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There are certain photographs that are immediately ‘other worldly’ emotive and I think this one may qualify. Located at a remote location called Hveravellir, deep in the interior of Iceland this geothermal pool is well off the beaten track of bitumen roads and civilisation. The seventy mile rocky track into Hveravellir from Gullfoss is about as rough and bone jarring as any in Iceland. Liberally sprinkled with blind corners, rocks the size of soccer balls and deep ruts its a challenge for even the hardiest of 4-wheel drives. I passed two broken down cars on the way into Hveravellir and I dont think my rental Jeep’s suspension will ever be the same; there is also a serious question mark over the ‘check engine’ light.

I first saw a photograph of this deep blue geothermal pool several years ago and since that moment have wanted to visit this amazing location. I took this photograph just after sunset – you can see there is still a faint glow in the distant sky over the glacier. The sulphurous steam rising off the pool and silica growth around the pool give an appearance not of this world – indeed the whole landscape is quite alien. Hveravellir was a must-visit location for my trip to Iceland and I am thrilled with this photograph from my time there. A higher resolution version of this photograph is on my Portfolio website in the Iceland section. Prints of this photograph are available on request.

Just a short ten minute walk upstream from Europe’s largest waterfall ‘Dettifoss’ is the spectacular waterfall(s) ‘Selfoss’. Unlike the sheer might and power of Dettifoss, Selfoss consists of a large number of smaller waterfalls all cascading over a long rocky ledge on both sides of the ravine. It is as spectacular and awe inspiring as Detifoss and can be photographed from both sides of the river. This photograph was taken shortly after sunrise as the rising sun just kissed the lip of the rocky backdrop. This was probably the most challenging photograph I made in Iceland. I was standing in the middle of a huge plume of spray that had soaked both me and my camera gear. Everything, including my lens, camera and ND filter were wet. This was one of only a few frames that I managed to get where the LEE filter was not covered in water droplets. A higher resolution copy of this photograph is on my portfolio website at http://www.jholko.com in the Iceland section. Prints available on request.

Dettifoss is both Iceland’s and Europe’s largest waterfall – more cubic water per second spills over it than any other waterfall in all of continental Europe. It is both spectacular and awe inspiring for its sheer power and majesty. Fed by glaciers upstream the glacial silt that is carried down river gives the water at Dettifoss a wonderful colour and texture. This photograph was taken shortly before dawn about a week into my trip to Iceland. The pre-dawn glow in the sky and soft warm light on the distant rocks, combined with the texture in the water appeal to me on many levels.As is typical in Iceland there are no safety fences and no warning signs to be careful or wary of cliff edges. You can quite literally walk right up to the edge of the falls and stare down at the hundred plus foot drop into the rocks and plumes of spray below. This photograph was taken standing right at the cliff edge – not the place to be if you suffer from vertigo. Dettifoss is quite literally a breath taking waterfall that I enjoyed photographing immensely. A high resolution version of this photograph is on my portfolio website at www.jholko.com in the Iceland Portfolio. Prints are available upon request.

I am still deep in the sorting and editing process of the photographs I took in Iceland; but I have started to process some of my favourite selects from the trip. I plan to post them sporadically over the next few months to both my Blog and Portfolio websites as time permits. This photograph was taken during the last few days of the expedition. I was travelling and shooting alone at this point in the trip. Daniel (my guide for the first twelve days I was in Iceland) had suggested that it would be worth my while making the drive to the waterfall ‘Gullfoss’ from the geothermal area at Hveravellir after the evenings sunset shoot and in time for dawn at the waterfall. As I have already blogged about that drive back from Hveravellir was horrendous due to not only the road conditions, but the thick fog that had rolled in reducing visibility to about ten metres.

I arrived at Gullfoss shortly before sunrise and grabbed a quick power nap in the car whilst I waited for first light. Dawn bought with it cloudy overcast conditions with no sign of colour in the sky; but I took the short walk down to the falls anyway in the hope something would happen – and indeed it did.As is common in Iceland the clouds started to break up and for a period of no more than just a few minutes shortly after sunrise. The rising sun lit the waterfall and spray creating a stunningly beautiful rainbow whilst throwing gorgeous warm light across the grasses and distant hill. This is one of my favourite waterfall photographs from my time in Iceland. A higher resolution version of this photograph is on my Portfolio website  at http://www.jholko.com under Iceland. Prints are available upon request.