ICELAND: landscape that could be out of this world

 

With their strange coloured surfaces and unusual landscapes, these stunning photographs look like they were taken on an alien planet. But the incredible shots were actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft flying over Iceland. The beautiful images reveal some of the country's most incredible scenery, ranging from explosive volcanoes to colossal mountains. This incredible shots was actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft flying over Iceland In one photograph, a crowd of people appear like ants in a bath of milk as they take a dip in a lagoon. Another shot appears to show a tree, but is actually a river running into several different streams. Photographer Sandro Santioli racked up 70 hours of flight time as he took the extraordinary images while holding his camera out the window of the aircraft. He said: 'I had the idea while shooting Iceland from ground level. The Veiovotn area of Iceland. With their strange coloured surfaces this stunning photograph looks like they were taken on an alien planet T he Tungnaa area. The beautiful images reveal some of the country's most incredible scenery, ranging from explosive volcanoes to colossal mountains   Skeidarrsandur, Iceland. Photographer Sandro Santioli racked up 70 hours of flight time as he took the extraordinary images 'Aerial shots always interested me, always charmed me. From ground level these landscapes are awesome and stunning, but seeing all of them from above is such a feast for the eyes. 'In particular I enjoy different elements, like seas, lakes, mountains, and volcanoes, being at my disposal to recreate a small world. 'There were many challenges, the first was whether I was able to endure the stress of flying in a tiny, vibrating aircraft that would dip suddenly on hitting the air currents. Namafjall in Iceland. The incredible shots were actually captured aboard a Cessna light aircraft   The Tungnaarfjoll area of Iceland. Photographer Sandro Santioli took the images while holding his camera out the window of the aircraft 'All this was made worse by the fact that the windows had to be kept open for the majority of the flight. 'The air rushing into the cabin was extremely cold, particularly when approaching and flying over glaciers. 'The cold finds a way to penetrate all the way to your bones regardless of how many layers you happen to be wearing at the time.   Landeyasandur in Iceland. When Sandro was taking the photos from the plane it was very cold in the cabin as the windows had to be kept open   Skaftarjokull Glacier. The photographer said he had the idea for the photos while shooting Iceland from ground level 'Meanwhile, your hands become so numb that you can barely move them. All this happens while you stomach is doing twists and turns.' Sandro, from Tuscany, Italy, added: 'One of my favourite photos was taken above the 'Blue Lagoon.' 'It is a lagoon with hot springs, surrounded by lava and frequented by people for its curative power. 'It's an awesome place and looks incredible from above.'   The Blue Lagoon with hot springs, surrounded by lava is frequented by people for its curative power   The Tungnaa area. Seeing landscapes from above is a 'feat from above'       With their vivid colours and alien landscapes, these pictures look like they could be of another world. They capture two of nature’s most spectacular sights - the northern lights and an erupting volcano in Iceland - in a single shot. Photographer James Appleton from Cambridge braved the mighty flames of the Fimmvorduhals volcano and the frozen bite of the harsh Icelandic winter – and was rewarded with these incredibly rare shots.

Iceland is fast becoming the photography capital of the world - and with stunning results like these, it's easy to see why. These breathtaking images of the country's largest ice cap reveal the ancient forces of nature at work above and below the mammoth glacier. Covering eight per cent of the country, the sharp, icy blue scenery was created as subterranean volcanoes erupted under the ice, melting the giant mass of frozen water. Breathtaking: Crevasses in Iceland's Vatnajokull ice cap form patterns reminiscent of Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway rock formation The results were spectacular enough to be used in two James Bond movies, Tomb Raider and Batman Begins. With tourism forming over 30 per cent of the island's income, visitors to the ice flows are treated to wonders such as the Jvkulsarlsn lagoon, dramatic ice walls and ominous icebergs. 'Vatnajvkull is the largest ice cap in Iceland and located in the south-east of the island,' said photographer Ragnar Sigurdsson. Fortress: Huge walls of ice skirt the Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon in Iceland Deafening: Vast cracks in 100-year-old Sidujokull Glacier, where visitors can hear the ice creak and crash 'In 2008, it became a part of the Vatnajvkull National Park and in the surrounding area is Jvkulsarlsn, a large glacial lagoon in south-east Iceland, which borders the national park. 'The lake has grown at varying rates because of melting of the Icelandic glaciers. 'The size of the lagoon has increased fourfold since the 1970s. It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.'

With their bizarre coloured surfaces and unusual landscapes, these stunning photographs look like they were taken on an alien planet.

But the incredible shots were in fact captured from a Cessna light aircraft - over Iceland.

Russian snapper Andrey Ermolaev clocked up around 4,300 miles flying above some of the Nordic nation's most spectacular vistas.

