Iceland, the land of fire and ice. An island of contrasts. A country of extremes. Its winters are long, dark and harsh. If you are lucky, however, you can watch the northern lights under a clear sky. Its summers are short, but feature long hours of sunshine well into the night. The weather is famous for being unpredictable; I have seen all four seasons in a day. The Icelandic landscape is unlike any other I have ever experienced. There are hot springs, geysers, volcanoes and glaciers. There are black sand beaches, majestic waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Reykjavik, the largest city, is full of history. This colorful city sits on the coast and features sprawling views of the small mountains and bright blue ocean (the best place to really take in the views are from the top of the Hallgrímskirkja Church). From here, many people opt to venture to the Blue Lagoon or Ring Road. I say, go visit those places, as they are classic tourist spots and perfect for getting an introduction to the island. But I also recommend venturing even further out, and discovering some of Iceland’s not-so-well-known or visited spots (for now).
Here are some photographs from the photographers (Jeroen of JVN Photo is actually an Icelandic local) and travel bloggers who have captured the beauty and personality of Iceland, and I hope they can inspire you to explore what this mysterious island has to offer. I have included some of my own as well, from my trip last year, which show some of the highlights of my time there. I cannot wait to go back one day.
Featured photography by: JVN Photography, Kent Essex, We Live We Explore, Will Burke and myself.
“Photo of Mish of We Live We Explore at Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park (weliveweexplore.com).”
“Iceland is home to the breeding grounds of over 60% of the puffin population, and they can be seen in the summer months. Photo by JVN Photography.”
” Self portrait: Jeroen of JVN Photography stands at the famous airplane wreck at Sólheimasandur’s snow-covered black sand beach (located on Iceland’s South Coast), under an impressive display of the northern lights.”
“Will Burke diving between two continental plates in Silfra. It’s the only dive site in the world where you can do this.”
“Kent Essex looking out onto the highlands at Thorsmork (Valley of Thor), a popular hiking spot in southern Iceland.”
“Looking down on Reykjavik from the top of the church. Kirsten Alexis Photography.”
“Mish from We Live We Explore hiking at the glaciers.”
“Jeroen captures an almost camouflaged arctic fox on a snowy winter day (JVN Photography).”
“Will Burke captures a long-exposure shot of the impressive waterfalls.”
“Kent Essex watching the northern lights, seen over Iceland during the winter months on a clear night.”
“The ice caves (sometimes called the crystal caves) are only accessible during the winter months when the glacial rivers retreat and water freezes (JVN Photography).”
“Mish seen here relaxing in one of Iceland’s lesser-known hot springs (weliveweexplore.com).”
“The rain clouds start to roll in while the wind pushes the icebergs further along at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Kirsten Alexis Photography.”
“An aerial shot of the Icelandic landscape. JVN Photography.”
“Will Burke exploring the ice cave at Vatnajokul Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe.”
“Mish of We Live We Explore hanging out in a hidden canyon.”
“Orca whales are seen swimming in the frigid Arctic waters as seabirds fly by. (JVN Photography).”
“Mish from We Live We Explore checking out the Kirkjufell waterfalls.”
“Jeroen captures a long exposure shot of the magnificent Hraunfossar waterfalls in West Iceland (JVN Photography).”
“A horse at a local ranch in Northern Iceland yawns after a long day of riding (Kirsten Alexis Photography).”
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Mish and Kirk of We Live We Explore: weliveweexplore.com
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove: JVN Photography
Kent Essex: Kent Essex Photography
Will Burke: Will Burke Photography
At This Adventure Life we celebrate the lives and stories of the people who live life fearlessly. #livefearlessly