by Match
on October 7, 2012
This week we had a cold front that brought frost, snow and rain. A walk though the garden today showed many plants had suffered from the frost. I was greeted by this cheerful yellow rose.

Yellow Rose
The cosmos flowers did not fare so well outdoors. Earlier in the week, Angela had cut some flowers and brought them indoors. After setting up the camera indoors, I examined several cosmos flowers in the vase. This pink flower had some really fine veins in the petals that I managed to capture in the following image.

Pink Cosmos, No 2
I found another pink flower and made several exposures, adjusting the focus point between each exposure. After stacking the images, we get a really deep depth of focus that shows the tips of the stamens down to petals. In this image, we can see individual pollen grains on the petals.

Pink Cosmos
In the vase were some white cosmos flowers. This image shows the limited depth of field with a macro lens. The petals are soft and out of focus, with striations radiating out from the center of the flower.

White Cosmos, No 2
I found another white cosmos flower. This one also got the focus stacking treatment with several exposures.

White Cosmos
I like the detail that is revealed in the center of the flower. I the image above, the black rods are the seeds that have just started to form.
Tagged as:
cosmos,
flowers,
focus stacking,
macro,
petals,
pink,
rose,
seeds,
stamens,
white
{ }
by Match
on October 1, 2012
This morning I left Saeberg to make my way to Reykjavik. I stopped at one farm where bales were stacked up close to the road.

Stacked Bales Of Hay
Bales of hay in Iceland are typically wrapped in plastic. These are usually white but sometimes green plastic is used. Further along the road, I encountered these interesting colorful statues. They were constructed from volcanic boulders of different shapes and sizes.

Interesting Roadside Statues
This abandoned farm building on the roadside made a perfect site for graffiti.

Abandoned Farm Building, With Graffiti
Nearer Reykjavik, I managed to find a location that offered a good view of the exit pipelines from the geothermal power station that I visited last week. The pipelines form a zigzag route on the landscape that allows for expansion of the pipeline with heat.

Zigzag Pipeline
Finally, in Reykjavik I made a night shot of the theater by the harbor.

Reykjavik Theater At Night
This is my last night in Iceland before heading home. A very rewarding, enjoyable and educational trip.
Tagged as:
abandoned,
bales,
colorful,
farm,
graffiti,
hay,
pipeline,
reykjavik,
statue,
theater
{ }
by Match
on September 30, 2012
This morning I headed out along the fiord. After leaving the hostel, I stopped for these horses.

Horse Near Saeberg Hostel
This farmhouse on the skyline typifies the landscape along the fiords.

Farmhouse On The Skyline
Driftwood had been washed up the beach at several places along the coast. I stopped at this location where kelp had also washed up. This contrasts nicely with the orange, gray and white.

Driftwood And Kelp
Turning around, I headed back and then up the other side of the fiord. Here the snow capped mountains contrast with the bright green pastures in the foreground.

Snow Capped Mountains And Green Pastures
Finally, I visited the harbor at Hvammstragi. There was not much action in the harbor!

Boats In Hvammerstangi Harbor
Fishing nets were laid out at the edge of the pier.

Fishing Nets At Hvammstangi Harbor
That was almost the final photograph of the day… until I got back to the hostel.

Sunset At Saeberg
There was a fabulous sunset over the fiord.
Tagged as:
boats,
driftwood,
fiord,
fishing,
harbor,
horses,
hvammstangi,
kelp,
mountains,
nets,
saeberg,
snow,
sunset
{ }
by Match
on September 29, 2012
This morning, Borgarnes was freezing — the car showed that the temperature was -1C or 30F. Leaving Borgarnes, I headed towards Snaefellsnes. Soon I passed the river bank that had frozen over during the night.

Iced Riverbanks, Borgarnes
Further along the road, I passed this private residence on the Hitara River. I was drawn to the clear water flowing in the river. This is evident from the blue-green color in the river.

Landur House On Hitara River
As I approached Snaefellsnes, this view unfolded as the road curved to the right on a bend. In the distance, the white cap is Snaefellsjokull, a glacier on the western tip of Iceland.

Looking Towards Snaefellsnes
Heading around Snaefellsnes, I made this image of the river, fed from the glacier, flowing down from the mountain.

River Flowing Down From Snaefellsnes
On the other side of the road was an abandoned farm house.

Abandoned Farmhouse, Snaefellsnes
This was an instant attraction — I just had to do some exploration among the ruins!
Tagged as:
abandoned,
borgarnes,
farm,
frost,
glacier,
house,
ice,
river,
snaefellsnes
{ }
by Match
on September 28, 2012
This morning, I stopped at Geysir. Every 8-10 minutes, the Stokkur geysir erupts. There were a handful of people waiting to see the event. The geysir starts to heave before spraying water into the air.

Stokkur Geysir, About To Erupt
The eruption looks really interesting, with super-heated steam surging below the surface of the water. Soon the water sprays into the air.

Stokkur Geysir, Erupting
Later, I stopped at Pingvellir, which was the site of the original parliament in Iceland that was established in the year 932.

Pingvellir, Autumn Colors
Finally I reached my destination at Borgarnes. After checking in to the hostel, I waited for the sun to setting, catching the volcanic cliffs across the bay from Borgarnes.

Sun Setting At Borgarnes
Enjoy.
Tagged as:
autumn colors,
borgarnes,
fall colors,
geyser,
geysir,
golden circle,
iceland,
pingvellir,
spray,
sunset
{ }
by Match
on September 28, 2012
I made some video footage at Gullfoss that might give some indication of the power of the waterfalls.
Video made with my iPhone.
Tagged as:
gullfoss,
iceland,
video,
waterfalls
{ }
by Match
on September 27, 2012
Heading out from Vik, I made my way towards Laugarvatn. At Skogafoss, I made a repeated stop to make some photographs of the falls. This time, half way up.

Skogafoss Waterfalls
After checking into the hostel, I made my way to Gullfoss. These are really amazing multi tiered waterfalls that appear to disappear into a canyon!

Gullfoss
The lower falls take a massive tumble down into the gorge below, releasing a huge cloud of water vapor and spray.

Gullfoss, Lower Falls
Light was falling rapidly and dinner was calling. On the way back to the hostel, after passing through Geysir, the setting rays of the sun grazed the distant hills. I managed this one image of farm buildings in front of the distant hills.

Geysir, Setting Sun
The setting sun was magical. Reflection off the low clouds, the sun gave a magenta sheen to the wet road surface.

Sunset Road At The End Of The Day
That really made my day!
Tagged as:
clouds,
farm,
gullfoss,
red,
road,
spray,
sunset,
vapor,
waterfalls
{ }
by Match
on September 26, 2012
Returning to Vik. Passed this farmhouse near the Skaftafell National Park.

Farmhouse Near Skaftafell
After arriving at Vik, made a trip near Dyrholaey to view the sun setting.

Sunset At Dyrholaey
Followed by the moonrise.

Moonrise Near Dyrholaey
Tagged as:
dyrholaey,
farm,
moonrise,
skaftafell,
sunset,
vik
{ }