Photographer Drew Doggett has captured a stunning series of images featuring the horses of Iceland. He calls it In the Realm of Legends. The photographs showcase Icelandic horses against the beautiful landscapes they call home. Breathtaking horses are pictured on black sand beaches, in front of waterfalls, and on snowy tundras. The majesty of these horses is on full display as they gallop, play, and nuzzle each other. (1)
The Photographer
Doggett uses the style of fashion photography to document people, places, and cultures around the world and bring them to life for the viewer. He began photographing in high school and realized he wanted to turn it into a career during an internship in college. Doggett moved to New York City and began apprenticing in fashion photography. He worked with well-known photographers like Mark Seliger, Steven Klein, and Annie Leibovitz. (2)
After traveling the world as a photography assistant, Doggett took his first solo trip to Nepal in 2009. As he waited out a snowstorm in the Himalayas with the sherpas who were guiding him, he had a revelation. Throughout his time working with other photographers, he wondered how he would create a unique point of view. There were already so many photographers were trying to do the same thing. (2)
In the Himalayas, Doggett realized that he wanted to tell the stories of those who had created a life and were thriving in challenging conditions. The Icelandic horses were the perfect subject for Doggett. He describes this photography series as “highlight[ing]the relationship between a noble yet rugged breed of horses and the challenging landscape they’ve written into their DNA.” (1, 2)
Icelandic Horses
Icelandic horses are a special breed. They first arrived in Iceland with Norse settlers on Viking ships between 860 and 935 AD. Not long after, in 982 AD, Iceland’s parliament passed laws prohibiting other horse breeds from being imported into the country. Although a horse may be exported, it can never come back. This has kept the Icelandic horse breed unchanged for over a millennium. (3)
Icelandic horses are sturdy animals, and they come in a variety of colors. Most of Doggett’s photographs feature white horses. These horses have an unusually long lifespan. They live for an average of 40 years, and the oldest horse on record lived to be 59. (1, 3)
Selective breeding has developed a horse that is uniquely adapted to Iceland’s sometimes harsh environment. The horses grow thick winter coats that they shed in the spring. They handle the challenges of the terrain they call home and are unfazed by high winds, snowstorms, or wading across freezing rivers. (3)
Icelanders are incredibly proud of their unique horses. They have an important place in Norse mythology and were thought to pull the sun across the sky. Perhaps the most famous folkloric horse was the god Odin’s horse Sleipnir, who had eight legs and could fly. (3)
Today, visitors can get to know Icelandic horses by riding them. They are an amazing way to explore the scenery of Iceland and experience sights that you may not otherwise find. (3)
To see these magnificent horses for yourself, watch the video below!
Check out Drew’s other work here!
