Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Peter Zéglis is a self-taught photographer and Civil Infrastructure Engineer with a background in graphic design and classical arts.
In a fantastic photo series posted to Behance entitled island I, Zeglis takes us on a black and white photo tour of Iceland using his analog medium format camera.
“My interest in photography grew almost instantly. More precisely, it was a transformation of things that dwelled inside me when they found their exit out through this very medium.
What I see through photography is relations. Ideally, between man or manmade, surrounding space and the natural environment. It’s a statement of the obvious, but I am drawn by nature. It’s not the conventional idea of beauty rather than the magnetizing power and superiority of nature. Weather changes, wind-beaten land, volcanic landscape, remote places.
I think that personal interpretation in art is essential. The infinite possible perspectives, the countless ways of interpretation in art, can lead to such abstractions that most things seem to lose their meaning. However, certain aspects at the base of our consciousness which survive chaos, permit non-linguistic communication and understanding. In this respect, semantics and semiotics are fractions of reason itself. If not reason in its contemporary meaning, then of a primordial interconnection; the very core of our brains’ mutual archetype.”
To see more from Peter, be sure to check him out at the online links below.
In this breathtaking photograph we see a stunning aurora over an icy Gullfoss waterfalls in southwest Iceland. The photograph was taken in late March. The auroras followed a M-1 class solar flare and powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) two days prior. Also visible is the comet PANSTARRS, faintly visible as a light blip just above the horizon toward the left.
Gullfoss (English: Golden Falls) is a tiered waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river. With two drops and a total height of 32 meters, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
What a breathtaking scene to behold. Iceland is surely one of the most beautiful places in the world for nature lovers.
Jon Gnarr (born January 2, 1967) is the current mayor of Iceland’s biggest city, Reykjavik. It’s the northernmost capital in the world and the heart of Iceland’s economic and governmental activity. Here are 12 reasons why Gnarr is the most interesting mayor in the world:
1. He founded the ‘Best Party’ in late 2009
and won the city council election six months later
The Best Party Logo
In late 2009 Gnarr formed the Best Party with a number of other people with no background in politics. The Best Party began as a satirical political party that parodied Icelandic politics. From the beginning, the Best Party admitted that it would not honour any of its promises given before elections (e.g., free towels at public swimming pools, a polar bear display at the zoo and a drug-free parliament by 2020). They claimed all other parties were secretly corrupt, so it promised to be openly corrupt.
On May 29, 2010 it won the most seats on the council, gaining 6 out of the 15 (34.7% of the vote). The incumbent ‘Independent Party’ came in second place with 33.6% of the vote. It was Reykjavik’s fourth different mayor in four years. The unexpected victory was seen by many as backlash in the aftermath of the country’s financial collapse.
In his acceptance speech he tried to calm the fears of the other 65.3% by saying:
“No one has to be afraid of the Best Party because it is the best party. If it wasn’t, it would be called the ‘Worst Party’ or the ‘Bad Party’. We would never work with a party like that.”
Check out the political campaign commercial that went viral online
2. He overcame dyslexia, learning disabilities and ADHD
Gnarr suffers from dyslexia and had learning difficulties growing up. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and has actively discussed his life with ADHD publicly, participated in conventions on ADHD and published articles about his experiences as an ADHD sufferer.
3. He used to call himself ‘Johnny Punk’
and did vocals for the punk band ‘The Dripping Noses’
Jón was known as ‘Jónsi Punk’ as a teenager and was in a punk band called ‘Nefrennsli’ (Dripping Noses). They even have a Myspace page and many of the Best Party members include a ‘who’s who’ of Iceland’s punk rock scene.
4. Before becoming mayor,
Gnarr was a well known actor and comedian
In 1994, Jón teamed up with Sigurjón Kjartansson to form the radio duo Tvíhöfði. In 1997, he joined TV station Stöð 2 where he wrote and starred in several seasons of the Icelandic comedy show Fóstbræður. His best known movies are ‘The Icelandic Dream’ and ‘A Man like Me’. His stand-up comedy show ‘Ég var einu sinni nörd’ (I Used To Be a Nerd) is autobiographical. In 2004 he wrote, starred and produced a short film, ‘The Man On the Back’.
