Born in Moldova,Iurie Belegurschi grew interested in photography from an early age. After moving to Iceland in 2006, he was drawn in by the incredible light and landscapes, began to travel around the country with his camera, searching for inspiration and honing his skills. In 2012, Iurie founded Iceland Photo Tours, which is the biggest photography workshops travel agency accredited in Iceland now, to share the wonders of Iceland with passionate photographers from around the world. He is also the co-founder of the Guide to Iceland, a popular platform providing information about Iceland for travellers.
NiSi has the great pleasure of interviewing Iurie about his success story. And you can learn more about Iceland’s magnificent landscapes and useful guidance from him in this interview.
Zoe: Hi Iurie! Thanks for being with us here! Firstly, could you tell us three interesting things about you that you want people to know?
Iurie: Hello! Three interesting things… well, I first moved to Iceland in 2006, which was when my interest in landscape photography piqued. Suddenly, I was surrounded by extraordinary landscapes and so much incredible light to work with. I started heading out to explore almost on a daily basis, searching for inspiration to capture on camera.
Another interesting thing is that one of my favourite ways to photograph the landscape is from the sky. There is nothing more exhilarating than soaring high above, looking at the Earth beneath you. I love aerial photography and planning ahead to capture the landscape from this different viewpoint! I’ve flown in small planes, helicopters and currently own a drone, which has been really helpful in getting me up in the air with very little time to spare.
Aerial View of the Icelandic Highlands
I guess one other interesting thing pertains to my style of photography. I really enjoy creating a sense of depth in my photos, which involves utilising different perspectives and angles combined with fascinating foreground elements to add another dimension to my shots. I think that this really helps to change a person’s response to their environment—whether that means they become more interested in environmental issues, begin to see the world in a different way or develop a desire to travel to that very place.
Taken in Patagonia
With NiSi Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: What brought your interest in photography? At what point did you get the idea to found a photo tour company in Iceland?
Iurie: I first became interested in photography at an early age when my uncle built a dark room in our family home. The process of creating pictures was fascinating to me. Later on, I was given an old camera to take to school to take photos of my classmates. Although my interest is currently in landscape photography, that moment capturing the portraits of my friends really ignited my passion for the art.
It wasn’t until I moved to Iceland and began exploring that I started to think about founding a photo tour company. I wanted to share these spectacular landscapes with others, so I started guiding a few people around on photography tours and from there, established my business Iceland Photo Tours in 2012. Being able to show people all of the amazing places I had found while teaching them how to improve upon their photography skills gives me immense satisfaction and I am thankful every day to be able to do this.
Taken in Iceland
With NiSi Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: When you got started with the Iceland Photo Tours, what did you find most challenging? After several years in the business, what do you still find challenging?
Iurie: The most challenging thing when I first started was being able to balance the work with my lifestyle. At the time, it was just the beginning of my career, so I worked hard to build the company and to market the tours. Luckily for me, I enjoyed what I did, so the business has never been a chore.
After several years in the business and now with a small family, these things still remain challenging. Although it is difficult to balance my time with an expanding business, I do my best to enjoy the little moments in my day to day life.
Taken in Iceland
With NiSi Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: Is there anything in Iceland that is little known by people?
Iurie: The highlands remain unexplored by the vast majority of visitors to Iceland. This region covers most of the interior of the country and is only accessible during summer, when the roads become accessible after the snow melts. It’s an amazing place where you can see glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal wonders such as hot springs, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. The terrain is rugged and there is so much to photograph, from waterfalls to mountain peaks and more. I love the colourful rhyolite mountains that make up this area, particularly around Landmannalaugar. The scenery there is like being on another planet. To be able to get to most of the highlands involves a bit of trekking and super jeeps, so it’s a very exciting experience!
Taken at Sigöldugljúfur canyon in the Icelandic Highlands
With NiSi Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: When did you start using NiSi filters and why?
Iurie: I first began using NiSi filters on the advice of a friend. I had been using another brand for a while and wasn’t happy with the quality. When my friend suggested NiSi, I gave the filters a try and since then, I haven’t looked back.
I had a great impression of my NiSi filters as soon as I took them out of the box. The filter holder and the filters themselves were contained in beautiful leather boxes. The first thing that I noticed was the build quality, which was absolutely exceptional.
Since investing in these filters, I have seen the quality of my photos improve with no light bleeds or colour casting. The entire system is perfect for my needs as a landscape photographer looking for a high-quality and easy-to-use system.
Taken in Patagonia, Chile
With NiSi Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: Which NiSi products do you usually use in your work?
Iurie: For my work, I use the NiSi 100mm square filter system, which includes a V6 filter holder with Enhanced Landscape CPL. I also use a range of 100x150mm filters, including a 3-stop Soft GND, 3-stop ND, 6-stop ND and a 10-stop ND.
Taken in Iceland
With NiSi ND (6 Stops), Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: Among all the photos you took with NiSi filters, which one is your favorite? What went into creating it?
Iurie: My favourite photo taken with NiSi filters is this photo taken on the ice beach, I used a 3-stop ND filter and 3-stop Soft GND to balance the sky.
Taken in Iceland
With NiSi ND (3 Stops), Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: What has been one of the scariest moments you’ve experienced on a shoot?
Iurie: One of the most exciting moments during my photography career was when I photographed the Holuhraun eruption in 2014. I flew over the eruption in a helicopter with the doors off and my heart was absolutely pounding. There was no protective gear involved and I could feel the heat of the volcano rising up in the air and onto my skin. At one point, the helicopter began jumping up and down, which was very scary!
Holuhraun Eruption in Iceland
Zoe: If someone were planning a trip to Iceland, what advice would you offer them?
Iurie: Iceland is a beautiful place, with so much to see and photograph. For most people, coming to Iceland is a trip of a lifetime, so it’s important to make the most out of a limited amount of time. To ensure that you get to all the best locations and see everything that you want to see, it’s a good idea to go with someone experienced, who knows the area well. A local guide is also able to keep an eye on other things, such as the weather, which is an important factor in chasing the northern lights. Although Iceland has become more accessible over the last few years, it remains an unpredictable place where you’ll be at the mercy of the extraordinary power of nature. Going with someone who understands the area can also help you to look after your safety.
Taken in Iceland
With NiSi ND (10 Stops), Soft GND (3 Stops)
Zoe: What plans do you have in the coming months?
Iurie: Over the next few months, I’ll be unveiling a new website for Iceland Photo Tours, as well as opening a new photo gallery in downtown Reykjavik. The gallery will be a space where I’ll be able to showcase my work from both Iceland and abroad, so it’s a very exciting time for me! There’ll be exhibitions, interactive touch screens and a huge amount of technology that will allow visitors to interact with my photos and videos in a new and fascinating way. I hope that this will inspire people to visit Iceland, encourage them to travel to new places and to experience the world as I see it. There is so much beauty out there and photography is a way to capture a small part of it to remember for years to come.
