ARC’TERYX EQUIPMENT

Disentangled (verb): freed from what binds or holds back. My latest project, shot amongst the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, consists of a series of self portraits taken all over the island in my Beta SV Jacket from Arc’teryx. I sought to escape the monotony of city living and lose myself - if only for a couple of weeks - in the beauty and serenity of a truly wild place. The unforgivable Icelandic winter offered me exactly what I needed at the time: refuge. A two-week road trip around the land of fire and ice allowed me to test my jacket in its intended environment: extended exposure to the most extreme conditions.

One of my goals for the project was to document man’s humble place within nature, which was easier done than said in places like Vík, pictured below. The columns I’m standing on were  formed millions of years ago by a process called columnar jointing, which has to do with the way the basaltic lava cools over an extended period of time. These breathtaking formations are a popular tourist attraction at Reynisfjara beach, towering over the apocalyptic black sand only a stone’s throw from the Atlantic ocean on the southern coast of this small island nation.

This geothermal hot spring is hidden inside a small cave called Grjótagjá, which rests underneath the enchanting lava fields of northern Iceland. It was recently made famous by a steamy Game of Thrones scene (you know the one) back in season three. If you can stand the overwhelming sulfurous smell, these caves provide a brief respite from the howling winds and pounding rain up on the surface. The harsh Icelandic landscape proved to be both the perfect set for my project and the perfect test for this bombproof GORE-TEX® Pro shell, which allowed me to stop focusing on the elements and start focusing on my next adventure. As the mad scientists at Arc’teryx will remind you; the weather doesn't suck, your gear does!