Icelandscapes

dls

I was fortunate this month to have a several day layover in Iceland when returning home to the Northwest. I rented a car, and traveled along the southern coast, from Reykavik in the west, to Skaftafell/Jokulsarlon in the east. Iceland is definitely a nature lover's dream. The mix of volcanic landscape, verdant green flora/moss, geothermal activity, waterfalls, glaciers, mountain and seascapes... makes it about the most dramatic and beautiful places I have visited. And the tempestuous moody weather reminds me of my beloved Northwest. Fortunately/unfortunately, I have many many photos to review and process... but here are some preliminary ones. Also, I wasn't certain as to post this in the journeys vs landscape forums, but since most of the shots are nature landscapes, and I have not yet compiled the pictures for an adequate summation of the journey, I elected to post here first.

1. Pingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the gathering place of the Icelandic Parliament from 930 to 1789, and also a site where the N. American and European tectonic plates meet, creating dramatic fissures in the landscape.


2. Fissures in the earth's crust at Pingvellir.


3. Eruption of the geyser Strokkur. First in series.


4. Eruption of the geyser Strokkur. Second in series.


5. Eruption of the geyser Strokkur. Third in series.


6. Strokkur usually erupts every 5-10 minutes, and the eruption is often preceded by the formation of a blue dome. Sorry... not the sharpest picture, but the dwindling light, my lack of familiarity with the optimal photographic settings, and lack of tripod (broke just prior to arrival in Iceland) hampered me a wee bit. Next time:wxwax


7. Svartifoss. Waterfalls in a picturesque basalt basin.


8. Hiking up at Skaftafell National Park


9. Icebergs in the Jokulsarlon Lagoon. Hundred of icebergs are trapped in this lake, which is right by the southern coast. They are released once they melt to a certain size and float into the Atlantic.
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10. And finally...
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RuiMLopes

Impressive imagery! I love the unique Iceland landscapes! Iceland is a place I´d like to visit soon. Well done!

CWSkopec

Nice series, Dan!

Those last 2 are simply stunning!

cmkultradome

CWSkopec wrote:

Nice series, Dan!

Those last 2 are simply stunning!

Also really like the setting in #1.

Stephanie

dlplumer

Wow, 9 and 10 are so gorgeous

Tharhawk

dlplumer wrote:

Wow, 9 and 10 are so gorgeous

Agree. These are very nice.

coscorrosa

The last one is just spectacular. The scenery is awesome and you did a great job in capturing it! I'm not lying but I think Iceland is now on my list of places to visit (it's a long damn list unfortunately). That's just so cool...

Also really like #9, #7, and #5 (a very different looking geyser than the ones I saw at Yellowstone a few weeks ago).

dlplumer

coscorrosa wrote:

The last one is just spectacular. The scenery is awesome and you did a great job in capturing it! I'm not lying but I think Iceland is now on my list of places to visit (it's a long damn list unfortunately). That's just so cool...

Also really like #9, #7, and #5 (a very different looking geyser than the ones I saw at Yellowstone a few weeks ago).

At least you can't drive there

hawkeye978

Beautiful series. Love the detail in the geyser images. But my favorites are the icebergs, particularly the last. Beautiful tone and contrast.

SteveF

All great but really like 9 and 10. Good stuff.

acowan

Very nice series, but the last shot is great! Superb soft light!

dls

thanks, for all the comments! yeah... the scenery was stunning there, so it was not difficult to get decent shots. part of the difficulty was not being too greedy or distracted by my jaw dropping and scraping on the mossy lava-rock ground. i just wished i could do it more justice.

dls

coscorrosa wrote:

The last one is just spectacular. The scenery is awesome and you did a great job in capturing it! I'm not lying but I think Iceland is now on my list of places to visit (it's a long damn list unfortunately). That's just so cool...

Also really like #9, #7, and #5 (a very different looking geyser than the ones I saw at Yellowstone a few weeks ago).

thanks ron. yeah, for the nature-obsessed and landscape photogs, iceland is pretty cool. reminds me of a mix between hawaii (just colder, with moss instead of ferns and palms, and with drearier weather) and tierra del fuego (just more north and $$$). i have heard that the northern iceland is the place to go for the best geothermal activity, but time prevented from doing so. however, at 115 mph, you may be able to cover the island in several daze!

craig_d

Fantastic stuff. Makes me want to visit Iceland. #s 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10 are my favorites, but they're all great.

Richard

It's all interesting but the iceberg shots are simply stunning. clap

Chris H

Number 9

Number 10 :jawdrop

Brilliant, just brilliant.