Breathtaking Drone Footage Of Hot Springs In Iceland By Press Photographer
Vilhelm Gunnarsson’s photographs capture the fiercest displays from nature in a paradoxical environment. Living in Iceland gives this photographer unique access to publish material that would otherwise go unnoticed by the world at large. Yet Gunnarson’s fascinating photos are a snapshot of the majesty and beauty of the world that may not be in our faces, but occur nevertheless in the quiet movements of Mother Earth.
Gunnarsson’s most recent explorations yielded beautiful shots from a particularly colourful geothermal area in a part of Iceland called Þeistareykir. The press photographer said that though the spot is a little off the beaten path, it is worth the visit. “At Þeistareykir you will find all kinds of hot springs and mud pools, fumaroles, and vivid geothermal colours. Here the earth is white and yellow, orange and bright red, brown and grey with fumes and emissions rising out of the earth everywhere you look,” he says.
More info: Instagram | VilhelmGunnarsson
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In previous works by the Icelander, we’ve witnessed the power of molten lava engulfing parts of the Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist geothermal spa in Iceland . In his latest series of images, he features the textured geothermal pools found in the natural landscape of his country. Straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, sitting atop a volcanic hotspot, the hot springs have become an iconic landmark for their distinctive geological position.
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The natural hot springs are a direct result of the reaction of intense geothermal activity which heats water found underground. The heated liquid then rises to the surface, creating natural hot springs and a sustainable energy source for the nation.
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Gunnarsson explained that the hot springs have a strict, “Look but don’t touch” policy. Enforced to avoid accidental exposure to dangerously high water temperatures and to avoid people leaving footprints in the mud. He added, “Some hot springs are 80-100°C (176-212°F) fed by geothermal water that can be as hot as 240ºC ( 464°F) below the surface.” This forces the photographer to resort to drone footage for his captures. But he appreciates the vantage point, which he admits makes it easier to capture stark visuals of the natural interplay of colours and textures while focusing straight down on the subject without getting too close.
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