Drew Doggett is a photographer that travels the world documenting incredible landscapes, people, and civilizations. In the Realm of Legends, one of his most fascinating series to date, depicts the one-of-a-kind beauty of Icelandic horses, who majestically wander the surrounding terrain. Though many photographers choose to photograph Iceland’s gorgeous scenery, Doggett goes a step further by including the country’s distinct equestrian population to create a mythical and fantastical union that’s almost too wonderful to be true.
Doggett resided on a farm in Iceland with hundreds of horses throughout his trip. Folklore stories originally drew him to the enchanting landscape. The famed eight-legged Icelandic horse Sleipnir, who is said to represent the spirit animal of the Norse deity Odin, was one of them. The breathtaking equestrian series focuses on the link between the beautiful breed of semi-wild horses—some say they are “real-world” ancestors of Sleipnir—and the harsh environment in which they reside.
The environment is reminiscent of a utopian paradise, with snow-covered plains, roaring waterfalls, black sandy beaches, and freezing lagoons. Against the strange backdrop, the beautiful horses run, graze, and stand tall, displaying their royal resilience to the elements. Normally, Doggett shoots in black and white, but for this series, he chose color. “The light provided beautiful colours that gave the entire series a magnificent feel,” he adds. “I knew this piece of work deserved color because of the contrast between the countryside and the horses.” Snow-white and lovely brown horses contrast against light, glacial blues and dark tones of sand and rocks in this magnificent photo series.
Each photograph depicts the horses’ powerful but calm personalities in the middle of a wild terrain in continual motion. “The waterfalls are extraordinarily loud and almost brutally beautiful,” Doggett remembers, “yet the horses were calm, standing within feet from millions of gallons of flowing water.” “At other times, we’d be shooting in knee-deep snow in gale-force winds while the horses remained totally quiet.”
In the Realm of Legends, a beautiful series by photographer Drew Doggett, showcases the majesty of Icelandic horses.
The environment is reminiscent of a utopian paradise, with snow-covered plains, roaring waterfalls, black sandy beaches, and freezing lagoons.
Against the strange backdrop, the beautiful horses run, graze, and stand tall, displaying their royal resilience to the elements.
Take a look at some of Doggett’s other video clips.
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