Breathtaking: Photographer Andrey Ermolaev, flew around 4,300 miles above Iceland's epic natural scenes

Otherwordly: From 100 metres high, an extraordinary photo of a river a short distance from the ocean, with tracks from cars visible on the bank

Divergence: This hypnotic photo of a river shows the extraordinary way it flows into numerous branches

Savage beauty: This image of a river as it streams on dark volcanic sand before flowing into a lake wouldn't look out of a place in a modern art gallery

Ethereal: The milky colours in this waterway are caused by a glacier

The 56-year-old had to hold his camera steady as he flew up to 75mph at between 80 and 150 metres above the ground shooting photographing out of a window.

Andrey, from Moscow, said: 'Reactions to the images are always different. The landscapes are so unusual that if you don't mention at once what they show, people don't understand what they properly see. 'Iceland is close to my spirit.'

Branching out: The impression of a tree is evoked in this photo of a coastal river

Glorious: The incredible shots were captured from a light aircraft

Flowing beauty: Rocks frame the snowy landscape next to a river that swirls with myriad shades of blue

Alien: A river cascades over sand, creating incredible patterns, before flowing into the ocean

 

Otherworldly: A volcanic erupts on the Fimmvorduhals mountain pass in Iceland as Aurora Borealis lights up the sky in lurid greens and yellows behind

He has spent the past seven years capturing the volatile and stunning landscapes of Iceland, and when he was told the Fimmvvrpuhals volcano was erupting, he immediately knew he had to see it.

Working alongside vulcanologists, Mr Appleton, 25, got within a few hundred feet of the erupting volcano to get the perfect shot.

‘On the plane flying over to Iceland

Two of nature's spectacles converge: Gas shoots into the air and molten lava starts to pour across the landscape as the northern lights flash across the sky

Dawn rises: Molten lava flows away from the eruption site as the sun begins to rise over the mountain pass

Mr Appleton could not resist the temptation to get in as close as possible to the volcano to get the best shots. He tried to stay on ridges and high ground to avoid the danger of gas pockets that may have formed, or caves under the snow formed by the heat of the lava.

‘The dangerous moments came when a two day storm blew in and I was forced to take shelter from incredibly powerful winds and blizzards,’ he said.

‘The few times I tried venturing outside I would be blown flat over and along some of the sheer ice, which was pretty disconcerting.

Fast moving weather systems: The sun cuts under a close storm system at sunset over the bay near Husavik, northern Iceland. Ever-changing weather systems mean Iceland often has dramatic sunsets

Calm after the storm: Ice fields around the volcano and surrounding snow-capped mountains in Southern Iceland

‘That and the occasional earthquake meant for not much sleep. Because of the whiteout conditions I could barely see ten feet in front of my eyes through the driving snow.’

The raw, wild landscapes and rapidly changing weather systems create incredible conditions for photography, says Mr Appleton, who hopes to return there one day.

‘I look for powerful skies and the moments when the world is full of colour and movement,’ he says.

‘Iceland is fantastic as producing moments such as these.’ Vivid: Icebergs from the Vatnajokull ice cap float on the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon Sailing on by: Icebergs from the Vatnajvkull ice cap drift under broody skies Littered with glacial lagoons filled with striking icebergs, the areas around Vatnajvkull are essentially a picture postcard for Iceland. 'Fjallsarlsn is a glacier lake at the south end of Vatnajvkull,' said Mr Sigurdsson. 'The glacier reaches down to the water of the lake and some icebergs are drifting by on its surface. Striking: This dramatic scenery could almost be an oil painting, showing iceberg strands on the Breiamerkurfjara beach Frozen in time: Icy waters crash on the shores of Breioamerkurfjara beach 'The lagoon is visited less than the Jvkulsarlsn glacier but worth every minute spent there.' With some operators offering guided boat tours, the beauty of the national park's ice walls and loud crashing icebergs are readily available for eager photographers. 'Some of the icebergs at the Jvkulsarlsn glacier lagoon are large and imposing,' said Mr Sigurdsson. Imposing: Steely grey ice walls stand out against the Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon Design: Nature approaches art in these vivid blue patterns on the Hoffellsjokull Glacier of the Vatnajvokull ice cap 'Floating icebergs melt and roll over with a lot of noise, splashing and wave-making, commonly crumbling as they do so. 'The stranded icebergs that exist in the Breipamerkurfjara beach area of the national park tend to melt, crumble and disperse into rolling ice chunks in the water. 'Since the Eyjafjallajokull eruption of 2010, Iceland and its volcanoes have become notorious, especially for international air travellers.