Jón also worked as a creative writer and actor at the Icelandic advertising agency EnnEmm, producing several popular TV ads. He played Georg Bjarnfreðarson on the television series ‘Næturvaktin’ (Night Shift), ‘Dagvaktin’ (Day Shift) and ‘Fangavaktin’ (Prison Shift). He was also a co-writer in the series, which introduced a number of new actors. In 2009 he starred in the feature film ‘Bjarnfreðarson’, which endeared him even further to the Icelandic mass audience. Feel free to check out his IMDB page.
5. It’s possible that he’s a Jedi
6. He’s Obsessed with the HBO series ‘The Wire’
Jon Gnarr with Clarke Peters (Lester Freamon from ‘The Wire’)
Upon being elected, Gnarr announced that he would not enter a coalition government with anyone that had not watched the HBO series ‘The Wire’. Ultimately, Jón’s Best Party entered into a coalition with the social-democratic Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) as its junior partner to govern Reykjavík.
In April 2010, he told The Reykjavik Grapevine that season one is his favourite and his most beloved character is Omar Little. His favourite Wire quote is “It’s all in the game, baby”, and he feels television storytelling reached new heights with the series. He feels The Wire needs more public acknowledgement.
9. His Daughter Margret is a fitness model and IFBB Competitor with a blak belt in Taekwondo
Margret Edda Gnarr is one of Jon’s five children. Born in 1989, she’s an IFBB Bikini Competitor, Fitness model, Personal trainer, Posing coach and Singer with a black belt in Taekwondo. She was won numerous awards including:
WBFF european championship 2011- 2nd place
IFBB Reykjavik Cup 2011 Bikini – 3rd place
Arnold Classic Bikini D Class 2012 – 4th place
IFBB Icelandic Championship 2012 Bikini – 2nd place
IFBB World Championship 2012 Bikini – No place
Arnold Classic Europe 2012 – 13th place
You can find her on Facebook where she has more ‘likes’ than her Dad. You can also find an exclusive interview with her at Cut and Jacked.
Andre Ermolaev is a Russian photographer who takes incredible aerial and landscape photographs. In his series entitled Iceland. River., Andre shows us the beautiful environment of Iceland from above.
The rivers and streams shown, which are carrying sediment from volcanoes and glaciers give the photos the incredible colours and textures. The photographs could easily be mistaken for abstract landscape paintings. Andre tells My Modern Met:
“Iceland is a wonderful country; I would even say that it is a true paradise for all the photo shooting-lovers. But what has become a real discovery for me is the bird’s eye view of the rivers flowing along the black volcanic sand. It is an inexpressible combination of colors, lines, and patterns. The photo represents the mouth of the river falling into the ocean.
A little bit upstream there is a yellow-colored brook flowing into the river, but yellow currents fail to mix with the main water flow. One can estimate the scale judging by the car tracks that are clearly seen on the black sand. This is just a river, just a volcano, just our planet.” – Source
Be sure to check out the complete 63-picture gallery at Andre’s official website andreabe.fishup.ru
Located a mere 40 minute drive from the Reykjavik city center, the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa is one of Iceland’s most visited sites with more than 400,000 visitors annually. It was recently voted ‘the best medical spa worldwide’ by Conde Nast Traveller and recognized as one of National Geographic’s 25 ‘wonders of the world’.
Below you will find a full gallery along with information on this incredible place that is entirely powered by Iceland’s geothermal energy. Enjoy!
The Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa in Iceland
– The water’s temperature is 37-39°C / 98-102°F. The lagoon holds six million liters of geothermal seawater, which is renewed every 40 hours. Regular sampling shows that “common” bacteria do not thrive in this ecosystem, thus additional cleansers such as chlorine are not needed
– The Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater is a part of an ecocycle where nature and science work in harmony. The seawater originates 2000 meter/6562 ft beneath the ground where it is heated by earth’s natural forces. At this depth the temperature is 240°C/464°F and the pressure is 36 times the pressure on the earth’s surface
– The geothermal seawater comes into contact with cooling magmatic intrusions and captures the earth’s minerals, resulting in this unique natural source known for its healing power and actives
– The composition of minerals in the water is very distinctive and has a high level of silica. Its environment is characterized by high temperature and salinity level of 2.5% which is 1/3 of the ocean’s salinity level.
Blue Lagoon’s emphasis on architecture and design is an integral part of the company’s strategy. Sigridur Sigþórsdóttir, Basalt architects, is the architect of the Blue Lagoon facilities including Blue Lagoon Bath, Blue Lagoon Clinic and Blue Lagoon Spa in Reykjavík.
