Land of fire and ice

“Iceland is an island country in Northern Europe in the Atlantic Ocean. Geographically closer to the American continent due to its proximity to Greenland, the country is culturally and historically linked to Europe. More than 10% of the island consists of glaciers”. Iceland is full of mystery and fabulous scenery, there is so much to see that a single two-week trip was far too short. Between waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, Iceland is extraordinarily diverse. In this article I would like to take you on a journey to one of the most fascinating Nordic countries.

Gljúfrafoss & Seljalandsfoss

This waterfall has been my favourite since the beginning. It is located right next to the very popular Seljalandsfoss, hidden in a canyon. It is unique, the light inside is magical thanks to the large opening in the rock. It was essential for me to choose a light coloured dog to take a picture inside, so my choice was for this splendid White Swiss Shepherd. Later in the evening, an Icelandic Sheep Dog joined us to continue the shooting at sunset.

Rauðhólar “The Red Hills”

“The Rauðhólar is located in the lava fields of Elliðaárhraun, part of the Heiðmörk Nature Reserve. The craters are estimated to be 5200 years old, giving visitors an idea of the geological composition of the area. The name of this feature, of course, comes from the dark brown colour of the rock”. I had a very clear idea when I went there, this reddish rock is covered with very dense moss in some places. I was lucky enough to meet Olga, the beautiful Poodle.

A small stop to discover Icelandic horses

Thanks to Carolin, I had the chance to visit the Icelandic horse breeding of DRAUMHESTAR & STÓRA-AÐALSKARÐ. It had been a long time since I had approached horses, and it was probably the first time I had met a whole herd of about thirty specimens.

The famous Icelandic waterfall: Skógafoss

“Skógafoss” is a waterfall located on the Skógá River in the small village of Skógar in the south of Iceland. The river Skógá flows from its cliffs and falls 62 metres forming a waterfall some 25 metres wide. The waterfall is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls in the country”. On that day the river level had doubled after consecutive rainy days, so the waterfall was twice as powerful as usual. Tyra, the horse breeder’s dog, joined us for a shoot with two other dogs. A breathtaking show. This photo is one of my favourites from the trip, I love the special strength that comes out of it.

Unexpected atmospheres at the glacier Sólheimajökull

Just after Skógafoss, I headed towards this glacier located about fifteen minutes from the waterfall to meet Atlas, a Samoyed full of energy. A cloud was stuck above us, a fine rain kept falling, creating a constant fog. But it was to my great surprise that the setting sun brought out all this mist in the sky, creating flamboyant, almost unreal colours.

The hills of Lake Kleifarvatn

“Kleifarvatn is a lake located on the Reykjanesskagi River in Iceland. It is located in the southern part of the peninsula on the area of the cracks in the back of the Atlantic Ocean.” I was lucky enough to meet this lovely Icelandic Shepherd at this location, the combination was perfect, his light colour stood out very well in this reddish coloured environment. This lake is not very touristy and yet it is full of fantastic spots that are very different.

The Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara

“The beach is distinguished by the geological formations that enamel it. When you arrive, your gaze will inevitably be drawn to the Reynisfjall, the mountain whose feet drop into the sea in the form of basalt columns with a peculiar appearance: columns of square formation evoke, to a certain extent, the stacked stones of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. This is a true work of natural art, which will surely inspire the most creative minds”. This place was the last of my Icelandic journey. A beautiful sunset was in the offing, and two splendid Huskies as models. It was freezing cold, I waited for the sun to set completely to enjoy the extremely soft light of dusk.