Fearsome: A sword-like formation points skywards at the Fjallsarlon lagoon 'The area is still covered with ash from the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, which was in the spring of 2010," said Mr Sigurdsson. 'And all across the icecaps of Iceland there is activity from Hyaloclastite formations caused by volcanic activity from under the ice. 'They cause wondrous rippling formations.' Moonlight: An excursion after dark earned photgrapher Ragnar Sigurdsson this serene scene on the Breioamerkurfjara beach Cosmic: The sun bursts through as ash covers craters in the Gigjokull glacier Knifelike: Razor-sharp points jut out of the surging glacier Breidamerkurjokull Majestic: The scenery dwarfs the crew of a tour boat at the Jokulsarlon lagoon Cobalt blue: Moss and ice cover the Sidujokull Glacier, resembling a storm viewed from space Electric blue: Eye-popping icebergs from the Vatnajvkull ice cap float on Jokulsarlon

From the heart-stopping eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull volcano to the serenity of a rainbow over Haifoss waterfall – stunning photographs reveal Iceland in all its splendour With its volcanoes, hot springs and waterfalls, Iceland looks like it was created in a fairytale. But these stunning images show the real thing - and reveal Iceland in all its glory. The dramatic shots are taken from the recently published book 'Iceland In All Its Splendour' by photographers Orsolya & Erlend Haarberg. Their work unveils breathtaking vistas of the country from the heart-stopping eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull volcano to the peaceful serenity of a rainbow over Haifoss waterfall. Steam vents at night with northern lights, Hverir, Namafjall are captured for the Iceland in all its Splendour Book A European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) is captured flying between coastal rocks with a large wave crashing against the Snaefellsnes peninsula Steam vents at night shoot hot air into the starry sky at Hverirt, Namafjall. The awesome picture shows a deserted landscape, apart from the twinkling stars Londrangar sea stacks and the Snaefellsjokull mountain under northern lights, Snaefellenese Peninsula What a wonder: A Hot spring in Hveravellir bubbles away under a soft pink sky, while it's grey-blue waters simmer Shimmering green Northern lights over Mount Kirkjufell, Snaefellsnes perfectly frame the rocky terrain A photographer by the Haifoss waterfall with a rainbow in the spray soaks up the glorious view in the isolated spot Other dramatic scenery frozen in all its perfect glory includes the mighty Godafoss waterfall, hot springs in Hveravellir, glacial ice floating in a lagoon and the astounding northern lights dancing across the sky. More... Is this starved polar bear which died as ‘skin and bones’ the 'categorical proof' that climate change is wiping out the species? Since 2005, the pair have travelled together as a team, constantly being on the move to capture 'memorable experiences' in nature. On their website, the Haarbergs say it is the desire to get back to their roots – to live with nature - that inspires them to create the images that they do.  Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape, as these pictures prove. A stunning view from Blahnukur at sunrise above colourful rhyolite mountains, Landmannalaugar, Fjallabak Nature Reserve Bubbling up! This grey boiling mud blows a huge bubble and looks like something out of a sci-fi film - but it's just part of the varied landscape Now you know what's at the end of the rainbow! A rainbow over Varmahl appears to end on a picturesque home, with snowy mountains as the backdrop The angry side of nature: Lightning flashes through the ash plume from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption The wild side of mother nature: A dramatic volcanic eruption at Eyjafjallajokull shows lightning flashing in the ash plume Hraunfossar waterfall in autumn shows the countryside exploding in a riot of golden and red hues A roaring sight: Godafoss waterfall on the Skjalfandafljat river is perfectly framed by the snow covered landscape around it Iceland is an island of 103.000 km2 (39,756 sq.miles), about one-third larger than Scotland or Ireland. Its highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, rises to 2.119 m and over 11 per cent of the country is covered by glaciers, including Vatnajökull, the largest in Europe. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the country is a hot spot of volcanic and geothermal activity: 30 post-glacial volcanoes have erupted in the past two centuries, and natural hot water supplies much of the population with cheap, pollution-free heating.  Rivers, too, are harnessed to provide inexpensive hydroelectric power, the country's tourist website said. Lighting up the sky: Londrangar at night with Nothern lights over the Snaefellsjokull ice cap, Snaefellsnes peninsula Ash plume from a subglacial volcanic eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull ice cap is pictured in the Iceland in all its Splendour Book You'll need to look twice! Glacier ice floating in the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, with Fjallsjokull in the background at sunrise Mirror image: Glacial ice floating in the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon shows what a varied landscape Iceland boasts Rhyolite mountains at sunset, from the top of Haalda, Landmannalaugar, Fjallabak Nature Reserve, shows what a stunning country Iceland is

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