Sun Voyager at first light

The Sun Voyager (Sólfar) sits on a granite circle right on Sæbraut, the shore road — a polished steel dream-boat pointing out across Faxaflói bay with the long ridge of Mount Esja behind. It is the one Reykjavik composition that needs no explaining: couple at the bow, sculpture sweeping through the frame, mountains and sea doing the rest.

Come at sunrise. The sculpture faces north-ish over the water, so the low sun slides along the steel and lights it warm from the side; in June and July that light show runs half the night, and in winter 'sunrise' can be a very civilised ten in the morning. By mid-morning the coach tours arrive in waves and getting a clean frame means waiting out one group after another.

Work it low and wide from the seaward side so the sculpture rides against sky and water, then move behind it for the couple framed inside the curve of the hull. It is polished steel: fingerprints show, so shoot around touching it rather than posing hands on it, and watch for your own reflection in the tight shots. Harpa's glass facade is five minutes' walk along the shore for a second scene.