| Iceland |
| Iceland is a true oasis for people who love unique, dramatic landscapes. The island is a breathtaking mix of fascinating land forms, ice and geological phenomena. Located between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans only slightly south of the Arctic Circle, on the tectonic border between Europe and North American plates, the island is truly alive. Indeed almost all of Iceland's energy requirements come from renewable energy such a geothermal sources. For mountain walkers and landscape photographers alike, Iceland is a destination to be visited and treasured. I am certainly looking forward to my next visit. I hope this page with a selection of my photographs wakes your appetite for a visit , and I will be happy to arrange a tailored walking or photography trip. |
| Above, the hamlet of Litla-Hof on the south coast of Iceland looks out over the 600 square kilometer glacial sand bank of Skeidarársandur. The village and the guesthouse here are wonderfully situated close to the Skaftafjell National Park and several of Iceland's most beautiful and impressive sights including Hvannadalshnúkur towering behind with it's huge glacier system and not least the Jökulsárlón glacial lake and beaches of jet black sand and stranded icebergs. Below, enjoying an autumn day walking towards Svartifoss in the Skaftafjell National Park with the majestic Kristínartindar (1126m) in the distance. |
| Svartifoss with it's cove of overhanging basalt columns provides a wonderful photographic motive. Below, approaching Kristínartindar. |
| Left, the Icelandic Rjúpa or Rock Ptarmigan in its changing autumn feathers. Below, the true alpine summit of Hvannadalshnjúkur viewed from near the campsite at Skaftafjell. An ascent of the peak starts only slightly above sea level off the bottom right of the picture. The glacier surrounding the summit is part of the huge Vatnajökull glacier - beneath the glacier is the second largest volcano in Europe. It is known to have erupted in 1362 and 1727. |
| Above, a cold affair photographing the blocks of ice that have washed up on the jet black beach on the Atlantic coast near the glacial lake Jökulsárlón. Below, a long exposure shot taken before dawn of the Jökulsárlón. A polarisation filter was used, and tripod of course. |
| Above, a self portrait not many metres from the main highway on Breidamerkursandur looking towards the mountains by Reynivellir west of Höfn on the south coast of Iceland with the snow capped Snæfjell (1383m) visible in the centre. Below, sunset over a very small part of the 20km long front of the Skeidarárjökull. Volcanic eruptions have deposited black dust on the ice throughout its history making it a very eerie location, especially when the light is fading. |
| Above, a night shot of the cabin at Landmannalaugar in the interior of Iceland. In mid October there is a good chance of snow and the smaller gravel tracks only being open to four-wheel drive vehicles as it was on this visit. The Laugahraun wall of lava that was produced by an eruption in 1477 can clearly be seen behind the hut. The area here is both exotic and rugged and is a very popular walking destination with trails to several huts. Below, enjoying the hot spring close to the hut. |
| Above, amazing colours near the volcano of Brennisteinsalda not far from Landmannalaugar where the lava flow has stemmed. Sulphur colours the hillside and hot steam pours from small vents creating the perfect environment for mosses. Below, on the summit of Brennisteinsalda (880m) after the sun has set. |
| Above, walking along an impressive moraine crest with a view to the Kvíárjökull glacier that flows from the plateau of the great Öræfajökull at over 2000m above sea level. Iceland's highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur at 2110m can be seen as a nunatak protruding from the high glacial plateau. |
| Above, a stranded block of ice on the beach. This shot was taken using a neutral density filter and a 30 second or so exposure just before dawn. The combination of colours and the unreal black surface are truly amazing. Left, a piece of driftwood on the beach. |
| Above, incredible landforms and vegetation exaggerated by the presence of snow, here at Stútur. Below, part of the mountains of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. The bedrock in this area is dominated by young rhyolite that was formed as recently as 8 million years ago. Landmannalaugar is located close to the centre of the reserve on the beautiful Laugavegur trail. The wider area nearby includes the volcanoes of Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull that erupted as recently as 2010. |
| Finally below, a journey to Iceland would not be complete without a visit to Geysir. |