My husband and I just returned from beautiful Iceland to celebrate my 40th birthday. I was amazed by all the natural beauty he country has to offer: gorgeous Icelandic ponies, dramatic icy waterfalls, sunsets that last forever, and brilliant dancing Northern Lights.

But what struck me most was Iceland's unexpected color palette. During winter when the days are short, the sun rises just above the horizon, stays there all day, and then starts its slow descent at around 4:30 p.m. The result: a landscape bathed all day in a lovely alpenglow, turning everything warm shades of pink and blue. Even the most ordinary of scenes takes on an unusual beauty because of Iceland's soft lighting - a photographer's dream. My husband and I can't wait to return to Iceland in the summer for some great hiking!