Highlands of Iceland
The Highlands of Iceland are a sparsely inhabited plateau that covers most of the interior of Iceland. They are situated above 400–500 metres (1300–1600 feet) and are mostly a volcanic desert, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is mostly unavailable for plant growth. This results largely in a surface of grey, black or brown earth, lava and volcanic pumice or ashes. A few oasis-like areas, are found only in proximity to rivers. In those oasis areas moss, grass and small bushes grow, often making beautiful patterns.
To visit the highlands you need a good 4x4, although some areas you can reach with a regular SUV. During winter the only way is with a heavily modified 4x4 or a snow mobile. The weather can be fierce all year long, often with high-winds and heavy rain or even snow.
My favourite time to visit the highlands is in Autumn. The colours are a more muted and you can expect all sorts of weather, often cloudy and moody skies. Sometimes it looks like its going to be completely socked in, but then a small ray of light manages to pierce through.
This landscape needs the photographer to slow down - at least in my case. Therefore I find myself more often using the my medium format, rather than reaching for the mirrorless with a zoom lens. All of these images are shot with the Pentax 645Z, using three different focal lengths; 45, 85 and 120mm.
Veiðivötn (e. The Fishing Lakes) is such a magnificent area for landscape photography. These lakes are full of Brown Trout and Arctic Char, so they are a popular spot for fly fishing in the summer. The area has about fifty small and large crater lakes, surrounded by tephra sands. They were formed following a violent eruption that occurred around year 1477. This makes the region one of the youngest in Iceland, a natural oasis in the Icelandic Central Highlands.
If you ever visit Veiðivötn you need to take extra care about where you drive and walk. NEVER go off the roads with your car and make sure you don't hike across the fragile moss er other plants. Also be mindful that you don't disturb birdlife or the local fly fishermen. For many of them, the days they spend fly fishing here are sacred. A time when they connect with themselves and nature - in this this unique and wonderful place.
The area holds good numbers of birds, including the Great Northern Diver, which is unusually numerous here. Other common birds include Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, Ringed Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Arctic Tern, and Snow Bunting. Barrow’s Goldeneye winters here and has started to breed regularly.
A bright sunny day is probably the worst kind of conditions for landscape photography in the highlands. All those dark areas need a softer light for us to be able to capture the subtle dark tones. That said, a sunrise with that golden light can be out of this world of course, but I am always more at peace here when the mood is more like in these images presented here.
