7 QUESTIONS TO BRYNJAR ÁGÚSTSSON

Can you tell us a little bit about how you became a photographer?

In 1981, I received my first camera and began taking pictures. My older brother, who worked as a professional photographer at the time, influenced me to become interested in photography. My first photographs were of various patterns on the ground, which I think would be considered abstract today. However, there was a creative process that started when I saw and sensed this small 2x3 frame world. I was able to isolate the big world and with that, a much bigger world opened up for me to play with my creations. The journey through many stages in photography last 40 years has been so many that I have no count on it anymore. Born and raised here in Iceland I have been in front of so many wonders and beauty of this little island.

Born in the north of Iceland in an artistic family, it was easy to get attached to the beauty of rough nature. Bright summer nights in the middle of the highlands, dark winter nights under green northern lights, and waterfalls from melting glaciers. Through the years of witnessing all this and many volcanic eruptions, I humbly bow to Mother Earth.

It was after many years of photographing in this land of fire and ice I started practicing mindfulness and meditation which helped me to go inward that something happened. I realized that in there was so much more source and material to create from.

Photo: Brynjar Ágústsson

First of all, I felt so much liberation, like my senses were going through a resetting process and entering a state of total awareness where I could use much more of my senses. It was like gazing into many layers of the land where all 4 elements of mother earth came together into one point in time and space that created my image. It took me beyond my brain's understanding and need to analyze all things where it liberated my creativity from any outer influence and thoughts, ideas, and symbols, and the results can form an art that is full of meaning.

Alongside love, kindness, and compassion, I felt it was like I was in a process of healing where many old layers of ideas and thoughts were released from me. In the beginning, as a photographer, I realized that I had something to say and longed to create authentic and meaningful work, but the place this process had taken me beyond any meaning and storytelling into the land of an abstract and objective world that is not connected to anything - it just is.

Please share something about your images. What is your special interest?

My main focus is to create images that raise questions rather than answers. To create an image that is difficult for the mind to interpret or explain, taking the creation beyond what is known and into the realm of perception. I think that each person's interpretation and experience of a mountain is unique, and that the mountain itself is not visible in reality. I seek to go beyond the mind in order to truly see something.

Photo: Brynjar Ágústsson

How do you choose the colors, composition, themes etc. ?

Regarding my color and framing preferences, I am unable to provide a logical explanation for why I use certain colors or frames. These choices come from within, as if I am interpreting tools of my subconscious mind. Currently, I approach image creation by first conceiving a theme.

Where does this interest come from?

It comes from mindful meditation. For me it is a my healing art journey and as I embarked on this journey of love and creation, I found myself approaching familiar situations with a newfound sense of creativity and passion. My mind was brimming with fresh ideas that resonated with my new perspective, offering a wider array of choices and opportunities for action. The only obstacle to this process was my own mind, which attempted to exert control over the outcome. However, I recognized the need to release this control and surrender to the flow. From this state of surrender, I discovered it became easier to infuse meaning and craft narratives that extended beyond surface-level observations. These narratives became deeply personal, representing my own unique story.

One of my sayings is "The outer reality is just a reflection of my inner reality." For "here" to exist, there must also be a "there." The inside has no meaning unless it is reflected in the outside. Therefore, passion and creation must do their job in this world of mirrors so that all interactions can occur.

I have come to this realization after many years of meditation practices. The reaction dance loop is something we can get stuck in, causing us to see things the same way over and over again, unless we exercise our minds. But now, as I see things, reality has many layers like an onion, and beneath all of our labels lies the true essence of things.

Therefore, my current inclination is to take this visual craft to the frontier of knowledge. To create images without elements that the brain can easily label or understand. By doing so, the image raises more questions than answers. When viewing my work, we cannot use our minds to see and define, but we must use our senses to truly see.

Photo: Brynjar Ágústsson

How do you get inspired? And what inspires you the most? Films, books, or magazines? Or what surrounds you?

Years ago, I became captivated by Carl Gustav Jung's books and spent significant time studying his theories on archetypes, dreams, and symbolism. As a result, I now find it relatively easy to see the objective world around me as a symbol, much like in a dream. This understanding reached its culmination when I read Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's Journey," which taught me how to tell a story through an image. Today, I categorize images into three main types, simplifying the process of creating my own hero's journey as I evolve in this visual craft. This is simply my current perspective, subject to change over time. 

My primary interest is to create pictures that provoke questions rather than provide answers. To produce images that challenge the mind's ability to interpret or explain what is seen, pushing beyond what we already know and into the realm of perception. I believe that every person's experience and interpretation of a mountain is distinctive, and that the mountain itself cannot be seen in reality. To truly see something, I seek to transcend my own mind. Sometimes, I even say "How to liberate or unveil a mountain" to illustrate this point.  Through storytelling, we fulfill the brain's innate desire for meaning-making. When we gather the courage to venture beyond our limited perception based on what we know, we open ourselves to a vast and expansive objective reality in which to explore and engage. We begin to perceive an objective world that exists independently, devoid of any specific connections or interpretations. It can be described as form, pattern, or abstraction. As we embark on this journey, our brain might struggle to comprehend our actions since we are guided by intuition and sensory experiences rather than the analytical obsession of the mind.

Based on my personal experience, when creating images, it is crucial to enter a state of mind where meaning is absent, and where external influences and restrictions do not hold sway. It is within this liberating space that the creation can transcend external influences, thoughts, ideas, and symbols, giving rise to art imbued with profound significance. However, the creation itself remains devoid of life and meaning until it encounters the interpretations and meanings assigned to it by the viewers.

Photo: Brynjar Ágústsson

What are your plans for the rest of the day?

I am currently preparing for my next trip into the wilderness, where I hope to experience nature in its true form.

What else should we know about you?

My name is Brynjar Ágústsson – Im 60 years old and was born 1963 in Iceland.

I am an independent photographer from Iceland, currently residing in Iceland, Reykjavík area. My photography has been recognized in various mediums such as magazines, commercials, and exhibitions.

I was born into an artistic family in northern Iceland and readily developed an appreciation for the captivating beauty of the rugged natural landscapes. From vibrant summer nights in the highlands to dark winter nights illuminated by the dancing northern lights and cascading waterfalls from melting glaciers, I hold great reverence for the nature. For the past 9 years, I have collaborated with Iceland Photo Workshop, organizing and leading numerous photography workshops, as well as conducting my own workshops. I share my unique vision by delving deeper into the visual craft, awakening, and enhancing the creative force, and skillfully combining elements of nature within the frame.

My exploration of the photography industry encompasses both technical and ideological aspects. Initially, I focused on landscape photography. As an independent visual artist and photographer, I have refined my skills over numerous years through individual studies, art training, and hands-on practice. My creations feature minimalist themes, macro techniques, and aerial perspectives to enrich the communicative depth of my art.