The Midnight Sun Catcher

Hvolsvöllur, Iceland – 30.05.2024 – Olivia Synnervik is from a small town in Sweden called Lidköping. She has loved photography since she got her first digital camera at 10. She had always dreamt about the chance to shoot under Iceland’s midnight Sun. 

In 2022, when Olivia heard about a luxury hotel in the south of Iceland, Hotel Rangá, offering photographers worldwide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the photo contest “The Midnight Sun Catcher” in Iceland, inviting anyone with a camera to apply, she didn’t hesitate to take part and traveled to Iceland. As a reward, Hotel Rangá awarded the winner a memorable summer stay at their property. 

“This was my first visit to Iceland, and it was one of the best trips I have ever made. To see this beautiful hotel, the waterfalls, Vestmannaeyjar, and the incredible midnight sun was an experience of a lifetime,” says Olivia. She took full advantage of the experience, traveling around south Iceland and photographing the midnight sun.

“We had over 500 applications from 55 countries,” says Eyrún Aníta Gylfadóttir, marketing manager at Iceland’s Hotel Rangá. 

The winning photographer not only had the privilege of luxuriating in the comforts of Hotel Rangá but also the rare opportunity to capture the unique phenomenon of Iceland’s midnight sun. This natural wonder ensures that summer skies are never genuinely dark, offering photographers the chance to capture stunning images at any time of the day or night, a truly exclusive experience.

“After a tough choice, we invited Olivia Synnervik from Sweden to be the Hotel Rangá’s Midnight Sun Catcher,” Eyrun says.

When asked about her most cherished memories of the trip, Olivia’s response was immediate. “One of the most profound moments was around nine or ten in the evening, as we stood in awe at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The sheer beauty of this colossal waterfall, illuminated by the midnight sun, made my heart skip a beat. The Sun, high in the sky, cast a vibrant rainbow before the waterfall, creating a scene that felt straight out of a dream. It was a truly otherworldly experience.”

Today, Olivia creates content in media and public relations. She has focused on her photography career since 2020 and loves everything from nature to portrait photography.

This story is a part of the 100 Stories from Iceland.

To learn more about Hotel Rangá and Iceland’s midnight sun, check out the website www.hotelranga.is. Our blog contains stories about Iceland’s unique culture, language, and natural beauty.

Contact: Eyrún Aníta Gylfadóttir

Phone nr: +354 478 5700

Email: hotelranga@hotelranga.is

Website: www.hotelranga.is