Fascinated with the relations between people, their living spaces and possessions, San Fransisco based photographer Beth Yarnelle Edwards collaborates with her subjects to recreate scenes from their daily lives. Edwards recently spent a summer month in Iceland and during that stay she created her Iceland series.

 “Though intrigued by the stark, dramatic landscape and constant brightness, I was especially interested in the people I met and was often surprised by them.  The most literate people on earth sometimes believe in elves, trolls and other hidden folk.   Almost everyone speaks perfect English.  Most seem to have hobbies from another era – sewing, needlework, canning, woodcarving, fishing, hunting – yet every elder I encountered was much more adept with computers than their American counterparts.  Children were refreshingly innocent;  adults weren’t cynical.  No one was trying to impress me.  No one was bored. Who are these people who live in the past and the future at the same time?  I’ve been photographing in homes for over ten years, but this is the first time I’ve relied entirely on natural light.   The perpetual daylight was exquisite, but more importantly, I wanted everything in the pictures to be as authentic as my subjects.“

In her work, Edwards intention is not to critique but to observe. Her aim is to keep her photographs as truthful as possible. Though the events pictured are staged, they are based on information obtained from interviews with her subjects and always with their knowledge and consent.  She doesn’t pose people but rather sets up improvisations and then waits for an authentic expression, posture, or interaction to appear. 

Beth Yarnelle Edwards is an award winning photographer with work residing in numerous international museum collections.


Beth Yarnelle Edwards│Iceland series

"Iceland series" is the title of an exhibition by Beth Yarnelle Edwards in exhibition space Skotið.

Beth Yar­nelle Ed­ward­s│Ice­land series

"Iceland series" is the title of an exhibition by Beth Yarnelle Edwards in exhibition space Skotið.

Beth Yarnelle Edwards│Iceland series