own learning. Also, more people want to help than you think -- feel free to reach out to me personally for more specific tips or advice! :)
-Michelle Chan

About Michelle Chan

Michelle Chan is a student at Pomona College in Claremont, California. As a Psychology major, she loves learning about the ways people think and operate with each other and their environment. She have a desire to learn about the world through global travel and field research, and would love her photography to help people view the world from a different lens (haha). See more of her amazing works on Behance or her Facebook page.