Capturing the harmonious links between man and nature is what architect Sigrídur Sigþórsdóttir accomplished with the Blue Lagoon. “I attempted to capture the mystery of the location with the ever changing play of light and shadow across the lava, the steam from the lagoon and the special light that characterizes the northern part of the world,” says Sigridur.
“Pure Icelandic materials from moss and stones characterize the design. We wanted to emphasize the relationship between nature and the man-made,” she says. This relationship can be seen the moment a visitor steps out of his car and walks from the parking lot through a 200-meter footpath that cuts through a wall of lava. It’s like descending into a lava maze, guided by nature into the lagoon itself.
Then there is the lava wall inside the facility (containing about 70,000 pieces of lava), connecting the building with an untouched lava wall that surrounds the steaming waters, providing natural shelter for bathers. The building’s soft lines blend with the lava, as it opens towards the lagoon absorbing the northern sun hanging low in the winter or rising high during the endless light of summer. [Source]
Bracelets
Upon arrival at The Blue Lagoon you will receive a bracelet that acts as a key for your personal locker. You can use this bracelet to charge drinks and refreshments during your stay so you won’t have to carry money with you. The maximum charge per bracelet is ISK 5.000 and is payable upon departure.
Geothermal steam bath
The Blue Lagoon has two steam baths. One is a cave like structure, built from lava rocks with benches and soft lighting that imitates an open fire.
The other steam bath has white walls that resemble white silica mud and offers a view of the lagoon. The geothermal steam baths are around 45°C/113°F.
Sauna
There’s a cozy sauna by the lagoon with a nice view of the Blue Lagoon. It is ideal to end your sauna with a refreshing cold water sprinkle or an outdoor shower.
Waterfall
There’s a waterfall in the lagoon that provides an energizing massage for shoulders and neck.
Silica mud
Silica mud is provided free of charge to all guests and is located in wooden boxes in the lagoon. Apply the mud to your face and body, avoiding the eye area, and leave to dry for 5-10 minutes. This pure white geothermal mud deep cleanses and exfoliates and naturally strengthens skin’s barrier function. It brings out the skin’s inner glow, gives a vital energy boost and a smooth complexion. The silica mud is not reccommended as a hair mask.
– LAVA restaurant is built into the lava surrounding the area.
– A glass staircase leads people to the bar and lounge area on the second floor. The roof of the restaurant is a viewing platform with beautiful view of the lagoon and the surrounding area.
– The restaurant opens at 11:30 and orders are accepted until 21:00 in the summer (Jun-Aug) and until 20:30 in winter. During the day guests are welcome to visit LAVA Restaurant in their bathrobes to enjoy a relaxing meal while taking a break from bathing.
This extraordinary image by Shy Cohen was EarthShots.org’s photo of the day for February 16, 2012. It’s one of the many ice caves in Iceland and a nature photographer’s dream. Shy captured the scene with a Canon 7D (10-22). He also emphasizes the importance of visiting these caves with a knowledgeable guide as parts of the cave may be unstable and dangerous.
Photographer’s Description: Some of the magic beauty of glacier ice lies under its outer surface. One either needs to strip the surface layer or go underneath it to see its real beauty.
The centuries old ice coming down the slopes of Öræfajökull via Svínafellsjökull glacier has had almost all of the air pressed out of the ice. Once air has been pressed out the ice turns into this magically blue crystal like ice. The outer surface of this ice (the surface of the glacier) gets bombarded by weather, sun-rays, dust and other things and it transforms the crystal blue ice white. Hidden under the white surface is the blue ice.
This blue ice can be seen however under certain circumstances. It can be seen in winter after long periods of rain when the surface layer of the glacier has been washed away. It can be seen in ice-caves like this one (unsafe in summer) and on floating icebergs that have recently rolled over.
This ice cave is on the edge of the glacier where it enters into a lagoon. It is only possible to access it when the lagoon is frozen. Ice caves are in general unstable things and can collapse at any time. They are however much more stable in winter when the cold temperatures harden the ice. Even so we could hear constant cracking sounds inside the cave. It was not because it was going to collapse but because the cave was moving along with the glacier itself. Each time the glacier moved a millimeter loud sounds could be heard.
