It was a bitter winter’s day. The air was biting, and the wind, characteristic of the Icelandic wilderness, blew relentlessly around us. The light, however, was extraordinary. The clouds diffused the harsh sun, casting an ethereal glow that seemed to soften the entire world around us. The scene felt alive, as if the land itself was speaking through the light. It was in this unusual moment that I found my creativity awakened.
My lens of choice that day was the 85mm Sigma Art — a favorite for its sharpness and its ability to create stunning depth. As I looked through it, the world seemed to slow. The cold wind swept across the model’s hair, gently tousling it in a dance that mirrored the brushstrokes of the masterpiece she embodied. Her body was painted in the swirling night sky of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, each stroke bringing to life the texture and depth of the painting in a way that felt almost spiritual. As I framed her movements, I could feel the wind, the light, and the paint becoming one — the model, elegant in her own right, seemed to be moving in reverence to the very artwork on her skin. In that instant, I understood that this was more than just a photo shoot. This was a dialogue between my lens, the subject, and the art itself.
I had chills — not just from the biting cold — but from the beauty of what I was witnessing. The texture of the makeup, the glow of the light, and the surreal movement of the model’s elegant poses seemed to dissolve the freezing winds around me. I remember thinking that, in this moment, the cold no longer mattered. All I could focus on was the connection between the painting, the model, and my lens. This shoot was unlike any other. It felt fresh, it felt new.
The Starry Night on her body resonated with me on a deeper level than I expected. For me Van Gogh’s masterpiece has always been about more than just swirling colors. The emotional depth, the turbulence of the night sky, and the haunting loneliness of the figures beneath it — all these elements felt so familiar. I saw my own struggles reflected in the chaotic beauty of the painting, the swirling storm of ideas, emotions, and uncertainties that often cloud the creative process. But like the stars in Van Gogh’s sky, there was also beauty in the chaos. In that moment, I realized that creativity is a storm that should not be feared. It should be embraced, allowed to flow freely, as if it were a natural part of the landscape.
The photo session left me with a deeper understanding of creativity. I had always believed that creativity had boundaries — certain “rules” to follow, certain limitations to respect. But what I learned that day was that there is no such thing as “too colorful, ” “too wild, ” or “too strange.” Creativity is about finding the right environment, the right scene, where all these seemingly disparate elements can come together in harmony. That’s what I want to do — to create spaces where bold ideas can take flight and all the colors of imagination can exist without apology.
Looking back, that shoot in Iceland wasn’t just about the images I created. It was about the shift that happened inside me, the understanding that there is always room for more — more light, more color, more depth. And it was about learning to trust my intuition, to trust the moment, and to trust that sometimes the most powerful creative energy comes from letting go of control.
I wish for every photographer on the planet to have that moment — when the world feels alive with possibility, and your creativity is no longer just a tool, but a force you can channel. May it stay with you, guiding you through every shoot, and inspiring you to capture not just what you see, but what you feel. And when creative crises come — as they inevitably will — may you remember that feeling. Let it remind you that inspiration is never far, and sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to reignite the magic.
A special thank you to Iza— she may not still realize the masterpiece she created with her incredible makeup, but it was truly the heartbeat of this project. And to Julia, whose grace, presence, and ability to embody the theme through her poses made the shoot unforgettable. There’s no one who could have embraced the vision more beautifully than she did. You girls inspired me that day, and I will be for ever grateful.
This is my first time writing something like this — sharing my thoughts and emotions on paper, or rather, a blog. I’ve always heard that writing things down can be a powerful way to process feelings and capture memories, so I thought I’d give it a try. Honestly, I feel a little shy about putting this out there, but I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed reliving the experience. And who knows, maybe there’ll be more stories to come!
Thanks for reading guys! xx