This photo was taken near the Blue Lagoon resort in Keflavik, just south of Reykjavik in Iceland. The water is the run-off from the geothermal plant visible in the background. The fluorescent blue colour is not from the water but from the salts present in the water which line the bottom and sides of the lagoon. Although I'm not sure, these salts seemed to fluoresce and seemed brighter than the sky above as the sun set.
The Blue Lagoon resort only controls part of the 'lagoon' and there is a lot of the blue water to be found in the environs. In order to get a photo after closing time, or without too many people in it, it's worth walking around the area to find shots like this.
Grindavik, Iceland, 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
View this photo large
Tags: iceland blue lagoon sci-fi square lagoon geothermal keflavik Places decent camera:canon_5d2
© All Rights Reserved
A short drive south of Reykjavik in Keflavik is the Svartsengi Power Station.
The water output from this station fills up the Blue Lagoon which is a popular bathing resort in the region. When bathing in the seemingly fluorescent blue waters in the Blue Lagoon, the sight of this power station right next to it adds to the otherworldly, sci-fi feel of the experience.
This photo is taken around sunset on the road back to Reykjavik as the steam from the geothermal plant competed with the clouds for form.
Grindavik, Iceland, 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
View this photo large
Tags: iceland square geothermal power plant camera:canon_5d2
© All Rights Reserved
Hiking a short distance towards the Snæfellsjökull park and looking South offers a view of the Atlantic ocean blending nearly seamlessly into the overcast sky.
It's hard to believe that heading South from here there is no land until Antarctica.
In the midground is a conical mountain that looms over the coastal town of Arnastapi. Local folklore has it that goblins live at its peak...
Snæfellsjökull, Western Iceland, 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
View this photo large
Tags: iceland square mountain ocean snow ice f:long camera:canon_5d2
© All Rights Reserved
It was our second day in Iceland and the first day out of Reykjavik. We spent the early part of the day driving up to this region in the far west of Iceland hoping to see the summit. Despite being around the area for several hours, hiking along the coast and watching the gulls and terns nest this was the only time we saw it, as the clouds parted just after 11pm.
At the time we had the cameras up on the tripods pointing hopefully Northwards. With a brisk westerly wind chilling us as we huddled around the back of the car eating canned tuna and bread we waited. Then the wind then blew a gap in the clouds past the summit and I rushed to my waiting camera and with tuna-stained fingers clicked away.
This is the Northern-most point on the globe I've been to. Behind me there was the ocean, and then nothing... no land until the Antarctic 10,000 miles of Atlantic away.
[20 June 2012] Of all the photos I've made, right now this is the one I am most proud of. I hope you like it!
Snæfellsjökull, Western Iceland, 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS
View this photo large
Tags: iceland cloudy mountains glacier Snæfellsjökull snaefellsjokull square decent best lens:canon70200f4LIS camera:canon_5d2
© All Rights Reserved
As is the case in the Icelandic summer, the Sun never strays far below the horizon leaving the summer months nightless.
After spending the day on the Snæfellsjökull region, we began the 200km drive back to Reykjavik. Once again deceived by the late sunset, we only began the return trip after 11pm. The majority of the drive was uneventful as the clouds that had dogged us all day remained overhead.
Around half-way back at 1.30am, however, I happened to look in the rearview mirror. The clouds had cleared from where the sun was moving along the North Eastern horizon revealing a blue and violet sky above and swirling knee deep mist below.
We all piled out of the car to get a better look and to take a few photos. A few minutes later the winds replaced the clear sky with cloud and the beauty of the place was gone.
This was the case for much of our trip to Iceland. One minute you'd be looking at a dark, bleak landscape and then a gust of wind would rearrange the sky transforming the scene into a thing of beauty and hope. But only for a moment -- the fickle winds would soon blow again and the gloom would return.
Western Iceland, 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
View this photo large
Tags: iceland europe square person road f:wide twilight Places decent best camera:canon_5d2
© All Rights Reserved